BlackBerry Forums member Andrew Palmer writes this morning that Verizon Wireless sent him a reworked, second-hand 8703e, or "Field Replacement Unit" (FRU) BlackBerry 8703e8703e, to replace his 8703e that melted down after just 60 days use. Yet the Verizon replacement arrived -- "and this I find alarming -- with the previous owner's private data STILL ON IT."

Ooh, that doesn't sound good.

Here's the personal data the replacement unit contained:

The BlackBerry Technical Knowledge Center has just posted a Getting Started Guide for the BlackBerry 8703e.

The 28-page page document starts out with the familiar" navigation instructions, key set data, Shortcuts for Phone, Message list, browser and Calendar; pointers on how to Navigate screens as well as Typing and Editing.

Wait, there's more: helpful info on Fields, Menus, Programs, Status Indicators and Wireless Network coverage.

I think you really want to see the BlackBerry 8703e feature diagram. The one with the arrows and stuff.

Well...

IP-based managed service provider Cbeyond and BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion have announced that the Cbeyond Mobile service is now available for the BlackBerry 8703e.

Obligatory press release happy talk from BlackBerry partner:

"Our customers asked for additional handset options and we delivered with the addition of the BlackBerry 8703e handset, which enhances our BeyondMobile service and strengthens our mobile offering," said Brent Cobb, vice president of product management and general manager of mobile for Cbeyond. "The BlackBerry 8703e delivers premium quality voice and data services and gives our small business customers access to the same handset devices offered to larger enterprises."

Obligatory press release happy talk from RIM/BlackBerry exec:

"BlackBerry is the leading wireless platform for businesses of all sizes, allowing mobile professionals to stay connected, responsive and productive on the go," said Mark Guibert, vice president, corporate marketing, Research In Motion. "We are very pleased to be working with Cbeyond to offer the powerful new BlackBerry 8703e."

OK, Mark, I believe you are very pleased. I know that if you didn't give a rat's... you wouldn't have agreed to be quoted. Heck, if things were that way the deal wouldn't even have been done.

Cbeyond's integrated packages of voice, mobile and broadband Internet services begin at $495 per month.

Alltel Wireless annouced today it is now carrying the BlackBerry 8703e.

It's available from Alltel for $249.99 after a $50 rebate mail-in. This price is available to new Alltel customers who sign two-year agreements as well as eligible current customers on qualifying rate plans.

The device will run on Alltel Wireless' Axcess Broadband network, which offers average data speeds of 400 to 700 Kbps with maximum speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps. Current Alltel markets meeting that standard include Cleveland, Charlotte,
Tampa and Phoenix.

The carrier says that "numerous additional cities" will be added in the next several months. For those markets not yet on line (or on air, I guess a better way of putting it would be), the BlackBerry 8703e operates seamlessly on Alltel's Axcess MobileLink 1xRTT network with average data speeds of 40-70 Kbps with bursts up to 144 Kbps.

Additionally, Alltel says that their BlackBerry 8703e's will be preloaded with Handmark Pocket Express and TeleNav GPS Navigator.

A page on the Otter Box site (link below this post) describes the forthcoming OtterBox 1930 BlackBerry 8700 Series Case.

We don't know the price yet, but we are informed that the case will be made of a polycarbonate/ABS shell and rubber overmolding for grip and drop protection.

There's also going to be sealed access to the keypad, scroll wheel, escape, power and mute buttons, as well as the programmable side button.

Oh and the screen cover. Did someone say screen cover?

Come along. I'll tell you and show you as well.

I've been noticing multiple complaints about a "data connection refused" bug on the Verizon BlackBerry 8703e.

As reported on threads such as help please! data connection refused the issue seems to be a Verizon EV-DO provisioning bug.

Some posters on other threads report that the solution is merely one of dialing *22889 from your Verizon handheld. That number automatically triggers an over-the-air download of the latest firmware to your BlackBerry.

Not every user reports success with this approach, however.

Consensus seems to be that you can't be sure the problem has been fixed until you call Verizon support at 1-800-922-0204.

Update: This link was fixed early this afternoon.. Power of the Blogosphere, heh-heh. But still doesn't excuse the duh-ness in effect and I described at the time I wrote the original post.

Which starts here:

At around 8:15 a.m. this morning ET, I went to the main PDA Information page on the Sprint site.

