Ok, I'm about to purchase a smart phone for use with my business. I've used blackberries extensively in the past with my employers. Most recently, I had the 8830 and enjoyed what it did. However, I was looking at getting the iPhone for use with my business.

Blackberries are typically better at business use, but I can't help but be intrigued by the iPhone. Yet, I know nothing about it.

Things I will need:
- IMAP email
- Access to gmail
- Access to google talk
- Ability to sync calendar with google calendar
- Ability to sync contacts with outlook

Which phone is better for these functions? Regardless of which is better, will the iPhone do this?

6/6/2008 10:46:11 PM

I've go the 8300 BB and really like it..

The iphone will do IMAP for sure, does access gmail for sure, not sure about the google talk, does sync with outlook but what do you mean by sync with google calendar? what i do is have google and outlook sync using their utility then just sync with outlook and all 3 places are the same.. The most negative thing IMO about the iphone is the keyboard. I love the keyboard on this 8300 compared to the touschreen on the iphone. I have to say apple has done an incredible job with the spell check on it though so it's by far the easiest to type on touchscreen I've EVER seen or heard of.

If you want something immediately, I'd go with the blackberry--at worst you sell it when the new iPhone comes out and lose next to nothing (i.e. buy off craigslist or perhaps with contract and get on really cheap... not sure of your complete situation)

It's really not something anyone can really give you an answer to. Go to the stores, play with the phones, decide what features are most important to you and go from there. If you do a ton of typing (and judging by your app requirements, I believe this is an obvious YES) I would say go with the blackberry.

6/6/2008 11:21:25 PM

The iphone is better, and it does all of those things.

6/6/2008 11:21:26 PM

better is not a very good explanation. care to explain?

6/6/2008 11:22:59 PM

blackberries are better for business use if you have the enterprise server. Pretty much any phone does mail and calendaring. Wher BBs shine is remote management of many devices.

If its just you and its your own business I would get whatever phone you like. I imagine the iphone can do some of the sync stuff, but I think the software is still pretty limited unless you do a bit of unlocking.

Personally I'll probably just stick with my company issued BB8310 until WM7 comes out.

6/6/2008 11:29:10 PM

bttt

6/7/2008 4:20:34 PM

does the iphone sync with outlook at all? also, if data security is at all a concern, the bb is the only phone to offer end point encryption

6/7/2008 8:15:11 PM

the iphone syncs with Outlook currently, but not through Exchange direct push.

Once the new 2.0 firmware is released, probably along with the 3G iphone, you will have full Exchange integration like you see with any WinMo device.

That means no bullshit backend server (BES), and whatever slew of new features they've added to the iphone to boot (rumored video chat, GPS, etc)

6/7/2008 8:42:41 PM

wait just one more day and see what steve has to say tomorrow

6/8/2008 8:32:42 AM

DID NOT READ.....but yeah get a BlackBerry Curve

6/8/2008 9:06:38 AM

everyone seems to always overlook the Motorola Q. maybe everybody else thinks they suck, but i love mine. since it runs windows, it's a lot easier to get it synced (?) with my pc (for outlook - we use exchange - and calendar, since that's what the phone runs anyway), and it runs word, excel, powerpoint and opens all pdfs (or at least all that i've ever received). i also have easy access to gmail.

my bosses have had a hard time getting their blackberries to do the same. they eventually got it to work (not them, some tech guy), but they still can't view pdfs or email attachments. they hate the os too, it not logical to them (or me).

i have the q9m. i love it.

i don't use the hideous verizon music background thing though, i just use the regular windows one. it's thinner than blackberries too. camera has flash, takes video too (decent resolution - 1024x1280). there are mini sd wifi cards available for it also. i don't have one, but a friend does and it works just like it should - i want to get one soon.

[Edited on June 8, 2008 at 9:39 AM. Reason : ]

6/8/2008 9:33:45 AM

those are all features of any phone with windows mobile made in the last 3-4 years. my 3 year old 8125 has/does all of that and has a touch screen and a slider keyboard. the htc tilt is the same phone but current model, with way more ram and cpu power and gps built in.

6/8/2008 10:13:55 AM

Quote :

"everyone seems to always overlook the Motorola Q. maybe everybody else thinks they suck"

they blow.

the last 3 ppl i've known to buy them took them back within a week and got a blackberry.

6/8/2008 11:48:15 AM

Quote :

"everyone seems to always overlook the Motorola Q. maybe everybody else thinks they suck"

because they always fucking suck

6/8/2008 5:09:23 PM

The Q's, like almost every moto of the last 5 years, suck

6/8/2008 5:36:52 PM

list of good moto phones

E815

Nextel i850
Nextel i580

6/8/2008 6:38:46 PM

Oeuvre, what carrier are you with? And are you tied to that one, or is that up for grabs too?

