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secretagent007 · 05-04-2006, 07:38 PM

I demo'd the 8700c for a month when it first came out in Dec 2005. At that time I had so many complaints about the hyper sensitive mic and poor phone sound from people on the receiving end i sadly returned it. Since then I had longed for this to be fixed so i can purchase one.

I stopped by the cingular store today and talk to a sales rep. He told me he was informed by his BB rep that the problem was solved. I asked him to get the BB rep on the phone and find out the specifics. He did, and the rep stated that BB has adjusted the 'gain' on the mic and the problem is solved.

Does anyone have any info on this?

secretagent007 · 05-04-2006, 08:02 PM

I take it no one has any complaints about this?

LunkHead · 05-04-2006, 08:03 PM

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 8700g: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I belive the problem was solved with the recent OS upgrades!

secretagent007 · 05-04-2006, 08:06 PM

Cool! I'll pick one up tonight. What OS version should I look for when I buy it?

Thanks for the help.

LunkHead · 05-04-2006, 08:13 PM

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 8700g: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Does not really matter what OS comes on the phone as you can easily update from your home.

I am currently using the Telstra OS NEW, NEW, NEW
http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=33747

You can use T-Mo's latest OS NEW, NEW
http://www.t-mobileapps.com/download...m?selDevice=22

or Cingulars OS NEW
https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...E4F82F9F00E7D4

Hope this helps

secretagent007 · 05-04-2006, 08:17 PM

I live in So Cal. (OC) and will be traveling internationally. Can you make a recommendation for a provider? TMO or Cingular?

LunkHead · 05-04-2006, 08:35 PM

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 8700g: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I have been with T-Mo for years and have always been very happy with them until a recent spat over a battery cover. I was going to switch to Cingular but have decided to stick with T-Mo. One bad experience in 4 years I can live / deal with.

I think the T-Mo version of the 8700 looks better (personal preference) and the T-Mo BB data plan is quite a bit cheaper.

As far as OS's go.. I always use the latest greatest and in this case that is currently the Telstra OS. Any OS made for the 8700, regardless of carrier, will work on any and all 8700's.

secretagent007 · 05-04-2006, 11:24 PM

Thanks LunkHead. Sorry for the ignorance but what exactly is Telstra OS? Is this an upgrade provided by BB? Or is it from a 3rd party? Or something else?

pacemkr · 05-04-2006, 11:52 PM

Since you guys are on the topic of voice quality on the BB, I'll add my 2 cents.

The sounds quality on the 8700 (on my end, not sure about the recieving end) is mediocre at best. I had a Nokia 6682 prior to this, and there is just no comparison, it was MUCH MUCH better. People sound like they are talking in tin on the BB. Sometimes I have a really hard time understanding what people are saying, because the audio is not clear. On the Nokia the sound was crisp and clear, I was really disappointed with the voice quality on the 8700.

That and the cheap plastic used on the casing and keyboard are the two things I do not like about this device. Everythign else is pretty good.

secretagent007 · 05-05-2006, 12:00 AM

Thanks for the honest feedback pacemkr. What you are describing was one of the reasons why I returned the unit I demo'd back in Dec. when it 1st came out. This as well as the complaints of terrible background noise and generally poor sound quality from the people on the receiving end of my calls.

I'm curious, are you running the latest OS as mentioned above? If so, have you seen an improvement? And if so approx. what % of an improvement?

pacemkr · 05-05-2006, 12:03 AM

I got it from Amazon with a Tmobile contract less than a week ago and it came with the lates OS I believe 4.10.284 (can someone confirm that thats the latest), so I cant compare the quality with any preveous versons of the OS. Sorry.

secretagent007 · 05-05-2006, 12:10 AM

Hmmm.

I burn about 2000 minutes a mont on my phone for business. Quality & sound on both ends of the phone interface is a high priority. I loath the though of carrying around 2 phones and would much prefer to have one kick ass device - namely an 8700. However, you seem to be describing the same experience I was having back in December.

