Need Advice: Blackberry, Treo, or Other

[Brad|E]

I'm trying to navigate the quagmire of Cingular data access/email plans and would appreciate any insight on how to proceed. I spent over 20 minutes on the phone with a Cingular agent this afternoon and did not come out any clearer on their offerings than before the conversation started. Essentially, I'd like to know the difference between Blackberry plans/devices and PDA (Treo or Cingular branded HTC devices) plans/devices.

Here are the relevant facts:

I already have a Cingular plan through 2008, so I'd prefer simply to add a data plan to existing service and purchase a device on the aftermarket.

I'm currently using a Razor with frustrating internet capabilities.

I need to be able to surf the web and receive emails from 5+ accounts.

I will spend a lot of time online and checking email.

I'd prefer the convenience of broadband speeds.

Advice on specific plans (5MB, Unlimited, etc.) is appreciated.

Any recommendations on where to purchased unlocked phones (besides ebay) are welcome.

If anyone has any insight based on experience with using Cingular, comparing Blackberry functionality to PDA functionality, etc., I will be grateful for your input.

Thanks in advance,
Brad

 

[robertjr]

I would suggest the Treo 700P with Sprint (EVDO is very fast compared to everything else on the market) service. The unlimited data plan is great, just add PDAnet to it and you can use it for your PC as well.

 

[Brad|E]

Thanks for the response. I would prefer to remain with Cingular as I have more than a year left on my contract and it would be cheaper to add a data plan to my existing account than to add a new account. I have heard good things about Sprint's service that make switching tempting, though.

Primarily, I need advice on the difference between Blackberry and associated cingular plans and PDA's and associated cingular plans.

Thanks again.

 

[tjoseph]

Are you going forward the five email accounts to just one account? How do you want to access these accounts? Are the email accounts hosted on a Microsoft Exchange Server or are they POP3? If your email is on an Exchange Server, then a Windows Mobile device with ActiveSync is the way to go.

Sprints unlimited data plan is $15 per month and it looks like Cingular charges $50 for the same thing. If your cancellation fee on Cingular is $200, you will make that back in less than six months with the savings on the data plan.

Tom

 

[fonzie_007]

FYI: My cousin has a Treo and his sound quality is terrible.

 

[Brad|E]

Thanks for all your input. I ended up going with the Blackberry 8800. Very nice, but no 3g support (although Cingular's 3g network is quite limited now). We'll see how it goes for a few weeks. I have to admit that I'm already tempted to exchange it for the Cingular (HTC) 8525: 3g support, large keyboard, and Office apps.

If anyone can suggest any crucial apps for the Blackberry, I'd appreciate it. I'm mainly interested in finding a decent word processing/spreadsheet suite that's compatible with Office.

Thanks again,
Brad

 

[Clarity Pictures]

i use the blackberry pearl, im with tmobile, and i love it.