6/8/2008 7:41:17 PM

Verizon currently, but my contract has been over for a few months... waiting for the next move. So I'm open to any carrier.

I just got my wife the blackberry curve off of amazon.com for $50 with a $75 mail-in rebate. So we had to sign a 2-year contract with AT&T for her. It'd be nice to stay AT&T so we can get the family plan, but not necessarily a requirement since this will be a business phone.

6/8/2008 8:32:01 PM

Quote :

"those are all features of any phone with windows mobile made in the last 3-4 years. my 3 year old 8125 has/does all of that and has a touch screen and a slider keyboard. the htc tilt is the same phone but current model, with way more ram and cpu power and gps built in."

sooo....? he asked for a phone that does specific things, and my phone does those things, and it would make sense that other phones with windows do the same things. blackberries don't run windows.
it's a matter of personal preference but i don't like touch screens (really hate touch screens actually) and slider keyboards. i like stick phones (ones that don't fold in half or move in anyway).

Quote :

"they blow. the last 3 ppl i've known to buy them took them back within a week and got a blackberry."

i haven't taken mine back, my brother hasn't taken his back (he doesn't use his for business though). i haven't had any problems with it. i've never loved or really liked any cell phone i've had (incl the razr, had it for a week, took it back), but i LOVE this one.

6/9/2008 10:14:49 AM

we'll see what Mr. Jobs says today

6/9/2008 10:31:20 AM

to each his own, but i love the moto q and have no plans to switch from it, or windows mobile either. i have not had any problems with my q that i would consider highly abnormal, or anything to make me thinks it sucks. i am still running wm5 and its pretty good to me, but as i said i am not trying to get anyone to like the q, but they are not 'bad' phones like most people are saying here.

oh and ogg sync is the tool i use to sync up my google calendar with my phone.

[Edited on June 9, 2008 at 10:35 AM. Reason : asdf]

6/9/2008 10:34:02 AM

Quote :

" SAN FRANCISCO - Apple CEO Steve Jobs is widely expected to introduce iPhone 2.0 at the start of the tech firm's Worldwide Developers Conference today. ADVERTISEMENT The next-generation iPhone will likely feature 3G wireless technology, allowing much faster Internet access. It's also expected to let users download a wide range of powerful new business applications and social-networking programs. The smart phone is expected to be available in mid-June."

6/9/2008 10:35:57 AM

I do know some people who really love thier motoqs. I'm waiting a few months for the new phones to come out before i invest. Mainly the xperia. My biggest requirements are:

1. Easy to use slide qwerty keyboard
2. Large 3"+ 640 by 480/800 by 480 display
3. expansion port, micro sd i guess
4. 7.2Mbps HSDPA
5. 8-16+ gig onboard storage
6. 5mp camera would be nice
7. metalic finish, not plastic
8. wm 6.1, 7 would be nice
9. 3.5mm jack, no adapter, although i'll probably use a stereo bluetooth headset
10. ability to play spore maxed out
11. doubles as a taser
12. 50+ hours of HSDPA surfing
13. runs on water http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/news/show/88683/get-ready-for-water-powered-cell-phones.html
14. attractive women will flock towards me
15. zaps all iphones within a 100 foot radius

6/9/2008 10:37:29 AM

^^ no touch-screen phone is a smartphone. they just classify them as that, but they are truly not.

6/9/2008 10:39:07 AM

based on...the seedless definition of smartphone?

Quote :

"A smartphone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities beyond a typical mobile phone, often with PC-like functionality. There is no industry standard definition of a smartphone.[1][2] For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers.[3][4] For others, a smartphone is simply a phone with advanced features."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone

6/9/2008 11:09:50 AM

man, it is WIDELY accepted that a smart phone is a phone that can be used to its full capability with ONE hand, and has no touch screen. and technically a smart phone should not have a camera either.

[Edited on June 9, 2008 at 11:16 AM. Reason : asdf]

6/9/2008 11:13:08 AM

i have never heard either of those stipulations for a smart phone.....

6/9/2008 11:17:13 AM

i have never heard either of those stipulations for a smart phone.....

6/9/2008 11:18:30 AM

i have never heard either of those stipulations for a smart phone.....






and theyre fucking retarded

6/9/2008 11:20:04 AM

wow, it seems you guys missed the memo then. a smart phone was designed with the real-deal businessman in mind, with him on the go, with a briefcase in hand, and no camera to take picture of trade secrets.

6/9/2008 11:21:32 AM

and cavemen used to draw pictures of things on cave walls.

Times, they are a changing.

6/9/2008 11:25:04 AM

you are right. but i still only consider what i stated above as a smartphone. anything with a touchscreen is a pda phone to me, and a lot of people would agree on that.

