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 Jul 26, 2007 @ 11:38 pm, k dyrud Said:
Please forward any additional information on the Verizon release of the Curve 8330.
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On Aug 1, 2007 @ 12:54 am, Brian Said:
dying for the vzw curve. when? when? when? oh, the pain.
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On Aug 5, 2007 @ 11:12 am, Mandy Smith Said:
I feel like you-I do not want to switch to AT&T but I want the 8330. I talked with someone at Verizon and they said that the Curve at AT&T is a quad-band and I could buy it without a contract and they would unlock it and it would work on Verizon’s network? I am not sure if this is true but I would be willing to try it! I am tired of waiting on VZW to come out with the cool phones!
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On Aug 5, 2007 @ 2:09 pm, jibi Said:
Verizon is a CDMA operator; AT&T is a GSM operator. Their devices are not interoperable.
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On Aug 5, 2007 @ 10:09 pm, Jamar Johnson Said:
Yeah that statement is a lie! As stated that Verizon Sprint and Alltel operates on CDMA, T-Mobile and AT&T is GSM. To not get techy with it is like running a corvette with a pinto ingine, it won’t work. The networks don’t work together. I worked for Sprint and knew that we had roaming agreements but other than that no. We have the 8830, and the it doesn’t even let you use the GSM towers here in America! That is Verizon and Sprint.
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On Aug 9, 2007 @ 1:16 pm, blackenberry Said:
of course it’s a lie. nothing this clown says can be taken seriously.
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On Aug 25, 2007 @ 12:28 am, C-squared Said:
I went to the Verizon store to get my Treo 700p serviced - it was rebooting every time I clicked on a memo. I can’t wait to get rid of this rock of a phone.
I asked the technician when the Verizon curve would be coming out. He said they are testing it now and shooting to have it released some time in October. He also said that it will have GPS but no wi-fi. I asked him where he was getting this information and he said from internal emails.
That would be great if others can ask around and get some type of confirmation on this.
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On Sep 8, 2007 @ 11:40 pm, GettingTiredOfWaiting Said:
Verizon customer for years. Service is the best in my parts, but phone selection sucks. Want a BB Curve, but am getting tired of waiting. Pearl blows. Considering an LG enV, for all the features, but it just ain’t a BB. It V doesn’t come thru in 1-2 mos, will just have to switch carriers.
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On Sep 10, 2007 @ 12:49 am, Mar244244 Said:
Just two more weeks till tmo releases the curve ill be there as soon as I get out of class I might take the day from work.
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On Sep 10, 2007 @ 12:58 am, Mark244244 Said:
And Mandy that tech is a fucking retard for telling you that GSM/cdma are not compatible if you do it your wasting 200 to 400 dollar
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On Sep 22, 2007 @ 7:04 pm, CurverSweater Said:
Any update on when Verizon will be offering the Curve (8330)?
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On Nov 1, 2007 @ 1:45 pm, BBPG Said:
I heard first quarter 2008
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On Nov 13, 2007 @ 2:54 pm, 14str8 Said:
My Vzw rep is telling me 2Q 08!! Very frustrating!
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On Nov 21, 2007 @ 6:59 am, lickyloo Said:
I’ve talked to an Alltel SalesRep — nothing doing for a long time…. At least Q2
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On Nov 21, 2007 @ 7:47 pm, Big R. Said:
OK, so it may be as late as Q2 08 before the Curve drops on Sprint, but can it be any further confirmed whether or not GPS will be crippled or not? Previous reports have stated that GPS my be crippled on the 8330’s, is that for all carriers or just VZW? Please Sprint/RIM, don’t disable GPS!!! Oh yeah, and hurry up and launch this device too!!
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On Nov 29, 2007 @ 3:51 pm, Chris G Said:
Spoke with sprint today… they said they could not have released info aobut a 8330 or any type of curve for sprint..”but things can change in a month you know?” so he was teasing, or who knows, im anxious..
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On Dec 1, 2007 @ 2:04 pm, Fred B Said:
The holiday season is now upon us, and I’m still wondering……
Does anyone really know when the Sprint Curve will be out? Please forward any info you have….
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On Dec 3, 2007 @ 4:41 pm, JerseyGuy Said:
Why does RIM not release a Blackberry Curve for Verizon? Are they allergic to making tons of money?
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On Dec 3, 2007 @ 9:03 pm, tc Said:
I think that Verizon thinks that it does not need to carry the Curve since they have the 8830 and just released the Pearl2. They do not beleive that we will go and sign up with AT&T just to get the Curve. I am going to switch to AT&T to get the Curve this week.
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On Dec 9, 2007 @ 2:34 am, G Said:
I’ve been with verizon for almost 2 years now, have been on cingular, nextel, and sprint. By far verizon has the best coverage in my area (Los Angeles). I have had my 8703e for about 6 months now, and I can honeslty say it’s the best phone i’ve had as far as form and function. Prior to my bb I had the Moto q (enuff said-I don’t have it anymore). The camera funtion on a phone is nice to have for CONVENIENCE, but is NOT a neccessity. At the end of the day, whatever device you have, it’s still a phone, all the other bells and whistles on a phone are nice to have, but if coverage sucks, what’s the point? Don’t get me wrong I would get a BB curve in a second if made available on vzw and I am still hoping it is released for vzw…
I wonder what will happen if and when the bb 9xxx, comes out..all of you will be on that forum saying the same stuff….
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On Dec 17, 2007 @ 9:57 pm, i Said:
i don’t understand why verizon won’t get the curve. i know all of my friends would switch to verizon with its amazing service if it got it and the pearl is essentially the curve but not as great!
ugh verizon you’re making me so fustrated!!!!!!
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On Dec 19, 2007 @ 8:25 pm, dreww Said:
UGHHHH i totally agree with all you people
verizon NEEDS the curve
plain and simple and its stupid for making us wait a whole freaking year to get a phone that practically every other carrier (except sprint) has!!!!!
verizon is great but they piss me off
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On Dec 20, 2007 @ 2:41 pm, Chris G Said:
*** SPRINT NEWS ***
As per a Sales rep from Sprint’s offices, new phone information will be released on 1/13/08, and their Q1 phones will drop on 1/30/08. CAN WE SAY CDMA CURVE!!!
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On Dec 29, 2007 @ 7:08 pm, abarrera Said:
Chris: are you suuuuure? Ive been waiting for the Sprint Curve! Any word on if it will have GPS?!?!
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On Jan 9, 2008 @ 9:24 am, jmar Said:
I spoke with someone at Blackberry yesterday and they said Verizon hasn’t even requested the Curve from them yet!!! He said that once they do, it won’t take that long to get it switched to CMDA. I have been with Verizon for 12 years but am considering switching to ATT to get the Curve.
Does anyone have any other updated info. about Verizon and the Curve?
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