BlackBerry Bold training on AT&T cancelled due to launch delays
For realz, y’all. October 2nd was about as concrete as we were going to get, but the powers that be (RIM’s lack of focus on the OS) have interjected. We’ve been working on this story over the past couple days, and here is a quick rundown on what we’ve heard… The Bold, while originally set for a launch on October 2nd is still having OS issues and it’s been up to RIM to fix them. Normally BlackBerrys can glide through AT&T’s testing labs in a pretty short time frame. Something like 2-3 weeks. As you are all aware, not this time. Regardless of what the problem is, there’s no excuse for having probably the most botched launch in device history. Device training was supposed to start October 7th, but that has been pushed back now, and then there’s the launch parties coming up starting mid-month. We’re not going to give another predicted launch date until we can fully confirm it, so we’ll get back to you on that. Any RIM PR reps want to give us a ring and still tell us the device was never delayed? Suckaz. Hit the jump for an email explaining the delay and the postponed device training sessions!
Thanks, CrunkBerry!
As you are aware, with the anticipated launch of the 3G AT&T BlackBerry Bold, RIM has committed to hold training sessions in over 40 cities. A large number of these sessions were to take place this and next week. Due to the continued uncertainty of the device launch date, we will work with RIM to reschedule these sessions to a later date.
Any representatives that have registered will be informed by email of the schedule change. No action is required from your part.
Rescheduling the training to align with a final technical acceptance for BlackBerry Bold launch will ensure that:
a) the training material can cover all the feature functionality that will be on this device at launch (at this time we don’t have clarity on the status of all features).
b) handouts can be given to Dealers to reinforce the material covered
c) we will be able to provide attendees with a general availability date
c) the delivery of the material will be within one – two weeks of launch to ensure content retention and ability to practice what they learn in the field
d) the desired 30 person per session registration/attendance is achieved (training in the last week of a sales month at the end of a sales quarter should be avoided if possible)
Please let me know if any questions.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Email edited to protect our ninja.
So… October 2 is a no go?
No soup for you!!
It’s over Johnny, over!!!
And of course,
GIVE ME BACK MY SON!!!!
@ Beth
You sound hot. Love the idea of E71 except for no BB support, and don’t want that crappy 2.5 jack thing, and screen is not in Bold’s league.
Wait, Bold doesn’t have a league in the US…
Fucking ATT/RIM. Both at fault. I apportion fault thus:
85% ATT
10% RIM
5% me for being so stupid and gullible
2% BG. Yea, BG. The buck has to stop somewhere and he should have fixed this.
According to our leadership the Bold’s “revised” launch date was not new information to us. We have known this for well over a month. I love you guys at BGR, just don’t make assumptions.
Lastly, our TA process is extremely critical of all aspects of a device, so this was not a shock to me that we delayed the product (our RIM rep’s bold had major issues!!).
Lastly- keep your eyes posted for a new Samsung WM 6.1 device before black Friday…
Cheers!
“It’s RIM’s fault because regardless of any specific AT&T issues”
Yea while Bold owners are saying that theirs are solid on Rogers and around the world and people are only having problems with AT&T, you’re right! This is truely RIM’s fault… (sarcasm btw) F*ck AT&T.
haha @ bluehorseshot, because I was thinking the same thing. I have family in Canada that have Bold’s that have no problems with their device whatsoever and friends here in the US with some unlocked Roger’s devices that are having problems. It’s AT&T’s joke of a network. BG is too busy dry humping his iPhone to realize that.
When the two biggest devices for AT&T – the iPhone 3G and Bold – both have issues related to 3G, you’d think it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that It’s The Network (twisted pun intended).
I’m not going to say it’s entirely the network because I’m sure there are probably OS issues as well seeing as how OS 4.5 and higher has a lot of “firsts” for RIM, such as a more decent web browser, docs to go, etc.
However, here’s some food for though: OS 4.5 on Curve’s seem to be working fine on any network. OS 4.6 (which honestly isn’t very different than 4.5) is having problems, however that device is a 3G device.
So, according to that, that would still point at the fact that it’s AT&T’s network because it wouldn’t make sense for two similar OS’s to behave completely different.
i think att will just cancel this phone it giving too many problems
THIS JUST IN!!!!!
The “string” for the new concept phone has been rejected by AT&T’s 3G network, Update to come!
ridiculous.
So what does this do to AT&T’s exclusive rights to the Bold in the US, does it push back or did RIM lock them down to a date that’s quickly coming up?
I was really looking forward to getting a BBB soon, and have been monitoring this and the other sites for news. I’m tired of it now. I don’t NEED a new device, I just WANT one, and want THIS one (once I make up my mind about something I’m obsessive until I have it…). I’m gonna stop checking the forums. I signed up for AT&T’s release letter, and I’m just gonna sit tight until that hits my inbox. I just can’t be doing with this crap any more. It’ll be here when it’s ready, and if they need to spend another month (or two) to deliver a better product then I’m all for that. Who wants to spend the first couple of months of owning a device downloading patches? Adios!
@BG:
“It’s RIM’s fault because regardless of any specific AT&T issues, the OS as a whole is a piece of shit”
Well, there we have it. The BG lays his loyalties on the table for us to see, in case there was any doubt
it is rim’s fault. if they can’t manufacture the os to handle the network then it isn’t at&t’s fault. htc, motorola, nokia, samsung, lg, sony ericsson and pantech all have a working 3G phone… oh, and so does apple! and i’m sure osx is a little more advanced than what the bold has running it!
