T-Mobile launching BlackBerry Curve (8320) on September 24th
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Filed in BlackBerry, EDGE, Exclusives, GPRS, GSM, Handsets, RIM, T-Mobile
Well, isn’t this a glorious day. You begged, you pleaded with the T-Mobile gods, and now we finally have something concrete. It seems as if September 24th is the rumored launch date set in stone for one of the most anticipated BlackBerry devices to date — the BlackBerry Curve with WiFi + UMA (8320). We’ve got a string of other handsets we’re sifting through at moment from our oh-so-fabulous informants, but in the meantime, I guess we can all just "marinate" on this BlackBerry Curve launch date. Yeah, it’s golden. Hey T-Mobz, care to send us an embargoed unit? Thank ya’s
Thanks, tmophonehome!
Thanks for the post KM.
I have the hotspot@home set up, but with the Nokia 6086 [temp until Curve comes out].
I get 4 bars on the WiFi signal. I have the T-Mo D-Link router that was free after rebate.
I read somewhere that while most routers will work, the ones from T-Mo are easier to set up. But don’t recall if the signal is better with a T-Mo branded. Obviously, a T-Mo branded gets one tech support from T-MO.
One other thing, the phone is gold?
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New T-Mobile Pearl being launched before Curve. Curve not coming out until the last few days of September (this appears to be a slight delay from the 9/24 launch). Dont have details on pricing yet. There is a promo on the modem for your home, cost $10 monthly and $50 for the modem but there is a mail-in rebate for that $50. Also, if one doesn’t want the complete data package ($20.00) there is an unltd email package at $10.00 monthly. this is all from my wonderful rep. By the way, I think on this discussion board there has been some criticism of TMO customer service. I have always found it EXCELLENT! They have been quick to respond, polite, and spending lots of time with me on the phone when I’ve run in to problems. One time they even connected directly to RIM customer service to answer questions.
–Joanberry
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Joanberry… not to quibble, but I said earlier that the hotspot service promo for $10 monthly would be ending on Sept. 4.
From what I see on the Site, hotspot is now $20 monthly.
So there is a few days delay on the Curve launch? Oh well, guess I can wait, it’s not that big a deal.
Thanks for sharing.
Not sure if the below link will show up, but here it goes:
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/information.aspx?osid=4745E503-3612-4E0F-9044-DE881A7F91CC&tp=Svc_Tab_HotSpot
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The curve has been with cingular/at&t for a while already.
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Robert, I thought this thread was discussing the T-Mo Curve, not AT&T’s version, which does not have WiFi, by the way.
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Are there any UMA alternatives rather than Tmobile@home? I know I can use Skype w/ a wifi connection, but I don’t think I can switch b/w the wifi and cellular w/o disconnecting from one and redialing.
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Just checked and the $10 monthly is still available to me. And, I’ve been told it will still be when the Curve debuts. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
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Just got my spec sheet from the local Tmo store and as of yesterdays update, this is still coming out on the 24th.
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i cant wait for the same
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Any news on pricing on this thing yet?
I spoke with a CSR this morning who was super friendly and confirmed that the launch date is still Sept 24th. Unfortunately, he stated that although he could confirm that it was on the upgrade list, he did not have concrete pricing information as yet.
I hope it’s not more than $400 if you upgrade with new contract…
Thoughts?
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$400 to upgrade with a new contract seems a little steep. wouldn’t you be better off canceling your plan adn starting a new one to get the discounts?
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cant imaging it would be that expensive. I’m guessing $199-$299. Its not going to be as much as the 8800 that is on the site for $349. Just my guess.
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Based on experience with other phone purchases and taking note that T-Mo makes their money selling monthly services, not phones:
IMHO the Curve will sell for $200 to $250 upgrade price and $400 full retail. I base this on nothing except hunches.
The Curve, while noteworthy to us, is not a phone that will make the nightly news. So there is no reason to rape customers like AT&T did with the iPhone.
