There were some BBF members who say that RIM personnel have told them that a 4GB MicroSD chip will work on the current Pearl. But I have not heard from anyone on this Forum or elsewhere that they are in fact using a 4GB MicroSDHC chip on their Pearl. Note: I am not talking about other BlackBerries here, I am referring to the Pearl.

Since the 4GB chip is only in beta with some manufacturers, anyone's Pearl currently having the capability to use a 4GB chip would be odd to say the least. That sounds as "interesting," to put it politely, as one BBF member saying his phone worked and looked different because although just a regular consumer, RIM had mistakenly sent him a pre-production, prototype phone [yeah, right].

So chime in people, especially those who say RIM told them that the current Pearl can use a 4GB chip. You have one and are you using it?

I doubt that these people know what they heard or made a mistake [again, to put it politely]. I say this because as far as I know, to use the 4GB chip the Pearl would have to be MicroSDHC compliant. Not sure on this, but I think the "HC" [or "high capacity"] designation means the phone's motherboard and circuitry has to be designed for use of HC chips. I don't think a software/firmware upgrade will do. Maybe a downloadable firmware upgrade can make the Pearl 4GB SDHC capable, but again, I've not heard anywhere that this is possible.

Additionally, I think it would be BIG news if a current Pearl is 4GB SDHC capable. Everyone would be talking about it. I highly doubt that the Pearl being capable of using a 4GB MicroSDHC chip would be info that RIM tech support casually mentions to people who happen to call tech support about other issues.

Also, consider that on the rumored Pearl 2, there is no mention of it having 4GB MicroSDHC support. One would think that if the Pearl had, or will have, that capability, such news would spread like wildfire.

The iPhone comes in two versions, 4GB and 8GB. A Pearl with 4GB, the same as the lower end iPhone? Where's the news guys. I don't think this is something RIM would keep quiet about for their premiere consumer-oriented phone, the Pearl. Isn't this the kind of news RIM would announce so to soften the impact of the iPhone?

So if someone is using a 4GB MicroSDHC chip on their Pearl, put up or shut up.

SanDisk | Corporate | Press Room | Press Releases

SanDisk announces 4GB and 8GB microSD cards for mobile phones

Unconfirmed: More BlackBerry Pearl 2 Details - Gizmodo

pearl and 8800 can use up to 2GB

8300 can use up to 4GB

I don't think that was SF's question... I am betting he knows that or would not have made the post above.

My "challenge" refers to the Pearl using a 4GB MicroSDHC chip. I'll edit my post so it is more clear.

so has no one tried it with the latest firmware yet?

The pearl can only use up to 2GB, so a 4GB microSD SDHC chip would not work.

That's my point, I have yet to hear from anyone that they are using a 4GB MicroSDHC chip on their Pearl.

And I have not seen in any "latest firmware" releases that an included upgrade or feature is 4GB support.

My suspicion is that those whom have posted that RIM told them that the Pearl supports 4GB chips were embellishing their tech support "experience."

We all know that.

My post is a call to those whom have said that a 4Gb chip will work to come back in here and back up what they say.

Sorry SF, my b, no coffee yet

Just Responding your question!! if you buyed your pearl this year you can use a 4gb MicroSD.
If you see on your manual there is no limit of size for MicroSD card and it also have on BB original website.
Im from Brazil using TIM actually and i can use a 4GB fine on my pearl i tested it last month with a kingmax microsd card. but Sandisk is about to open a 4GB microsd too that works like the old 2GB and HC wich will work on your BB.

the picture is attched.

I have a 4gb sandisk coming to me this week so i'll post comments when i get it. i had my pearl since release day and with the latest firmware now, so i bit the bullet kind of by buying the memory but i have another use for it if it doesnt work.

Well this is very interesting. If this is accurate I have to say that RIM sure dropped the ball on this. At least I think they did, a Pearl that uses 4GB chips? That's big news.

And I also cannot fathom why no one on BBF has been talking about it as a mainstream topic.

By the way, what do you mean you tested it? Are you using it on a daily basis? And when you say if I bought the Pearl "this year" when is that, January, Feb or what? When did you get your Pearl?

Also very odd that these are working on the Pearl since RIM advertised in May 2007 that the Curve is "the first BlackBerry to support 4GB chips."

