I used a 7290 for about 6 months but found it to be an inadequate phone for my needs. I use the phone a lot and found the 7290 uncomfortable to hold to my ear for long calls and the maximum volume was way too low for noisy environments. I then switched to the 7100, which was a really good phone. In fact the speakerphone on the 7100 was about the best I’ve ever heard on a cell phone, both volume and clarity. I had TO get rid of the 7100 though because the screen could not be viewed in daylight, and I really missed the full keyboard. For the last 6 months I’ve been using a Treo 650. The phone works better than the 7290, but I miss the true BB experience and the Treo is buggy.

Can anyone comment on weather the 8700 is likely to have the same “phone” characteristics as the 7290? Are there any reasons to believe based on the specks (or anyone that’s actually used one) that the 8700 will perform phone functions better than previous BB’s?

Thanks for your opinions.

I do not know about the 8700 but I have found that using a bluetooth headset on BBs is the better way to go.

I agree a BT headset is preferable to holding a Blackberry to your ear. However, there are many times when it's inconvenient to use a headset. I need for the BB itself to be a useable and functional phone on it's own.

Have you considered the phones out there that support BBConnect or BBBuiltIn? There are a numbe of them now that are designed to be more of a phone and then have a little BB bonus. I would assume (I do not know from experience) that they would treat you a little better than the buggy treo and you get your company's true push email. I had a Siemens SK65 for a little while, but couldn't handle the full split keyboard, but I believe it was a better phone. And with the 7105 line coming out, the screen issue will be corrected so this may end up being a good model to go back to (if you are willing to try the suretype again). It looks like there are atleast 3 or 4 models of phones out there right now with these capabilities, might be worth a try.

I always keep my headset on the BB but I would love to try the Bluetooth.. I used BT on Nokia phones and the headset was pretty noisy or lots of interference.
I wonder how good the voice quality is with BB devices specially with 7290?

Well, at least the 8700 will have dedicated 'send' and 'end' buttons. That alone will be a big improvement for me.

I just hope they improve the voice quality with or without Bluetooth. The voice and sound quality of BB as phones is pretty poor.

There's also a large range of audio quality offered by various Bluetooth headsets.

I really hope the voice quality and blue tooth improves - for me the current quality is not acceptable. Its pretty pathetic when our corporate cingular rep calls me and I can never understand her because she is talking on her BB.

I am currently on a Treo 650, sorry. I want to switch to 8700 when it arrives on Cingular. Email and messaging are important but the datebook, phonebook and task list are crucial. I also want call clarity. Is this too much to ask and will I be happy making the switch to BB?

I like many other are hopeful that the 8700 will be a significant improvement on voice quality and Bluetooth but until it is released we won't know. Given that they have just release the desktop 4.1 version it must be getting close to release and we can only hope that they have been reading this forum and seeing what people are complaining about and addressing the complaints.

your Treo 650 will have a Blackberry Connect software update in January. That will give you the same instant email as a BB.

Well since the Palm OS is now officially dead I think more of us will be switching (back, in my case) to BB from Palm...

TM