Need a new phone

Lance · Oct 19, 2009, 22:51:31

I've been told by my boss to get a work mobile phone so I'm contactable when I'm out and about (other than on my personal mobile). Additionally, it is also to be used for my email as the wonderful IT department have decided they don't like iPhones.

So, I've been looking at the blackberry bold, curve 8900 or nokia e72 (having used a e71 in the past).

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Glenn · Oct 20, 2009, 07:44:44

How about the Palm Pre?

Simon · Oct 20, 2009, 08:40:21

BlackBerry have just released the Storm 2, which is a much improved version of the first one. If you're now used to a touchscreen, it might be worth a look.

Gary · Oct 20, 2009, 08:59:09

I would go for a blackberry as well Lance, ideal for email and work would probably assume you are ~~selling crack~~ being sensible with your choice. Good phones for business.

Lance · Oct 20, 2009, 09:10:56

Sorry, I should have added it must be available on Vodafone (which rules out the Palm) and can't be too expensive as its local government paying.

Gary · Oct 20, 2009, 09:49:31

Quote from: Lance on Oct 20, 2009, 09:10:56
Sorry, I should have added it must be available on Vodafone (which rules out the Palm) and can't be too expensive as its local government paying.

Reconditioned Blackberry? Vodafone may do them, I know O2 does. Saying that the Nokia E72 is very capable and is a good phone, bear in mind the Vodafone one will be branded to hell though.

Lance · Oct 20, 2009, 13:06:13

I've just got our price list through and the handset costs are at a very preferential rate

Oh - and they are the sim free unbranded version of the phone as well!

I'm just waiting to get confirmation of when the E72 is out as it looks like that is going to win over the blackberry (it just seems a lot more of an all-rounder).

Gary · Oct 20, 2009, 15:10:11

Quote from: Lance on Oct 20, 2009, 13:06:13
I've just got our price list through and the handset costs are at a very preferential rate

Oh - and they are the sim free unbranded version of the phone as well!

I'm just waiting to get confirmation of when the E72 is out as it looks like that is going to win over the blackberry (it just seems a lot more of an all-rounder).

Excellent news Lance

Sebby · Oct 20, 2009, 20:26:58

For a business phone, you can't beat a Blackberry, but personally I'd go for a non-touchscreen model. The Bold is great, or Curve if you want something a bit smaller.

Lance · Oct 20, 2009, 20:54:55

I did look at the bold, and I know there is a new bold out in November, but what woul you say makes it better than the nokia?

Simon · Oct 20, 2009, 21:29:04

I don't think you can beat a BlackBerry for emails, if that's your main usage.

Lance · Oct 20, 2009, 22:27:07

Which it probably will be. Maybe I'll take another look at the bold.

Simon · Oct 20, 2009, 22:45:56

I'm not sure if I could cope with the small keys on the Bold / Curve, but I guess it's a case of getting used to it, like with a touch screen.

Lance · Oct 20, 2009, 23:29:57

I've got quite fat fingers as well. It looks like the bold 2 aka 9700 aka onyx is out next month so I might just tell my boss he will have to wait for me to get the phone!

Simon · Oct 20, 2009, 23:44:08

The Storm2 is out this month too. I wouldn't discount it without at least looking, Lance. I'm running the beta of the Storm2 OS on mine, and if this is anything to go by, the released version will be very good.

Lance · Oct 21, 2009, 06:38:55

Thanks Simon. I think I will have to discount it though as it would appear too flash (even if the cost is in the same ballpark) for a local government employee!

Simon · Oct 21, 2009, 10:00:02

Gary · Oct 21, 2009, 13:36:39

I think it would be hard to go back to a physical keyboard after a touch one, if you have a chance at the Blackberry Storm2 that would be great

Sebby · Oct 21, 2009, 16:01:03

Quote from: Lance on Oct 20, 2009, 20:54:55
I did look at the bold, and I know there is a new bold out in November, but what woul you say makes it better than the nokia?

Firstly, I dislike Nokias. I find them slow and unintuitive. Secondly, and more importantly, Blackberries are the business standard, and there's a reason for that.

Simon · Oct 21, 2009, 16:47:02

Lance, you might want to take a look at this, and this.

Lance · Oct 21, 2009, 19:09:38

Thanks Simon, the press release on the Bold 9700 hadn't gone unnoticed

Lance · Oct 23, 2009, 22:19:02

Tried to get the new bold ordered today, but when vodafone corporate were asked how much it was going to cost they said they didn't have the pricing yet as there isn't a release date. Had I have been doing the ordering instead of the admin person, I would have pointed them at their own vodafone website!

Simon · Oct 23, 2009, 22:27:11

Lance · Oct 23, 2009, 22:31:53

Indeed!

Guess I will just have to wait for them to catch up!

On the plus side, I did get my new laptop and IPSec VPN ordered today, along with a docking station and external monitor. As I can keep my old monitor as well (which will be the same as the new one) I will be able to have a decent dual screen set up!

Simon · Oct 23, 2009, 22:32:59

I have enough trouble with one!

