Verizon launches EV-DO BlackBerry 7130e

We knew it was due any day now, and today Verizon officially announced the BlackBerry 7130e, the first EV-DO RIM device to hit the States. You can get yours for $300 with a two year, which is admittedly a tad steep, but we can definitely understand the temptation of 3G. Go forth and enjoy push email, friend, faster than ever.

[Via BBhub]

[DateM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The 3Gness of EVDO on Verizon is really two notable items:
1. Fast download speed - up to 600kbps but upload speed remains at 1xRTT levels. The asymmetric data thruput capacity makes sense for most usages.

2. If your phone is using EVDO as its data connection (assumes coverage for EVDO - generally found in metropolitan areas) then calls can interrupt data connections to allow you to choose to answer a call. No more semi-inxplicable voicemails when your phone was apparently doing nothing.

For my money, I would not inflict the annoying T9-like RIM keyboard on myself. I would much rather a proper QWERTY keyboard like on a Treo.

[Sine909 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I used the 7100t for the last year and actually grew to really love the pseudo-qwerty RIM keyboard. It was a very nice trade-off for the size. I've since recently switched to a full qwerty WinMo5 device specifically for the OS, but I find myself missing both the RIM keyboard and especially that godly thumbwheel nav. I wish even my iPod had that thing.

Unfortunately Blackberry lags heavily in all other multimedia functionality so it's a serious toss up.

[gorkon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

What is it with the newer blackberries having SUCKY keyboards?? That kind of was the thing that made the Blackberry unique except the bigger screen.

[aviationwiz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The keyboard on the 8700 is just fine, it's full QWERTY like the 7200 series.. The one on the 7100 series though I personally dislike, because it isn't full QWERTY, which is why I have a 7250, which I was luckily able to just update to EV-DO.

[EVDO guy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

Mac USB Drivers? Anyone know if this will have Mac drivers available? Or, if you have one and plug it into your PowerBook, does the PowerBook recognize it?

[PhoneGuy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

The 7130e appeared on my desk friday morning. Moving from a 7250 over to the 7130e is a major undertaking. The keyboards dual key qwerty form is going to take adapting to. EV-DO is impressively super fast. Just for the fun of it we tested the Cingular 8700c's EDGE highspeed against the VZW 7130e's EV-DO and loading MSNBC, FOX News and CBS News' websites. The 8700c was behind by nearly 5 minutes. The 7130 has a crystal clear screen however if EDGE was as fast as EV-DO the 8700c would be my device of choice.

[David Pitts @ Dec 19th 2005 12:55AM]

I've had the 7130e for about a week. While I was apprehensive about the semi-qwerty keyboard, I am about as good with it now as I was the full qwerty on the previous Blackberry. Great screen. FAST EV-DO. Don't fear the keyboard. The software handles it fine. Also syncs via Bluetooth, finally! I have absolutely no qualms about recommending this phone. I hope RIM lives through the lawsuit.

[ilubeto @ Dec 25th 2005 11:44AM]

I just got my 7130e 4 days ago. I was a Samsung i500 Palm user but I am coming to like this phone very much. Instead of having addon apps for managing contact and calendars, this does both very well and in a nicely integrated fashion. I am also a mac user and found the software to sync with address book and calendar before I bought the phone. However, I wasn't sure about modem capabilities. Well withouth the software, PocketMac for Blackberry, the phone won't even charge from the usb port. With the software the phone charges and is visible in the Network preferences. However attempting to connect to Verizon's network is futile. The only Modem listed in the dropdown for Verizon is the PC5220. I read somewhere else that a usb driver needed to be developed for 7130e. I am currently researching this possibility because I need remote connectivity. My i500 won't be turned off till I either write a stable driver or someone else does, and it will take me at least a month or two since I have never written device drivers for mac - steep learning curve!!!