Travel Technology - Opinions on Blackberry 7100t?

Come on, one of you guys must have beta tested one by now. Or at least seen one?

I'm thinking it would be perfect for me. I need to read emails more than I need to send them. And I'm dying for bluetooth. Currently I use the 7200 series.

http://www.blackberry.com/products/handhelds/blackberry7100t.shtml
http://www.getmoreblackberry.com/
http://nytimes.com/2004/09/09/technology/circuits/09stat.html?hp

There's a first hand review of the RIMM 7100t on Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/...908tentech.html

I've read a couple articles and reviews, and looked at the specs, and I'm certainly excited to try it out. I've been using RIM devices since the old pager-style Mobitex-based device days, and I'm very proficient at thumb-typing, so I'm very curious to see how the new-style keyboard works. Judging by the thought they've put into their software to date, I'm confident that their new "learning" predictive-entry system will be pretty good.

My only concern is that I'm so used to the key positions on the current full keyboard that I'll have trouble typing without looking at the screen. I also assume you have to be looking at it to catch situations where you type a word that it doesn't yet know (or that it guesses wrong). The ability to use my current 7200-series device without looking at it is fairly important to me. But I might be willing to trade that for BlueTooth, especially if it can be used as a data device for internet access!

Whichever device works out to be best for me, I think it's nothing but a good move for RIM. It fills a competitive niche with the more phone-like devices, and more form factor choices seems like a good thing to me (as long as it doesn't dilute their efforts).

I'm very much looking forward to giving one of these a try as well! Our TMo rep says he'll bring one by on September 30, so I'm sure I'll report back then.

A couple of things I already know:

Bluetooth can only be used for headset and car phone profiles. Not as a modem for a laptop, or for that matter, any other profile, such as file or contact exchange. I suppose this capability could be expanded in a future revision.

It does have a number of features that you would expect from a "SmartPhone" such as polyphonic ringtones, themes, picture viewing, instant messaging and HTML browser. It can also view attachements from major application types without a BES.

The O/S version is 3.8, not 3.6, like the current revision for the 7xxx series.

It doesn't have a camera -- and I doubt that RIM will ever add a camera to it.

It's basically the same dimensions as a 77xx series -- just roughly .5 inches narrower. The screen is 20 pixels larger than a 77xx as well.

I've only had one first hand report on typing, and it was from one of our die-hard 7230 users. He thought it was great, aside from entering urls and filling out name & address fields.

As a fan of RIM I have to say that this device is simply brilliant. They are bringing to the smartphone world the one thing that was missing; push email.

With it's IM client this device is probably also going to be a hit amongst the younger customers (at least with those that have tried a Sidekick/Hiptop and gave up on it...).

I am still waiting for the next treo version, which supposedly will be here in October. I know, I know, it is has been coming for months or a year now, but now after having local reports of sightings, I have to begin believing sometime.

has added pretty much the things I wanted in the first version, maintaining all the features of the last one that we loved!

With it's IM client this device is probably also going to be a hit amongst the younger customers (at least with those that have tried a Sidekick/Hiptop and gave up on it...).

Does anybody know how the IM client (3rd party I assume) on Blackberrys work? Is it "always on" and run in the background, or do I have to start it up everytime? Will the 7100t be any different?

Does anybody know how the IM client (3rd party I assume) on Blackberrys work? Is it "always on" and run in the background, or do I have to start it up everytime? Will the 7100t be any different?

The client is provided by Oz (www.oz.com). I haven't gotten to play with it yet, but as I understand it, you start the client once each time you turn on the phone, and it runs in the background for the rest of the session. The T-Mobile implementation will do AIM, Yahoo & ICQ chat. I don't know why they don't include MSN.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2004-09-09-baig_x.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/technology/circuits/09stat.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5934021/

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2004-09-09-baig_x.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/technology/circuits/09stat.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5934021/

Please also see: news.google.com

Walt also reviewed it in WSJ yesterday, I don't think the link will work though.

http://online.wsj.com/search#SB109460117510411882

The 7100 does look rather nice. Having just bought a 7230 I'm now wondering if I should have waited a month or so.....

