Anyone have any speculation as to when this might be available? I know the press release said April. Knowing typical Verizon release dates, that probably means the end of July sometime.

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Hi Christopher -

I'm also looking at the 7750, and I've seen a release date of 4/30 on BargainPDA.com.

For what it's worth, Verizon's telesales gets information about new releases about a week in advance, and haven't heard anything about the phone yet. Also, they're beginning to get inundated with inquiries about the Treo 600 which they're rumored to be offering soon.

If I find anything out, I'll certainly post it here!

Cheers!
Sifu Z.

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Rumor has it from multiple credible sources that tomorrow will be the official launch date for the 7750.

Hopefully we'll get them this week

__________________
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Hey, Christopher -

Any word? My wife called Verizon this afternoon, and they had no idea what the 7750 was let alone knowing the launch date!

Bargain PDA still has the phone out on the 30th...

Cheers!
Sifu Z.

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It's available!

Just ordered one on Verizon online.

Good luck!
Sifu Z.

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I was all ready to order one until I discovered it doesn't have a speakerphone. I thought this would for sure, but I double checked by reading the specs

Jeff,

Unfortunately you are correct. However, I received mine yesterday and I hate to admit it, but even without the speakerphone, I LOVE the 7750 way more than the i700. I never thought it was possible. I thought the i7 was the best convergence device in the world. Let's just say my opinion has changed over the last few weeks since I started using the BB (Started with a 6750, then got the 7750 yesterday)

Chris

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Hey VZ Jeff -

That surprises me too - fortunately I never use a speakerphone.

Hi Chris -

I'm thrilled to hear your positive reaction as my 7750 is on the way. My big questions - how is the screen and how bright is the keyboard backlight? Those were the main things causing me concern. I saw an AT&T Blackberry demo - and the screen was very dim in room light. The keyboard was pretty hard to see too...

Another couple of questions - I signed up for something like the Verizon Web. Mind telling me what the heck I signed up for? What are your favorite features? I'm sure multiple email address access is one of them (I can only auto-retrieve one at a time on my G1000 - which is similar to your i700) Heck, what else do you like about it?

I'll post some thoughts when I receive mine - but in the mean time let's hear your rave!

Cheers!
Sifu Z.

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The backlight on the keyboard is quite bright. It is green. I would prefer blue, but the green is very bright and very readable. The screen is awesome. Plus it is adjustable from 0 to 100. THe default is 20 and that is way brighter than my wife's 7510, so it is definately an improvement.

You probably don't need Verizon Web. What you need is Blackberry Unlimited. They keep changing the name of their web service. The internet used to be called Express Network, but now it is called National Access. Plus, they are implementing a high speed broadband internet. I think it is Broadband Access or something like that. For phones that do not have a browser, they have Get It Now, which is how to download ringtones, games, etc. Also, if you do not want a National Access plan, you can use Quick 2 Net, which is a slower internet connection. Confused yet? What you need with the BB is Blackberry Unlimited.

As for web browsing. I have a hosted BES with MDS, so I can user the Blackberry Browser which with the color screen, works quite well. When Verizon officially launches their Blackberry Web Client, they are supposed to have a WAP browser for the BB, but then you can download the reqwireless browser for html viewing.

As for what I like - everything. I had been using the i700 which is a great PDA with phone features. I also tries the i600 which is a great phone with a few PDA features. However, with an increase in me being out of my office over the past few years, e-mail has become increasingly more important. I never really thought of the BB because the only one I was familiar with were the original RIM pager-like devices. Then earlier this year my wife got a 7510 and I thought it was pretty neat. A good calendar interface. Same as the i700 for the Day, Month, and Agenda views. In my opinion, however, the BB Week View blows away the pocket PC week view. I know it is similar, but I just like how you can roll around the whole screen and your appts show up at the bottom. So now that BB is making the device with a good calendar interface, that was a big plus. I basically need a good phone, a good calendar, access to my client list and e-mail. The i700 does all of this well, except email. It is not limited to one account, but it does not push like the G1000. If I want to check my email, I have to manually hit send and receive, or set it up to pull from the exchange server every x minutes. That sucks the battery dry in less than a day, so that isn't so great.

Finally, I have to admit that I love the keyboard. I started with an original Palm Pilot in 1997. I've been a stylus guy since then, but I've been playing with my wife's Blackberry for a few weeks (wow-that sounds a little dirty ) and I really like the keyboard. Wait, let me say that I LOVE the keyboard. It is so much faster and more efficient than any input method on Pocket PC. Plus with the trackwheel, you can do everything one-handed with the BB. This is a HUGE plus.

Not to mention, the thing is solid. One of my primary complaints of the i700 has always been that it is "delicate" and difficult to hold and use and talk on the phone without hitting any buttons. That problem does not exist with the BB. It is a solid unit. I dropped the 6750 3 times and nothing happened to it. I dropped my I700 from a height of 2 feet once and the damn screen broke.

Battery life seems good. About 2 days on moderate phone and e-mail usage. It comes with a USB cradle for work and a USB sync cord for traveling, and a wall charger as well.

So far, I am very pleased with it. So much so, that I put up the i700 for sale on e-bay this morning. I was going to hang onto it in case I did not like the BB, but even though I did it for 7 years, I don't think I could go back to using a stylus anymore.

