This major update to the popular 7105t brings the BlackBerry experience to a whole new level. The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl is not only thinner and lighter, it also sports a memory card slot, a music player, and voice dialing. Other features, such as Bluetooth 2.0, EDGE high-speed data, and the popular SureType keypad make this a complete mobile office solution. And of course, legendary BlackBerry push email is fully supported on the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl.
The SureType keypad makes the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl's diminutive size possible. Learn more about the handheld. You can also see it in 3D.
A 1.3-megapixel camera is housed in the back.
Design Like the BlackBerry 7105t, the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl is a departure from the form factor of previous BlackBerry devices. This BlackBerry handset is far more phone-like, and RIM's engineers have managed to fit a QWERTY keyboard onto the handset's slim frame. Each button on the keyboard shares two letters and the unit automatically determines which letter is the intended one based on what it predicts you are trying to spell. This unique predictive text technology, known as SureType, makes the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl's handset's diminutive size possible. SureType also learns the words you use most often, further enhancing your typing speed.
The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl sports a large 240 x 260 screen that supports over 65,000 colors-- plenty of real estate to view your e-mails, Web browser content, messaging sessions, and attachments. The venerable BlackBerry trackwheel has been replaced on this model with an innovative four-way trackball placed below the screen. On the rear of the handheld, you'll find a 1.3-megapixel camera and a self portrait mirror. The handheld's microSD memory card slot is located inside the device, behind the battery. There's also a standard 2.5mm headset jack that can be used with the included headset, as well as a mini-USB port for data connectivity.
Calling Features All the calling capabilities folks have come to expect in a wireless phone are present in the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl. The handset's speakerphone makes it easy to use the device hands-free, or if you prefer, you can use a wireless headset via the BlackBerry 8100 handheld's built-in Bluetooth capability. A vibrating alert, speed dial, and a contacts list/address book (limited only by the unit's 64 MB of internal memory) are also included. Any of the phone's 32 included polyphonic ringtones can be used to create caller-specific ringers, so you can know who's calling without having to look at the handset. More ringtones are available from T-Mobile's t-zones mobile Web service. A new feature, speaker independent voice dialing, allows you to call contacts with the sound of your voice. No prior voice training is required; you can just say a contact's name to call them.
Messaging, Internet, and Tools While the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl is a different kind of BlackBerry device, it still delivers the legendary BlackBerry e-mail experience. With BlackBerry service plans from T-Mobile, you can receive e-mails instantaneously from up to 10 e-mail accounts (personal and enterprise). With BlackBerry push technology, you don't need to retrieve your e-mail. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new e-mail arrives. Support is also built-in for viewing e-mail attachments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and PDF formats).
If your company has a BlackBerry Enterprise Server installed, you can take advantage of the power of wireless calendar synchronization. Your calendar events are exchanged wirelessly and automatically so that your desktop calendar and BlackBerry handheld calendar are synchronized. All your Outlook meeting requests, changes, and updates are instantaneously synchronized instantaneously with your desktop. Make meeting requests, invite new attendees, and more, all on your BlackBerry 8100 Pearl. Users without BlackBerry Enterprise Server support can manually sync with their desktop calendars and contacts via Bluetooth or USB using the included BlackBerry Desktop Software.
Use the BlackBerry 8100 handset's Web browser to access the Internet from the palm of your hand. Browse Web sites, get up-to-date stock quotes, read the latest news, check weather reports, and more--all at fast speeds, thanks to support for T-Mobile's EDGE high speed data network. Instant messaging and wireless messaging are also built into the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl. The handheld supports AOL, Yahoo, and ICQ instant messaging, as well as SMS text messaging. MMS messages can be received and forwarded.
The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl ships with a number of tools, including a calculator, a calendar, an alarm, and a to-do list.
Imaging and Entertainment The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl really kicks the fun up a notch with the inclusion of a 1.3-megapixel camera that features an LED flash and white balance controls. How about some music? The handheld's music player supports playback of your tunes in MP3, AAC, AAC+, and eAAC+ formats. The handheld is also compatible with Java application and game downloads (available via the t-zones service).
Vital Statistics The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl weighs 3.16 ounces and measures 4.2 by 2.00 by 0.57 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.5 hours of digital talk time and up to 360 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies. The phone comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Great Phone but some quirks:
This is the first phone I've had of this kind (s'appelle "smartphone"), but the battery life is bad when using for email, texts, calls, browsing, etc... when using all day. I don't know if that is the nature of the beast, because I haven't had a phone of this caliber before, but my impressions are that it is a battery drainer. No tech problems at all and it is an all around an awesome phone for any purpose.
Don't buy into the hype. This "smartphone" is a dumb buy.:
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... more info
Burned by T-Mobile, dishonest lying company!!!:
This is not a review for the phone which is probably great. This is a rant about T-Mobile. T-Mobile had lied to me when I was going to the Carribean with my Black Berry. The Representative had told me that I would be charged according to the data used and instead signed me up for BB International Roaming, which is $19.99. The service had never worked, I wasn't able to recieve or send email, but this is not what this is about. Four months later I had opened a bill, which I usually don't do since the bill is... more info
Small, great when new, design flaws:
This phone is great out of the box. After putting google maps and opera on it you almost would think it is a nice little phone. (if you get one of the ones that lets you install maps or setup opera... more than one of these i owned i had to jump through hoops and read forums to get it working properly) It is a little slow to start up but once your going the phone is rarely sluggish. calender is great, able to add alarms through it with relative ease and the reminders are very helpful. voice clarity is good... more info
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