[Pharma]

I have had many different Blackberries, but the 7100t is the worst phone I have ever owned (cellphone or blackberry). I have had 5 different 7100t's an I will be getting rid of it as soon as can. I am going to cancel my TMobile account and pay the 200 early termination fee because they just do not care. I used to be on a corporate account and had 3 different ones then and now two on my personal account. The first on my personal account was switched out because the background noise and volume issue was just awful, with either 3.8 or any of the 4.0 codes. I am so tired of repeating myself and the volume going in and out. TMobile does not care and they offer no credit or anything, even though I have been going way over my minutes because I cannot hear. It's some what better when I use my HS850, but barely. I get told by everyone I talk to that my phone sounds like a piece of crap. If I want to buy a phone through TMobile, I do not get a new activation discount, so I would pay less to cancel and sign up for new service. I am going to go to Cingular and get away from Blackberries until a new small form factor blackberry comes out that actually works as a phone. I know numerous people have talked about this, but I needed to rant about it myself. I am going to go with the Razr. Such a shame because this device has potential, but man I want to just throw the phone at a brick wall everytime I use it.

[dmiron]

I had the same experience and whenever I called customer service, I was told - no one else has these issues. SWITCH!

[gadgetman]

The 7100t is a wonderful phone in my opinion. I had a Treo 600 and tried a Treo 650. The 7100 beats them easily. The best thing is instant push e-mail. Can't live without it now. And with 3.8, the sound and violume are just great. No complaints. My wife has one too and feels the same way.

(I downgraded from 4.0 which was terrible. No issues at all with 3.8.)

[DrumWild]

Haven't had these problems with mine yet, and I do have the latest OS.

[jasonb]

I have not had any big problems with my phone yet. I have upgraded to the latest OS as well. I would be lost without the BB now.

[igraul]

There are many phones worse than the 7100t. You are wrong.

[iamchrismullins]

I would take the 7100 back and trade it in or as you refered to, absorb the early termination fee. I had the 7100 about a week and immediately returned it for the 7290.
have not looked back since. The 7100 may be an OK phone but it doesnt work for me as a BB.

[kd78]

Originally Posted by Pharma

Such a shame because this device has potential, but man I want to just throw the phone at a brick wall everytime I use it.

I have had three 7100t's and I feel totally the same way. I LOVE the push email and can't live without it now, but the phone is just such a piece of garbage for me.

The first two unit's microphones went out so that the other person could not hear me at all unless I was using my headset. Though the replacement units fixed the microphone, I also have a laundry list of annoyances. The top two would have to be:
1) Reception is terrible at my home (when all other phones with the same carrier have worked fine)
2) The sound quality is ridiculous. I too have so many people tell me that they can hardly hear me. The noise cancellation seems non-existent.

On top of all of this, T-mobile sends me a letter in the mail telling me that the last unit I turned in was not covered under the warranty, so they would be charging me around 70 bucks for the last replacement hand-set. Seems like a ripoff to me seeing I bought the first handset for $99.

Anyways, I absolutely love the push email and I like the form factor, speakerphone, some of the cool apps (berry411, weather, etc), but this phone really does deserve a good toss across the room.

I am trying my hardest to find a new phone to move to (on any carrier) but I truly have not found anything that I really like that has TRUE push email.

[Pharma]

igraul - if it was my first blackberry, or first 7100 fine, but I've had many different blackberries, used to support them, and this is my 5th 7100, and yes a couple were worse, but this is the worst cell phone ever. Notice, I didn't say worst blackberry, but worst cell phone

I have personally used over 30 blackberries for an extended period of time and for phone quality this is the worst.

I do not want the larger form factor anymore as I am not on a corporate BES, this is merely for personal use. So down the road maybe I will go back to blackberries, but for now I can't wait to get a Razr. Don't get me wrong, I will support this forum and the technology as I do not wish to lose my edge, but will not be using one for much longer until a new handheld code fixes this issue, they take the phone back and fix it right, or a better quality phone comes out (small form factor).

