BlackBerry Curve World Edition for CDMA networks
It’s been reported in the past that the much anticipated and rumored BlackBerry 8330 will be the convergent device for all of the features we long to have for our Curve devices - GPS and Wi-Fi under the hood. Well, unfortunately, it seems that new information has surfaced that leads us to believe that we will not receive GPS in the Curve series.
With our newly obtained information, it appears the BlackBerry 8330 will be another World Edition device that will eventually find it’s way to CDMA carriers, such as Verizon, Sprint and Telus. If and when it actually finds it’s way to market, this will likely be the third CDMA+GSM hybrid device from Research In Motion, joining the 8830 and 8130 (unreleased) with this world-traveler functionality.
While this news may upset some of you waiting for the 8330 to touch down on your favorite GSM carrier, this may come as a blessing in disguise for Verizon and Sprint/Nextel customers who have been foaming at the bit for a camera-enabled full-QWERTY high-speed BlackBerry device (admittedly, I ran out of hyphenated phrases).
This news also irons out a rather confusing naming scheme convention that was presented with the oddity of having the 8330 as the Platinum Edition GSM device within the Curve line. For the 8000 series line, the naming convention is as follows:
81xx: SureType consumer device; camera-enabled
83xx: QWERTY consumer device; camera-enabled
88xx: QWERTY business device; no camera, GPS-enabled
xx00: GSM device
xx10: GSM device; step-sibling upgrade of xx00 (Pearl and Curve only)
xx20: GSM+Wi-Fi device
xx30: CDMA/EVDO+GSM device
Mix and match as needed, although this doesn’t take into account carriers who disable features, such as Verizon and their hard-nosed approach to free GPS functionality.
To recap, if you’re a current GSM customer (AT&T, T-Mobile, Rogers, Vodafone, etc) who wants a Curve and GPS, you won’t see this feature functionality - get the Curve/8300 (with the exception of T-Mobile customers). If you’re a T-Mobile customer and want a Curve, wait a few months and get the UMA/GAN-enabled 8320 when it’s available. If you’re a CDMA customer (Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, Telus, Alltel, etc), you will now have a decision to make - get an 8830, which is available already, or wait for the 8130 Pearl (SureType-QWERTY) and 8330 Curve (full-QWERTY).
Until next time…
On Jun 17, 2007 @ 6:22 pm, Karis Said:
Jibi, I’m in denial!
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On Jun 17, 2007 @ 6:38 pm, JJLO Said:
If it happens by the end of the year then that will be fine with me.
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On Jun 17, 2007 @ 7:14 pm, boijerkoff Said:
the boijerkoff is once again full of fecal matter. He reports RUMORS AND GOSSIP- not FACTS.
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On Jun 17, 2007 @ 7:44 pm, Jibi Said:
First off, BG didn’t report this information. Secondly, this information came straight from RIM. Call it what you want, though.
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On Jun 17, 2007 @ 11:36 pm, Leo Said:
just throwing out ideas, will the 9xxx be touch screen :p
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On Jun 17, 2007 @ 11:50 pm, Katherine Said:
Well, I just switched from VZW to ATT to get the curve. Here is my experience in a nutshell. 1) Awesome device that I am totally in love with. 2) Horrible, horrible coverage with ATT. I have had only a handful of calls with VZW in the 5 years I have been with them. I had 5 dropped calls on Friday ALONE on my way home from work. Coverage is aweful on the freeways, on the sidestreets, in my home — everywhere! And I don’t line in the boonies. I live in suburban San Diego, for crying out loud!
So I AM crying out loud as I tearfully pack up my curve and ship it back to ATT. I just can’t have a nonfunctional phone, no matter how amazing the features. COME ON VZW. Bring us the 8330!!!!!!!!!!! Preferrably in black.
Katherine
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On Jun 17, 2007 @ 11:51 pm, Katherine Said:
Oooops, that should read “only a handful of DROPPED calls with VZW in 5 years.
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On Jun 17, 2007 @ 11:52 pm, Katherine Said:
Oooops, that should read “only a handful of DROPPED calls with verizon.
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 12:10 am, Ross Said:
Katherine,
Couldn’t agree with your sentiment more. I too tried the Curve out for a week, and a week was all I needed to know that ATT just doesn’t cut it. It breaks my heart because the phone is utterly fantastic - really is the perfect BlackBerry for me (I don’t care about WiFi or GPS).
