Comments on: RIM releases a quad-band 3G Bold… in Japan

By: Christian Calzo

Christian Calzo — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:20:52 +0000

I want this…. But the U.S. version.
Anything else just isn’t American.

By: bolduser

bolduser — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:21:59 +0000

The Blackberry has always been targeted for the corporate users in Japan. I got a Bold as the previous model was just too slow.

Yes that particular 3G frequency is unique to Japan.

Just as a guess, it might be because of the compact charger (700ma) that is causing the Bold to overheat, no problem with the 1A charger nor USB.

Japan is 100v 50/60hz, so probably the charger wasn’t tested properly.

By: JC

JC — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:39:41 +0000

And now they’ve stopped selling:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/technology-media-telco-SP/idUKT20965220090227

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:37:01 +0000

Like the format but font size of news stories still needs to be larger. NY TIMES mobile site is a good template for comparison. Ok for youngbloods but for us in our early 50’s, it’s still a strain. Read your site daily- please address. Thanks.

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

By: pinguta

pinguta — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:02:31 +0000

@ JC:

Couldn’t agree with you more on all three points you made – point of article, bankers & expats, and TMO.

Although NTT docomo’s website (http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/product/foma/pro/blackberrybold/spec.html) shows “FOMA Plus Area” compatibility, the “read” link from the original post doesn’t. That link points to the Japanese language Bold specs page on the BlackBerry website. The funny thing is, the very last line (footnote #6) reads “cannot be used in the FOMA PLUS Area (800MHz)”…

Basically, the original post is a mess through and through.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:07:40 +0000

The chipset used on bold works on both spectrums.(800 and 850). No hardware change was needed…docomo did get a cameraless version tho.

By: john

john — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:22:56 +0000

You ever hear of wifi?? Also, tall buildings deflect signal and buildings don’t allow signal through very well.

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:33:56 +0000

@ JC:

But you’re assuming T-Mobile went to RIM and asked for a AWS capable handset then got shut down? We don’t know that.

We do know that T-Mobile USA’s CTO has admitted to the companies focus on the consumer and less on enterprise but that in the future they would be much more accommodating to B2B customers and will include a large line of smartphones to compliment their expanded 3G network later this year.

By: JC

JC — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:25:19 +0000

The point of the article, as I understand it, is that some carrier in one country was able to get a custom frequency added (800 is not a typo and is different than 850) even though the only users for that device in that country are bankers and a few expats.

TMO in general (not specific to the Bold) has been unable to get RIM to make custom adjustments for their network.

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:56:09 +0000

But verizon took out wifi from their storm intentionally, because
1. They always cripple their phones. 2. So people would use vzw network for data instead of wifi so vzw could charge them for overages and data roaming. Tmobile’s 8900 only has edge because that is what bb work best with, it is what they always have used. The reason why ATT and vzw have 3g blackberries is because those networks really pressured rim into putting 3g into their phones, even though the are best used with edge.

P.S. when I asked a few vzw rep why the storm didn’t have wifi, one told me it was because wifi was “unsecure” and could be easily hacked. (Which is total bullshit, phones aren’t hacked through wifi like computers are, and you can always turn the wifi radio off)
Another rep told me it was because “you don’t need it” because vzw “covers everywhere”
The last rep just plain outright said “why give internet for free when you can charge for it” at least he was honest

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:00:52 +0000

Well, the author succeeded in turning this into a T-Mobile war if that was his intent.

*waits for comments about T-Mobile service sucking or not sucking in ones apartment, basement, office etc*

By: DigDug

DigDug — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:25:46 +0000

Ive been with TMO for a long time, and really like the company vis a vis pricing and customer service. Unfortunately they always seem to put almost no effort in obtaining desirable handsets (the curve being an exception). There are a lot of great units coming in the near future but again it appears TMO will not get any of them. I live/work in Manhattan, and in my 4th floor office near humongous window I get no service (yes, in the center of manhattan) which makes my curve all but useless during the work day. I think it is only a matter of months before I switch carriers just to get 3G and a modern handset (LG Arena perhaps). TMO USA, seriously, what gives – it’s as if you want to drive users away and focus on the sidekick-wielding teeny boppers.

By: Truman

Truman — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:25:31 +0000

Verizon ROUTINELY strips down features.

Tmobile is the step child who gets left overs. Tmobile will support any handset you show up with. They make no qualms about activating, adding appropriate features, and even will try to give tech support for a phone they don’t sell you. Why would they be deliberately procrastinating on Bold adoption?? Its probably not RIM, either -its more likely an agreement with ATT to have exclusivity for 6 months or so, which means may release on tmo, plus 2 months for standard debacle. July?

Tmobiles 3g efforts are lagging, but they undoubtedly expect revenue FROM the US to create infrastructure IN the US. It’ll get here.. albeit when sprint is on wimax/xohm heaven.

Verizon has always stripped features out. Thats why people blame them for these choices.

By: Jenavive

Jenavive — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:32:37 +0000

@ Michael: I guess this story could have easily been pointed to Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro PCS or any other carrier that doesn’t currently carry the Bold.

Sounds like a cheap shot @ T-Mobile this time.

