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US Mall 1 - BlackBerry Pearl 8100c Smartphone Slate Grey (AT&T)
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List Price: $499.99
Our Price:
Your Save: $ 499.99 ( 100% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: BlackBerry
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Wireless Phone
Brand: BlackBerry
Color: Blue
Feature: 1.3 mega pixel camera to capture those special moments
Label: BlackBerry
Manufacturer: BlackBerry
Model: 8100c
Publisher: BlackBerry
Release Date: 2006-11-20
Studio: BlackBerry
Variation Description: Blue
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Features
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1.3 mega pixel camera to capture those special moments
MP3 player lets you listen to your favorite music on the go
Menu and escape keys on the front of the device for easier access
Bluetooth technology lets you experience hands free and wire free features
Includes: Li-Ion Battery, AC Adapter, USB Cable, Hands-free Headset, BlackBerry Desktop Software and Getting Started Guide
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't buy into the hype. This "smartphone" is a dumb buy.
Comment: If you have not yet bought a Pearl, then don't. I've had this almost two years and I can't wait till my contract is up so I can chuck this POS into a recycling box!
Why?
#1 Poor durability (and I'm easy on phones). I had this phone for a month when the button that holds the batter cover on popped off. It's a piece of plastic with a tiny spring the size of a toenail clipping. Somehow this was my fault and this sort of defect didn't fall under the manufacturer's warranty. AT&T, the Company I bought it from, would do nothing. OEM (The manufacturer) offered to repair it for $90 dollars! AT&T offered to SELL me a new phone for $199 (when I got it free with a 2 year contract). Both Companies' best suggestion was to buy a silicon cover for the phone to hold the batter back on. Also, the chrome like paint on the phone wore off within 6 months of using it. C'mon people!
#2 This phone interferes (makes that buzzing sound) REALLY loudly with any audio device. More than any other phone I've owned. So if you want the convenience of using your USB cable to charge it on your laptop or pc, mute your speakers, or you'll be sorry. Also GREATLY interferes with car stereos, TV speakers, PA systems, and etc.
#3 I am equally disappointed that bluetooth headphones are not any option for this phone because the Pearl doesn't use the new technology that most, if not all, of the stereo headphones do. The headphones available for this phone are junk, and there is no good off brand alternative either. I've tried every adapter electronics store sell.
#4 Make sure your cellular carrier has a REASONABLE data plan for blackberry. AT&T only has the "blackberry data plan" that costs a minimum of $39.00 in addition to your minute plan. You cannot use the blackberry feature without this plan. This doesn't include using your blackberry as a wireless modem, that costs extra and you are limited on how much date you can use. (Don't go over unless you're prepared to take out a second mortgage.)Not useful as a personal organizer unless your willing to spend over $100 a month for a cellphone bill.
Seriously, this has been a thorn in my side, rather than a helper (which is why I bought a Blackberry).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not for Everyone
Comment: I had to change wireless providers so I decided to go with AT&T. The Blackberry Pearl 8100 looked nice and I thought it was time to have more than just a phone. Within one day I wanted to return it. Actually, I went to the store to return it and they said that I should try it for at least another week. As I type this I am on the phone with AT&T and have been for over 30 min. The blackberry keeps downloading the same email messages over and over again to my phone. Since there is no manual that comes with the phone, it is hard to determine what to do. I don't feel that bad, because the expert on the other end doesn't seem to know what to do either; but at least he has suggestions.
I will be returning this phone on the weekend, I have zero tolerance for products that do not function properly from the start.
Other problems with this phone:
-The one single alarm is ridiculous. It is not convenient to put in a calender task for this. It would take RIM about 10 minutes to write a program to fix this to make the customer happier, why they do not- who knows.
-My phone also had issues with the tracking ball being in select mode for no reason. I had to use the number pad in order to read emails and messages.
-You really MUST use the cover case at all times with this phone or you could end up calling a random number in your address book.
- the address book looks like it was developed in the early 90s and never revamped.