6/9/2008 11:27:26 AM

Does anything sync with thunderbird?

6/9/2008 11:32:36 AM

thats a very relative quesiton

6/9/2008 11:34:49 AM

seedless is right. Smartphones are usually non-touch. For example whenever there's an option to download software it always asks you smartphone (non-touch) or pocketpc/pda-phone(touch). I always see a distinction. Guess you guys didn't the get the memo either.

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/

Smartphone sites only deal with windows mobile standard (non-touch screen). I think now it's either smartphone (non-touch) or pocket-pc (touch). Atleast that's the convention with all the most popular sites and software distributors.

[Edited on June 9, 2008 at 11:46 AM. Reason : .]

6/9/2008 11:43:33 AM

i forgot to mention the .cab thingy - thx bro!

6/9/2008 11:45:18 AM

Quote :

"Times, they are a changing."

6/9/2008 11:47:14 AM

^ i can agree with that however they are changing, but not have changed completely yet.

6/9/2008 11:48:02 AM

i have a xv6700 (ppc 6700) running windows mobile 6 and i absolutely love it. I actually found the rom im running on pdaphonehome or ppcgeeks or somethin like that online. it has a fairly powerful processor at 416mhz... of course touch screen. camera, video, office mobile (excel, word, powerpoint, onenote)

Personally, I won't ever go back to "normal phones" because of the versatility and customability (?) of windows mobile.

Saying that, there are a crap ton of 3rd party applications and programs, many of which are free, to customize your home screen and whatnot. Ring tones can be made using any audio file you have on your pc also. I have S2U2 which simulates the locked iphone screen, where you have to slide to unlock it and answer calls. The slide-out keyboard is nice, although makes the phone a little bulky, especially with my extended battery it makes it look colossal. Wi-fi is almost a must, and means if you work in a place with it, there is no need for a data plan, you can sign up for it to activate the phone and then take it off your plan the next day (with verizon, anyway).

I'd say the newer version of mine (6800) would be my next phone, but I'm still looking into other carriers because my plan ends in august i believe. Among other prospective phones, anything by htc, the new nokias (n95, etc.), 2nd gen iphone even though i dont really want to switch to att.

hope this helps a little

6/9/2008 4:02:40 PM

Quote :

"the new nokias (n95, etc.), "

The n95 came out in the beginning of 2007. Hardly new. The 5MP camera is nice though. The 6800 Titan came out last november. You should wait on the sony xperia x1.

6/9/2008 4:20:42 PM

Quote :

"The 6800 Titan came out last november. "

i had mine in july of 07...your dates are wrong

6/9/2008 4:35:09 PM

6/9/2008 5:01:57 PM

woops i think it was may. sorry.

6/9/2008 5:02:51 PM

my bad on the dates. nonetheless, those phones feature the most up to date features pretty much anyway.

and yes, the xperia will be badass. lots of $ though

6/9/2008 8:32:19 PM

I have the HTC PPC 6800 on Alltel and I love it...I have hacked the damn thing to death but I love it and I would not use anything else...there is no perfect phone but this damn thing does everything I need...oh and props to Str8BacardiL for mentioning the e815...I had one before I upgraded to the 6800...damn good phone other than that damn moto charging port...I still have mine as a backup though...and I still have about 20+ Nextel phones around my crib from when I worked for them before Sprint ruined them.....I even have an i370 from the days before nextel covered all of NC...I am like a damn used cellphone magnet

6/9/2008 8:54:45 PM

new iPhone it is for me.

6/9/2008 9:45:01 PM

i don't know that i'd ever get an iphone.

maybe if they ever put real buttons.

i need a real keypad, not the idea of one.

6/10/2008 8:08:16 AM

I'm not about to read all of this, so I won't be sure what people have said.

Don't waste your time and money on anything other than a blackberry.

Each of the functions you listed can be done in a blackberry.
imap/gmail/outlook email sync takes 1 minute to set up
google talk is already installed on the BB

I've got the BB curve (8300). I love it. Gets service everywhere, camera, speaker phone, voice dialing, google maps w/ ability to have gps on it, trackball for easy navigation, good browser and media player.

iPhones are not worth the money, and since it seems that you want this mostly for email, an iPhone will quickly become annoying, BB's are way better for email functions.

WM devices are ok, but have their issues, and generally don't run as well as a blackberry.

6/10/2008 8:18:32 AM

^ i can generally agree with that.

6/10/2008 8:28:23 AM

Quote :

"Don't waste your time and money on anything other than a blackberry. "

What about 3g? Full qwerty keyboard? Touch-screen? High-resolution display? Available programs? There's plenty of things a BB are good for, but they are lacking in some areas. I wouldn't say ONLY get a blackberry.

6/10/2008 9:06:18 AM