Well here's our first review based on initial tests....a more comprehensive review will follow, enjoy the images - which you may have seen before!!

BlackBerry 8707v review

Love that Today screen!

It's quite a funky little add on - Microsoft have always been good at robbing other peoples ideas so it's nice to see someone get their own back!!!!

In another little quirk of fate we also got a 7130 from O2 today to test. Nice device, much better quality plastics than on the 7100 and Intel based so nice and quick to use. Comes with Zen on as well with OS version 4.1.0.288. It also has the 8700 ambient light sensor behind the LED. Not for me though...I can't go back to suretype!

i believe it was actually first publically launched with the Nextel 7100i then the Verizon 7130e then the Cingular 8700c.



very nice review though. i especially like the back reference to "that snowy winter morning in the Oxfordshire countryside" - very nice visual and a nice little touch for the reader.

I stand corrected...UK site though, so most people here wouldn't know about Verizon and Nextel.

Cheers jibi for the comment on the review....it felt very 'secret location' style!!! Remember my writing style the next time you're considering new moderators!!!!!

I totally agree. Had a Windows pocket pda many years ago and I always glancing at the screen to see what's scheduled for the day. Very convenient.

Luckily they didn't take it too far with the MS bits...the last thing I'd ever want on my BlackBerry is a touch screen and some stupid stylus!!!

So, when is the 8707 coming to Verizon Wireless? I checked the website and found nothing.

-HNS

Nevermind...found this press release on Motorola's site:

BEDMINSTER, NJ and SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – 22 May 2006 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) and Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, today announced that the highly anticipated Moto Q™ will be available starting on May 31. The Moto Q is exclusively available through Verizon Wireless and customers can purchase it online at www.verizonwireless.com on May 31 or at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store on June 5.


-HNS

Initially it will be exclusive to Vodafone UK - I don't know when it'll be available on other networks.

Im sure its going to kick ass...but i hope they do a makeover on it before it hits our shores! It has nothing on the sexiness of the 8700's! =P

I too thought the plastics were not quite as tidy as the 8700 or the new 7130

hnsimpson, the 8707 is UMTS which is a GSM 3G tech. Surely Verizon or Sprint will have an 8700 or 8xxx series Blackberry Qwerty released later in 06 , and maybe (not holding breath) early 2007, just all depends how quickly Rim pushes out the CDMA version.

But rest assured, it will come out, sooner or later. Till the 7100's and 7250's for everyone hahah

I just want the new software with the home screen. Do you all think it will work with the US T-Mobile 8700 like Bharti, Telestra and the others?

BEDMINSTER, NJ and SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – 22 May 2006 – Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) and Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless service provider, today announced that the highly anticipated Moto Q™ will be available starting on May 31.

-HNS[/quote]

Am I missing something here or are you referring to a totally differnt Moto Q device?

I mixed my devices up....the Moto Q is coming 31 May...still no info on the 8707 (as far as I know)

The 8707 will be available in the UK only (on Vodafone) at launch, but after an 'exclusivity' period will be available on other networks.

Doubtful...the 8707v is a Qualcomm CPU.

I got handed a 7130 and I thought the bloody thing was gonna fall apart on my hand.

I've given a 7100 a real beating....I mean a REAL beating and it worked fine afterwards....I wouldn't have the same faith in the 7130 tbh

In fairness the keyboard on the O2 7130 is completely different to the Cingular one I saw on the FCC website, and was a superior quality, so perhaps that's it. I have to say I think it's leaps and bounds above the quality of the 7100 (regardless of carrier branding), but the keys are just too close together for me. Got the digicam with me so will throw up some pics when I have a mo later!