They haven’t built out their AWS network in full yet but I’d expect them to launch a product from RIM with this capability by the end of this year.

T-Mobile is really focusing on prepping their voice part of the HSPA network to avoid the problems that ATT is having: (dropped calls, garbled calls, failed handoffs) etc.

I’d expect the newer form of the Bold series to be available by then; hopefully much more refined and less bulky with UMA of course.

By: shadymanny

shadymanny — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:37:35 +0000

@AndGuz, where does one find said .241 update? All I could find was .237. I’m not gonna go through the hassle if .241 turns up in a day or two.
Seriously though, you’d think AT&T would give the option to turn off 3G–fuckers. I hate them, I really, really do. $183 month for service which drops about every 4th call. I hope they have to spend my $183 in Tylenol, Lypitor and even chemo meds. That’s how much I hate them. Fuck you AT&T, fuck you hard.

By: RicoW

RicoW — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:01:02 +0000

LOL @shadymanny I feel your pain!

By: CAM

CAM — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:43:52 +0000

All you dumb dumbs who are complaining about not understanding the article should not blame the author, but instead submit yourselves to an intensive remedial reading class.

By: AndGuz

AndGuz — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:29:25 +0000

@shadymanny: man, that was some funny post. ATT 3G does drop a lot of calls. I’ve tried to keep up with OS updates (running .241 now) and things do get better but far from perfect.

By: b.N

b.N — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:15:37 +0000

Have someone proof read your articles before they go up.

I’m not even following since you’re mixing up two different phone models.

By: The Kidd

The Kidd — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:01:18 +0000

@ concept: Just look @ this for what it REALLY is: a chance to talk shit about T-Mobile. I’m beginning to think one or more of these so-called “reporters” were low-tier CSRs or RSCs who were fired because, frankly, they suck at whatever they did and now have a permenant grudge against T-Mo…

Just my $0.02

By: boogereater

boogereater — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:43:23 +0000

Everyone blames Verizon Wireless for not having wi-fi in their Blackberrys, but when t-mobile doesn’t have a 3g Blackberry its rims fault? Interesting.

By: mingkee

mingkee — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:26:48 +0000

RIM betrayed and rimmed t-mobile after all, even T-Mobile is a major bb service provider

By: Duvi

Duvi — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:17:06 +0000

Doh! US 3G is no where to be found (except NYC, yes I know some other places) with t-mobile frequency. That would be a waste of time to add this band for t-mobile.

By: jawsnj

jawsnj — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:00:39 +0000

If they can add the extra chip for japan (and I know I will be killed for this questio) but why not add cdma and make it a world phone for Verizon. I passed on the storm (need physical keyboard) and I am dying for the bold to hit vzw.

I know niagara, but When??? With the economy in the crapper, I don’t get why bb is not releasing a sure fire hit on the nations largest carrier???

We want our bold too…

By: shadymanny

shadymanny — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:58:00 +0000

I’m actually jealous of the Tmobile guys with the new curve. My Bold drops sooooo many calls its unbelievable. “More dropped calls in more places” should be AT&T’s slogan. Fkin 3G isn’t there yet and I cant revert to Edge.
Fuck you AT&T, fuck you hard.

By: shlingding

shlingding — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:53:02 +0000

If the 8900 came out on TMO with 3G then that would be great, but I really dont miss it. The KILLER APP is UMA. Free calls when outside of the US and connected to wifi? Are you kidding? Thats great stuff. As for the web when using EDGE, NYTimes.com load fast as hell and google responds as quickly as my laptop. 8900 is the shit.

By: concept

concept — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:45:41 +0000

i agree with vdubb. the article makes it seem like t-mobile usa received the BOLD with no 3G and is trying to rub that in. but this doesnt make any sense cuz tmobile usa never gotten the bold, so i dont see why they would be upset that japan got one. If japan got the curve 8900 in 3g, okay then you can rub it into tmobile since they only have the edge curve 8900.

looking at it from a different point of view, maybe since this japanese bold includes tmobile’s 3G band, yet it was not given to tmobile but to japanese carrier, then i can see why tmobile would be upset.

By: colin

colin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:40:49 +0000

Not to nitpick, but is this post about the bold (which never went to tmob) or the 8900 (which did)? Just trying to understand the story.

By: AndGuz

AndGuz — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:28:40 +0000

Oh yea, and at least for the DC area, the 8900 T-Mo EDGE proved frustrating when trying to do online research on the go. 3G should be the standard. With all other things being equal, T-Mo’s customer service is something all other carriers should imitate; nothing short of outstanding.

By: bpdunsta

bpdunsta — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:23:32 +0000

I recently lived in Kobe, Japan for 3 months. While there I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc. and only saw ONE BlackBerry….in 3 months! I didn’t see any carriers selling them, and I didn’t see any people using them. The only one I saw was an American trying to get her Bold to work in an airport in Tokyo.

The more I think about it, I didn’t really see people using any PDA-type phones. Everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, has a mobile, but the vast majority are flip phones. Texting is huge (since talking on the phone in public is considered rude).

Seems odd that in a place where BB usage seemed very low that they would release this device.

Just my $0.02.