Rumor: BlackBerry Curve 8900 headed to T-Mobile on February 18
We’re still in the process of trying to confirm this with our sources, but rumor has it that T-Mobile USA will be launching the BlackBerry 8900 Curve on the third Wednesday of February, the 18th. Leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, the new Curve features a beefy 512 MHz processor and 256MB of RAM, but is seriously hurt by its lack of 3G. Yes, this device is aimed towards the business crowd where it’s highly unlikely that anyone would approve the extra money for a 3G BlackBerry — especially if it has WiFi and UMA — but so help us we just can’t stare at the phone without thinking “No 3G! No 3G!” Major gripe aside, this device is a huge addition for the T-Mobile smartphone line-up which is currently very sketchy at best (no, the Wing just doesn’t cut it any more, especially at a ludicrous $299.99).
$10/month, which includes unlimited calling, so you can dial down that $100/month voice plan to perhaps as low as $40. Also, imagine how much money it will save you when you’re traveling abroad; it’s saved me over $100/day when in Europe, Asia, etc…
Why?
i cant wait untill this comes to AT&T 3G will never come to this area anyway, so im looking forward to this device, i just hope the processor is faster than the curve 8310’s
I have to admit that I do dig the UMA feature. This goes beyond basic WiFi and allows us to make calls over VOIP.
T-Mobile gives us two options:
1) Unlimited calls over a WiFi connection for $ 9.99 or…
2) Make calls over a WiFi connection that simply uses your standard AT minutes
Just get that cheap $30 Linksys router that T-Mobile will sell you in the store that is designed to prioritize voice calls and your calls will be crystal clear indoors all over your house (unless you have a huge mansion or a really sucky HSI connection)
I also used the UMA feature on my Pearl 8120 in the UK and was able to make calls back to the States over WiFi without being charged an international tariff.
Can’t wait to get this one. I don’t need 3G on my BlackBerry. I know some AT&T users want 3G so they can get better voice quality, but T-Mobile uses FR for voice more than HR so calls generally are clear even over the GSM network.
Of course coverage varies so that withstanding this should be a great device for the T-Mobile lineup.
My T-Mobile rep did advise we should expect a 3G capable BlackBerry mid to late 2009 once their footprint has greatly expanded. By then, 3G will be compatible with UMA.
A nice valentines gift
I have compared the browser speed of the Storm, Bold and iPhone against my Pearl 8120. Sometimes the Pearl is faster and the times 3G beats the Pearl on EDGE it isn’t by much. I’ll bet the “enhanced” EDGE will be on par with 3G. I am anxiously awaiting the 8900.
No 3G makes the GPS or aGPS pretty much useless, along with the browser. Those of you saying that T-Mobile’s EDGE is almost as fast as AT&T’s 3G seem like you guys don’t know what you’re talking about, not that I’m saying AT&T’s 3G is that fast, but T-Mo’s EDGE is just that slow.
3G>>>>>>>EDGE
UMA/WIFI >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3G >> EDGE
Some people will never see UMA for what it is. Saying Tmobile has UMA just because there coverage sucks.
EDGE has higher latency, but 3G has no real advantage for push email services with the exceptions of downloading/uploading docs. Even then, BB CPU’s can’t take advantage of 3G speed to the fullest and are often maxed out around 2-300 Kbps anyways.
The biggest advantage with 3G is the ability to tether much faster and in at&’t case better voice quality. AT&T uses HR for their 2G network which can sound pretty bad in many areas.
For occassional web browsing EDGE normally works just fine.
Coverage is dependant on a lot of things and will differ from area to area.
Blindly stating that T-Mobile’s coverage sucks for everyone just because it sucks for you is really ignorant at best.
It’s always the same trolls who quantity an entire national footprint’s quality from their moms basement
UMA enhances your coverage experience regardless of whether you thought it was “good” or “bad” before. Nothing can compete with a transmitter located inside your house. Every carrier would benefit from this. T-Mobile isn’t the only carrier offering UMA. Rogers in Canada and Orange in Europe are also offering UMA, and their coverage wasn’t “bad” to begin with. But it is a lot better with UMA! Besides, where are most people 80% of the time? Somewhere indoors such as at home, at the office, at school, at the mall, at the library etc., where WiFi is available and therefore enhances your coverage. If you haven’t experienced the sound quality of speaking on a phone that’s connected using UMA over WiFi, you don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s like High-Definition for voice.
Where do I apple to be one of your employees?
No 3G, but it has Wi-fi. I guess it’s better than nothing. I will take Wi-fi over 3G anytime.
3G would be nice to have. I have a 8320 on tmobile that I am happy with, but could use some faster data. I used to be on VZW.
Benefits of 3G:
-Voice and Data at the same time
-Faster Opera Mini browsing
-My WiFi/UMA connection doesn’t seem that reliable or available when I am out and about
-Google Maps and Streetview
-Streaming youtube or qik or slingbox
-tethering
Bryan: All those comments make sense regarding benefits to 3G, but T-Mobile doesn’t have an expanisve 3G network to take advantage of those features anyways.
Users will start complaining how those features only work in limited areas.
People love to complain
AT&T has a bigger 3G network than T-Mobile at the moment, but compared to VZW or Sprint, it’s still not that big either.
Both AT&T and T-Mobile rely heavily on WiFi to improve the customer experience.
“is it me, or is Verizon always the last one to get these great looking and working phones.”
Sprint is the worst.
GAH I can’t wait until February to replace my aging 8320! WTF??
Just 1.5 months away.
It’s pretty cool that T-Mobile allows users to finance the device and split up the payments in 4 chunks. Makes paying the full retail cost easier to swallow for those of us not eligible for the full 2 year subsidy discount.
According to a T-mo store rep, the 8900 being released in the US WILL have 3g!!!
@Gina D: Thanks for the insight.
I just get jealous of my buddies iphone. Although his 3G is sketchy and uses wifi as often as he can. At least his wifi seems to stay connected all the time unlike mine. I’ll have to figure out how to get my wifi working reliably.
I changed the QoS settings on my router and have the newest OS on my 8320…
3g no thank you
this looks like a plastic nokia E71
While we’re on the subject…I enjoy knowing my Curve on T-Mobile and my friend’s Curve on AT&T share comparable services and functions, yet she pays $30 more per month than I–and not a complaint here yet!