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"Pretty darn good" on by Januss331
Pros: Multimedia+Organizer+World Capabilities=Great!
Cons: PIX Messaging is absent-Verizon's fault
Summary: I just purchased this phone a few days ago and I'm loving it. This is my first smartphone and I'm quite pleased with my choice-it was between this or a Palm. As a student who works, I have a very hectic schedule and I needed a good functional phone that would keep me on top of everything that goes on my life. Preferably, this device would be a little customizable to suit my needs (ringtones, backgrounds, little things like that). Well, the 8830 does the trick just fine. Going from a T9 to a QWERTY keyboard has been a little rough-but that would be the same for any smartphone with a similar keyboard. That being said, I am adjusting quite nicely, despite the keys being on the smaller side.
I have an iPod, so I don't rely on my phone for music. However, I do like the fact that I can use mp3's as ringtones (and with the appropriate program, you can cut clips from your favorite songs-I use Audacity). You'll definitely want to get a Micro SD card to go with it. Uploading photos, music, synching with my Mac is no problem at all-I'm using Mark/Space, not the PocketMac program that comes with the Blackberry software.
I have yet to try the global functionality of it. Also, something that I realized after purchasing the phone is that since it doesn't have a camera, you CANNOT recieve a PIX/FLIX message directly. Instead, you'll get a text saying to go to a website to look at it from a computer. From there you can email it to yourself and then you can download it to your device. Convoluted, I know. But this is a fault of Verizon, not the device itself. If you look in the manual, you'd actually be able to get the MMS itself had Verizon allowed it. C'est la vie.
The 8830 is fast and responsive and pretty accurate at providing directions when using the Maps application-I've only used it a couple of times though.
I really like the fact that this phone is SMALL. Yes, the Palms aren't as wide, but the 8830 is a hell of a lot thinner, and slides easily into my jeans without having the, "Is that a Blackberry in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" look.
Sound quality is very good, both on the device itself and on a Bluetooth headset. I'm using an LG HBM-730 headset which is great (nice, small, Chocolate design). The speakerphone is also quite good. When testing out the sound quality for music, I was also quite pleased. Ringtones that I have cut using Audacity sound clear with very little distortion-and are loud enough.
All in all, I like this phone and the only reason I don't give it a 10 is because of a fault of Verizon combined with the smallish keys. -
"Buyer beware!" on by kadl7
Pros: Excellent screen, great voice quality and useful case included.
Cons: Service issues which Verizon cannot solve.
Summary: I have tried 4 devices with various problems. I have been trying to upgrade from an 8703. I like the one phone number for US and non-US voice and data services. The first device would not synchronize with Microsoft Outlook Calander. The second device got very hot when used as a modem tethered to a computer. The third device worked great in voice mode overseas but data mode would not work in the UK. The fourth device would not work in data mode in the US.
I do not mean to post a rant. In the past, Verizon Wireless has been terrific to me. Their organization has bungled the launch of this device. The retail store staff is clueless and their technical support is not much better.
If international data is important to you, go to another carrier for now. Wait until Verizon fixes problems with this device before buying.Updated
It turns out that successive Verizon store reps who activated my service inserted the SIM card wrong. The cut corner has to be on the outside as shown on the small icon where the card is to be inserted. The problem arises from Verizon reps being unfamiliar with SIM cards. A member of their technical support staff pointed this out and since then the phone works exceptionally well in voice and data mode within and outside the United States. This device works as advertized. Great product for the business minded! Helpful service from VZW. Highly recommended. -
"Switched from the Q and will never look back" on by marshw
Pros: Fast with lookup, great sound and thin
Cons: Keys are too close together, opening the battery compartment is a pain in the butt
Summary: My second Blackberry and I'm hooked...
I tried the 9100 series when Verizon first introduced and was so disappointed I figured I'd never try one again.
I have an extremely large address book and sync it with Salesforce.com, as a result the Q was slow and very quirky looking up addresses and even just dialing sometimes. This was the single biggest reason I was willing to give BB a shot again. I am not disappointed.
The sound quality is superior to any other phone I've ever had and its a good size for me to slip in my jacket or pants pocket. Having access to email is always handy.
The downsides...
The person that designed the latch for the battery compartment should be forced to open one all day. Its just bad design. For me the keys took some getting used to. They are very close together but afteer a few days became much more comfortable and easy to use.
If you travel outside the US and need this type of power, I'd go for it in a minute. -
"Good phone that unfortunately is from Verizon" on by techlawyer
Pros: Dual band (CDMA & GSM) capability; messaging and e-mail
Cons: Small keyboard; Disabled GPS; Verizon sales and support
Summary: I've had service from other wireless providers and in my opinion Verizon's coverage in the U.S. is the best. So right now, I have a Verizon phone for the U.S. and a T-mobile phone for my international travel (which I do fairly often). The idea of one number and one phone that I can use both in the U.S. and overseas is appealing. I thought that the Blackberry 8830 might be the perfect solution -- and it still may be the right answer -- but it's far from perfect -- and one of the big reasons for that is that it's from Verizon.