Please also see: news.google.com

---

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=353317

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223549

I am still waiting for the next treo version, which supposedly will be here in October. I know, I know, it is has been coming for months or a year now, but now after having local reports of sightings, I have to begin believing sometime.

has added pretty much the things I wanted in the first version, maintaining all the features of the last one that we loved!

Check treocentral.com - there are actual picture and specs of the Treo 650, and rampant speculation on availability.

It looks like BB and Treo are converging on a common form factor and feature set - I like running the Palm OS, so I'll stick with my Treo/GoodLink solution

Perhaps this is hijacking my own thread (is that possible), but how does the Treo work with email? Is there some app that runs on your PC or server? Does it dial in and connect? Interested in opinions on how well it works, especially from someone who can compare to Blackberry with with BES.

Im sooooo disappointed that this thing wont let you use a BT modem connection. What were they thinking?

Im sooooo disappointed that this thing wont let you use a BT modem connection. What were they thinking?

Not YET.

I'm testing the 4.0 OS and it DOES include software to use it as a modem, but it has to be enabled on the operator side of things, something that hasn't been confirmed or denied exists yet.

So, there is a chance the device will support it at a later date.

Perhaps this is hijacking my own thread (is that possible), but how does the Treo work with email? Is there some app that runs on your PC or server? Does it dial in and connect? Interested in opinions on how well it works, especially from someone who can compare to Blackberry with with BES.

Just like BB. GoodLink software from Good Technologies runs on/next to our corporate Outlook servers and pushes mail via Sprint's network to a client residing on my Treo, which then vibrates/rings/whatever I select. I get them on my Treo a few seconds faster than on my laptop in connect mode and 25-30 seconds before BB users copied on the same message - drives them nuts
:)

I've sat down with a co-worker BB fan and compared features, functions, capabilities. Camera? MP3 player? Full-featured web browser? Read pdf, Word, XL, PPT attachements to mail? Full-featured Yahoo/AIM/MSN/ICQ IM client? Voice recorder? Short video recorder? Thousands of Palm OS apps? 1GB SD card for those mp3's? 70-80kbps wireless modem? 2000 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited SMS for $90/month?

Yes, I'm a Treo fan. The 650 will have a higher-res screen and BT, although my wireless Reason headset fits the bill fine.

Hopefully PalmOne will introduce a Treo without a camera, so we can satisfy the few remaining Palm addicts in our company. So many of our customers forbid cameraphones onto their property that we've stopped authorizing Treos and other phones with cameras for purchase.

Hopefully PalmOne will introduce a Treo without a camera, so we can satisfy the few remaining Palm addicts in our company. So many of our customers forbid cameraphones onto their property that we've stopped authorizing Treos and other phones with cameras for purchase.

I think Verizon sells it with and without a camera.

I think Verizon sells it with and without a camera.


I don't think it is made without a camera, at least not yet.

personally, I don't understand the camera phone craze, nobody makes one with a reasonable resolution to be able to do anything with, other than phone to phone emailing.

I don't think it is made without a camera, at least not yet.

personally, I don't understand the camera phone craze, nobody makes one with a reasonable resolution to be able to do anything with, other than phone to phone emailing.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=1569

I don't think it is made without a camera, at least not yet.

personally, I don't understand the camera phone craze, nobody makes one with a reasonable resolution to be able to do anything with, other than phone to phone emailing.


http://store.treocentral.com/smartphones_treo_600_sprint_nc.php

They have been available without a camera for some time now.

http://store.treocentral.com/smartphones_treo_600_sprint_nc.php

They have been available without a camera for some time now.

Interesting & thanks for the link. We only buy GSM phones, so it wouldn't have occurred to me to look at Sprint.

Interesting & thanks for the link. We only buy GSM phones, so it wouldn't have occurred to me to look at Sprint.

Actually, I think they also make a GSM version without a camera but only on special order through their corporate sales.

Also Verizon. Im feeling like chopped liver ;)

It's out. And it's available in stores :)

AND, the is a new $59.99 plan with 1000 minutes and unlimited text messaging.

http://www.t-mobile.com/promos/7100t.asp?Wt.mc_n=7100t_email&WT.mc_t=Email

It's out. And it's available in stores :)

AND, the is a new $59.99 plan with 1000 minutes and unlimited text messaging.

http://www.t-mobile.com/promos/7100t.asp?Wt.mc_n=7100t_email&WT.mc_t=Email

I want one! I have to keep up with a "friend" of mine who has a Blackberry! And that's $59.99 plan is a great price.

