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View Best Sellers   Release Date: Q4 2004 Released For: T-Mobile - Discontinued Released for T-Mobile, the RIM BlackBerry 7100t is a sleek wireless device that manages to incorporate a large vibrant screen, a QWERTY-based keyboard and the full functionality and cachet of the BlackBerry platform. The phone experience is uncompromising with excellent sound quality, dedicated 'send' and 'end' phone keys, a numerical phone keypad with large keys, typical talk time of more than 4 hours, a speakerphone, Bluetooth support, polyphonic ring tones and quad-band world phone functionality to keep users connected... [Continue reading RIM BlackBerry 7100t Review]

Technical Specifications
Network:	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Form Factor:	PDA
Dimensions:	119 x 59 x 21 mm
Weight:	120 g
Antenna:	Internal
Navigation:	Trackwheel / QWERTY Keypad
Battery Type:	960 mAh Li-Ion
Talk Time:	4.00
Standby Time:	192
Memory:	32 MB
Expandable Memory:
Imaging
Main Screen:	65000 colors (STN) 240 x 260 px
External Screen:
Camera:
Audio
MP3 Player:
FM Radio:
Speakerphone:
Push-To-Talk:
Multimedia
Wallpapers:	240 x 260 px
Screen Savers:	240 x 260 px
Ring Tones:	32 chord
Themes:
Games:	J2ME
Streaming Multimedia:
Messaging
SMS:
EMS:
MMS:
Email:	Microsoft Exchange / Lotus Domino
Chat:
Predictive Text:	SureType
Applications
Phonebook Capacity:
Calendar:
To-Do List:
WAP:	BlackBerry Browser
Voice Commands:
Calculator:
Connectivity
Bluetooth:
Infrared Port:
High-Speed Data:	GPRS (Class 8)
Wi-Fi:
GPS:
PC Sync:
More Information
Website:	RIM BlackBerry 7100t Website
Discussion:	Smartphone / PDA Forum

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First Impressions: BlackBerry 7100t

Well if any of you out there are like me, you had the color (allegedly) BlackBerry 7200 series device, but disliked the contrast, backlight, and other features. In addition, you gave up some nice cell phone hardware (for me, the Sony Ericsson T-610 & T-68 ) to be able to use a single device for PIM, Corporate E-Mail, and a Cell Phone.
When I saw that BlackBerry was coming out with a more cell-phone like device I jumped and signed up for the T-Mobile notification list. Well I got my e-mail last Thursday, drove straight to a T-Mobile direct store, and picked mine up for $299 with a $100 rebate w/o activating a new line. (If you have T-Mobile service for more than 11 months w/o doing an upgrade you are elligible for the new subscriber cost of the unit)
First impression (out of the box):
- Great Screen: Crystal clear, backlight fantastic with controllable brightness, new fonts for the interface
- Speakerphone is louder than the Nextel model of Blackberry (and clearer IMO)
- Bluetooth works great, I charged the device fully then turned on BT without charging again in 3 days and still have 70% battery - huge difference over my T-610/T-68 stuff. Also, BT interface supports volume up/down/mute from phone w/o touching headset controls, plus you can hear DTMF - it doesn't only connect to headset after call initiation
- Actually has call/end-call buttons now instead of thumbing menus - VERY NICE!
- Better selection of Ringtones (polyphonic) including my favorite from the T-610 - the "classic phone"
- I was concerned about the double-tap for word entry and whether the use of their new word recognition software would be effective
- I also had concerns about the keys being so close together
- You can turn off the service light (somthing which saves a considerable amount of battery)
- (Finally) you can use a standard universal car mount

After four full days of use for cell, e-mail, and web:
Love it.

I got used to the double-tap entry, and the word recognition software is incredible. It is completely different from the old BlackBerry so you have to want to try something new, but you adapt quickly and I think it is awesome. It supports all the programs I have tested so far for the 7200 series of Blackberry also.
I can crank out e-mails and messages faster now with less "thumb-lock" than with the older Blackberry and from one hand (even when using the shift key)!
The most significant difference I have found it at night when you can barely read the screen on the 7200 even with the backlight, this unit is reminiscent of a PocketPC screen.

