Which phone - 8310 or 8707g?

[Ignite]

Firstly, I apologize if this is the incorrect place to post this - but this is my first post.

Im looking to upgrade to a Blackberry as Im sick of paying $79 a month for just voice and text, when I could pay the same and have a phone, voice, text and internet/email for the same price.

Currently I am with Optus and they offer the 8310 for $0 on a 24 month plan. 3 offers the 8707g for $0 on a 24 month plan also.

Which would be the better phone out of the 2 to use?

My main ideas are that I would like internet and email on the go.

Cheers,
Anthony

[Gregmyers]

My choice between those these two would be the 8310 Curve. The 8310 is easier to use and not quite as dated as the 8707.

[Gregmyers]

Specs on each for you:
BlackBerry 8707g;
Features Available
Wireless email
Organizer
Browser
Phone
Corporate data access
SMS
MMS

Size and Weight
4.3"/11.0cm (Length)
2.7"/6.95 (Width)
0.8"/1.95cm (Depth)
Approximately 4.93 oz/139.8 g (Weight)

Data Input/Navigation
QWERTY (Keyboard)
Keyboard backlighting
Thumb-operated trackwheel
Voice Input/Output
Headset jack
Integrated earpiece/ microphone
Built-in speakerphone
Headset, hands-free and serial port profiles supported (Bluetooth® technology)

Display
Font size (user selectable)
Backlighting
Light sensing screen

Notification
Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones
MP3 ringtones
Vibrate mode
LED indicator

Approximate Battery Life
UMTS: Up to 16.5 days (400 hours) standby and 2.75 hours talk time (Standby time)
GSM: Up to 16.5 days (400 hours) standby and 5 hours talk time (Talk time)

Memory
64 MB (Flash memory)

Modem
RIM® wireless modem
Tethered modem capability

Email Integrations
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Microsoft® Exchange
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for IBM® Lotus® Domino®
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Novell® GroupWise®
Integrates with an existing enterprise email account
Integrates with existing personal email account
Integrates with optional new device account

Accessories Included
Holster
Handsfree headset
USB cable

Device Security
Password protection and keyboard lock
Support for AES or Triple DES encryption when integrated with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
Optional support for S/MIME

Wireless Network
2100 MHz UMTS networks
North America: 850 MHz GSM/GPRS networks
North America: 1900MHz GSM®/GPRS networks
Europe/Asia Pacific: 1800MHz GSM/GPRS networks
Europe/Asia Pacific: 900MHz GSM/GPRS networks

BlackBerry 8310 Curve;

Features Available
Wireless email
Organizer
Browser
Phone
Camera
BlackBerry® Maps
Media player
Corporate data access
SMS
MMS
GPS 1

Size and Weight
4.2"/107mm (Length)
2.4"/60mm (Width)
0.6"/15.5mm (Depth)
3.9 oz/111g (Weight)

Data Input/Navigation
Trackball
QWERTY (Keyboard)
Keyboard backlighting

Voice Input/Output
3.5mm stereo headset capable
Headset jack
Integrated earpiece/ microphone
Built-in speakerphone
Mono/stereo headset, hands-free and serial port profiles supported (Bluetooth® technology)
M3, T3 (Rating for hearing aids)

Display
Font size (user selectable)
Color display
Backlighting
Light sensing screen

[i]Notification[/I]
Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones
MP3 ringtones
Vibrate mode
LED indicator

Approximate Battery Life
Up to 408 hours or 17 days (Standby time)
Up to 240 minutes or 4 hours (Talk time)

Memory
Expandable memory – support for microSD card
64 MB (Flash memory)

Modem
RIM® wireless modem
Tethered modem capability

Email Integrations
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Microsoft® Exchange
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for IBM® Lotus® Domino®
Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Novell® GroupWise®
Integrates with an existing enterprise email account
Integrates with existing personal email account
Integrates with optional new device account

Accessories Included
USB cable
Wall charger

Device Security
Password protection and keyboard lock
Support for AES or Triple DES encryption when integrated with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
FIPS 140-2 Validated (FIPS validation)
Optional support for S/MIME

Wireless Network
North America: 850 MHz GSM/GPRS networks
North America: 1900MHz GSM®/GPRS networks
Europe/Asia Pacific: 1800MHz GSM/GPRS networks
Europe/Asia Pacific: 900MHz GSM/GPRS networks
EDGE networks

[Ignite]

Thanks for your reply Greg.

If anyone else has opinions, I would love to hear them.

Anthony

[GaryCutri]

I prefer the 8310 but the 8707 is still a good device. My only concern with the 8707 was that I heard they aren't releasing firmware version 4.5 for this unit.

[Tfer]

Go the Curve...... love the trackball

[Ignite]

Thanks guys, picked up my 8310 today

What should I look to do from here now?

[Gregmyers]

It all depends on which way you want to go. (You have a few choices here )
Which carrier ? would be the first question. All 3 majors have a BlackBerry BIS package available so really a question of which one you prefer.
Secondly BES or BIS ? (BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Internet Service). If you are just a single user not wanting to connect to your company server then BIS would be quite adequate. On the other hand, if you want to use the device on a corporate server then BES would be the way to go.
Get back with answers for those 2 questions and we will go from there... Or if you want further information just ask...
Hope to hear from you soon...
KR
Greg Myers

[Ignite]

Greg,

I should have made myself more clear (too excited)

I picked up the 8310 with the $79 optus BB cap plan. Im just waiting to be able to use the internet grrr as the account has not been set up yet properly.

Just transferred my contacts over so that's all good.

What's a good way to add some custom ringtones over to the phone?

Thanks,
Anthony

[Gregmyers]

Hi Anthony,
I can totally understand your excitement...
To get custom ringtones over to the phone. When you plug in your device to your computer with memory card installed just click on the memory card icon and you will see 4 (or more) folders. One of these will be called 'Ringtones'. Simply drag and drop your custom ringtones into the folder and all done.
I will post back a couple of sites with some great free ringtones for your Bb.
KR
Greg Myers