BlackBerry 8703e Cell Phone
In-Depth ReviewIntroductionBlackBerry's 8700 series has been a hit with power email users who want always-on, real-time access to their email on the go. Research In Motion initially released the 8700 in GSM-only configurations, but recently brought the handheld's roomy but compact form factor and big, bright display to EV-DO users.
The RIM BlackBerry 8703e for Sprint combines BlackBerry's beloved push email technology, QWERTY thumbboard and scroll wheel with Sprint's Power Vision high speed data network. The 8703e is also Sprint's first GPS-enabled BlackBerry.
While the 8703e doesn't have the consumer-directed flash or multimedia capabilities of the BlackBerry Pearl, it does do everything a business traveler would expect of a BlackBerry, and it does so with ease and comfort. Add the optional location-based services provided by the integrated GPS receiver and you've got a serious voice, email, and Internet client with the added ability to help you find your way to client sites, restaurants, and hotels when you're on the road.
Design
Unlike the slimmer, sleeker Pearl, the 8703e looks like a BlackBerry. It's tall and wide and flat and finished in no-nonsense black. Measuring in at 4.3 x 2.7 x 0.8 inches and weighing 4.7 ounces, the 8703e is big for a phone but somewhat compact and light for a BlackBerry. BlackBerry users don't mind the size, though, since it affords them space for a nice, roomy display and thumbboard for all of that emailing.
The 2.5" display takes up the top half of the front panel, while the lower portion is given over to buttons: Talk and End buttons flank a programmable soft key in a row just below the display, and a 35-key QWERTY thumbboard lies beneath that. The QWERTY board was generally great to type on, with tall, slightly angled buttons that are backlit and provide good tactile feedback. My very minor complaint about the keyboard is that the buttons are a tiny bit slick to the touch, and not as "nice feeling" as the new soft-grip buttons employed by other handset makers as of late.
Along the right panel of the device you'll find the infamous BlackBerry scroll wheel and its companion, the Escape key. BlackBerry almost always positions these two controls in the optimal position for one-handed device navigation, and the 8703e is, in fact, a breeze to use with one hand (unless you have particularly small hands). On the left panel of the phone you'll find a 2.5mm headset jack, mini USB port, and a second programmable soft key.
A portion back panel of the 8703e slides off to reveal the battery slot, and the panel also houses a speakerphone grille framed by a silver plastic border. Since this is an EV-DO handset, there is no SIM card slot. The top panel of the phone features two silver buttons that control power and mute functions.
Read full review » Our fancy algorithm says this stuff is related...IntroductionBlackBerry's 8700 series has been a hit with power email users who want always-on, real-time access to their email on the go. Research In Motion initially released the 8700 in GSM-only configurations, but recently brought the handheld's roomy but compact form factor and big, bright display to EV-DO users.
The RIM BlackBerry 8703e for Sprint combines BlackBerry's beloved push email technology, QWERTY... FeaturesIf the Pearl was BlackBerry's foray into multimedia on a handset, the 8703e is their return to communication and nothing but communication. There are virtually no multimedia features to be found on the 8703e, as music and video players are eschewed for a focus on flexible and speedy access to voice, email, messaging, and Web data. One game, BrickBreaker, does allow for breaks from all that high-powered... DisplayThe 2.5" TFT display on the 8703e is capable of 320x240 resolution at 65,000 colors. While this isn't quite state of the art compared to high-end multimedia phones, it's more than capable for everything the 8703e is meant to do. The screen looks great in most lighting conditions, and an configurable backlight makes for easy adjustments.
BlackBerry's user interface isn't going to win any awards, but it's not as bad as I... MessagingBlackBerry's push email system is legendary, and the 8703e delivers on the BlackBerry email promise with the added benefit of Sprint's high speed EV-DO data network. Push email automatically retrieves your messages from the server without the need for manual connection/disconnection refreshes. The 8703e can handle connections to BlackBerry Enterprise servers as well Microsoft Exchange, Novell GroupWise, and IBM Lotus Domino... ConclusionRIM's BlackBerry 8703e brings the latest in a basically unchanged line of mobile communication devices to Sprint's Power Vision Network, with the notable addition of integrated GPS capabilities. While RIM now offers a plethora of BlackBerry models, with the exception of the Pearl (and, to a lesser extent, the other SureType-equipped models), the core functionality of the company's push email technology hasn't really changed over... LITTLE ROCK, Ark. and WATERLOO, Ontario - Alltel Wireless, America's largest network, and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced that the BlackBerry® 8703e wireless handset is available to Alltel customers. The BlackBerry 8703e supports phone, e-mail, messaging, organizer, browser and other mobile applications that work on Alltel's next generation high-speed Axcess Broadband network and supports turn-by-turn... No user reviews available yet...No reviews have been submitted for the BlackBerry 8703e. Be the first to share your opinion and experience with this product or service and influence others and their buying decisions.
Buying choicesWith new service  with a NTelos plan from $99.99 with an U.S. Cellular plan from $49.99 with a Sprint PCS plan from $149.99 with an ALLTEL plan from $99.99 With pre-paid service This item is not being sold with a pre-paid service service plan by any online merchant. Purchase phone only Accessories Purchase compatible accessories for this phone Ringtones & MediaShop for compatible mobile content for this phone
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