It's out. And it's available in stores :)

AND, the is a new $59.99 plan with 1000 minutes and unlimited text messaging.

http://www.t-mobile.com/promos/7100t.asp?Wt.mc_n=7100t_email&WT.mc_t=Email


Don't forget to read the fine print on that page.

Corporate e-mail
Add corporate e-mail access via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to either plan for $10.00 per month.

Don't forget to read the fine print on that page.

Corporate e-mail
Add corporate e-mail access via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to either plan for $10.00 per month.

Yeah, that one is weird, it seems like they are charging more for BES than BWC....

I got one yesterday. I love the small size and all of the BB things that it does so well. The screen, however, is not legible in direct sunlight, which is a bummer.

The keyboard is funky, but after an hour, I'm up to 80% of my former BB typing speed.

Well, I'm sold. I got it for a reasonable price ($150) for re-upping for another 12 months with T-Mobile.

Someone on www.blackberryclub.com posted a photo comparing the 7100 with a 7230:

http://www.thesalzers.com/P9300029.JPG

Im actually more excited about the plans than I am about the device. What are the major differences between the 7230 and 7730 on TMobile? I would want to use the web client for mail (I now forward from Exchange to my Mobitex Blackberry - we dont have BES), browse the web, send text messages and read attachments (MS-Word mainly). Would the 7200 and 7700 series both do all of this? Are there any other differences between the two I should be aware of? Thanks for any info.

Im actually more excited about the plans than I am about the device. What are the major differences between the 7230 and 7730 on TMobile? I would want to use the web client for mail (I now forward from Exchange to my Mobitex Blackberry - we dont have BES), browse the web, send text messages and read attachments (MS-Word mainly). Would the 7200 and 7700 series both do all of this? Are there any other differences between the two I should be aware of? Thanks for any info.


The 7730 has a larger screen which is slightly more crisp and the case is black. It's a bit longer and thinner. That would be the entire list of significant differences.

Don't forget to read the fine print on that page.

Corporate e-mail
Add corporate e-mail access via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to either plan for $10.00 per month.

I don't need that! :D

Is there any voice dialing on the 7100?

How does voice dialing on a bluetooth headset work generally? Is it activating something on the phone or is it a function on the headset?

Is there any voice dialing on the 7100?

How does voice dialing on a bluetooth headset work generally? Is it activating something on the phone or is it a function on the headset?

Normally the headset activates the voice dialing feature on the phone. In fact that is the only way I have seen it.

A question also about bluetooth car kits. How do you dial out from them and will I be able to do it with the 7100t? Any suggestions for a car kit? (Yeah, I'm lame; my car doesn't have it integrated.)

A question also about bluetooth car kits. How do you dial out from them and will I be able to do it with the 7100t? Any suggestions for a car kit? (Yeah, I'm lame; my car doesn't have it integrated.)

Im not sure about the 7100t. As to car kits, one that looks interesting to me is the Motorola speaker phone product. It is the HF800 speakerphone kit. It has gotten some very good reviews, here is one:

http://www.howardchui.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=173

You can use it as a desk speakerphone or clip it to your visor and use it as a car speaker set. Under a hundred dollars. Im going to try one out. Sounds like a pretty useful product.

I'm a little confused. Does the 7100 have voice dialing or not?

Also, anyone else out there masterd that keyboard yet? I demoed one for a half hour or so and it seemed I was always in the wrong dialing mode (two-tap or intelli-type) and had to change back and forth. Frustrating. I must be missing something.

Thanks for the help.

I got one on tuesday. It does not appear to have voice dialling. I have had no problem with the keybourd being in the wrong mode. Press the "*/>>" key to swith modes. As for the keyboard, one problem I have is failing to check the words suretype chooses, so i occaisionally end up with the wrong word. Also, it would be easier to use the keyboard if they had made the letters stand out better (e.g. make them orange) but it is certainly much faster than typing on a regular phone keypad.

Thanks a lot.

Do you happen to have any experience with a regular Blackberry? How does the 7100 compare?

it is certainly much faster than typing on a regular phone keypad.