It also uses all the same cables/chargers (home and car)/headsets from the 7200, so the only throw-aways are the desktop cradle and the holster from the 7200 - the 7100t does not come with a cradle, but it does come with a belt holster, no swivel like like the 7200 though. I figure that is just a matter of time.

Review Summary (scale of 10)
Cost value: 10 (@ $199 to have the screen of a PDA, battery life and e-mail of a BlackBerry, and BT, SPeakerphone, Polyphonic rings and theme support of a cell phone, its a steal)

Work Efficiency: 8 (not as easy as a full QWERTY, but you learn fast and for 90% of the words, the auto-complete does the job)

Battery: 10 (4 days with BT on, regular use for cell and e-mail, and still at 60% - can't ask for more from anything)

Features: 9 (explained above - can't think of anything missing, but nothing is ever feature perfect, right?)

Useabililty: 8 (same scroll wheel and esc. key on side, navigation is true BlackBerry which has its ups and downs)

Overall rating: 9
Final Recommendation:
If you want a smaller BlackBerry that has cell features, a PDA screen, and all the e-mail capabilities, this is the device.
Warning:
Word entry is completely different, so if you don't want to spend a day or two getting into somthing new, I would suggest caution, but go to a store and try it. Unfortunately the manual is needed to get you off the ground but once you do, you are cooking with gas!

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RIM BlackBerry 7100t

I had this unit for approximately one week before I sent it back to my corporate rep and requested the 7290 the day before it actually hit the shelves. The only reason being, the SCREEN!

Inside, the screen color was vibrant and perfect, but as soon as you step outside, you couldn't see squat, even in the shade! The phone sounded great, connected great, did email like a true Blackberry champ....but I'm in construction, and am walking job sites quite often...and if I can't see the screen, the phone is useless!

I'm hoping that the word that I heard, that bb will be using this screen format for all of their future phones, is a falicy...b/c it wil be a horrible injustice to a good overall product line.

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15 out of 19 people found this review helpful

Generally pleased with the 7100t

I've been using the 7100t for about 2 months now and while it did take some getting used to (coming from other Blackberry devices with the full qwerty keyboards), I'm now fairly happy with the 7100t.

I was a little anxious about going with T-Mobile having been a Verizon customer for years (even before they were Verizon!). I never really had any coverage issues with Verizon as compared to other providers (from what I heard) and didn't want to compromise that by having to switch to T-Mobile. Well, I'm very please to say that my coverage is great. I travel all over the world and when others I'm traveling with aren't getting signals (they have different providers) I am still getting email, phone calls, etc. Of course when you're supposed to be on vacation, perhaps bad coverage could be a good thing...but anyway.

The smart type is very good. However, there are some words (see/are, bit/but, etc) that I always seem to have to pick the other one. It is, however, easy enough to switch back/forth between smart type and double tap. I like how the browser automatically switches to double tap when in a password field - very helpful

The screen is very clear but as most have said, in the sunlight it's almost impossible to see. What I am not happy with is the plastic screen. VERY easily scratched so I highly recommend some kind of screen shield. Plenty of options available online where it's a clear plastic cover that protects the screen.

As for the browser, generally I'm pleased. Stopping the loading of all graphics is a big improvement in performance. It is very frustrating though that many java sites won't work. Even sites like Hotmail will not work but I think there are add-in applications available now that address this issue.

Watch out for people selling 7100t cases. Most seem to be cases that "fit" the 7100t, but not made for it. Therefore your "in holster" settings are completely ignored when it's in the case.

