Need the forum's expert advice..... my company set me free to choose the BB Unit and Carrier/Service I wanted (too a limited extend based on $$), but after doing a lot of research I'm confused as to which unit and provider is the best. It looks like TMO has the best data rates, but do not offer the 8700 - should I go with TMO for their data plan and go with the 7105t? How is TMO voice service? Net, net.... I'm asking the forum for thier advice, who should I go with and with what BB unit?

Thanks in advance for everyone's help

I have been with T-Mobile for the last 5 years and have to say I have no real complaints at all either voice or data. Their prices are better than most. Blackberry plans are pretty good. I do wish they had the 8700 too. I'll just have to wait anther month or two. Their copverage can get spotty away from cities and highways, but you'll still have access to voice service.

Cingular would be my next choice due to coverage but $44.99 for data only, to me it seems a bit high. My experience has not been good with their voice quality, but still it would be my second choice.

You will find wide-ranging view on this forum, and in the end everyone is going to be right. My $0.02 is go with T-Mobile ant the 7290 or wait until T-Mobile releases it.

On a side note, I wonder how many customers T-Mo may be losing due to no real "hard" news on the release of the 8700? Oh well I'm sure they are surviving

I have had a 7130e on verizon for about 3 weeks. The evdo is very fast and the 7130 can be used as a tethered modem. I have always had good luck with verison for coverage. It just comes down to prefrence, and can you get used to the smaller keyboard..

I started with a 8700c that I had unlocked (insert shameless plug for Adam at gsmphonesource.com here ) for use on T*Mobile due to the quality of the 8700, my past experiences with Cingular not being so good, and T*Mobile's value pricing.

Unfortunately I ended up having to get a 7250 on Verizon due to the fact that I use the phone function heavily (I am a contractor/developer and am in the field all day) so the my primary use is phone with email/data being nice to have, and in my location T*Mobil’s voice quality is spotty although I never had a problem with the data portion. Verizon was my prior provider with a Treo 650 (The BlackBerry is so much better but that’s another topic)

That is a long-winded way of saying think about how you are going to use the device then select carrier that best matches that need, then select the best device your chosen carrier has. I look at it like this;

1) Carrier based on - coverage, voice quality, data quality/speed, GSM vs CDMA (world capable vs US limited)
2) Particular Blackberry device based on – features needed/wanted

I don’t think you can compare the 72xx line of BlackBerry to the 8700. In my opinion the 8700 is far superior. It has a fantastic screen, snappy processor, and with the right network (EDGE) good data speed. The 72xx is fine but I sure would love a 8700 on Verizon. I did keep the 8700 on T*Mobile that I use when traveling internationally .

I have a 7100t with Tmobile and I have to say I enjoy it. This was my first Blackberry so I can't compare using the SureType keyboard to using the full QWERTY. I rarely have problems with it though. Tmoblies plans I think are fairly priced and in my opinion, their customer services is the best (but then again I was switching from Sprint who was an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE). After I had this device for about a month I noticed alot of people were having trouble hearing me. I called into Tmobile and after a few short troubleshooting tests, the rep said "well...whats your address we will just send you a new handset." I didnt even have to ask for one. I do pay for the monthy insurance and they felt this was a manufacturer defect so they just replaced it. I had to basically go to Sprint and get loud and act like a looney toon to get them to even consider that they sold a device that could possibly have any kind of manufacturer defect.

As far as the service itself goes on the phone, I rarely drop calls and I think their coverage is expanding quite rapidly with some deals they have made with smaller carriers. And you dont pay for roaming.

All in all I have no complaints with the 7100t or Tmobile. But then again the only think I have to compare it to was Sprint.

Hope that helps.

I've been using TMob for several years now (started when they were still VoiceStream) and I have been nothing but happy with them.

While I had some roaming issues early on with them, it's now rare that I travel somewhere where I don't have a signal to use.

As I'm primarily in Milwaukee/Chicago, I'm well covered most all of the time.

I've yet to find a data plan to beat the $19.99/Unlimited I pay for now, and would be hard pressed to find another carrier with more helpful and friendly tech support.

I'd easy recommend them if you have coverage in your area.

I don't think anyone really answered the question. The carrier you go with should be made based upon how the service works for you, not which one has the coolest phones. You need to check out the coverage in the areas where you will be using the phone - home, work, travel, etc. then pick the best phone to suit your needs, be it a BB or anything else.

In my area of New England, both Cingular and Verizon offer the best coverage, but there are certain areas when only Sprint has coverage.

Just my 3 cents.

Exactly. First figure out which carrier is best for the places you plan to use the device. Then let us know if you want a phone that also does email or an email device that will also make calls and we can help you better from there.