How about compared to a real keyboard. Such as with a Treo? ;)

How about compared to a real keyboard. Such as with a Treo? ;)

Or... all of the other Blackberries, which have a much more typeable keyboard than the Treo? ;)

I've had the 7100 for four days now, and I'm getting up to speed with the keyboard. For writing e-mails, it's very fast. My top speed is 80% of the best BB speed I ever recorded (on a 7230). My best speed on the Treo is 40% as fast as on the BB.

Typing urls is time consuming, but the area that's surprisingly difficult is entering phone numbers in the address book. I like to format my numbers and the parenthesis is not easily accessible.

Well, I'm sold. I got it for a reasonable price ($150) for re-upping for another 12 months with T-Mobile.

I am curious how that's done because when I called tmobile for the same deal, they quoted me $200 and my reup date is Sep30. Was this a one on one deal or some special plan ?

I am curious how that's done because when I called tmobile for the same deal, they quoted me $200 and my reup date is Sep30. Was this a one on one deal or some special plan ?

Usually depends on the customers "level" i.e. how much do they spend on T-mobile every month.

I am curious how that's done because when I called tmobile for the same deal, they quoted me $200 and my reup date is Sep30. Was this a one on one deal or some special plan ?

I called the cancellation dept. I think they have more leeway on price (the other nice part is I don't have a rebate to deal with). I've had the $40 BB plan plus voice minutes as used with them for about a year.

Still waiting for the phone to show up in the mail...

I called the cancellation dept. I think they have more leeway on price (the other nice part is I don't have a rebate to deal with). I've had the $40 BB plan plus voice minutes as used with them for about a year.

Still waiting for the phone to show up in the mail...

But can you still take advantage of the $100 upgrade rebate? :)

Might mean an extra $100 for you ;)

But can you still take advantage of the $100 upgrade rebate? :)

Might mean an extra $100 for you ;)

:) Yup, I was wondering about that. The rebate form says it's valid if you buy from a corp store or customer care. Not sure if the cancellation dept is different from customer care. I guess we'll see.

I'll chime in... Seems like my first post in 6 months :)

I've had a 7100t for some time.. My thoughts over the 7230 I had. It's an improvement for me as I've dumped my Nokia and 7230. I still think they need to listen to REAL users a little more.


What I like:

- Nicer UI

- Ability to force a reconcile anytime

- Bluetooth Support (see below)

- Filtering address book by category (although not perfect)

- Browser is improved

- USB cable supports the device as a GPRS modem

- Ability to have ONE device with a good form factor for voice and data


What I dislike
- The screen... A reflective screen like the 7230 would have been ideal for battery life. The backlight settings are awful. If this wasn't in the cards (doubt it ever was) Why not allow for backlight settings binded to a profile...

- Address book filter for category should be adjustable to have one category when you view the address book via composing/reply/forward email and one when you enter it via the Telephone. This would allow me to have a category set for "Phone Contacts" and one for Email. I can't consolidate my contacts as I have 1500 email contacts; 150 phone... I don't want to integrate mine fullly to one view!

- No support for EDGE (although T-Mobile has no commitment to it)

- Signal strength goes up and down for no reason even when I'm right NEXT to a cell site. I'm wondering if RIM is optimizing the radio power and keeps an acceptable signal but doesn't worry about boosting the radio power to keep battery life longer.

- No PROPER Bluetooth support: No data exchange profiles, no modem, only handsfree and headset :mad:

- Hotkeys are hosed compared to 7230

- No ability to soft reboot... I've had to pull batteries to force a reboot when something goes awry.

- Chord hole on the bottom! What the heck were they thinking... I had a Japanese mobile phone chord on the bottom to prevent dropping the phone, but the darn thing won't allow me to have a chord and use the included cradle/holster. I can put the phone in the cradle upside down but the magnet doesn't turn the screen off. The chord hole SHOULD have been at the time or the magents in the holster should have allowed the phone to go upside down.

- No voice dialing for Bluetooth or wired handsfree

Nick, T-mobile HAS commited to EDGE, some areas already have it available to existing GPRS users, they expect network wide coverage by spring 2005.

