Mobile Posting: Blackberry 8830

I am on top of a Georgian mountain this week (Lookout Mountain, to be specific). It's been a pretty major climate change from Seattle, where I was last weekend.

I did not - and WILL not - cave in to the iPhone craze. However, I did finally get a smartphone. After years of holding out, it was finally time to take the plunge, and so far I haven't been too terribly disappointed. I am actually using my Blackberry 8830 to compose this post. The only thing I've been frustrated with so far is the way Verizon has locked up the GPS feature on this phone so that the only way you can use it is if you pay another fee. Not terribly cool if you are already paying for the data service.

I've still got a couple of weeks to try this out and decide if I really want to keep it, but so far it's looking positive. If you have this phone and have some tips/hacks for me, let me know. Later!

Comments

[DaydayTiz]

Optimism is the content of small men in high places.
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Crack Up"

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[Jeremy]

Well, thanks to all for making me feel a little better about my choice to stay away from the iPhone. The exclusively Cingular thing was the biggest deal for me too, as all my family and work associates are Verizon customers already. Great article, euphrony - thanks for bringing that to our attention!

[Mark]

Hey Jer,

The Blackberry 8830 World Phone from RIM is pretty nice. At work I manage our Blackberry Enterprise Server, so I'm activating and managing these devices all the time for our corporate clients.

Verizon in the US is likely doing the same as every other provider that supports this particular model. It uses TDMA networks by default, so if you roam into an area where TDMA is unavailable it will roam over to a GSM network, and Verizon will bill you for roaming charges. It's the same up here with Bell Canada.

There is no way around this really, so your only other option would be to go with a Blackberry with GSM only. I'd recommend the 8800 (it's the 8830 minus the TDMA feature) or the Blackberry Curve.

Also be aware that well over 90% of cell phone networks are GSM worldwide. TDMA is more prevalent in North America and is an older technology. The only downside with a GSM phone is that you could end up in an area where TDMA is the only service available, but these areas are very far and few between.

I'm looking at getting the Blackberry Curve myself in the near future.

[euphrony]

Jody,
the keyboard issue is one thing the guy from the Chronicle hit on. The iPhone is Bluetooth capable, but only interfaces with a headset for hands-free talking. He could not even get it to interface with an Apple Bluetooth keyboard. Very annoying, I'm sure.

[Jody]

I know several people that bit into the iPhone craze and aren't to pleased with the phone. Two of them have already had problems with their phone. Two reasons I stayed away from it are that it's limited to Cingular and that it's completely touchscreen. There's no backup (i.e. keypad) in the event of problems with the screen.

Also Jeremy, I emailed you seeking help with a marathon training regiment and was wondering if you got the email.

[aaron]

dude, i'm so with you on the iphone thing. but, i'm still rocking the old school phone...no smart phone for me...i think i should probably get with the times and get one. thanks for the comment, you're on my blogroll. hope your week at covenant goes great man. peace.

[euphrony]

The main tech writer for the Houston Chronicle just wrote an article reviewing his first month of trying to use the iPhone (here). He really tried to like it, and was as excited from the hype as anyone else, but it had too many shortcomings in functionality and he kept reaching for his old PDA.