All Hale The Age of The Smart-Phone
Written: May 03 '06
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Pros: Fast network access; integration of data and voice; lovely display.
Cons: Cell phone speaker could use some work.
The Bottom Line: All-n-all I am very satisfied with the performance of the BlackBerry 7130e. The unit is small, extremely lightweight, and offers outstanding battery life.
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| vemartin's Full Review: Blackberry 7130e |
Canadian based Research in Motion (RIM), the makers of the now infamous BlackBerry has been much in the news of late. And for a while there it looked as though the much ballyhooed wireless data provider was going to have to close up shop, but at the last moment they agreed to pay up, and so let the data—and in my case, the voice—fly. It’s a good thing too, since the U.S. government is heavily invested in Blackberry technology.
My company recently decided to rollout BlackBerry’s to a few select individuals in the company and since I am the email administrator I got to integrate the BlackBerry service into our email infrastructure, and pick up a BlackBerry device in the process. The business decided on two models of BlackBerry: the Blackberry 7250 (data only), and the BlackBerry 7130e (data and voice); I received the latter. We procured our Blackberry’s from Verizon Wireless our current mobile phone provider.
In The Box
• Blackberry 7130e handset
• Travel Charger
• Belt Holster
• CD Installation Discs
• Verizon CD Install Disc
• Quick Reference Guide
• Installation Booklet
The Product
The BlackBerry 7130e smart-phone (handset) is ideal for users who prefer a combined wireless voice, email, and data all from one small device. The brushed gray BlackBerry 7130e offers top-of-the-line features, such as a speakerphone, Bluetooth wireless technology and polyphonic ring-tones, all bundled in a lightweight, sleek, and stylish handset.
The BlackBerry 7130e, which ships with 64MB of built-in memory, is the first BlackBerry smart-phone to take advantage of the Verizon’s mobile network operator's EV-DO (EVolution-Data Only) network. EV-DO is part of the third generation (3G) of high-speed data enhancements to the CDMA cell-phone technology. Verizon claims that its BroadbandAccess EV-DO network offers high-speed Internet access anywhere, any time. Two years after its introduction, the network has evolved into a mature infrastructure that I have yet to fully tap into, but so far it has lived up to its promise of anytime anywhere data and voice connection.
The BlackBerry 7130e offers users a feature rich wireless experience, providing voice, text messaging, fast integrated push-based email courtesy of Microsoft’s Exchange messaging package, Lotus Notes Domino, and Novell GroupWise. The BlackBerry 7130e also features fast browsing via a built-in browser application. But you can also use the BlackBerry Internet Service which allows for access to up to ten individual e-mail accounts including enterprise-class messaging and POP3/IMAP4 accounts.
And the unit is versatile enough to allow users to connect their computer(s) (laptop or desktop) to the Internet (courtesy of Verizon’s BroadbandAccess EV-DO network), using the device as a tethered modem, via a USB connection, abrogating the need to carry a wireless PC card—sweet. Verizon claims an average transfer speed of between 400 and 700 Kbps.
The BlackBerry 7130es’ phone book is limited only by the available 64MB of flash memory and 16MB of SRAM, both of which are surprisingly small given today’s memory technology. For each contact, however you can store up to (8) telephone numbers, as well as home and work addresses, a Web URL, and notes. These contacts can of course be downloaded from you email client. There is a speakerphone onboard for hands-free calls, although it can't be activate until your call is connected. Other features of the unit include a calendar, a task list, a memo pad, an alarm clock, and a calculator; pretty standard fair for today’s technology rich smart-phones.
The BlackBerry 7130e also includes RIM's proprietary (and exasperating) SureType thumb-board. A cross between a keypad and fully-fledged QWERTY thumb-board, SureType relies on predictive text functionality to enable input. The concept is sound, but the execution is flawed. I ended up tuning the feature off, because it takes much more time to teach the technology how you type, rather them just type with the devices Multitap keyboard. Granted it take some getting used to but I have mastered the subtle nuances of the keypad.
Where the RIM BlackBerry 7130e really shines (no pun indented) however, is the above average 240x260-pixel, 65,536 color LCD display screen that produces super sharp text and images, as well as vivacious colors. It is one of the best BlackBerry screens I have ever seen, and certainly rivals that of other Windows CE and Palm Smart-phones. And it puts the older BlackBerry devices with their monochrome screens to shame. I am continually amazed at the brightness and clarity of the screen; it is a huge selling point as far as I am concerned.
I found the default fonts adequate to my needed, but of course you have the ability to change the screen font size, style, and type; and change the backlight time. While I left the fonts as they were, I did change the backlit time out; the default of 45 seconds was a little too short for my tastes. Below the display are the Talk and End keys, as well as a soft key, which you can customize to open an application of your choice.
