[JSylvia007]

Alright... I've been a Verizon Wireless customer now for almost 7 years... I personally feel that its time for a change. I KNOW that Verizon has the "Best" network around. I'll continue to say that until i can be proven otherwise. For now though, I'm seriously entertaining switching to cingular. This switch is PURELY because of their hardware technology. Its been stated before that Verizon is ALWAYS about a year behind when it comes to new phones.

Let me say that differently... New phones that I care about (PDA / BBerry).

My question is this are there any features that are in the 8700 that are NOT in the 8100?

~Jake

[kasperapd]

Full QWERTY keyboard of course. Also, you be going from EVDO speeds on your 8703e to EDGE speeds on the 8100c.

[brucejr]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I am enjoying the bejeepers out of my 8703e with VZW!

[JSylvia007]

I agree... Honestly, I like my 8703e on VZW... but there are just some things that I thought I could live without and simply can't (voice dialing is a biggy). I knew that I was losing the full qwerty, as well as the data speed. Honestly though, will I notice the data difference if I only use the BBerry for email (not tethering), and very little web browsing? I doubt it.

[kasperapd]

As someone who has used a 7130e on Verizon, and now the Pearl on T-Mobile, I can tell you that in my opinion, you are right. I don't notice any real difference in speed when using the BB for email or light web surfing. But, as you said, tethering is another issue.

[JSylvia007]

I believe my last question is about the holster. First let me say... Shame on you RIM...

Do they make a "RIM" style holster for the Pearl? I dont want a leather man-purse... I just want my black plastic "keep-my-phone-on-my-belt" holster. I cant seem to find one anywhere, and especially from Rim.

Let me know!

[kasperapd]

To my knowledge, I have not seen an OEM black plastic holster from RIM. They have a black lamb skin holster that it nice. If you want a good black plastic holster, I'd suggest looking at:

Seidioonline.com

[Aroc]

Originally Posted by JSylvia007

For now though, I'm seriously entertaining switching to cingular. This switch is PURELY because of their hardware technology.

I agree. This is why we switched to Cingular from Nextel/Verizon at work. The other two reasons were our overall bill is less, and two we now have international coverage (except Korea and Japan).

My question is this are there any features that are in the 8700 that are NOT in the 8100?

I assume you mean the 8700 on Verizon and the 8100 on Cingular. None really other than EV-DO and full QWERTY. Cingular will soon be offering the 8800 (without camera, without wifi/UMA). Other advantages of Cingular BBs over Verizon is that the Cingular BB will work overseas (Except Korea and Japan) for both voice and data, and the BB will have a SIM card that can be used to swap to new/different phones without activation charges. You can also unlock the BB, to be used with international prepaid SIMs for even lower voice rates. Try doing that with Verizon. Can you hear me now? Nope. ;)

I find Verizon's network overrated. Quite frankly I haven't found an instance were a Verizon phone would work when my Cingular wouldn't. And in some cases (like deep inside the interior of a hospital) Verizon phones wouldn't work _at all_ yet my Cingular BlackBerry _sort of_ still worked. I have yet to find a rural Ohio area where either my Nextel or Cingular phones did not work (some of these were places where friend's Sprint and Verzon phones _would not_ work). But granted, I'm not that big of a traveler. Cingular's biggest plus seems to be building penetration with the 850MHz band. I'm not that convinced that Verizon's network is the be all end all. Granted both Verizon and Alltel do have some superb coverage. But so does Sprint with analog (AMPS) service. Cingular is pretty much "all over digital" and I don't expect it to work in every last nook and cranny in the United States, but it does work well enough to go with Cingular and dump Verizon.

Now, granted, I'm comparing apples-to-oranges since its often believed that BlackBerry devices have some of the best RF when it comes to mobile phones (all of my Sprint/Verizon/TMo/Alltel comparisions are with Friends and Family using regular phones on those networks. I'm sure BlackBerry devices on those networks would fare batter against my Cingular or Nextel BlackBerry devices. But, in nearly all cases, people comparing or trumping the Verizon "it's the network" are doing so with free flip phones or candybar phones. I'm on Cingular for the PDA/smartphones. And since Verizon is often behind the curve with some handsets, I feel this is reasonable real-world comparison.

My $0.02.

[JSylvia007]

@ Aroc:
Thanks a bunch! I've been talking greatly with friends about their Cingular service, and I think tonight after work i will become a convert... (Shivers at 175$ Term Fee from VZW)...

Lastly though... Seriously, where are the plain holsters for the 8100c???

~Jake

[takeshi]

Have you checked with the forum sponsors or searched on Google? I know SPD (they have an ad right above where I'm typing this vey message) offers leather holsters for the Pearl...