Hope this answers some of the questions. Good luck with yours!

__________________
Is that your convergence device in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

That's really cool, Christopher - thanks for the info!

I was going rely on the Blackberry Web Client, because I don't have a BES. Is this not available yet from Verizon? While investigating Blackberries this past month I assumed it was something available to all blackberry users regardless of phone provider... If it isn't available yet, about how long do you think the wait will be?

I have 5 different email accounts, which is what brought be to Blackberry in the first place. I have a Treo 600 and Hitachi G1000 - both are great phones - but the combination of tiny Treo keyboard and non-backlit G1000 keyboard led me to the 7750. I hope I can make use of a web client soon so I can get my emails without using "pull..."

I got Blackberry Unlimited AND Mobile Web! Am I a moron? Should I try and eliminate the web? Again, I don't have a BES...

Lastly - how is the screen? Bright?

Thanks!
Sifu Z.

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If you want to check pop3 email, do you set that in the unit or do you need the web client. If you need this web client, then I guess we are out of lcuk unit VZW launches.

Should have my 7750 tomorrow.

Sifu Z. - It is very, very bright. Technically the web client is not yet available, but the beta version is active and it does work, I am using it. With your phone you will get directions for setting up the official web client at soething like www.blackberry.com/verizonwireless/go or something like that. This site will not work until the official launch. Also, when the offical launch does happen, it may wipe out all the data on the beta, so you may have to sign up again.

You're not a moron, its the people at Verizon who sold you the phone who think you also need unlimited Web. All yoiu need is unlimited blackberry and that will take care of the web when the real web client becomes available.

Here is the beta site to the web client

https://webclient.blackberry.net/Web...p?site=verizon

They are none too pleased about people signing up for this at this point, but what are you going to do. If it works, use it.

Mike - you set up the pop3 stuff right in the web client.

Something you both may want to consider. Get a hosted exchange account. I pay about $11/month with eoutlook.com They have been great and they provide you with a BES with MDS. You can forward all of your pop3 accounts there and then you will have the Blackberry Browser for web. Just an option to consider.

__________________
Is that your convergence device in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

A hosted exchange account? That sounds interesting! I'll look into it - do you think that it's better than the web client? I ordered my 7750 yesterday - hopefully it'll be here tomorrow...

Glad to hear the screen is so bright! After looking at the AT&T screen I was ready to get checked for cataracts...

Mike - My kung fu teacher is Michael Rossi! Small world - though I'm pretty sure you're not him!

Thanks for all your help, Christopher - I'm sure I'll be back shortly with more questions!

Cheers!
Sifu Z.

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Thanks for the input. Very helpful.

Here is another thread I find helpful, also lists other hosting services:


http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35823

Small world, but I am not the kung fu master.

thanks,

Mike

Christopher,

Thanks much for the very helpful information.

Question: As of now, the unlimited Blackberry service from VZ with the 7750 does not include full HTML web access? Or does the beta web client you mention above take care of that. I just want to be 100% sure before I order.

I'd rather not have to pay another monthly fee on top of the $50 Blackberry plan just for web access. One other option is Webviewer from Reqwireless, but I'm not sure this will work out of the box with the 7750?

Hey, Chris?

Question about eoutlook.com, BES and MDS...

Will I be able to do AOL instant messaging? I read something in another thread that says you can do this with MDS.

Also - do you go to a web page to update your calendar, contacts...etc.?

Thanks a lot -
Sifu Z.

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I've been reading the traffic about the 7750 but I'm a bit confused.

1. At my office we host our own e-mail server. I can access my server with any traditional e-mail client, or it has it's own web interface. To get access to my e-mail server from the 7750 do I want the Blackberry or the Verizon service? Does the 7750 come with a std pop3 client? Would we need some kind of RIM or Blackberry server software?

2. I haven't heard discussion of phone calls. How do they sound? What about signal quality vs. other phones? Is there a "car kit" Are you using a wired or wireless headset?

Thanks for the previous posts. I had been thinking of getting the Treo 600 or 610 (soon maybe), or possibly a K7135 (I have a K6035 now), but after reading what people had to say, I'm not so sure now.

Christopher - the BWC does not provide any web access at all; Verizon is the only carrier that does not provide any web access (not even WAP) with their BlackBerrys. And as far as I know, the BWC is out of beta, it's just that Verizon never announces ANYTHING for their BlackBerrys.

Webviewer will only work if you have BES/MDS (which is available from a hosted service) or on a Nextel BlackBerry (which has a full IP stack on it).

Hey NJ -

How've you been?

I think I'm going to go with a hosted BES. Seems like the smartest thing. I wound up going with Verizon because Nextel service is too spotty around here. My phone probably won't be here until Monday or Tuesday, however, as they messed up part of my order. In fact, they emailed me that they've accidentaly shipped TWO Blackberries! I have to return one!

Hope all is well!
Larry Z. (Sifu Z.)

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Hey - how are things in sunny CA?

Spent all morning at the dojo

Yes, hosted BES services are becoming more and more popular. I haven't used any I can't/shouldn't comment on them. Just make sure when using one that the have BES/MDS (some just do e-mail forwarding).

I'm sure you will enjoy the 7750 - the backlighting is great and it's the larger format. I am waiting for T-Mobile to carry the 7730s (probably at the end of May) and then I'll switch to that from the 7230.