The BlackBerry 7130e ships with the same modified keyboard found on the rest of the 7100 series devices, with almost every key sharing two letters. On the right side of the device you will find the familiar jog dial (used to navigate around in the unit) and Esc key, which is handy for backing out of menus. On the opposite side of the handset you will find the standard 2mm headset jack and the USB port for both connecting to a computer and for charging the device. Note: the BlackBerry 7130e will charge while connected—via the USB cord—to a powered on computer; another nice feature.
Use
Our complement of some 25 BlackBerry’s is tied to our corporate email system, Microsoft Exchange 2003. Before connecting to the BlackBerry network via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, the unit(s) first need to be activated on the Verizon network. Once data and voice connectivity is established the unit(s) are ready to start receiving corporate email. Email anywhere, anytime is of course what the BlackBerry excels at, and the 7130e makes reading them a breeze. In fact emails hit the BlackBerry before they show up in my Outlook mail client. Once in the device the mail can be read and responded to. Large emails will be will be downloaded in portions to conserver memory space. Attachments can be read if the associated application is installed on the device.
Via the BlackBerry server and desktop software, you can control which folders in Outlook get re-directed to the BlackBerry 7130e. By default the Inbox is downloaded to the device upon initial connection to the RIM network, but so is the Sent Items folder. If you never empty the folder, and redirect it to your device, it will quickly fill up with mail you have already processed. My advice: do not redirect your sent items folder to the device.
Once read emails can be deleted from the device without deleting them from your Outlook mail client. And of course you can respond to email as well as forwards it and compose text messages.
My BlackBerry 7130e replaced my cell phone, while other uses use a BlackBerry and cell phone. As a cell phone I find the BlackBerry 7130e adequate but not spectacular. I am very use to flip phones, so the 7130e’s straight forward design took a little getting used to.
When I place a call people can generally hear me, but I have a hard time hearing them clearly and with enough volume. This might be alleviated by a Bluetooth headset, but I cannot get my Motorola HS820 Bluetooth headset to connect to the BlackBerry 7130e. I have ordered another Bluetooth headset from Verizon, hopefully this one will work. And I have yet to test a wired headset with the device.
You can place a call directly, or via the address book, by clicking on the phone icon. As I stated above, once you are connected you can activate the speakerphone, which offers decent clarity. On-screen displays allow you to control the volume and provide other useful information such as the duration of the call and of course the number. Coverage through the Verizon network is outstanding even in my house where historically, my cellular reception had nose dived. While at work my reception never falls below four bars, and at home I typically get two, but it is enough to send and place calls and send and receive data.
A very useful feature is the ability to automatically turn the BlackBerry 7130e on and off at specified times during the day. I have mine set to shut off at 10:00pm and turn on again at 7:00am of the weekdays. There is also a separate weekend setting.
Battery life for the BlackBerry 7130e is stellar. The initial charge took about three hours, but I have since gone three days at a stretch without recharging the unit and the battery life only dropped by a quarter and this is with moderate email and phone activity.
Software
The BlackBerry desktop Manager software that ship with the unit appears useless at first glance, but quickly redeems itself after a little use. As I alluded to earlier you can set re-direction options from the software, as well as load applications, perform back and restores, certificate synchronization, and Intellisync, which allows you to do any number of functions concerning the communications between the handheld and the network. One thing to note: while the BlackBerry 7130e is connected to a computer is will not receive emails.
The Verizon VZ Access software which also shipped with the BlackBerry 7130e allows to you connect to the Verizon data network with the unit, as well as establish a Virtual Private Network (VPN) session via the phone. There are also short cuts to commonly used desktop application, but I didn’t find this functionality particularly useful.
Conclusion
All-n-all I am very satisfied with the performance of the BlackBerry 7130e. The unit is small, extremely lightweight, and offers outstanding battery life. And while it took some getting used to, I am now at one with my device.
BlackBerry 7130e features: Complete functionality including:
• Phone
• Email
• SMS
• MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)
• Wireless Data Access
• Address book
• Internet Browser
• Calendar
• Memo Pad
• Tasks
Additional Features:
• Access up to 10 supported business and/or personal email accounts;
• Speakerphone;
• SureType™ technology, which combines a traditional phone keypad and familiar QWERTY keyboard;
• MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows you to combine text and images in a single message;
• Bluetooth hands-free headset and car kit support;
• Large, bright, high resolution color LCD screen optimized for both indoor and outdoor use;
• Ev-DO Support, which enables the BlackBerry 7130e tethered modem capability, letting you use the device as a wireless modem for your laptop or PC;
• Polyphonic ring tones to give your handset a distinctive personality;
• Integrated attachment viewing for popular file formats;
• Exceptional battery performance;
• 64 MB of memory;
• Dedicated send and end keys;
• 800/1900 MHz cdmaOne™, CDMA2000® 1X and Ev-DO network support for nationwide roaming;
• Rating for hearing aids: M3
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 129.00
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vemartin
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Member: Vincent
Location: Aurora, IL
Reviews written: 1355
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...A Great Empire cannot be Conquered from Without until it first Destroys itself From Within...
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