[Chrissy Scivicque]

I want to get a new phone. Has anyone had any experience with Blackberry's? The I-phone is another possibility. I'm looking for a little advice...Hope someone can help

[Robert Ball]

I have the Motorola Q and it's "ok". Sounds like the Blackberry is much more tested and tough - my carrier doesn't support (openly) the iPhone.

[DerekB]

I'm interested in this as well, because I think given the work I will be doing here at OA, I'm going to want easy email access for the first time. I've never had an email-capable phone (i'm slow to adopt these things) and I'm not really interested in a web phone (I get distracted easily enough!) but email seems key so I think the Blackberry is it.

My question is - does the smaller format (with 2 letters per key) work well enough or do you really need the full keyboard version? I don't liike how big it is, and I'm pretty comfortable with T9 typing, so I'm thinking the smaller models would do, but i'd love to hear from people who have used them. I'm also a Verizon customer.

[johnwilliams]

I absolutely love my iPhone. I was in line on the day they came out and I can honestly say that I've never used a mobile device as extensibly as I have the iPhone. To give you an idea of how handy it is. I recently had a situation where I got gas in a rental car before returning it. When I got my own car back it was on empty, so I had to get gas in that. This triggered something with my debit card, unbeknownst to me, and my card got locked down.
So, I'm at the gas station, on empty with no cash and a debit card that didn't work. At first I was worried that my check didn't deposit, so using Safari on the iPhone, I logged into my bank account to check the balance. Sure enough it was fine. I then opened mail and noticed that I had an email from Bank of America alerting me of some possible fraudulent activities. It had a phone number, so I literally clicked the phone number from within the email and the phone dialed it and connected me to an associate that was able to verify my information and lift the hold on the card. I went ahead and gassed up then searched for the nearest McDonalds with Google Maps and got directions from my current location using the iPhones ability to "find" me.
Without the iPhone, I would've been in trouble.
I know this isn't particularly office related in it's use, but I can receive all my email, load any website, open word/excel/pdf attachments with ease and easily sync all my contacts/bookmarks/calendars through iTunes. Not to mention, having a couple Backyardigan's episodes on me for those toddler meltdown moments is always nice.
It's true that you can only use the iPhone through ATT, but on the other side, ATT is selling refurb 4GB models for only 250 bucks. Quite a steal.

[Chrissy Scivicque]

I am big fan of full keyboard. It is muy buena.

Originally Posted by Derek Bambach

I'm interested in this as well, because I think given the work I will be doing here at OA, I'm going to want easy email access for the first time. I've never had an email-capable phone (i'm slow to adopt these things) and I'm not really interested in a web phone (I get distracted easily enough!) but email seems key so I think the Blackberry is it.

My question is - does the smaller format (with 2 letters per key) work well enough or do you really need the full keyboard version? I don't liike how big it is, and I'm pretty comfortable with T9 typing, so I'm thinking the smaller models would do, but i'd love to hear from people who have used them. I'm also a Verizon customer.

[angelayala]

The Blackberry is amazing!, shortly put. The Iphone is an amazing piece of equipment and software all together, but when it comes to stability and smart usage nothing beats the Blackberry. Their applications are perfect since they have been in the market for so long and their features with voice and email are definitely a big winning point for me and in the business that I work for. I currently use the Blackberry 8130 "Pearl" and all my emails are routed seemlessly from our Mail Server in the office and also my personal accounts. The calendar items come through very easily to add to my "On-The-Go" Calendar and I am able to reply to any email without any hassle. The sure-type technology works wonders with the QWERTY keyboard it includes. I can create events on my Blackberry calendar then add invitees and send it to them without the use of a laptop, etc.
If the Battery breaks I can go and buy one right away, no need to send the device anywhere for support. And it is a tough built phone, lots of smart accesories and GPS included.

[Ilona]

I agree with John. There is nothing like the iPhone. There is finally a usable PDA with so much more funcationality than I thought I would ever need or use, but I do need it and use it everyday.
This device changed my life because of the efficiencies it has created; like the airplane mode, which turns off wi-fi yet allows music to play, maps, which pin points my location and provides directions from there, text messaging with a QWERTY keyboard, which was always too complicated with any other phone. Plus, the iPhone also reduced my monthly cell phone charges. I went from paying $50 a month on AT&T for unlimited data to $20 a month for unlimited data with the iPhone.
Visual voicemail is probably my favorite feature on the iPhone. The iPhone can access voicemail from a list, rather than listening through them sequentially as in traditional mobile phones, so one doesn't need to skip through messages. Just press the message you want to hear, and that's it! Visual voicemail links the caller's information from my addressbook, so rather than guessing who left me a message from such and such number and listening to all of the messages to find the one I want, I see the name of the person who called, and touch their name. The iPhone is so simple to use and entuitive. Clearly, I am a fan!

[Kristian Traylor]

did you get one?

[Mike Lewis]

I agree with Ilona. I replaced my Treo with the iPhone and I am very happy with that choice.

[dianarowe]

The "Crackberry" -- what would I do without it? I reluctantly signed on, picked up my new phone and went for it last fall. All I can say is that I wish I'd have committed sooner. For those that travel, or aren't stationary, or <gasp> have a life, it's such a quick way to keep up with your email. I'm getting ready to head to Scotland on Saturday and I'll be gone for almost 2 weeks. I am so relieved that I don't have to finish a busy day of meetings and misc. work, drag myself to my room exhausted, only to have to log on the Internet to check email. Blackberry, iPhone, -- whatever your method of madness, it's the only way to fly! Happy Travels, Diana