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I have found retired Blackberries make excellent ebook readers. As I have converted various models to this use I have continued to learn more about which ones work better for this task...and for the money, the 8703e is superior to earlier models. The screen is bright, clear, and the text very easy to read. The programmable keys allow one to enter the free Mobipocket reader and get to the current book with minimal fuss. The battery life is very good, and the durability is excellent. Plus, if I am going to drop an ebook reader into a pond, I'd much rather do it to one of these than, say, a Kindle... The 8703e has plenty of space available on it, especially if some of the unneeded software is deleted, and the syncing of the books from a PC is simple to perform, if a little quirky in execution. I have found the best results come when I convert the original books to straight text, no odd formatting or stray leftovers from a word processor, and then convert them on the PC to Mobipocket reader files using the Mobipocket Reader program. Then, use the best USB cable and the tightest USB port on the computer you have to minimize chances of data interruption (which Mobipocket seems touchy about). When everything is working right adding books to the Blackberry is swift and simple. You can use all sorts of smartphones and PDAs as ebook readers, but none of them has the display quality of one of these. But, you ask, how are they as phones? I haven't a clue; please see other reviews for that information. When it comes to smart phones (except as ereaders), I fall somewhere between a Luddite and a dinosaur!! Considering the difficulties RIM has had lately, it is nice to know there is a use for these nifty gadgets after they are retired.Read full review
I needed a cell phone that allow me to have my personal email and work email all in the same place. I am in the middle of my contract so I can't afford to go and get an Iphone (which would be awesome) with another carrier. I received this phone and was pleasantly surprised to see that it had a crisp clear lcd screen that you would expect a blackberry to have. Secondly, where others would dock it for being a little on the bulky side, it suits me just fine. The 8703 has a track wheel instead of the track ball. At first it was a little cumbersome but it really functions quite nicely. The trackball is a much better technology but for the price and functionality of every other feature, it fits well and does the job. The only drawback that over time may cause me to consider another phone is the operational speed of the device is quite slow. In fact if you are on the internet, and receiving emails constantly and someone tries to call, there is sometimes that it will lag pretty bad. Bottom line, when you want a smartphone that does everything that a new gen smartphone does, this one is my pick. Remember it was only released 4 years ago.Read full review
I purchased this phone because I had given all of my upgrade $ to my kids so they could have the "coolest", most up to date phones. After doing so, I realized that my kids no longer use their phones to talk but to text. I knew I couldn't continue using my old cell, which did not have a Qwerty keyboard...way too labor intensive! I found this Blackberry on Ebay for about $32 and thought, this would do the trick. Although it took about an hour on the phone w/ a Sprint Rep. to get everything activated, it was still worth it to me. This unit is larger than the current "curve" but for my purposes it's fine. It doesn't have a camera but you can send pics to it & save them in the phone. As I said, I wasn't looking for a top of the line cell, just one at a good price that had a keyboard & had the capability to access my internet mail. So for that, I'm happy :DRead full review
This is not a "new" phone as advertised. This is a "refurbished" phone. Big difference. Here is a list of things that were wrong or don't work, straight out of the box: (1) Battery charging and power gauge never read accurately. My phone would die, but the battery indicator on screen was still at 100%. (2) Sounds hardly ever work. I keep my phone on a default ringer and it never rings. (3) Phone automatically re-boots itself when ever it feels like it, or gets overloaded with commands. (4) The OS is not compatible with BB App World, thus rendering it hardly a "smart phone". (5) Email messages, pictures and videos are not viewable due to the outdated nature of the OS. (6) New BB OS versions are not compatible with phone, due to "track wheel". (7) Tons of Apps are not compatible due to "track wheel", so having a "data plan" with this phone is pointless. In retrospect I would recommend that no one buy this phone, unless you only need basic services. I have already begun shopping for another replacement phone, and it's only been a matter of days that I've had the 8703e. Do not buy this phone, especially from ebay sellers.Read full review
The phone ( Blackbery ) itself is a great phone! However, To advertise that the phone is ready to go on Metro pcs service is Fraud! Some of these sellers DONT tell potential buyers that they will have to call Metro PCS and get a Mobile Id number, sometimes the customer service rep wont give you the number. And you have to keep calling until you get a rep that will give the mobile id number. Metro PCS sells Blackberrys, The service plan is $ 60 monthly, not $ 45. These sellers reprogram the phone so the buyers can steal service from metro pcs. The Sellers are promoting theft of service and I hope thier get caught. The way they can reprogram the phone is to obtain a clean(good) ESN# number from a old/stolen/insurance fraud , and place that ESN # number over the original ESN# number. So when you call Metro PCS , dont be suprised when the rep states thats not a blackberry phone .Read full review
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