-it is inconvenient to pull the phone out of the cover (that comes with the phone) without touching the plethora of other buttons that may disconnect the call.
My intention was not to use this phone for work , so these are complaints of a user who may not need all of these functions anyway. It looks like a simpler phone will have to do.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great, Durable Phone
Comment: I dropped this phone on the very first day. I was sure it was not going to work or that I had broken the display.
Neither was the case and the phone has worked flawlessly for two years now. Aside from the scratch across the display, which only sometimes affects viewing, this phone is perfect.
I had one of the first blackberry "pagers" and was immediately comfortable creating emails and text messages with this phone. I'll buy another BlackBerry Pearl at the point when that becomes necessary. I appreciate the slim size and light weight and prefer that to more feature rich "bricks" any day!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great phone, this Blackberry! Amazon needs a refresher in Order fulfillment, tho....
Comment: Most unfortunate circumstance... I had been wanting a Blackberry for some time and after doing my research on the wireless companies and service quality, I selected the Blackberry Pearl with ATT. Amazon FORGOT to send a SIM card with the phone! I got a SIM card from Amazon, only this time it was rejected by the phone, not programmed or something as ATT reps explained to me. I received yet another SIM card from Amazon, this time it WORKED!!! I was not pleased with the delay in actually being able to use the Blackberry, it was a full 2 weeks from the date I ordered and received the phone. By the way your phone service contract begins billing on the date you "click", submit my order with Amazon. ATT services reps were very knowledgeable and helpful and credited me for the full 2 weeks of service due to Amazon's failures. I would recommend this phone for any one, get the protective neoprene covers and screen protector, I also am really enjoying the new Jawbone Bluetooth device with this phone. GREAT Phone, Good service provider, ATT, not so good, Amazon for falling flat on its' nose in Customer Service!
Customer Rating:
Summary: OK, until trackball gets dirty and stops working
Comment: I liked this phone just fine, but ...
Remember, we all got rid of the trackball mouse on our computers in favor of an optical mouse because the trackball kept getting dirty and getting stuck? Well, guess what? The trackball on your BlackBerry Pearl will get dirty sooner rather than later and then you will have an unusable phone. BAD DESIGN.
What is your choice? Get a service plan is one possibility, or be prepared to have a repair charge, and lose access to your phone for a while in either case. Or you can just assume it will last a year and then get dirty and that will be the end of your phone.
Moving parts, especially rolling parts, are bad things on electronic devices.
It was nice while it lasted, and it would have been nice if it would have lasted.
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Editorial Reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Don't buy into the hype. This "smartphone" is a dumb buy.
Comment: If you have not yet bought a Pearl, then don't. I've had this almost two years and I can't wait till my contract is up so I can chuck this POS into a recycling box!
Why?
#1 Poor durability (and I'm easy on phones). I had this phone for a month when the button that holds the batter cover on popped off. It's a piece of plastic with a tiny spring the size of a toenail clipping. Somehow this was my fault and this sort of defect didn't fall under the manufacturer's warranty. AT&T, the Company I bought it from, would do nothing. OEM (The manufacturer) offered to repair it for $90 dollars! AT&T offered to SELL me a new phone for $199 (when I got it free with a 2 year contract). Both Companies' best suggestion was to buy a silicon cover for the phone to hold the batter back on. Also, the chrome like paint on the phone wore off within 6 months of using it. C'mon people!
#2 This phone interferes (makes that buzzing sound) REALLY loudly with any audio device. More than any other phone I've owned. So if you want the convenience of using your USB cable to charge it on your laptop or pc, mute your speakers, or you'll be sorry. Also GREATLY interferes with car stereos, TV speakers, PA systems, and etc.
#3 I am equally disappointed that bluetooth headphones are not any option for this phone because the Pearl doesn't use the new technology that most, if not all, of the stereo headphones do. The headphones available for this phone are junk, and there is no good off brand alternative either. I've tried every adapter electronics store sell.
