The word I heard is that Sextel will be deploying (heh; cool word, right? Makes it sound like I actually know what I'm talking about...) Qualcomm's QChat system over EVDO to provide a Direct Connect replacement.

Clearly, this places two milestones on their cutover/disestablishment schedule for iDen:

• Deploy EVDO as widely as iDen
• Interconnect the two

If these things are actually accurate or not, and how far along they are on this, I have no knowledge, insider or otherwise. I'd certainly like some, though, along with info on whether there will be a desktop version of QChat.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7100i/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/103)

I went with nextel for now. Takes some getting use 2.

That Nextel antenna everyone seems to hate
 

Let's be clear, here, shall we:

The point of highest standing RF energy on an antenna -- and *every radio has an antenna* -- is at the tip, away from the feedline.

On a Nextel, that's a couple inches from your head, assuming you extended the antenna.

On other phones, it's either half an inch from your ear, or inside your cupped hand, or both.

I, personally, will happily take that extensible antenna.

its too bad that antenna isnt' helping me with dropped calls or having to redial the number 5 different times because of different error messages. i am so DONE with nextel

and dont' even get me started with the DC and IN DATA messages and RESTRICTED SERVICE messages

most antenna's are embedded within the phones now-a-days. you must be talking about older phones.

the antenna on nextel phones are required for the 800mhz frequency... thats what ive heard

i've heard that nextel insists on the antenna because of brand recognition. if the antenna was required then unscrewing it shoudl leave you with no service wouldnt it? i can unscrew my antenna and not lose a bar.

i dont think its absolutely required for the 800mhz, but im sure that it helps a lot. when i was using my 7520 i unscrewed the antenna constantly when i was bored and i realized that the signal does go down. maybe youre just in a well covered area.

Oddly...
 

We'd been seeing those problems down here in Tampa too, but since I replaced my i730 with my new 7100i, I haven't had any problems on that front at all. Knock on ABS.

Nextel signal level
 

As the other reply notes, it can depend on where you are.

Nextel numeric signal quality rating goes from 0-32.00; 32 is 4 bars. 1 bar is 28.00. You do the (very odd) math.

The external antenna is necessary for iDEN.

Is it worth to switch from the 7100i to the 7130e on the 28th ? Will a see a big difference ?

HECK YES.

imagine using the web browser on your phone, and getting web sites as fast as you would on a broadband enabled computer. AND using your laptop with your phone to get "mobile broadband."

and im sure that the ringtones'll be better instead of crappy mid

im honestly considering purchasing a treo from sprint with the same evdo. im gonna try one out first to see if its a worthy blackberry replacment first.

heres a little story for everyone.....

this morning, i anxiously awoke, ripped open my laptop to go to the sprint website to purchase the new 7130i.... and WHAT?! no 7130i? i did notice that they added the 700p....

wonder why not the blackberry..... YES IM VERY IMPATIENT

Wirelessly posted (7100i: BlackBerry7100i/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/103)

Where is the 7130

Wirelessly posted (7100i: BlackBerry7100i/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/103)

Where is the 7130

i recieved a message from someone saying that you can call to purchase the 7130 over the phone. theyll get it on the site later, is what i was told.

i honestly would rather like to see the peice of merchandise im purchasing before i do.

Well, as tired as I am with the Nextel side of the house, I am going to have to wait for the 87xx series. I cannot STAND the idea of a partial keyboard as the 71xx phones have.

thats exactly how i used to feel about the suretype. i thought i would hate it. after i tried a 7100g, i thought it was awesome. so a few days later i bought a 7100i. the suretype really isnt that bad... its a little different than qwerty, it just takes a few days to get used to.

I agree about nextel. I am really getting pissed off with the service in my area. I dont know what happened, but a while ago i had perfect signal. now, when im in my house... my bb is practically a brick and i hate it. im going to try sprint out with the treo 700p, and if im not happy with that then ill just keep the 7100i for the year and a half of my contract.

Wirelessly posted (7100i: BlackBerry7100i/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/103)

Does anyone know what color the 7130 is.

not a clue. i havnt been able to find any pictures on it at all. i wish sprint would get it up on the site soon.