My partner has the Treo and we've been doing a side-by-side comparison. I like the 7100t because it uses the push technology for email with the Treo doesn't so you have to manually collect it. But it would be nice to have some removable memory media like the Treo as well as an MP3 player. There's a ton more applications available for the Treo as well if you're looking to do more than what Blackberry offers. More applications for the Blackberry are starting to appear, but a long way off from the Treo. If more does become available for the Blackberry, it will be even more important to have removable media capability as well.

Battery life as many other have mentioned is great. One odd thing I've found is that when I use the wall charger, I can't get the device to charge to 100%. But when using the USB off my laptop I can.

Bluetooth works well, but very limited in functionality. You can answer and hangup calls and call the last number that called you, but that's about it. Due to lack of features like voice dialing on the 7100t you can't do that with your Bluetooth headset. Also, other than the headset I understand there's nothing else you can use. Can't do Bluetooth printing, etc. True? If so, that's something that should be improved.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) I would rate the Blackberry 7100t between 8 and 8.5.

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Best-of-the-best!

I've had two Treo's, Samsung's i500 & the i600, Palm's Tungsten W, and more. The 7100t surpasses them all! It's display is outstanding and the Thumb Wheel that Rim incorporates on all of it's devices is a thing of beauty. The speaker phone and voice quality in general is far better than my Samsung i600 (which I will be selling).

My only reservation was T-Mobile's coverage, but I'm please to report it has improved since I last tried it two (2) years ago.

Thanks RIM, for a device that works equally well as a phone, PDA, & e-mail tool.

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27 out of 44 people found this review helpful

RIM BlackBerry 7100t

I agree about the sunlight thing, but I have always had problems looking at any full color screen in direct daylight. I personally think the other statements are a bit exagerated....

You can dial from the main window by simply entering digits, no multiple buttons or screens to get to the phone. Anytime a call comes in, no matter what applications you are in, just hit the "answer" key and you are cooking with gas.

The "." key toggles between audio/mic inputs so no need to fumble through menus. It sounds like you are either new to the Blackberry world or have just not had the time to learn all of the devices intracacies... like I said in the original review, it will take a few days of playing/reading to learn the device and its shortcuts.

Sorry to hear about your negative experience. I have now had mine exclusively for cell and e-mail for months and have never had a second thought about it.

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27 out of 44 people found this review helpful

RIM BlackBerry 7100t

I'm new to RIM's Blackberry, but on the whole, love it. I've had mine for about two weeks now and really enjoy the push technology for E-mail. I can check my E-mail on my cell phone any time I want. As for using the phone, I have found that to be very easy, especially if I use the address book. As with any cell phone, if I need to call a number not in the book, I just "dial" it. Receiving a call is also great, I can either answer it or ignore it. There are a few things, however, that I don't care for. The first is that the batter is not the best in the world. I know that the Blackberry has more functions than a plain cell phone, but having to charge it daily sometimes gets to be a pain. Also, as other's have pointed out, the screen is impossible to see in sunlight. Not major dislikes, I grant you, but still a couple of pains. All in all, I will rate the Blackberry 7100t as a 9.0, with 10.0 being excellant and 1.0 being worst. One more point, watch out for the game on the Blackberry, "Brick Buster", it is highly addictive.

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18 out of 31 people found this review helpful

Blackberry 7100t Fails

I made the mistake of getting the new Blackberry 7100 instead of the Treo. While the BB's price, size and lightweight are appealing it fails at its most basic function - i.e. the phone. Call quality, etc. are fine but the user interface seems like was designed by a software engineer not a product designer. Sometimes it takes 2 - 3 steps just to make a call, even answering the phone is not easy!! Handling call waiting impossible! The User Manual is useless. Some reviewers have marveled at the bright, colorful screen - but fail to tell you that it is impossible to see anything in bright daylight. As somebody pointed out earlier the new BB's are just marketing gimmicks. If you plan to use this device primarily as a phone with email and PDA as added benefits I would get something else. The calendar is also cumbersome to navigate. I could go on... Very disappointed.('')

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54 out of 105 people found this review helpful