LMAO…I knew this was going to be the first post I ever read on BGR with an insane number of curses in it. BG Please try and find me any other post with more profane words and curses in it than this, lmao! People complain about the Bold on other posts about the G1 or the Storm so I did not expect anything less when I saw that title of it being delayed…I was like “FUCK there’s going to be a lot of angry bloggers on here that’s going to make my day with their comments and I’m going to enjoy reading every one of them” LMAO!!!! I only read the first page of comments and I can’t stop laughing.
But I honestly don’t think it is RIM’s fault and leave it up to BGR to blame them and not AT&T when every other network or carrier has theirs and its working fine. It’s not like they made different builds for them different from the AT&T one. It’s just a terrible network that is causing the delays so stop blaming the manufacturer when it did its job and even unlocked versions are out. AT&T never gets blamed for anything on here. And no the Storm won’t be delayed because unlike AT&T Verizon likes to keep its customers lmao
Apple 1
RIM 0
Jordan you’re a funny dude and TRV$ this must be your first ever post with that comment you just made. I’m not suprised seeing as how everyone’s saying the complete opposite of what you said. Since when did that quality over quantity motto apply to AT&T!!? Even all the AT&T fans and customers on here will tell you that AT&T has the most phones simply because they get any and everything, no matter what it is. They have the most phones from anywhere in the world, regardless of quality and you want to talk about RIM is to blame!? If you were making this argument about Verizon then it would merit some sense but right now you’re just talking for the sake of making a comment.
Dingoberry you’re right… “It’s The Network” and I bet you if RIM was to take the same old OS build of the BOLD and release it on Verizon it would work perfectly fine. BG is just a loyalist and will quickly put blame on anyone but AT&T, who are too busy getting rug burns from sucking off Apple and the Iphone…which is eating up all their already horrid 3G network and preventing any others that people actually want to use from being put out. I’m sorry BG but if the the OS is crappy, that’s fine. However, if it can work on other networks in 30 different countries then release the shit and let the customers deal with it. It’s not like this would be the first phone AT&T has released that wasn’t ready. Its entire inventory is filled with devices like that, most notably the Iphone and people love it with their lives. If updates have to be released then so be it, as other carriers have done but don’t keep customers waiting on the phone when everyone else has it. They jump ship and my guess is that it’s probably not working right AT ALL that’s why they can’t release it. If it was working decent on their network they would’ve dumped it on us like they have been doing all these years. I doubt a RIM product like the BOLD is what has suddenly made them develop a conscience and an affinity for their customers and now they want to make it the best product in the world. Last I checked RIM and AT&T were not the coziest friends anymore with the whole Storm issue and AT&T releasing the Iphone is better than the Storm document. I’m sure they do not care that much about this product while they have the iphone and the Storm is going somewhere else. If it was ok to be used, even with issues they would’ve released it. It’s not ready at all that’s why it’s not out. PERIOD
This is a collasal debacle and I think there’s more than meets the eye. Politics are at the root of this and it stinks of Antitrust violations. I feel like AT&T and Apple have combined forces to deprive the market of the Blackberry choice. I’m inclined to buy an unlocked Bold, but now I’m worried about network issues. My Blackberry is so old the track wheel doesn’t always work and the vibrator has worn out. I’ve been out of contract for 2 years and I’m leaving AT&T within two weeks if the Bold is not in my local store. I’ve been paying over $225 per month for the past 2 years to use a broken Rogers 8700 so I’m sure I can find a better alternative on another network. I actually feel kind of stupid for putting this much time and research into getting my hands on a freakin cell phone.
Now I’ve heard it all, “AntiTrust conspiracy”? The problem seem real simple. AT&T, in a rush to be the 1st 3G, came to market before it was ready and it’s a “DOG”………PERIOD
“and then there’s the launch parties coming up starting mid-month”
Anybody have any details on the above. I’ve been looking for weeks and haven’t found anything.
What do you expcet, there canadian. Hire some real coders instead of these noobs you have working for you.
ps
@BGR
when we gettin another episode of BGR Radio?
Shootin’ for early next week…
Don’t know why everyone is complaining, when was the last last time BGR got a launch date right? I think it was the 3g iphone and my grandmother new when that was coming out.
I mean if it was really suppose to be released on Oct 2 why the training session be scheduled for the the end of Oct.
Better yet where’s the AT&T BB 8320 wasn’t that suppose to drop Sept 26? I think half of these “internal documents” are pure fakes. T-mobile has had it for over a year so it cant be a software problem. It doesn’t even have 3G
Are there going to be AT&T advertising in your next BGR Radio episode? Might as well totally sell out.
Sorry for the jab but I used to love this blog until the slant toward AT&T & iPhone became nauseatingly obvious.
Don’t think this could possibly be because AT&T wants to keep it exclusive through the holidays?
@likeabite
I’m not an expert at anything but i suggest you check out stop-n-go’s post on page 3. Seems to know a bit about RIM’s OS which would vierify that RIM can’t get it right. This is how I see it: DirecTv does Satelite. TiVo makes a DVR. If TiVo wants to sell units, TiVo is responsible for making it compatible to DirecTv. NOT the other way around. Don’t blame att for not wanting to release a phone that doesn’t play well with their network. Maybe they learned something from the iPhone 3G issues. Is it so hard to imagine they want to keep their customer complaints to a minimum? Then again, maybe you’re just biased against att, to try and offset BG. let’s keep it copacetic