And I too have noted that if the price is too crazy it is cheaper for me to cancel my contract, pay the $250 ETF, then sign up again with a vendor who gives phones for free on signing a contract. [I went through them on the 7100t, which was free. I sent friends to them to get the Pearl, which was free. So I would imagine they will be giving the Curve out too].
http://www.ushopwireless.com/wireless/launch/index.php?oc=SS
I don’t want to go through the hassle of canceling the contract, etc. But push comes to shove, if T-Mo won’t give it to me at the upgrade price I will tell them that I’ll cancel the K, etc. Seems a waste of everyone’s time if they make me do that.
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I’ve heard that the phone is on the upgrade list, so that’s good news. Question - why will it sell for less than the 8800? My firm is actually paying for whatever handheld I choose to purchase…and I’m debating bw the 8800 and waiting for the Curve…any thoughts?
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I think what he means is that the 8800 is considered RIM’s business/government oriented model [e.g., no camera] and such models are more expensive than consumer-oriented devices, such as the Pearl or the Curve.
That’s my hunch too, that it will be priced less than the 8800. That $350 price for the 8800 is with a two year contract. Otherwise T-Mo lists it at $550.
If the Curve is going to be marketed to attract consumers, then the price will have to be less than the 8800, IMHO.
One thing we should benefit from, and what might cause T-Mo to adjust prices, is Apple’s iPhone $200 price drop. No way T-Mo will price the Curve at the same price as the iPhone.
T-Mo in the past has been very responsive to the market and competitors. E.g. when the iPhone debuted T-Mo came out with that rare 1000 minutes, nights & weekends free, for $39.95. That was in direct response to Apple’s iPhone intro.
So hopefully T-Mo had some meetings on making price adjustments because of Jobs’ recent announcement.
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Lwyrchick, your name assumes you are a lawyer. At the risk of alienating everyone in here, I too am one, in the fed system.
One thing you want to consider is having a unit, such as the 8800, that does NOT come with a camera.
In some secure installations one cannot take a cell phone w/ camera. If your phone has a camera, the U.S. Marshal or Agents will take the phone from you and return it upon your leaving.
My understanding is that more and more courts are adopting the “no cell phones with cameras” rule.
That is why RIM makes the 8800, without a camera, to address government and “Silicon Valley” security concerns.
So if you see yourself possibly having your BB taken away because of the camera, best to get the 8800.
Just a thought.
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I would hope that T-Mobile would price the regular price at no more than $399 and the upgrade price much less. If not, then they leave themselves open for competition with the iPhone. If it wasn’t that the ATT service in my area stinks (if even available which is true most times) I would have an iPhone. In fact I bought one, but couldn’t get service connection in my home for more than 30 seconds.
They better hope ATT doesn’t come up with a hotspot idea, because if they did, I would immediately buy the iPhone since I have a good wireless connection (DSL with ATT) at home.
So, right now the Curve sounds like it will be exactly what I want/need to replace my BB 8700. I prefer BB email over iPhone which requires more gyrations from my company to push/pull corporate email and it will still not be as reliable and robust as BB Server. But the other features of iPhone were compelling enought to make it worth the hassle.
NO… I am not going to unlock an iPhone. I need cell for work and cannot risk losing coverage when a firmware update renders it useless.
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Thanks, Michael. You are absolutely right - many courts are adopting such regulations that prohibit camera phones in the buildings. However, many courts also allow attorneys to get clearance cards which do away with the security check step - hence allowing the attorney to take in whatever device they are carrying.
I like the Wi-Fi capability offered by the Curve, as well as the camera. Other than those, can you think of anything that would favor a purchase of the 8800 as opposed to the Curve?
Much thanks to all.
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@ LwyrChick - You should be able to get an UNLOCKED 8820 (with WiFi) soon.
@ everyone else - The Pearl Colors dropped today. Any news on the Curve?
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Galvatron..
Regarding:
On Aug 13, 2007 @ 9:05 pm, Galvatron Said:
“weres the 8820 tmo?”