If I have to tide myself over with an 8830 for a year until the 8330 comes out, so be it.
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 3:38 am, Jamar Johnson Said:
Well I agree but you are wrong on the asumption. I work for Sprint and I am in the Arizona market currently. I deal with 90% of customers who can’t have a camera on there phone but need a smart device. To name a few Boeing, the Nations Largest, I repeat Largest Aircraft maker and Honeywell, not to mention The Palo Verde Plant, Lets see, if I just take the 120,000 + emplyees of Boeing plus a few of Honey Wells, and other Nuclear Plants accriss the globe, not even including other jobs and people, I would have well over a million people who can’t have cameras on their phone without being terminated. I have been in the cell phone industry for years now, and I see the need even more for multimedia, I remember when carrying a cd player was hot, but now you virtually have phones that combine all those features.
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 10:55 am, John Said:
The T-Mobile rep confirmed that @Home service should be announced this month, and a version of the Curve WITH BOTH GPS and Wifi (and @Home service) should be released in September. Here is hoping that the company follows through with what its reps are told!!
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 12:30 pm, JJLO Said:
Does anybody have a date for release or a promise of a date to give a date for a release.
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 1:11 pm, Jamar Johnson Said:
Yes the blacberry 8830 will be released on Sprint on July 14, 2007, check out the website http://www.sprint.com/8830, and as far as the curve, right now it is only speculation. And also for the 8130. Sprint and Verizon are the nations top CDMA providers we stay in competition, so when it comes to smart devices we tend to launch the same. Sprint just released the new PPC 6800 Verizon will be getting it, and Verizon has already released the Blackberry 8830, we will be getting that next month. Especially now that EVDO Rev A will be launching by October.
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 2:47 pm, joetron2030 Said:
Here’s an example of where having GPS nav on a cell. phone vs. in-car or via portable unit came in handy for me:
My family and I were vacationing in Los Angeles recently. Our rental vehicle did not have a GPS nav unit and we weren’t going to spend the extra to “rent” one. We don’t have a portable GPS unit in our personal cars mainly because we have no need for them when we’re at home, we just print out maps/directions.
But, while in LA, we got lost a couple of times. I fired up a two week subscription to VZW’s Navigator and used it on my LG enV for the last half of our trip. Total cost to me: $4.
In my mind, GPS nav on a phone is more convenient just because I will always have my phone when traveling and that’s when I’ll really need it most. It’s definitely more affordable than shelling out $300+ for a nav unit that I’ll need at most a few times per year.
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 3:03 pm, JJLO Said:
That makes perfect sense to me.
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On Jun 18, 2007 @ 4:41 pm, Anonymous Said:
Jibi - why are you so sure that T-Mobile will be releasing the 8320? Also, why are you so sure that the 8320 is not going to be “Papa Bear” with all the goodies?
T-Mobile has not announced anything. Do you have inside information?
This is important to me because if the T-Mobile Curve release is not going to be a unit that has both GPS and Wifi, it is not worth waiting for, and I might as well get the 8800 now!
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On Jun 19, 2007 @ 7:28 pm, CarBob Said:
Jibi,
Thanks so much for all the info concerning the BB 8330. It is of particular interest to me as I’ve been wanting to get The Curve/BB 8300. Currently, in Toronto, it is available through Rogers (GSM).
However, my carrier is Bell Mobility (CDMA). So I wait with great anticipation on any details that you can provide concerning IF and WHEN Bell Mobility will be releasing it.
Here’s hoping it will be sooner rather than later!!
CarBob
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On Jun 19, 2007 @ 9:48 pm, Katherine Said:
Hi there,
Just went to Verizon to get a BB since my Curve with ATT is soooo unbelievably bad that I need to send it back. SNIFF!
The Verizon rep said that they are selling the 8830 like hotcakes, I guess to corporations. So unlikely that another BB will be out for a while. He said maybe the new generation Pearl will be out in about 3 months and POSSIBLY the Curve by Xmas, although they are not even sure they will carry the Curve.
When I complained a little about Verizon being so behind with the BB’s, he said something interesting. He said there is a long “rivalry” with VZW and RIM as RIM insists that people take their dataplan exclusively. VZW of course wants to sell its own data plans where they can make more money.