Agree with Nick's comments. Overall like the device, but particularly disappointed by the screen and Bluetooth implementation. When you can see the screen, it's great, but it's useless in sunlight. I'd take the 7230 screen over this. For me the reception is also marginally worse than the 7230. At a friend's house, I can get a weak but consistent signal on the 7230, but the 7100 goes in and out. Also annoyed by lack of speed (maybe that can be improved in firmware?). Battery life is much worse but I can live with that.

The modem is pretty cool but perhaps that's also coming to the other Blackberrys? I like the form factor. It may be close to ideal given basic physical constraints; could be thinner I suppose. Suretype works fine. I really wish I liked it more. The lack of voice dialing especially, seems to eliminate much of the benefit of Bluetooth. You have to make the call from the headset, right?

Nick, T-mobile HAS commited to EDGE, some areas already have it available to existing GPRS users, they expect network wide coverage by spring 2005.

Noted; I've seen it in some areas as well. We've been told no ETA for EDGE in California once T-Mobile acquires the Cingular network (Cingular is planning to move their customers over time to the AT&T network once the merger closes)

Would have been nice if RIM had EDGE support in the RF/Baseband.

FWIW...

BlackBerry, Bluetooth Miss a Shot to Move Into More Hands

http://www.forbes.com/infoimaging/feeds/infoimaging/2004/10/04/infoimagingnewsbytes_pcor_2004_10_03_eng-newsbytes_pcor_eng-newsbytes_pcor_151033_4783383079579445099.html

I got mine two days ago. So far, I am still stumbling around. The phone may end up being acceptable to me, but I wish it weren't QWERTY. ABCDEFG would be a lot more simple for my brain.

The Bluetooth, on the other hand is TERRIBLY miserable. Every time I get into my car, I have to take the phone out of my pocket, and click "yes" to allow it to connect to my car. If I don't, my car times out in about a minute. For me, the whole point of a Bluetooth enabled phone in the car is so I can leave it in my pocket and ignore it. There also appears to be no way to CHOOSE to use the phone in the car. Once Bluetooth is enabled, all audio MUST go thru the car's speakerphone. And if I dial an improper number, the ONLY indicator of the problem (other than extended silence) is on the display of the phone, which is in my pocket. None of my speed dials work. It is about as vanilla as it could come, while still working.

I got mine two days ago. So far, I am still stumbling around. The phone may end up being acceptable to me, but I wish it weren't QWERTY. ABCDEFG would be a lot more simple for my brain.

The Bluetooth, on the other hand is TERRIBLY miserable. Every time I get into my car, I have to take the phone out of my pocket, and click "yes" to allow it to connect to my car. If I don't, my car times out in about a minute. For me, the whole point of a Bluetooth enabled phone in the car is so I can leave it in my pocket and ignore it. There also appears to be no way to CHOOSE to use the phone in the car. Once Bluetooth is enabled, all audio MUST go thru the car's speakerphone. And if I dial an improper number, the ONLY indicator of the problem (other than extended silence) is on the display of the phone, which is in my pocket. None of my speed dials work. It is about as vanilla as it could come, while still working.

In the bluetooth settings menu, pick device options and change the device to TRUSTED: YES, that way it will no longer have to keep asking you about connecting.

I had already set it to "trusted", but in checking, I found it unset. Perhaps I didn't save the setting. I'll try again. Thanks!

1) Is there any way to use the phone's speed dial settings from the car's keypad?

2) Is there any way to move speed dial settings to the car other than enter them manually?

3) Is there any way to choose to initiate a call from the handset without using the speakerphone? Or to switch a call from speaker to handset? (When I try to place a call from the handset, it automatically comes over the speaker).

4) What should happen when I walk away from the car DURING a phone call?

I'm using a newer BT Nokia headset with my 7100t.

I can initiate a redial by double tapping the headsets action button...

No way to dial via BT other than that :(

In the bluetooth settings menu, pick device options and change the device to TRUSTED: YES, that way it will no longer have to keep asking you about connecting.

Thanks, Scott. I had already set it to trusted, but apparently I failed to recognize that I also had to SAVE the trusted setting.

Now that my car and my 7100 are happy to talk to each other without intervention on each meeting, I am much happier. I tried talking on the handset, walking up to my car, having it automatically switch to handsfree, talked there, got out of my car and walked away, automatically switching back to the handset. Pretty impressive.

