View Best Sellers   Release Date: Q1 2005 Released For: AT&T - Discontinued T-Mobile - Discontinued The BlackBerry 7290 delivers access to email, corporate data and voice services while roaming in many countries and destinations around the world. The handheld also features Bluetooth support for wireless headsets and car kits, 32MB flash memory, a brighter LED backlight, as well as an updated QWERTY keyboard style with highlighted number keys for easy dialing and typing. It also features cradle-free wireless email synchronization, integrated attachment viewing, and remote address look up in addition to secure, push-based wireless connectivity for corporate users.

Technical Specifications
Network:	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Form Factor:	PDA
Dimensions:	114 x 74 x 23 mm
Weight:	139 g
Antenna:	Internal
Navigation:	QWERTY Keypad
Battery Type:	1000 mAh Li-Ion
Talk Time:	4.00
Standby Time:	216
Memory:	32 MB
Expandable Memory:
Imaging
Main Screen:	65000 colors (TFT) 240 x 160 px
External Screen:
Camera:
Audio
MP3 Player:
FM Radio:
Speakerphone:
Push-To-Talk:
Multimedia
Wallpapers:	240 x 160 px
Screen Savers:	240 x 160 px
Ring Tones:
Themes:
Games:	J2ME
Streaming Multimedia:
Messaging
SMS:
EMS:
MMS:
Email:	Microsoft Exchange / Lotus Domino
Chat:
Predictive Text:
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 7290 Website
Discussion:	Smartphone / PDA Forum

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7290 Doesn't take a licking...

Well I didn't have the 'tough as nails' experience that others did. A single fall off a table onto a tile floor did mine in. It took weeks for Cingular to do enough diagnostics to admit the unit was kaput and send me a refurb. The original unit was only several months old.

That being said, this device is a great PDA. Very function-rich. It took a little doing to get used to the trackwheel and how to navigate around. The browser works well. And getting my corporate email is terrific. But forget trying to open attachments unless you have a lot of time to kill.

But as a phone, it's very disappointing. Trying to hear is very difficult, it's cumbersome to dial and and awkward to use. I miss the voice dial feature I had on my LG. The phone is sufficiently unwieldy and has such poor sound quality that I'm considering getting a standard phone and just using the BB for it's PDA/email functions.

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25 out of 29 people found this review helpful

Takes a lickin'... etc.

I have dropped mine onto hard surfaces several times, and it comes through with no problems! A nick or scratch is to be expected, but it takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin', like a Timex watch.

I can't hear the ring or receive audio too well at all in a busy airport or convention center, so a Bluetooth hands free device just might be the ticket. The audio is mostly nice and clear otherwise.

Some have complained about the scrollwheel, but I think it's great. I'd like to hear what problems people have had with that. :

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23 out of 28 people found this review helpful

Great Mobile E-mail Device, Marginal Phone

I really like my Blackberry for e-mail. Their "Push" technology is the best, no logging in or messing with passwords. Someone sends you an e-mail, it comes to you within seconds! Nice color screen, too.

It has a halfway decent web browser, limited to slow speeds and its tiny screen.

But... the phone section leaves something to be desired. The ring tones are ridiculously weak and hard to hear. You can't download any ring tones, no mp3 or midi. The vibrate alert is so-so. The receive audio on calls is barely loud enough at full volume to overcome any noisy environment, like a busy airport.

It really seems like it's a great e-mail device with a phone sorta cobbled on as an afterthought.. which come to think of it, it truly is that.

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51 out of 64 people found this review helpful

RIM BlackBerry 7290

I agree with the above. Absolute a dream on email, up to 10 accounts I believe? The phone reception is great, but that's only if you can actually hear the phone ring. I ended up getting a bluetooth earpiece, which alerts me directly in my ear when a call is receieved. Other than that, when driving down the road or in a semi noisy environment, you can hang it up. Still hate the BB scroll wheel.

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16 out of 23 people found this review helpful