That page, http://www.sprint.com/business/products/phoneCategories/pdaPhones.html lists all PDA phones Sprint currently offers.

As you can see, the New BlackBerry 8703e link is proudly displayed and detailed at the top.

It was then I decided I wanted to know more.

Naturally, I clicked the View Details link.

My hopes were to see a page with some additional specs and deets. If this content was there, I probably would have shared it with you.

But let me show you what I got.

The BlackBerry 8703e is now up for sale on the Sprint site.

Suggested retail is $499.99, but with the mail-in rebate it is less.

Ever wonder why they made you learn subtraction? Because, unlike John Mayer says, there "is such a thing as the real world."

Where subtraction is a useful skill.

OK, that'd be $349.99.

Standard features, all of which qualify as "well-duh" :

• Bluetooth
• Color Screen
• Contacts / Phonebook Entries
• Downloadable Ring Tones
• Downloadable Wallpapers
• Games
• GPS-Enabled (911)
• Hearing Aid Compatible
• Messaging
• Multi-Language
• Multimedia
• Phone as Modem Capable
• QWERTY keyboard
• Ringers
• Web

Oh but there's more. Want to see all the plans?

With the BlackBerry 8703e now available on Verizon and due for release on SprintNextel October 1, there's lots of love for the BlackBerry 8703e in an ever-expanding Howard Forums thread entitled The "Get My 8703" Thread.

The thread was started by HoFo-er retroinspired, who wrote in his thread-opener that he is "freakin' stoked" to activate his new device. He follows that up with a post on what he thinks so far.

But for the most complete assessment on this thread, you'll want to check with HoFo'er sparky12.

Just in time, considering that the Verizon BlackBerry 8703e is now available and the T-Mobile flavor of same is on tap for an October 1 launch.

As to RIM's BlackBerry Accessories store, the BlackBerry 8703e section makes its debut with an assortment of Bluetooth headsets, holsters, battery chargers, cables, tote bags- even a Smart Card reader.

All of these-including several models of many of these categories, are up on this newly created area.

Here's some grabs that will show you what's listed, and for how much.

SprintNextel and BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion say that Sprint will be selling the BlackBerry 8703e beginning October 1.

The device, which has EV-DO support as well as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) compatibility and integration, will be offered for $349.99 with a- you guessed it- two-year sub.

Online, the BlackBerry 8703e will be offered at the Sprint Business Store. The link is for future reference; the 8703e is not up there yet.

I'm just back from the main BlackBerry Devices User Documentation page. Cap above, link below.

That's the page on the BlackBerry site where a linked list is kept of User Documentation for all BlackBerrys- even those proto-BlackBerry RIM 850, 857 as well as 950 and 957s of blessed but fading memory.

But guess what. The list is not complete. Look down the list.

Do you see a link to User Documentation for the BlackBerry 8100 (a.k.a. Pearl), which was announced two weeks ago and has been on sale for nearly a week?

Do you see a link to User Documentation for the BlackBerry 8703e, now officially on sale on Verizon Wireless' site?

If you do you have more discriminating vision than I do.

Seems like in all the excitement, someone at RIM forgot to update this directory.

Duh..

Well, the BlackBerry 8703e is now officially up and for sale on the Verizon Wireless site.

As you can see in this screencap, the terms are:

Two-year contract-$349.99 list-$100.00 online discount, for a price of $249.99.

One-year contract- $399.99. Interesting that Verizon Wireless charge you more than the list price for a one-year contract. I guess that's their way of discouraging shorter-term contracts.

You know what would be a good idea? I can understand the one-time, $35 setup fee for a one-year contract, but why not waive it for two-year agreements?

I know when I say "device simulator," some of you will think that I am pointing to a resource for developers.

But no, not in this case. As they release the BlackBerry 8703e, Verizon Wireless has just posted a simulator that shows you key steps in setting up and using your 8703e. What's more, the simulator actually is configured so that you can use it to try out various features just with the touch of a button.

I've been fiddling with the simulator- it's fun!

The BlackBerry Technical Knowledge Center has posted the User Guide for the Verizon BlackBerry 8703e, available online and in Verizon stores Monday.

No jumping-out-at you new sections that I can see. Still, given that we know lots of you are interested in this device and might want to read the User Guide before you order it, I've screencapped the Table of Contents to give you a good idea of what awaits you in this 158-page PDF.

That's the first of three pages with the basics. But I have two more pages to show you.