I recently returned from some international travel -- so I have had the chance to use the phone in several countries outside the U.S. -- Germany, Israel, Jordan, and Azerbaijan. Ultimately I was able to get voice service in all of those countries -- with an initial problem that I will describe soon. E-mail service was available only in Germany and Israel -- in spite of the fact that both Jordan and Azerbaijan have GPRS (the GSM data service). I assume that the problem in those two countries is not lack of technical capability but simply the lack of a data roaming agreement with Verizon.
Because of some problems with Verizon sales (which, among other things, failed to send me the phone in the time frame that was originally promised and then had it delivered to the wrong address on the day that I was leaving the country), I was not able to fully set up the phone before leaving the U.S. When I arrived in Frankfurt (where I was changing planes), I was looking forward to making a few calls from the airport. But the phone kept cycling from one carrier to the other -- first going to "SOS" mode, then showing three bars -- then on to the next carrier. I tried calling the toll-free nnumber for Germany that was listed on the wallet guide that I received for the Verizon Global Roaming Service -- and found that it didn't work. So instead, I had to call the U.S. number listed on the global roaming card that came with the 8830 -- I believe that I will be charged international rates for those calls, although I can't confirm that since I haven't yet received the bill for that time period.
The tech. support folks at Verizon were able to come up with the right remedy for that initial problem (removing and reinstalling the battery and the SIM card)-- although when I came back through Frankfurt on my return trip -- they weren't able to solve the problem I experienced in which my e-mail messages kept "looping" -- the 8830 would first download some messages, then delete them, then redownload them, etc. in an endless loop that didn't permit me to actually read the messages. The customer service rep. took a message and promised to have the tech. support folks call back -- but almost 4 hours later when I had to shut my phone off on the plane, I still hadn't heard from them. So on that layover, my Blackberry did me little good because I wasn't able to use it to access my e-mail.
Then there is the issue with the GPS capability -- which Verizon has disabled. Before trying the 8830, I was using the LG 9800 -- and I got accustomed to having the VZ Navigator avaiable. The 8830 is being marketed for business people on the go and you would think that it would be sold with the GPS capability enabled -- but then again, this is Verizon. In contrast, Sprint, which I have read will start offering the 8830 in July, already is advertising the GPS capability of this device -- and apparently does not intend to disable it as Verizon has done. I've read a variety of things about when -- or if -- Verizon will enable this capability but it really irritates me that they would start selling the phone without this capability.
Although the keys are a bit on the small side -- and I don't particularly like the blue backlighting -- in general I like the phone. But I don't like what Verizon has done with it -- or how Verizon has sold and supported it.
So my choice is stay with the 8830 on Verizon -- and believe that at some point in the future, they may offer a GPS navigation service (undoubtedly for some additional charge) -- or turn the phone in and try the Sprint version when it comes out. At this point, I'm not sure which way I'll go. -
"Total Device Failure" on by submarine2
Pros: Form factor; combo device
Cons: Device failure
Summary: Got my 8830 a few weeks ago from VZ. Switched from T corporate 8700 and had my IT dept configure teh 8830. Already had Verizon cel. Configured both phone and corp email on the new 8830. Both phone and email worked well in the US. Keyboard clearly subpar though. Went to France after 2 weeks. Made one cel phone call after I landed, but couldnt send emails. Popped out Sim card and battery in attempt to reset. After I put them back in and powered up the device, it completely failed. Black screen! Had 2 fully charged batteries with me. Tried everything. Total disaster to be in France without either a phone or corp email. Called VZ Global support #. Nothing they could do, other than offer to send a replacement to my IT dept. Thats the plan we're working on right now. Again, total disaster. It seems like the problem is in the device, but no idea. I would strongly advise you to wait to purchase or make sure a significant number of users have tested and make sure the device and service works. Imagine if Verizon sold several hundred of these to a corporation and problems like this occurred. No CIO or IT mgr would tolerate it! I'm contemplating switching everything back to T. Buyer beware.
Updated
The saga continues. Verizon support, on Mon, said they'd fedex phone to my assistant at work for delivery Tue. Called on Wed when phone not received and support said no record of ever sending. Still in Europe without phone or blackberry email. Support would not allow my assistant to track the package, since she was not authorized to access any information about my acct due to "privacy" restrictions. I fail to see how them tracking a package violates my privacy, but o well. Bottom line is I've experienced a disastrous loss of corporate and personal connectivity.Updated
Back in US now. Never did get the 8830 to work in France. VZ never sent one to my assistant, as promised. Went to VZ store to return dead 8830. They gave me a new one and had phone configured in 20 minutes. My IT dept set up corp email next morning, so now I'm up and running completely, again. VZ tech support said my email problem overseas may have been because my account wasnt correctly provisioned. (VZ, of course, provisioned the phone!) I'm not at all sure I'm going to stick with VZ or the 8830, but may try out for a while longer as long as I'm in 30 day window. I'm looking for an oppty to have device tested overseas and am going to test the tethered modem service as well. I'd love to hear from others who have used 8830 overseas or the tethered modem service, so I can determine if my experience is unique or more common. Will update after I try tethered modem service.
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