I don’t know how true all this is but this came from the manager of my rather large Verizon store here in San Diego.
By the way, I took the Curve into the store and compared it to the 8830. All I can think is maaaaan, the Curve is just so much better. The keyboard feels so much nicer. And it’s just so much smaller than the 8830. I don’t do international travelling and I don’t need a GPS so I understand people who opt for the 88xx for that reason.
But for the rest of us plain Jane business customers, the Curve ROCKS. So sad to send it back.
Katherine
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On Jun 20, 2007 @ 2:08 am, RSSkeeziks Said:
Katherine, I couldn’t agree more with you regarding the Curve or ATT’s coverage. I live in Los Angeles and AT&T coverage is spotty and just generally poor all over. I was shocked as I’m living in a huge city. I originally had Sprint, but got rid of them due to Claire, that hideous auto attendant on their customer service line. SO, AT&T and Sprint are not good options for me.
I saw the Curve and immediately got excited. Finally, a BB with a camera and full QWERTY. But then I remembered I have Verizon, a company that is deliberately way behind in their phone offerings so they can ‘customize’ their phones (read: remove all free user features they can charge fees for).
So, we have a great carrier, who answers their customer service line with human beings in the US, but has lousy phones. Bad options all around. I have no confidence that even if Verizon gets the Curve they’ll leave it as is. We’d get the stripped-down version.
I’m interested in hearing from Los Angeles T-Mobile users regarding coverage and customer service responses. This might be my only hope!
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On Jun 20, 2007 @ 4:59 pm, chip Said:
i just came from a treo 700p…still have it..and a curve and a 8830. the treo’s keyboard wins hands down. it is much more solid. i like the curve’s, but not att’s service…i like vzn’s service…but the 8830’s keyboard is aweful to me….very hard to type because of the spacing…and when it backlights…the blue makes it hard to read the letters in a normal room’s lighting.
i am hoping for the curve to come out on vzn…i just wish i new when it will get here. i have to return one of these phones in 2 weeks.
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On Jun 20, 2007 @ 5:39 pm, Ross Said:
Chip,
It sounds like you made your decision. Why keep the 8830 if you dislike the keyboard that much? Send both the Curve and 8830 back, stick with the Palm, and wait for the CDMA Curve.
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On Jun 21, 2007 @ 2:46 pm, Richard Said:
Chip,
I just moved from a Treo 650 to a BB 8830 with Verizon. Due to the keyboard (I love everything else about it), I am returning the 8830, going back to my Treo and will wait for the 8330 to come out on Verizon. I’ve heard a rumor of a possible October 07 release date. If it takes much longer than that, I might consider jumping carriers. I have been a loyal VZ user for many years, but I am seriously considering jumping ship if they don’t come out with the 8330 by fall.
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On Jun 21, 2007 @ 9:17 pm, mike Said:
some one said verizon is a smart company. wrong. They are a huge retarded bureaucracy that can’t get it’s thumbs out of it own butt to do even simple functions. from home and business broadband, to telephone service to wireless, every experience i’ve had with their customer service (i have logged in the hundreds of hours with them at this point) has sucked royally, because there is no head to the beast and no one to take ultimate responsability in any givin situation. transfer to transfer to transfer until you get lucky and someone decides to actually help you out. verizon needs a new system and their “perfect network” is overpriced and not very reliable at all.
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On Jun 22, 2007 @ 4:44 pm, Pedro Said:
Cingular has the 8300, it has a camera, and GPS, not sure on wi-fi. my contract is up with tmobile and i want 2 new bb, the 8300 sure is nice, i had it in my hand. the only thing holding me back from doing anything with cingular is their prices, they charge for everything under the sun. the dilemma continues, as soon as the 8320 comes out for tmobile i’m all in it.
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On Jul 23, 2007 @ 6:55 pm, Brian Said:
Why does everyone want GPS on their phone? I can NEVER understand it. The way I see it, we live in a world where people can hack into computers/laptops and steal personal info. The last thing we need is someone hacking into our phones and knowing exactly where the other is. Hacking into phones and devices is already occurring at WiFi hotspots all around the country. In fact, Apple is having this problem with their browser on their iPhones.
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