hello I am a former BB 8700 and Pearl user.
I got fed up with the pearl suretype and lack of screen realestate.

So I bought a Dash and connect with my offices MS server via active sync.
so far so good- i like the ability to sync my calendar, contacts and folders remotely- I did not have that with my BB (my work doesnt have a BB server).
I also like the size of the dash- and it has been stable enough. It took some time to get used to the OS coming from a BB. At first I hated it but now I am used to it- Still think BB has a better email and OS. The camera and wifi (I rarely use). The #1 reason I like the Dash is that I can get email for $5.99 a month as compared to BB $19 or $29 plan. Anyway- I am thinking about going back to a BB.

I have a few questions-
Is there any way to get BB to work with my MS server?
is there any way to get pushed email for cheaper?
If I choose to make the change- should I unlock a 8800? or wait for a TMO version?
Does anyone really know when it will come out for TMO or will it have any changes from the CINGULAR version?

Thanks in advance

i moved to the 8800 and i have tmobile it is an awesome machine. For any kind of data you will need the blackberry plan which is 19.99 per month on tmobile and there is no other way to get data or email without it

I would wait for the iphone to see what thats all about, but for now im sticking with my pearl ,because the 8800 from cingular is not much of an upgrade, so if i were you i would wait to see the next generation of cell phones and the iphone.and this will happen the next 3 months.

I am using the 8800 unlocked on T-Mo now and it is excellent. I had the Blackjack for a while seeing if I could get used to Windows Mobile before my contract expires with T-Mo in hopes of jumping to Cingular for the 3G data. After a month with the Blackjack and a week with the 8800, the 8800 blows the Blackjack away as far as functionality goes. I miss the camera and video recording and my Slingbox (although I couldn't use it a whole lot on T-Mobile's EDGE network unless I had a really good connection). But the 8800 just beats any Windows Mobile phone in every other category. I am using the 8800 unlocked that I bought from Cingular, but they give you 30 days to use it and try it out to see if you want to keep it. I may just try and return it once I know a date for the T-Mobile 8800 and the 30 days is up with Cingular (let's just hope they don't know it's unlocked haha).

I would definitely make the switch to the 8800 now. It's been an awesome device so far.

Does the GPS work on Tmo?

Yes. GPS is not carrier dependent.

I thought you were itching to find a store in the Austin area to get one.

There are many ways. Check out blackberryfaq.com and talk to your IT guys as certain methods may not even be applicable. Of course, the ideal approach is to use BES.

Not on a Blackberry.

That's your judgement call to make. Is it worth it to you? Do you have a pending upgrade discount with TMO that you could use on their 8800 when they release it?

Nope. No definite/confirmed release date. Plenty of rumors but those don't really matter. Odds are that it won't be much different than Cingular's given RIM's history.

Though you do need a BB data plan to retrieve maps.

takeshi- thanks for answering most of my questions- I appreciate it