RIM vs. AT&T; Bold vs. Thunder/Storm
We thought we’d give y’all an update on what we’ve been hearing so far. It’s been fairly well-documented that RIM isn’t too happy with AT&T for delaying the release of the Bold. It began with June, then to July, to August, to September — you get the point. But, there is a back-story here, so we are going to take a minute out to break it down for you guys.
First and foremost, according to what we have been told, AT&T approached RIM to build the BlackBerry Bold for them. RIM had zero plans of manufacturing a 3G device at the time. They reluctantly gave in to AT&T and started to manufacture the Bold. You can see their non-3G stance with the upcoming Kickstart, Javelin, etc. As it was put to us, “AT&T will not be accepting any non-3G phones on it’s network.” We’ve clearly seen this transition take place; we’re almost at the point of all 3G handset heaven, so this statement makes sense. The problem with the delays of the Bold is that RIM has the Thunder/Storm up their sleeves. We’ll get into that in a bit, but here’s a quick story on the Bold delays and why they happened.
To be fair, the delay with the BlackBerry Bold wasn’t really AT&T’s fault. Sure, they might have wanted to give Apple a little more shine or they might even have wanted to let their 90-day exclusive run out through the holidays to capture all those extra sales, but there were, and still are software issues. That’s evidenced by people that have bought the Bold already. Are they world-ending? No. But no one can oppose the fact that the Bold is the most un-BlackBerry-like device to come out of RIM in terms of stability and the OS. AT&T knew this. That’s why RIM would hand AT&T (and Rogers, too) “final final” builds of the OS. After a couple days, those were promptly sent back to RIM with “FAIL” written all over them. That continued for a very, very long time. Nonetheless, it came to the point where Rogers went ahead and released the device; it’s not 100%, and they, along with RIM, know that. (Does anyone remember how that RIM publicist assured the press that there were no delays with the Bold on AT&T and indirectly called us jerks?) But why the strained relationship with AT&T?
Well, you have AT&T basically demanding a 3G BlackBerry, RIM probably said, “eh, dudes, we’ve never done this before, you sure?” AT&T probably said, “Holla!” Then AT&T kept delaying the release of the Bold, and RIM sort of got pissed. They had the BlackBerry Thunder/Storm on the burner, but they held that way too close to the chest so AT&T didn’t find out about it. Why didn’t they want AT&T to find out about it? They were afraid AT&T would drop the Bold, the device they begged them to make, and want to run with the Thunder/Storm instead. You’ve got practically the entire world launching the Bold, except for the #1 BlackBerry carrier on the planet. Something doesn’t sit right with that. It might be AT&T’s quest for perfection on the device, it might be the fact that they make way more money on iPhone sales, or it could be a mix of both. RIM has increased the marketing budget with Verizon of the Thunder/Storm like we reported to you. Whether this was done to possibly makeup for lost time with the Bold in the U.S. or to spite AT&T still remains to be seen, yet we can’t help but think RIM is a getting a little kick out of it. One more tiny bit of info is BlackBerry Thunder/Storm pricing… we heard through various contacts it will sell for $199 with a 2-year agreement after in-store and MIRs. In any case, that’s our little back-story for the day regarding what happened with the Bold and the Thunder/Storm and an explanation why AT&T probably isn’t in Jim or Mike’s MY5.
Kudos to BGR as they again deliver the inside scoop that nobody else will!
As far as the Bold and 3G battery problems- it has a 3G off/EDGE on setting like the iPhone- just release it and we’ll handle the rest!
Ummm At&t will accept no device that’s not perfection? hmmm Iphone 3G had nooooo probs at launch right? LOL So much for that theory.
All blackberries have had bugs upon initial release..this was more prevalent in the early days…if you’ve been a corporate IT person working with blackberries you would know this.
Even with these bugs, they still work better than Palm, Windoze Mobile, and the iJesus 3G Phone.
I agree with Arkman that AT&T issues are with its 3G network…let’s see iPhone 3G + Bold 3G on an already battered network = disaster.
The 8707 defnitely had issues in UMTS Europe network and was a flop. In Japan the 8707 since it was not dual mode it only worked in the digital areas…thus a bad reception problem there.
The current Bold, because it is an upgraded BIOS with larger screen…a good number of applications will have problems running on it. But that is a fact of many OSes…
Again, AT&T Release the Bold already.
i thnk most of this story is made up BS. why would a company that innovates new technologies not want to support the current standard for GSM networks? and to say that 3g is a new tech? its only new in Norht america where we lag behind the rest of the world by 2-3years. other countries are already buldng and testing 4G. Also, CDMA EVDO is a 3G tech and RIM has been pumping them out for quite a while. The only thing lagging in the hi speed handhelds market is the GSM network companies that want to suck all their customers money away.
So what your saying is that the Blackberry that everyone and there mama wants would never have been made unless AT&T complained. Is this a good thing or bad thing?
I’ve been waiting for the bold for like ever. been very close to getting an iphone but i don’t think it is for me with all its flicking and 2 handedness.
if the bold didn’t have 3g i would not be waiting for it. i really hope they get that part right. edge+websurfing on my pearl is drivin me batty. pls hurry up with this
I administer 3 Bolds on Rogers; over a week ago they all suddenly stopped receiving calls.
After many hours of supposed “tech support” from Rogers, they gave me the instruction to turn wi-fi off, and leave it off AND revert to the 2G network. Even with that done, all three phones continue to have issues receiving calls.
I think Rogers jumped the gun on the release; their 3G network clearly isn’t ready for prime time!
