Blackberry 7130 or 8703

[w-r-g]

Alltel will probably be the network and will be tethering quite a bit to the laptop and was wondering which BB worked best? I would like the BB to sync up with MS Outlook but I doubt that is possible but have never used a BB either. Does the BB just use software to manage contacts and things on the desktop or is there a way to sync with my contacts in Outlook? I like the smaller 7130 for its smaller size. Either of those work GSM? Need something that is going to work out of the country too.

Any help appreciated.

[hf1khal]

Originally Posted by w-r-g

Alltel will probably be the network and will be tethering quite a bit to the laptop and was wondering which BB worked best? I would like the BB to sync up with MS Outlook but I doubt that is possible but have never used a BB either. Does the BB just use software to manage contacts and things on the desktop or is there a way to sync with my contacts in Outlook? I like the smaller 7130 for its smaller size. Either of those work GSM? Need something that is going to work out of the country too.

Any help appreciated.

Email synch will not happen on the PC unless you are on BES. GSM is the way if you want to use over seas but Alltel's offering is not GSM but CDMA. For GSM you would have to look at T Mobile or Cingular. Now as to contacts, tasks, notes, yes those will be synched with outlook using teh the provided BB software. Now if this matters for you and you want to be with altel, there is a rumer that a CDM/GSM dual version of the BB 8800 that will be released by a CDMA carrier in May (VZW fisrst) and possbily Alltel might also pick that one up

[mcwilliams]

Originally Posted by hf1khal

Now if this matters for you and you want to be with altel, there is a rumer that a CDM/GSM dual version of the BB 8800 that will be released by a CDMA carrier in May (VZW fisrst) and possbily Alltel might also pick that one up

I hadn't heard that rumor about an 8800 dual mode GSM/CDMA coming out. I will check with some people at RIM and see what I can find out. Now as far as the 7130 or 8703, like HF1 said if you need international go Cingular. But if you go Cingular I would look at either the 8800 or the Pearl, and the 8700 in that order. I think the 8800 and 8700 are easier, but that's just personal opinion due to the two of those having one letter per key. Well whatever you decide, enjoy the BB. I know that I love mine and it has made my life easier.

[hf1khal]

The 8830 is not a rumer and has been announced. VZW will get it first then followed by Sprint. the VZW version will be locked to use a VZW supplied GSM SIM card while the Sprint version will be unlocked (on the GSM side) and one can use a prepaid or another SIM while traveling abroad. The 8830 will only be GPRS on the GSM side (instead of EDGE) and will be EVDO on teh CDMA side. No news as if Alltel will also be selling that yet.

[mcwilliams]

Originally Posted by hf1khal

Now if this matters for you and you want to be with altel, there is a rumer that a CDM/GSM dual version of the BB 8800 that will be released by a CDMA carrier in May (VZW fisrst) and possbily Alltel might also pick that one up

See above as to why I thought it was a rumor, it's what you stated.

[hf1khal]

Originally Posted by mcwilliams

See above as to why I thought it was a rumor, it's what you stated.

Yup but that was before I saw the press releases and since then it became official.

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by w-r-g

Alltel will probably be the network and will be tethering quite a bit to the laptop and was wondering which BB worked best? I would like the BB to sync up with MS Outlook but I doubt that is possible but have never used a BB either. Does the BB just use software to manage contacts and things on the desktop or is there a way to sync with my contacts in Outlook? ...

Originally Posted by hf1khal

Email synch will not happen on the PC unless you are on BES. ... Now as to contacts, tasks, notes, yes those will be synched with outlook using teh the provided BB software.

Syncing with MS Exchange is not only possible, it is the primary reason that RIM, the maker of the BlackBerry, is in business. As hf1khal indicated, most people use BBs to sync with their corporate email services. That is, their company is running a BlackBerry Enterprise Server and this server is connected to their MS Exchange server. Given that this is set up for you, syncing with the your Exchange Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, etc., just works.

Please note that you do not sync with your desktop, or Outlook on your desktop. Your desktop Outlook client (not Outlook Express) and your BB both sync with Exchange independently. Since this happens quickly, they are both basically always in sync (given that both devices are on the network). So, for example, if you add a Contact using Outlook, it wil appear on your BB in seconds, and vice versa - if you add it on the BB, it will appear in Outlook.

There is very little setup you should need to do except for your preferred alerts, signature, and the delete behavior on the BB itself.

I understand that some people use the BB without a corporate email service behind it, but I can't really imagine what functionality it would have. Hope this clarifies things a bit.


SW

[mcwilliams]

Originally Posted by hf1khal

Yup but that was before I saw the press releases and since then it became official.

Ah, got you. I heard a rumor that you knew a lot more than I did Have a good one, and thanks for the clarification!