Looks like I'm back on the fence with my Visa Card in hand.

mymitsu3kgt · 05-05-2006, 01:28 AM

I'm using 4.1.0.284 with TMobile and I haven't had anyone complain about the sound quality and I haven't had any problems hearing people either. TMobile released theirs later so maybe RIM had a chance to fix the problems listed above.

billy hutchison · 05-05-2006, 09:25 AM

I agree about the plastics used on the casing, but I've been really impressed with sound quality - I have an 8700g w/ T-Mo and the sound quality is far superior to my old 7290, and much clearer/louder than on my old Moto V551. <shrug> Guess it varies where you are.

pacemkr · 05-05-2006, 10:34 AM

I dont know about the other blackberries, because this is my first one. I've owned only one moto, V188 (what a disaster that was, the worst phone I've ever layed my hands on), I've used a few others, V60(?), V3XX, the RAZR, several nextel versions (at least most these are durable). To make a long story short I think the sound quality in all of those (except 188, which was so bad its not worth discussing) is pretty much on par with the BB, the BB may be a just little better.

Just to make things clear I think Nokias, especially the last one I had 6682, have the best sound quality off all the cells I've used, so perhaps its not fair to compare RIM to Nokia, since most other manufacturers fall short of nokia sound quality and reception (reception on the 8700 is on par with that of the Nokia by the way). But if Nokia can do it, why not expect the same from RIM and in fact other manufacturers? I mean it doesnt take much, a better speaker, better sound processing, what else?

By the way, I moved from cingular (nokia) to tmobile (bb), but I doubt it makes a difference.

Koperry · 05-05-2006, 10:36 AM

I am running the Telstra, upgraded from Orange and Bharti before that. I have been very impressed with each update. Volume and clarity are much improved from the stock Cingular OS along with themes, shortcuts, etc.

pacemkr · 05-05-2006, 10:39 AM

I belive the Tmobile BB comes with a "Bharti equivalent" OS. Am I correct? Or is there an update that tmobile hasnt relased yet?

secretagent007 · 05-05-2006, 11:49 AM

I believe everyone is talking apples to apples here. But just to be safe, I should clairify that I am refering to the sound quality using the 8700 'as-is' without a BB headset or the tethered one provided.

Now for an ignorant question: can someone please educate me on the different upgrade names? Bharti, Telstra etc....Are these 3rd party upgrades sperate from BB's issued upgrades? Or are they the official names provide from the OEM? Or something else?

frank_m · 05-05-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by secretagent007

I live in So Cal. (OC) and will be traveling internationally. Can you make a recommendation for a provider? TMO or Cingular?

I have traveled several times to Europe (Norway & Netherlands) with my 7100t on T-mobile.

had no complaints.. I think they may even have a international data plan.

basically I was able to use my BB like I was home.. just keep in mind that your unlimited dataplan in the US is not unlimited over there.. but there may be options that you can purchase piror to travel.

when I was in the Netherlands, I was on t-mobile NL.. for what that's worth.

A couple things to keep in mind..

what ever carrier you choose, make sure you check with customer service BEFORE you leave and actiavate any international roaming features (sometimes they are turned off on your account by default)
AND get the phone number for international support.. in case you need to call customer service from overseas, they have a TOLL FREE (as in airtime free) number... cuz 611 won't do it for you over there.

frank_m · 05-05-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by secretagent007

I believe everyone is talking apples to apples here. But just to be safe, I should clairify that I am refering to the sound quality using the 8700 'as-is' without a BB headset or the tethered one provided.

Now for an ignorant question: can someone please educate me on the different upgrade names? Bharti, Telstra etc....Are these 3rd party upgrades sperate from BB's issued upgrades? Or are they the official names provide from the OEM? Or something else?

To answer your questions on Bharti, Telstra.. those are just different versions of the software for your 8700, from what I understand from *COUGH* *SEARCH* button.

RIM (Resrach in Motion, maker of the blackberry) releases versions of the software to all carriers.. each carrier decides on when they will release it to their customers.

Bharti is a carrier in India, Telstra is a carrier in Australia (from what I understand)

if you look on the forums, you can find all these versions for download (for FREE)

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