Perhaps it is time to understand the differences of, where, ware and wear versus were. Including the art of contractions. Consider, http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/contracterm.htm You might even want to consider a spelling/grammar check on that fancy computer before posting to the entire planet. English as a second language (ESL) excuses are just that, excuses.
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Hello everyone,
I am currently with T-Mobile. First I am currently educating myself on the iPhone and the Blackberry, therefore I have a considerable level of ignorance on these devices and plans. I will be a licensed Realtor soon in Texas. I have some inquiries regarding carrying costs of the upcoming T-mobile 8320 Blackberry Curve versus an iPhone.
All I require is to have a mobile phone and be able to check and reply via a POP3 mail account in the field. It appears that T-Mobile may be more expensive when compared to AT&T with iPhone. My current plan (Individual) is 1000 Whenever minutes ($49.99), Mobile to Mobile ($6.99),taxes & fees ($10.37), which brings my total bill monthly to around $67.50. If I were to upgrade to the new Curve I would add $9.99 for Hotspot@Home feature and add $19.99 for the unlimited data on the premise of POP3 service. My monthly plan would then be around $97.50, but I would drop my minutes to 600 and save $9.99 to a projected bill of $87.50. Does the $19.99 unlimited data feature offer POP3 support? Would I have to purchase an additional Blackberry data plan in order to send/receive e-mail via my POP3 account? If I went with the basic AT&T iPhone plan it appears to only cost $59.99 and based on my research the iPhone supports POP3 accounts. However, I would only get 450 Anytime minutes and 5000 nights/weekends, mobile to mobile is incorporated, and I would also get the feature of Rollover minutes.
Someone mentioned earlier that T-mobile may offer an unlimited e-mail plan for $9.99 or $10.00, but I could not find locate this feature online. Even if I could get such a feature I would only save $10.00, which would bring my projected T-Mobile bill to about $77.50. At $59.99 the iPhone with AT&T is looking attractive, or another way of looking at this issue is if I pay $80.00 a month for the iPhone plan I get double the Anytime minutes and unlimited nights/weekends. Please let me know what any of you think? Also if you are a Realtor why would you use one or the other phone/plan?
Thank you,
Sam
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Yep, my company’s national account manager also confirmed the Curve is coming “end of September 2007″ “with Wi-Fi but no 3G support”.
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I’m a Realtor. I use Tmobile w/ my BB and I’m very pleased with their service. The 19.99 includes unltd data. I use 3 different email accounts and no problems, no extra charges. My clients love that I can and do get back to them immediately. We are in a service business, after all!
My plan is a “get more 1500 minutes for which I pay $49.00. I also have Unlmtd TMOB 2 TMOB and pay $6.99. I’d like to cancel this as I find that not enough of my clients and friends use TMO so its just not worthwhile. Thus, my monthly service is $76.97 plus 12.44 in those godawful taxes.
I’ve heard that the battery life on the Iphone is not good and that when you need a new one you need to send it back to Apple or Att. Don’t know if this true but I do know that I cannot be without a mobile phone. it’s just too important for my biz.
Many of my colleagues use the Treo with Cingular and they have many delays in getting email. Also, when they have questions about their phone they complain about the cust service.
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HELP, PLEASE! I have eagerly awaited the BB Curve coming to T-Mobile. However, I’m confused about one thing, am hoping someone can clarify. I’ve read so many posts which regret the absence of GPS on the Curve. KM says “I wish the 8320 had GPS like the 8820″… test5477 says “this is not the perfect Berry, they cannot fit GPS in”… Benedict says “they somehow need to cram GPS in the 8320 to make it perfect”. But the Blackberry website specifically lists GPS on its feature list. Is it the T-Mobile version of the Curve (as opposed to AT&T) which does not include GPS? Or are these different posts incorrect? Thank you.
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Other versions of the Curve have GPS [Rogers]BUT NO WiFi.
T-Mo’s Curve will have WiFi, but no GPS.
I think it’s a size thing. They can’t keep the small form factor with both GPS & WiFi included.
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