Sebby · Oct 23, 2009, 23:23:52

Quote from: Lance on Oct 23, 2009, 22:31:53
On the plus side, I did get my new laptop and IPSec VPN ordered today, along with a docking station and external monitor. As I can keep my old monitor as well (which will be the same as the new one) I will be able to have a decent dual screen set up!

It sounds like you're doing alright!

Lance · Oct 23, 2009, 23:31:46

Fortunately i get on well with the bosses and hard work doesn't go unnoticed! Today is also payday and because I had so many hours on the clock they owed me, I changed 53 to overtime paid at time and a half! Nice little bonus!

Simon · Oct 23, 2009, 23:32:28

Beers are on you then!

Lance · Oct 23, 2009, 23:33:51

I did get a round of vanilla lattes in this morning!

Simon · Oct 23, 2009, 23:36:55

Why can't they just call it coffee?

Lance · Oct 23, 2009, 23:38:08

That would be an americano, Simon!

Sebby · Oct 23, 2009, 23:39:26

Simon · Oct 23, 2009, 23:42:43

Dangerjunkie · Oct 31, 2009, 11:38:07

Hi,

I have a Bold. It's a fantastic user experience. If you're connecting to a corporate Blackberry server (BES - Blackberry Enterprise Server) it will apply a "policy" to your phone. I'd make sure that their policy doesn't prohibit you from installing any software of your own and that any software installed will have access to the raw internet. Blackberry App World is a fantastic thing. Bit like the Apple App Store.

The keyboard isn't as fiddly as it looks. I'm glad I went for a phone with real buttons, not a type on the screen one. Some of the slimmer berries, like the 8110 Pearl we have at work, have more than 1 letter per key. Typing on it does my head in. Make sure you try one in the shop if you're considering one of these to make sure you can hack it.

OK, for the bad stuff. The Bold is a very powerful phone and is a bit heavy on the battery. I have to charge mine most nights. There have been a couple of times when I've had to reach for a charger in the day, particularly if I'm using it as a bluetooth modem for my TomTom or if I've installed a dodgy app that turns it into a battery eating monster. The web browser is a bit cr*ppy and doesn't do Flash but is reasonably usable. The built-in PDF reader only displays test (not graphics!) but you can buy a third party one which should be better.

I got my Bold the week they came out. Bearing in mind how unbelievably bad the Storm 1 was and that it took a good couple of months before they got the software in the Bold sorted out I might be tempted to wait until I saw other owners' comments rather than getting the 9700 on day 1.

All in all the best thing I can say about the Bold is that if mine was broken this morning I'd be straight onto Vodafone asking for another one, not something else.

Cheers,
Paul.

Lance · Oct 31, 2009, 11:56:53

Thanks for that, Paul.

As it's a work device, I will have to accept whatever policy they put on it - they are paying for it after all!

I'm not worried about battery useage, I have to charge my iPhone every day anyway and hopefuly the new bold has better battery life anyway.

As for the internet, again I've got an iPhone so I'll be using that for the Internet instead!

I'm just annoyed vodafone have delayed it (the 9700) by a week!

Lance · Nov 09, 2009, 21:59:40

I'm going to cry.

I tried to order through the IT dept my new blackberry on Friday and had an email back today saying no can do! There has been a change in policy and apparently blackberrys can only be used by senior management and because they are less secure than a windows mobile device I have to have one of those.

I question why it is the most senior people on the organisation were still allowed a less secure device considering they will have some of the most confidential stuff, and was told because no one wanted to challange them! I couldn't believe it!

So, the upshot is that I was given a list of WMDs and the best of the bunch was the HTC Touch Pro 2 which other than the fact it is a brick seems to get quite good reviews.

I'll give you my opinion of it when it turns up.

Sebby · Nov 09, 2009, 22:54:02

Sorry to hear that, Lance. Windows Mobile devices are pretty nasty. A Blackberry would have been a lot nicer. I just can't believe WM is more secure (or, rather, that a Blackberry is insecure). It makes no sense.

Simon · Nov 09, 2009, 23:23:43

That sounds like bull to me, Lance. The bosses just wanted the best phones!

I was looking at the HTC Touch Pro 2 myself a while back, and was almost tempted, were it not for Windows Mobile. It's not that it's all that bad, it's just that it makes all phones more or less the same, albeit with a few brand enhancements. This is the one with the slide out keyboard, yes? I'd be interested to know how you find it.

Lance · Nov 09, 2009, 23:25:36

It is indeed the one with the slide out keyboard, a keyboard which seems to get good reviews. As you say, the main issue other than the weight is Windows mobile. Hopefully, it won't be as bad as some reviews make it out to be!

Rik · Nov 10, 2009, 08:21:07

I tend to agree with Simon, Lance, this has all the trappings of 'rank and privilege'.

Gary · Nov 10, 2009, 09:44:07

That makes no sense at all Lance

what version of windows mobile is on that?

Lance · Nov 10, 2009, 10:03:54

Version 6.1 pro, Gary. Although HTC I think put their own overlay on to improve the interface.

Quote from: Rik on Nov 10, 2009, 08:21:07
I tend to agree with Simon, Lance, this has all the trappings of 'rank and privilege'.

I do as well, and when I'm back in the office I might have a quiet word with the head of IT with whom I get along with well.