this is the worst phone I ever used! its not clear, there is a buzzing interference at times, the sound quality is terrible...the speaker phone is terrible...

How did this thing ever pass RIM quality control?

the email is great, but everything else about it plainly stinks!!!!

is the sound quality the same on other models??????

Well, I'll have to agree that this is the worst phone I have ever had, but I don't have all the buzzing, etc. that you are describing. Noise cancellation is pathetic. Overall, I bought it as a multifunction device, and most multifunction devices don't do things individually well. You have to accept the trade offs...

You might want to get yours exchanged...

yes, the 7100T voice is probably the worst part of the phone. But i've found that voice for all blackberrys sucks bigtime.

I just ordered a 7130, I'm anxious to see how it sounds.

Wondering if it is your carrier that is the issue. I have a 7100g and it works fine. I'm using Rogers and have no problems. Other people do have some difficulty listening to me when I'm using the speaker, but no worse than a land-line speaker phone.

As for other models with better phones: I've only used a couple of units and the 7100 series is MUCH better than the other units. In fact, had RIM come to the office for a tips & tricks session a while back and the first that he said was "Yes, they suck as phones."

Worst case, grab a headset. I have both a wired and wireless headset. Yesterday, when driving in my very loud car, I called my wife using my wireless headset and she thought I was on a land-line.

...at least for now, I'm leaving well-enough alone! I've read on this forum that the upgrade operating system software can turn the 7100's voice mode into crap, and if you've purchased your 7100 in mid-year or later, chances are you have a later version of the OS than is on mine. I've left mine loaded with the original software that was on it as-purchased in January 2005 {version 3.8.0.128}. You may want to research and try to download and install and earlier version of the OS than the one that's on your device now. Go to "tools," then "settings," and then select "about" to see what version OS is on your device. Decide for yourself if you want to 'downgrade' to an earlier version. I can't say I've known anyone who's done it, but I've read about people doing so in the forum posts.

Good luck!

No problemo w/ the 7105t. This is my first BB and I don't have much to compare it with. Friends with earlier model BB's love the 7100 series. Hearing about the 8700 makes me wonder how much speed I am missing, but no upgrades in the near future.

My company originally used Verizon for all of our voice needs. After about two years, the company decided to get us sales guys into data as well (approx. 6 months ago). When we did, we researched both Verizon and Cingular. In the end, Cingular won the business on both price and phone selection (7100G vs 7250). Although the phones are a little behind the times, I never had too many complaints with Verizon voice service.

With that said, the transition was underway. The first wave of users received the 7100G with Cingular. The 7100G is a fantastic data device. To go from just a voice phone service to data and voice combined we were all thrilled with the 7100G. After the honeymoon was over, we became a little more critical. Although there wasn't any critism about the data plan, the voice quality was horrendous. We discovered that the Bluetooth headsets were limited in their performance. The maximum volume output was very poor; so much so that the Bluetooth devices are no longer used by anyone in the office and they don't even make good paperweights - maybe they would make good skeet? The bottom line is that the voice service is terrible (probably a combination of both the phone and service). I begged my IT department to allow me to go back to Verizon and they agreed.

I received my new BB 7250 from Verizon on 11/16/05. I thought that the 7250, although antiquated, must be better that the 7100G @ Cingular in regards to the voice. What I discovered is that if there is a voice improvement it was minimal at best. With the 7250 I feel I actually took a step backwards in regards to the data portion. The 7250 cannot even hold a candle to the 7100 series.

My conclusions are these: in order to get respectable voice quality on any BB device I feel that you have to use a CORDED headset. I have one on order from Umevoice (www.theboom.com). Since my BB shuffle, I discovered the 7130E on the verizon wireless Web Site. Because I'm within my 15 day window since receiving the 7250, I ordered the 7130E and I expect it by 11/30/05. At minimum I believe that the 7130E will be more in line with the pleasantries (data) on the 7100 series and the reliability of "The Network" with Verizon.

I won't hold my breath but I do have my fingers crossed.

the 7105t from TMO fixed that prob and bluetooth works better

Thanks for the information, but here in the Michigan (Detroit) market TMO has more dead spots than Joey Harrington has incomplete passes.

Thats pretty much everywhere! I am in sales and use over 3000 minutes a month and can tell you that my 7250 with Verizon is great. Never had an issue. It is the network and I have an 7130e on the way

Imalowan, please post your feedback on the 7130 when you get it. I am trying to decide on which model also. Was going to get an 8700 but am concerned about Cingular coverage where I am (New England) and where I travel (California)

--fc

I just got my 7130E today and I am very happy with it. I started with the 7100G @ Cingular (loved the data/hated the phone and service), switched to the 7250 at Verizon (loved the service/hated the phone), and now I have the 7130E.

Besides the much improved level of service, the 7130E has a number of updates to the 7100G. It's the little things like:
1.) Customizable Convenience Key
2.) Specific ringtones for specific callers (7130E calls this "Exceptions" and is easily configurable)
3.) Three Theme Flavors right out of the box

The 7130E takes what was good in the 7100G and improves the minor irritants.

My 7100g has ok, but not exceptional RF. I do fine where I live. I tried to make a call from my mothers place in KY on Thanksgiving, and couldn't keep the connection alive. The moto v400 I had before had no problems at all.

If the 8700 has better RF, I'll get one after the initial insantiy goes away and pocketday starts to work.

Move

how is the voice quality on calls with or without headset?

--fc

Honestly I think that the microphone stinks, just not as bad as the 7100G/T. This may be a sheer coincidance because I've only used the phone for a half-day and I really want the 7130E to be better. I'll know more as the days come and go. For now I have come to grips with the fact that I must use a corded headset to achieve a respectable sound quality for conversations with anyone that's not completely deaf. The bottom line is that none of us should be even having such a conversation in todays day and age. I propose that the degradation in sound quality with microphones is because the Federal Government wants us to go "hands-free".

7100t Owner...

I live in Plano, Tx, and work in Richardson, Tx, (telecom alley). 99% of my calls are placed in those two cities. When I go to the tmobile coverage site, the area I work/drive/live in show excellent coverage. However 50% of my calls in that area are dropped. Usually accompanied by the "beep BeeP BEEP" "beep BeeP BEEP" tones. Other times, they just silently get disconnected. In addition, voice quality is horrible both ways.

I have no problems with email, or any of the other data functions.

Based on what I've read in this forum, there doesn't appear that the latest 4.0.2.49 upgrade will help. But I'll give it a shot. If it doesn't improve things, I give up.

SRM

Move

thanks for the feedback. I will probably bite the bullet and get a 7130 tomorrow (flying today) , keep us posted with what you find.

--fc

had the 7100g from Cingular for about 2 wks. The voice was absolutely horrible!!! Everyone I spoke with said it sounded like I was in a wind tunnel. I went back to a normal flip phone, but still want a blackberry with everything combined. I'm interested in the 7105t with TMO....so far I haven't heard anything bad about the voice on this. Can anyone please advise me here?

That's been my thought too.

No voice quality complaints from my 7100g users, but they spend almost all of their time on a network Cingular just bought (SunCom), not a network that Cingular built themselves.

well, my 7100g is great for data... but the voice is just terrible. I had full signal strength and it still sounded like garbage. I dont understand why they cant make it have decent sound! there seems to be so many people complaining about it... why isnt RIM doing anything about it?