Hi Gary,

I have a Blackberry Pearl, and it's the best phone, it's more like a mini computer.  I would suggest when you do your set up, make a note somewhere of your user name and password so you can find it in the future when you want to change something.

I love getting my e-mails on my phone and I can delete the junk right from the phone so it won't be in my inbox when I sign in.  I normally will wait and answer e-mails from a computer, but when I went to DC with my son's class in May - it was great to be able to communicate with my team and forward e-mails to them.

If there's anyone you work closely with who also has a Blackberry, you can set up Blackberry to Blackberry messaging.  My husband has one also, and we are also set up as Messenger contacts and can have an actual "chat".

The calendar function could eliminate the need to physically carry a calendar.  As you schedule appointments, you can choose whether you need reminded.  You can jump ahead however far you need to.  An idea I had was, after a closing, schedule follow up with the buyers and schedule their 1 year date or a few days before so you can contact them on that date.

When you add contacts, you can add all of their phone numbers under one entry, you can add their e-mail address and many other details.  You can also input information in the memo section with details about them, if they're buyers: what they're looking for exactly,  If they're sellers: the address of the property, how to show.   You can add their family member names, pet names, little tidbits of information that you've discussed with them.  It's great to have this information in your hand when you're strolling through Walmart and someone calls wanting to show your listing.

The memo pad is cool too.  I actually e-mailed myself a document from the computer and once I got it on the blackberry, I copied it from e-mail, pasted it in the memo pad and saved it.  Now when I need to see that information, I can do that wherever I may be.  The document?  It's a list of grocery prices, so if I'm at Giant Eagle, and I think they have a good price on spaghetti sauce, I can look in the file and see what Walmart's price is.

I did have to add memory to my blackberry, not sure if the world edition will require that, but something you may need to look into.

Last suggestion:  Blackberryden.com  We got our covers there, and they fit like a glove, so much so that it's hard to get them on at first.  But they're great and protect the phone very well, and they're affordable.

Tracie

Gary:  Happy Merry B'Berry Days!  

Everybody I know who has one loves it.  I almost got one last time around, BUT there was no camera on the darn thing.  

Did they every fix that?   I ended up opting for a treo because I wanted an emergency camera.  Now I have a few family event and grandkid photos I would not otherwise have...  

If Blackberry has added a camera it might become my top choice.

The Pearl has a camera and it's smaller and doesn't look completely stupid hanging on my hip.

The camera saved me when I went out in the country to take pictures and forgot my camera!

Tracie, I have a new crackberry and am wondering how you check your notes of listings WHILE connected to a phone call?  On my Dash there was no way to do it.  

Shelly

Shelly,

You should be able to push the "blackberry" button, the one with the "seeds" when you're in a phone call, and switch application and go the address book to look up the information.

Oh, and one time I had just left the office and I got an e-mail saying something important I'd faxed didn't go through.  I wanted to call the sender and they had sent their phone number in the e-mail, I just scrolled to the phone number and was able to call her directly from the e-mail.

Tracie

I was just on the Blackberryden.com and realized that they have so much to choose from.  The cases we got are "Krusell" brand.

I use the Treo. Reason being is that I can also use my phone to open the Supra boxes and not have to lug even more clutter around. I enjoy it. It has it quirks but i blame it on Microsoft. I even was able to purchase a Tom Tom GPS system for it.

I have blackberry Pearl as Tracie said its not too big and works great. I recently ratified a contract thanks to the easy access to MLS from my pda we could preview the property that was in the neighborhood. My clients love it because they know I will get their message asap. I do tell them I will read them..but may not respond asap if it is not urgent.

Once you have it, its a addiction. I don't know how we worked before this.

Happy Holidays!

Ritu

[Ritu sez: Once you have it, its a addiction.]

A glorious addiction.  ;)

Tips? Get the insurance. I run with mine, so needless to say the insurance has come in handy.

Applications? Google Maps.

Shelz, hit Alt Esc at the same time. It'll bring up a menu you can wheel through.

Gary,

Be sure to read the "geting started" guide that comes with it. It's packed with shortcuts that you'll find handy.

You might consider a "fax to email" service if you're not already using one. Faxes arrive on your BB and you can forward them from there. It's great for sending offers, counters, etc.

A GPS service is a must for yours as the hardware is equipped for it.

I also use "Microsoft Exchange" which keeps my Outlook database, calendar, tasks and email in sync with the BB and an outlook based webmail. It's probably the best addition I've made for this powerful little piece of equipment. It costs about 30 dollars a month but it's a real time saver. Add a new contact in Outlook and within seconds it's also on the BB. http://www.ceryx.com/hostex.asp

One other hady feature. Phone numbers and email addresses which appear in BB messages are all hyperlinked. Just scroll to them, press the trackball and select dial. If you receive messages from your office by text or email it works like a charm with no dailing.

Have fun.

Good call on the "fax to email" Norm. There's plenty to of vendors to choose from, but personally I use pfax.

I used to be a big fan of the Treo. It's still a great phone but I'd have to say my crackberry smokes the Treo. I've just upgraded to the Blackberry Curve.

The best feature is hotspot at home. The curve is a UTS phone that allows me to connect to any wireless router whenever I am in range and dial through the internet automatically. The call quality is great and I never have to worry about going over my minutes.