[roccitman]

I have not had the problems that Pharma has but I can tell you that my 7100t, while cool, can be quite frustrating:
1-Needs to be rebooted (maybe you old school blackberry folks are used to this) and sometimes won't place calls until it gets rebooted. AND, you have to yank the battery to do it. AND it takes minutes to reboot.
2-Painfully slow dialing
3-Not really happy with ANY of the themes
4-Battery life sucks

But D@#n is that email thing cool. I guess it's a love/hate relationship.
-roccit

[richard371]

I have the 7100 and treo 650 and although the 7100 or more robust as far as email the phone on the treo is much better. It's loud and clear and sounds great on both ends and has better reception. It does not have the slow search prob of the 7100.

[powerlytix]

I've had mine for 2 weeks and love it. Traded in from 7730 because I needed Bluetooth.

Using the VeriChat for IM and the Voyager headset 8 hours per day (yes I charge it) for calls. Can't imagine life w/out it. The keyboard stinks in comparison but the tradeoff was right for me.

When the 7730 has bluetooth it will be the best product bar none.

[NTegg]

I have had a few BB phones and I love my 7100T the best. I have had no big problems with mine excet a few small ones that were easly fixed.

[cjoshdoll]

Goto the 7100g on Cingular, havent had any issues with mine, nor have any of my users.

[xsw]

I have the same back ground noise problem as well. I am on my THIRD 7100g (yes cingular). I think it makes no difference, because it's not related to the network.

For those of you who say that they have never experienced the problem, do this: Drive in your car at about 40MPH w/ the windows rolled up, radio off, and fan low. Call your home/office voicemail and don't say much. You will hear a TREMENDOUS amount of background noise! This is what everyone hears when they talk to you. I did something further. On the same stretch of road, I left myself another voicemail from my cheap (FREE), 2 year old Nokia phone on Cingular. Same driving conditions, and it was so quiet that my voicemail would hang up because it thinks I am done leaving a message.

This is the WORST cell phone I've ever had as well, and I've had cell phones since the TRANSPORTABLE (cell phone in a suit case) cell phone days! If we all complain to RIM, perhaps somebody will do something about it. I can't believe this is their new flagship product.

[CodyMac]

Originally Posted by xsw

I have the same back ground noise problem as well. I am on my THIRD 7100g (yes cingular). I think it makes no difference, because it's not related to the network.

For those of you who say that they have never experienced the problem, do this: Drive in your car at about 40MPH w/ the windows rolled up, radio off, and fan low. Call your home/office voicemail and don't say much. You will hear a TREMENDOUS amount of background noise!

Wow, sounds like you need a new car. All that cabin noise would drive me batty...

[zaazz]

Originally Posted by igraul

There are many phones worse than the 7100t. You are wrong.

Agree. My last 2 phones were total crap but I love this phone now. I don't think I could be away from it for a full day.

[Rodolfo]

Too bad you got stuck. I've never had a bad phone that I couldn't figure out was bad in the trial period. I've been lucky with a 7100t that has worked nearly flawlessly for almost five months. One phone shut-off in the first month and not a single reset, volume peoblems, or anything else. The PDA software is lame, but the mail and phone work great and you can't beat the portability and cost factors. BTW, T-M voice and data costs are also unbeatable. Good luck with the Razr -nice phone. I may get one myself now that T-M has it.

[Pharma]

Just got my razr last night an I can't believe what a difference. Had my number ported from TMobile to Cingular in 10 minutes. I called my usual friends and family and right away they were like I can't believe the difference, most didn't even know if I was using the speaker phone or not. I still will be involved with Blackberries, but until another model comes out I will not be buying one (for personal use).

[jibi]

Pharma, those with the 7520 have stated the latest handheld software fixed their BT volume issues. TMO has a new version of the software (newer revision than the latest for the 7520) that will be released in the next few weeks. It may or may not fix the issue.