Hi Everyone,

I have not had a BB device before, and looking to get one. I travel a good bit, and need to get email etc... Which Vendor seems to have the best US service and the best BB to get. I'm not really into the Camera and MP3, I'm more interested in usability, applications, and using the BB as a phone.

Any help would be appreciated.

You will not be disappointed with the 8700. Mine is 8700g with Tmobile, and coverage is good for me. The phone is 299 with rebates on a service contract. I believe the Cingular version cost more, like $400, but you might get better coverage with Cingular.

For coverage, I'd look at a map at either website and see which has coverage to your expected travel locations. I travel a great deal and am doing fine with Tmobile.

Concur with JSanders....look at the coverage maps for your home area and the regions to which you travel. Do you use a cell phone now? Are you happy with the coverage you get with your current provider?

Regardng the device, suggest you visit some stores and handle the different models. I have the 8700 now and it is an awsome machine. Had the 7100 before, and my complaint with it was the display isn't visible in daylight. Frankly, I'm crazy about the whole BB experience and don't have anything else negative to say about the handhelds or the system.

Wirelessly posted (8700c: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Any of the 8700 devices you will be more than impressed with! And to beat a dead horse check out the various coverage maps.

Choose the carrier first, then select one of their models, or get an unlocked model that will work with the carrier you choose. The new 8100 is a slick little device but there are compromises with the small size. If you don't care about the bells and whistles the new 8100 brings to the table then the 8700 series is the big boy on the block. That's the one with the qwerty keyboard and is widely reguarded as the best choice for sending lots of email. The 71xx series is taller and more narrow, and has the SureType keyboard. It's all personal preference. I've had both qwerty and SureType models and I prefer the SureType style like the 7105t I was using. I just replaced it with the Pearl 8100, another SureType device. If you can find a store that will let you spend more than a few minutes with one it's a good idea to get the feel for the different models. Send a couple of emails with each style and see if one style or the other is better for you. Just a few emails certainly won't be definitive but it can rule out SureType if you absolutely hate it. Opinions vary, and there are some on this forum that seem to feel SureType was developed by the AntiChrist.

Best coverage is Cingular and Verizon. I travel all over the US and have not had any real problems with Cingular except in mountainous area where you can't see a tower, and north of Augusta, Maine. Worst according to people I know is Sprint.

Is there any reason for anyone to be north of Augusta, Maine? (unless your doing some wilderness adventure!)

just kidding--Maine is a wonderful place I have the opportunity to visit 3-4x year, love it.

I live in the panhandle of florida and currently have Cingular. I was looking to go with T-Mobile so that I also can get the hotspot service. Since I fly delta all the time it just makes things easier in the crown room. Plus I want one bill... However, I read somewhere that Tmobile was going to be slow to upgrade there network compared to Verizon and Cingular. Makes the decision more difficult, do I go with the Cingular and get the Verizon PC wireless capability?????

Once again, I'd say put coverage at the top of your list. Prices and features are useless if you can't use the service. As for which carrier has the best coverage, it really depends on what specific locations you're talking about. There are no blanket "best" carriers despite what some people claim.

I agree with Rambo, et al, you need to first look at where you will be using the device - where you live, work, play, travel, etc. and see what coverage is best and pick the carrier. Then you can pick the phone.

I think both Cingular and Verizon have the best coverage in the US right now. T-Mo is coming along slowly and Sprint/Nextel lag behind.

Personally, I carry a Cingular BB (8700) and Verizon phone (Moto E815) and Verizon air card. Cingular's coverage where I need it in New England is very good. The Verizon phone is my personal device and I also use it when the Cingualr coverage isn't as good. I have the Verizon AirCard simply because their data coverage is the fastest and best where i use it.