#4 Make sure your cellular carrier has a REASONABLE data plan for blackberry. AT&T only has the "blackberry data plan" that costs a minimum of $39.00 in addition to your minute plan. You cannot use the blackberry feature without this plan. This doesn't include using your blackberry as a wireless modem, that costs extra and you are limited on how much date you can use. (Don't go over unless you're prepared to take out a second mortgage.)Not useful as a personal organizer unless your willing to spend over $100 a month for a cellphone bill.
Seriously, this has been a thorn in my side, rather than a helper (which is why I bought a Blackberry).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not for Everyone
Comment: I had to change wireless providers so I decided to go with AT&T. The Blackberry Pearl 8100 looked nice and I thought it was time to have more than just a phone. Within one day I wanted to return it. Actually, I went to the store to return it and they said that I should try it for at least another week. As I type this I am on the phone with AT&T and have been for over 30 min. The blackberry keeps downloading the same email messages over and over again to my phone. Since there is no manual that comes with the phone, it is hard to determine what to do. I don't feel that bad, because the expert on the other end doesn't seem to know what to do either; but at least he has suggestions.
I will be returning this phone on the weekend, I have zero tolerance for products that do not function properly from the start.
Other problems with this phone:
-The one single alarm is ridiculous. It is not convenient to put in a calender task for this. It would take RIM about 10 minutes to write a program to fix this to make the customer happier, why they do not- who knows.
-My phone also had issues with the tracking ball being in select mode for no reason. I had to use the number pad in order to read emails and messages.
-You really MUST use the cover case at all times with this phone or you could end up calling a random number in your address book.
- the address book looks like it was developed in the early 90s and never revamped.
-it is inconvenient to pull the phone out of the cover (that comes with the phone) without touching the plethora of other buttons that may disconnect the call.
My intention was not to use this phone for work , so these are complaints of a user who may not need all of these functions anyway. It looks like a simpler phone will have to do.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great, Durable Phone
Comment: I dropped this phone on the very first day. I was sure it was not going to work or that I had broken the display.
Neither was the case and the phone has worked flawlessly for two years now. Aside from the scratch across the display, which only sometimes affects viewing, this phone is perfect.
I had one of the first blackberry "pagers" and was immediately comfortable creating emails and text messages with this phone. I'll buy another BlackBerry Pearl at the point when that becomes necessary. I appreciate the slim size and light weight and prefer that to more feature rich "bricks" any day!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great phone, this Blackberry! Amazon needs a refresher in Order fulfillment, tho....
Comment: Most unfortunate circumstance... I had been wanting a Blackberry for some time and after doing my research on the wireless companies and service quality, I selected the Blackberry Pearl with ATT. Amazon FORGOT to send a SIM card with the phone! I got a SIM card from Amazon, only this time it was rejected by the phone, not programmed or something as ATT reps explained to me. I received yet another SIM card from Amazon, this time it WORKED!!! I was not pleased with the delay in actually being able to use the Blackberry, it was a full 2 weeks from the date I ordered and received the phone. By the way your phone service contract begins billing on the date you "click", submit my order with Amazon. ATT services reps were very knowledgeable and helpful and credited me for the full 2 weeks of service due to Amazon's failures. I would recommend this phone for any one, get the protective neoprene covers and screen protector, I also am really enjoying the new Jawbone Bluetooth device with this phone. GREAT Phone, Good service provider, ATT, not so good, Amazon for falling flat on its' nose in Customer Service!
Customer Rating:
Summary: OK, until trackball gets dirty and stops working
Comment: I liked this phone just fine, but ...
Remember, we all got rid of the trackball mouse on our computers in favor of an optical mouse because the trackball kept getting dirty and getting stuck? Well, guess what? The trackball on your BlackBerry Pearl will get dirty sooner rather than later and then you will have an unusable phone. BAD DESIGN.
What is your choice? Get a service plan is one possibility, or be prepared to have a repair charge, and lose access to your phone for a while in either case. Or you can just assume it will last a year and then get dirty and that will be the end of your phone.
Moving parts, especially rolling parts, are bad things on electronic devices.
It was nice while it lasted, and it would have been nice if it would have lasted.
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