Blackberry .. any good?

markmarkymark · 15-12-2005, 20:54

Greetings All..

Anyone here got a Blackberry gismo for emails etc on the move. If so, do you like it, does it do what you want, and would you recommend one?

I like the idea of having emails on the move but find most websites are stuffed full of facts and figures that I never even understand the pricing !!

So, what is the real world cost?

I run my own small company and I want to buy and use one Blackberry. I will need to link it to my virual Exhange Server (by fast hosts 'Livemail' email service). What are the general service plan costs - is it better to buy the unit, or 'pay' for it as part of the monthly change (like some mobile phone packages).

Talking of mobile phones, I have a V3 phone at the moment on O2 (paying ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£35 a month having bought the phone for about ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£100 a year ago). WOuld it be possible to change the O2 contract and move it over to a Blackberry, taking my phone number with it?

Any views, thoughts, advice would be most welcome!

cheers

MArk

Derek · 15-12-2005, 21:17

On T-Mobile it used to be an extra £10 a month on top of a price plan for the phone (or £17.50 for Blackberry only)

The E-Mail download was on a fair use policy so normally no extra charges for downloads.

You should be able to port any number onto the Blackberry from O2.

This was how it was in April. Since then it may have changed slightly pricewise. Most of the people I talked to then loved it and found it very useful.

markmarkymark · 16-12-2005, 11:04

Ta Dezzo!

grandmaster · 16-12-2005, 11:17

We have a few here,
I piloted one before we introduced them company wide.

Cracking device.
Although the one 7100x is a ball ache to type on.

Its almost texting but with a qwerty keyboard.

handyman · 16-12-2005, 11:45

You could upgrade to the xda on o2 that has blackberry on it now and they have the new o2 executive that looks awesome.

If you actually go into the shops they are very accomadating with upgrades ;-)

Bursar · 16-12-2005, 11:46

We've not long rolled out a load of them at work. Most of them have come back though as people don't like them much.

Most of the complaints are that it looks awful, is awkwad to use to type long emails on, and the phone part of it is dreadful. This is with the 7290 handset.

On the plus side though, most people are impressed with how it works in theory, they just want a handset that looks cooler.

Derek · 16-12-2005, 11:49

The 72xx ones are the ones with a keyboard at the bottom and look a bit strange.

I think most of the networks also do the 7100 model which is a lot more phone-like.

SMHarman · 16-12-2005, 12:30

The firm I am at (which is a major US corp) a Blackberry is a Blackberry and a Phone is a Phone. They found people did not want a combined device as it is too small to use as an email device. People then have whichever mobile they want out of the firms list of choices.

Realistically it is for reading emails and simple responses. Don't expect to draft multiparagraph mails on it on the move.

liamboyle06 · 16-06-2006, 13:42

Bringing this up again, will blackberry work in China?
How does it work, is it related to your phone provider?
I know someone who is looking to buy a blackberry device but they are moving to China in a couple of weeks time for 18mths and they are wondering if it is compatiable there.
As i have no idea about these things at all, what is the best to buy and what are the features required.
basically any help would be gratefully appreciated.

SMHarman · 06-11-2006, 19:41

Bit late for your mate, but basically a blackberry pushes email data to the device using GSM GPRS data.
So will it work in China, yes if your GSM GPRS network roams in China, but it is likely to be expensive.

Anyone seen the Blackberry Pearl. Nice piece of kit.

maddyp · 07-11-2006, 19:15

i ve got one thats email only with vodafone. it was ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£100 for the blackberry then its ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£12 per month

its ok, usefull but bloody annoying when it buzzes the whole time..

Visibleman · 07-11-2006, 20:43

Friend has the Blackberry 8100 series Pearl, on T-mobile (cheapest option at ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£30 month) - seems like a good little bit of kit, but its plagued by software bugs and doesn't seem to do anything special considering every other phone, especially nokia symbians, will check emails/browse the net etc

handyman · 07-11-2006, 21:27

We just got the Directors T-mobile Vario II's.

Not only can they use push email but they can use the web and I got gps for them both. 2 mega pixel camera and a host of other support features as well. Plus its 3g so they can video call.

MJB · 10-11-2006, 07:22

My wife's work said "We want you to have a Blackberry"; but she said "I don't want one, it's too complicated". I told her "Don't be silly, if it's free, have one". She now has it and doesn't know how she EVER survived without it!!!!

grandmaster · 10-11-2006, 08:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by handyman

We just got the Directors T-mobile Vario II's.

Not only can they use push email but they can use the web and I got gps for them both. 2 mega pixel camera and a host of other support features as well. Plus its 3g so they can video call.

I'm trying to get hold on one myself.
Going to try T-mobile instead of Orange (that web 'n' walk looks great)