The most relevant post I’ve seen in a while. Most people said AT&T gained customers only to have them revert back to their old companies after realizing how buggy the Iphone was. Xbox and PS3 are now sharing the same video games simply because it is better for the consumer and the developers…If these companies cannot wise up and do the same they’re the ones losing out. I love the fact that I’m getting a Verizon customer and I can get the Storm but I really wouldnt care if the other carriers got it as well. Same goes for me receiving phones exclusive to other carriers like the Samsung OMNIA or the Iphone, which I wouldnt get anyway cause everyone and their mother has it, plus it looks like an MP3 player (Touch anyone?).
Once again BGR thinks that just because they put out a date, that thats the date that the carriers will actually release something… GET REAL! AT&T has NOT made any release date known publicly.
I am using the rogers bold for att. I live in Brooklyn and except in my apt where I never had good service, everytime I go outside I have 3G service that doesnt drop. The screen is magnificent. HTML email is beautiful. Everything about it is perfect. Not sure why everyone says how buggy it is. Honestly havent been able to test out the battery too much though cause I charge it every night. Will post back though.
1.AT&T does not suck and it will be a matter of time before Verizon and T-Mobile require the same from all phone makers.
2.Your experience with AT&T does not hold true for the rest of us. Yeah there has been some tinmes where customer service was not all that, but all companies have someone working for them that makes a customer service experience not pleasant.
3.The selections of phones AT&T has vs. verizon and T-Mobile are around the same. Different shells but the same idea and technology.
People like you will always be behind the learning curve because of your limited thinking and lack of understanding of supply and demand.
Except you’re wrong – RIM’s been manufacturing 3G devices for a little while now. They’ve just been CDMA, running on VZWtel/Sprint EvDO networks. To be *more* correct, RIM had never manufactured a *UMTS* 3G device before. Please get the facts right.
Lol, yeah they do make “3G” BlackBerrys for CDMA networks, but I thought you were smart enough to understand what I was talking about. Also, yes, the 8707 did have UMTS, but it wasn’t nearly as complex as the radio only had GPRS/UMTS. No HSDPA.
Lol yep the dreadfull 8707 but we won’t mention that name again.
you guys are funny. until now you keep on thinking about pricing and service but you still can’t accept that all of these companies give the same service, the similar pricing. the differences are devices, packaging and the technology.
why would one go towards a verizon and sprint over at&t & tmobile? i don’t know why you guys should unless it is a company decision. verizon and sprint are stuck with whatever phones they provide while at&t and tmobile though they do not advertise this, have devices which have the same techonlogy with a plethora of devices that you can purchase from asia and europe thus more options and better quality phones.
technology … well, verizon and sprint use CDMA, an archaic standard which has been forcing itself to the real global 3G standard … you can’t even talk on your mobile phone while surfing the internet … better yet, verizon is jumping ship and finally following its sister company’s (Vodafone)standard which is GSM / 3G …
packaging … oh well the age old issue … 90% of the consumer is driven to how everything is packaged rather than what the service / device can do for them.
i see so many people out there using blackberries but they have no idea how to use them … they rarely check email and just use as a phone / text message device …. which i find really bizarre since the blackberry has been designed to be mail device first, ok ok messaging device …
people should ask themselves first if they are really using the functions of the device or are they getting it because that’s what’s hot?
@ Perspective
Way to show your ignorance. The BlackBerry isn’t a successful consumer device? You do realize the Curve alone has far outsold the iPhone, correct?
I live on a college campus and see just as many Curves and Pearls as I do iPhones–if not more. I realize such observations are subjective, but I avtually pay attention to people’s phones.
ya’ll know the storm/kickstart are gonna be delayed too right? come on kids…think bout it…
I didn’t mean to come off as caustically as I did – apologies. You’re always a good source of info, BG.
GG Jeff,
Verizon is a larger service provider to businesses than at&t. Nice try
I am anxiously awaiting the Bold on AT&T. ASfter reading this I may settle for a Curve. I have had several Palm devices and they were all buggy to some degree. I am switching to BB because I have heard they are less buggy, and, being a government employee, we use them at work.
With all of the aboce comments addressed, did RIM ever come out with Software updates, or did they announce anything.
Are there any other people out there with Rogers experiences in western Canada?
Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray???!!!
does anyone know: Will Bold be a worldphone, like the 8830, but with wi-fi which 8830 doen’t have?
I meant to say “With all of the above”, hit the wrong Key.
All phone companies has it’s quirks but I truly believe Verizon and Sprint is the worst in customer service and they have the most crappiest out dated phones to date. Anyway to all you iPhone groupies out there, let me state a fact. For every 3 iphones sold, 2 out of those 3 turn around and sells it. The iPhone is useless in the business world, its more for glam (kinda like hahaha I have one and you dont). I personally think the Sony Ericcson W960 is ten times the phone compared to the iPhone. Most Blackberrys do what they’re suppose to, it was never meant to be handled in a situation with spoiled kids wanting a cool phone. Blackberrys will always be a business phone that gets the job done. They just raised the bar for a business phone to be stylish and chic for the upcoming trendy folks and they did quite well. I wish RIM would have been immune from the pressure of a touchscreen because in the long run, touchscreens are nice for media players and such, but for a heavily use phone, it’s a corny gimmick. Iphones indubitably hold the stature for a cool touchscreen and may never be taken its crown, but then again they also have the highest turnover in that category. For the business men alike, the Blackberry is the way to go, its not for the spoiled kids who want to look cool, its for those who need a reliable full function BUSINESS phone. Bold>Thunder
@ Blackberrybeezness
No one cares what you think about customer service. Last month J.D. Power released their rankings for best customer service, and guess who was on top?
Sure as hell wasn’t at&t. It was VERIZON. T-Mobile is second. And, as usual, at&t and Sprint round out the bottom of the pack.