- No PROPER Bluetooth support: No data exchange profiles, no modem, only handsfree and headset

Without the data exchange profiles, I can't get names and phone numbers into my car's address book! The phone is too stupid to send them, and the car doesn't allow manual entry, but only allows them to be sent by the phone!

- No voice dialing for Bluetooth or wired handsfree

What a hassle! The car won't let me dial a call manually while the car is moving, and no address book, and even the one-touch speed dial numbers lose their descriptions when the car is rolling. You either have to memorize the speed dial buttons or wait until the car comes to a stop to initiate a call.

I can find no way to use the speed dial numbers built into the handset from the car entry screen, which means I have to enter and maintain the same set of data in two different places.

And lastly, there appears to be no way to shift a speakerphone call back to the handset manually for privacy or personal preference.

And lastly, there appears to be no way to shift a speakerphone call back to the handset manually for privacy or personal preference.

During a call, you can press either [OP], or press the trackwheel in and select "activate handset/speakerphone" to toggle the speakerphone vs. handset modes.

I wonder if the 7100t is locked to work with tmobile only since it is only offered for sale thru tmobile. Has anyone tried to use the GSM phone with other providers such as ATT or Cingular ?

The phone is definitely locked to T-Mobile.the good news if you're a customer us that they will unlock a phone after you have 90 days of service.

I wonder if the 7100t is locked to work with tmobile only since it is only offered for sale thru tmobile. Has anyone tried to use the GSM phone with other providers such as ATT or Cingular ?

There are reports of people using their 7100t on ATT after unlocking it.

Been using my Blackberry 7100T 9 days now. Some good, some not so good. Still trying to get used to the keyboard, and don't have enough web-browsing experience yet.

MAJOR PROBLEM: I am using the non-corporate version of the email with my own POP3 mailbox. It seems to take 10-15 minutes for mail to get to me when everything is going well (and sometimes 4-8 hours when things are not going well).

611 says that they check email every 15 minutes. I need to be able to:

1) Change the 15 minutes down to a much smaller number (I use 1 minute on my desktop), or
2) Be able to force a manual RECEIVE EMAIL cycle (like on the Sidekick), or
3) Find some TMobile or 3rd party software that reads my POP3 email box once a minute and places new messages in my blackberry.tmo.net mailbox and gets it pushed out to the 7100 immediately. (And I must still be able to REPLY to email properly). (And no, FORWARDING my POP3 email to the blackberry address won't work, because I also need the mail on my desktop and for webmail).

Does anyone know of any solutions? If not, this is a DEFINITE deal-killer for me with this device, and it'll be going back. I simply must be able to get my email when someone calls me and says "I just sent you email - What do you think?"

611 says that they check email every 15 minutes. I need to be able to:

3) Find some TMobile or 3rd party software that reads my POP3 email box once a minute and places new messages in my blackberry.tmo.net mailbox and gets it pushed out to the 7100 immediately. (And I must still be able to REPLY to email properly). (And no, FORWARDING my POP3 email to the blackberry address won't work, because I also need the mail on my desktop and for webmail).

Does anyone know of any solutions? If not, this is a DEFINITE deal-killer for me with this device, and it'll be going back. I simply must be able to get my email when someone calls me and says "I just sent you email - What do you think?"

FWIW, I'm able to forward a copy of a message to my tmo.blackberry.net address while leaving the original in my mailbox. Perhaps your server has such an option.

Good idea.

Just checked it again, and I DO NOT have the ability to forward email while retaining a copy in my POP3 email box.

Only other option I can think of is to setup your own little mail server and have that forward it. That is how I do it.

There are reports of people using their 7100t on ATT after unlocking it.

I got my unlock code from T mobile after I completed my contract. I did have to get the better business buero on them before they helped me unlock my phone.I am using my blackberry with cingular now.
Joebping

Does anyone know how to get to the call forwarding settings on my Blacberry 7100?

FWIW, I'm able to forward a copy of a message to my tmo.blackberry.net address while leaving the original in my mailbox. Perhaps your server has such an option.

I dont have that model of BB but can you use the Blackberry redirector? That works well for me.