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TREO vs BlackBerry Cell Phone

I hate to admit it, as I was a die-hard Treo user for the last couple of years, but I just converted to the new BlackBerry Pearl cell phone. Is it ever cool with the little scrolling, back-lit pearl!

The BlackBerry Pearl applications are very useful and easy to figure out. The email platform is fast, clear, and simple to set up. As a Las Vegas Real Estate agent that handles a lot of Internet leads, utilizing email on my phone insures that we don't lose a client to someone else. We can respond to questions and comments about the Las Vegas real estate market immediately.

The coolest feature is the voice dial that is programmed to read your address book entries. It will pull up anything out of the phone book. You just press a button and say a name. No programming it at all. It's amazing. It can be a GPS (for a monthly fee) too!! I've tested the driving directions on the mapping application for some newer streets, and it worked!

I stayed with the Treo for so long because of the camera and the date-book feature. The Blackberry Pearl has a camera and the date-book is similar to what I was used to on the Treo. I bought a memory card that holds a Gig that's as big as my pinky nail! That's like 250 songs, a movie and a lot of photos! The graphics on the BlackBerry are vivid and it loads very quickly. Technology is so cool.

The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors has free wireless access to our Multiple Listing Service and I can do searches and even see photos of listings right on my phone. That's extremely convenient. I hardly need my laptop anymore, except to work on my website and blog. : )

The Pearl, which is the smaller of the new BlackBerries, has a smaller keyboard than I was used to for texting with more than one letter per button. It literally took me 20 minutes to get used to it. I'm definitely texting as fast as I ever was, plus now I can email instantly. Some of the guys I know got the bigger BlackBerry, I think the 8800 is the new one, that has the bigger keyboard to accomodate for their larger hands.

Lastly, I got tired of the touch screen on the Treo. As a woman living in a desert, my phone would get just too hot and I felt like I was always wiping make-up off it if someone else wanted to it. Embarrassing! I know it was meant to be used with a wireless earpiece, but I was never satisfied with any I found. I think BlackBerry will beat out the iPhones because of the issues with the touch-screen.

The BlackBerry Pearl is AWESOME. I highly recommend it as a must-have tool for real estate agents that are serious about their career.

Posted by Dana Anderson Whittaker on 06/27/2007 11:46 PM

Comments (15)

las vegas real estate, real estate, real estate career, technology, cell phone

15 Comments on TREO vs BlackBerry Cell Phone

JUN

2007

Hi Dana!

I've been fighting the "techie" tools for years, but my husband is on his third Treo and I find it difficult to use, albeit tempting as a smart key and for the Internet features...I'll test out the Blackberry because I definitely need something that is easier to use!

Personally I can't wait to get a new Apple phone. Saddly I am locked into a family plan contract with 5 phone at Verizon, but as soon as it is over...

Hi Dana,

I've been researching and comparing the Treo and Blackberry for awhile. Thanks for your input. Going to read up on the Blackberry Pearl.

JUN

2007

Thanks for the info. I had have an old Blackberry and looking to upgrade. I have been wanting an opinion on the Blackberry Pearl.

Dana,

Thanks for the information. I am in the process of making a decision on which Blackberry to buy.

Dana - I've been considering an "upgrade" as well so this information is very helpful!

I`ve been looking at treos, and blackberries trying to decide which one I should get, than the all important question came up do you have sprint, or Nextel. Nextel I said. Well than it's a no brainer you have to have a blackberry. Why is that they don`t make treos for Nextel. Decision made

Thank you for that info. I've been considering the purchase of one.

My brother has been trying to get me to switch to BlackBerry. I'm hearing more and more positive things about it. I just might make the switch.

Been having a hard time deciding which one is best for me. Thanks for the info.

JUN

2007

those who are thinking about buying blackberry or treo should consider software compatibility before making your final call. If you carry a laptop and have a data plan on your phone, you can always tether your cell phone to your laptop on the road to utilize your computer full power. If your subscriber doesn't offer tether feature on your phone, you can always buy third party's software for under $40.00. But many of the top producers use their trusty Franklin Notebook. I usually call them Black Book. THE REAL ESTATE BIBLE and those free yellow pages are wonderful when can't find that person google's people directory. I use the white page quite frequently even though i'm tech savvy.

JUL

2007

I like my Treo. I don't like the scroll thing on the blackberry, and the touch screen is just cool to me to give up! I have a great cover for it, and I don't wear make up, so smearing the screen is not an issue for me. I like the fact that I can use my phone's bluetooth as a modem for my laptop, so it comes in handy when I'm in a wireless area that wants me to pay or enter in a password. Capturing quick video when I'm out is great!

I want to get that new iPhone, but I'm a little apprehensive to what defect or kinks may come with it. I'll wait to see the reviews a month from now to see how it's held up. I just don't know how compatible it will be with some of the real estate software i use on my phone, (supra key, title software, etc.).

JUL

2007

Dana

Did you find a way to transfer your contacts from the Treo to the Blackberry? Thats one of the things stopping me from switching. My stepson has the pearl and loves it.

JUL

2007

Before you all count the Treo out and jump to either the iPhone or a Blackberry, please read my blog here. I have a Treo and LOVE it! When I hear Treo, two words come to mind...Total Customization. What makes smartphone really "smart" is when it can adapt to what you need it to do or what you want it to be. Make sure you know what you want before you get stuck in a long term contract.

After having tried them both, I prefer the Treo 700W, the ability to alter documents in a matter of moments is very important when I am on the road and don't have time to whip out my laptop. But overall I feel like both offer pretty much the same.

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