BlackBerry Pearl Gets a Big Brother: Curve (Phone Scoop)

Does the Pearl contain an Easter Egg of sorts?

I remain skeptical.

Where on RIM's Site does it say anything about 4GB support for the Pearl? I did not find a thing, neither in tech support nor their marketing flash pages. But they also don't mention the Curve supports 4GB chips, so the pages I checked must not be updated.

Be aware this is the North America site. Maybe your country has different info?

I've read reports that it's supposed to work but have seen nothing to prove one way or another. I've been wondering myself.

a 4GB microSD WILL NOT WORK ON PEARL with T-Mobile

this IS A FACT as i just bought a sandisk SDHC

so THERE YOU HAVE IT...

it may work on other Pearls on different networks such as "Rogers" as their firmware seems to be higher

maybe in the future T-Mob will catch up with their firmware...

a 4GB microSD WILL NOT WORK ON PEARL with T-Mobile

this IS A FACT as i just bought a sandisk SDHC

it won't see the card even as a 2gb, 1 gg, nothing

so THERE YOU HAVE IT...

it may work on other Pearls on different networks such as "Rogers" as their firmware seems to be higher

maybe in the future T-Mob will catch up with their firmware...and make it compatible..

this is a real shame, as it would have as much capacity as 4gb i-phone...

2GB barely works on the archaic 4.2.0.64 OS version they call "current." There are quite a few software releases later than that. The only valid test would be to see if it works on the current 4.2.1.101 release that is the latest.

Update your OS to 4.2.1.101 and try it again. If it still doesn't work then we can put the issue to rest. Your conclusion is not the end of the story.

I thought 2GB was the max that's supported. I can't, however, seem to find that data on blackberry.com or T-Mo's specs.

I have 2Gb running on my 8100.

Works perfectly.

the music player on the pearl is almost like the one on ipods as it is....it'll play AACs as well as MP3s and happily display artwork too. I would be more than happy with 2GB of storage for music, but if 4GB was supported that would just make the iphone decompose in it's shrink-wrapped box....

this small a storage won't compare to a 30 or 80GB ipod, but it comes in handy for short flights & stuff like that....only thing i hate is the small headphone jack.

Wirelessly posted (8100: BlackBerry8100/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Isn't there some type of a hardware limitation that prevents the 4 gigger to be used on the 8100?

Wirelessly posted (8100: BlackBerry8100/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

BTW, I've never had any problem with my 2 gigger as well.

4gb does work on some Pearls
but not on T-Mobile

i called Blackberry at least 12 times on this,
why is everybody so clueless when it comes to such basic knowledge?

why does the "user" have to find out the hard way?

one blackberry rep, said yep, for sure, 4gb cards work,
went on to say" there's even a guy here with a Pearl with 4gb

can't Blackberry state on their site CLEARLY what max memory is ON EACH CARRIER that has PEARL?

something like: (example)
Rogers 4gb
ATT - 2gb
T-MOB 2 GB

is that too much to ask for?

and T-Mob too, need to inform , ALL their employees of this.

sometimes it seems that i know more than the reps,

what do you guys think?

So then how do us T-MO users get the 4GB to work?

From what I understand the 4gb cards work on certain Pearls depending on when they were manufactured because a chip on the unit was upgraded. Someone told me that Pearls manufactured since sometime this year can read the 4gb cards. I don't think it has anything to do with Tmobile. It just shows they bought more phones in bulk and therefor have lots of the old batches in stock. Maybe Rogers buys in smaller bulk and therefor have the newer units.

musiclee--Why start a whole new thread on this same subject you have been posting elsewhere about?

***I've merged the two threads.

why don't we find out here: i'm sure someone in these forums is fairly tight with RIM. Call them and ask for which Pearl builds have updated chips. in that way, ppl can look up thier hardware build using the IMEI or something and know for sure.

that would be great to know...
cuz i can still return swap out my pearl,
don't want to be limited to 2gb forever...
how can we find out manufac. date easily?

or maybe it's just a firmware thing?

any Blackberry experts here?

If this is all accurate, I too have to wonder what the heck is going on over at RIM.

First, why not have come out with a commercial or ad trumpeting that the Pearl and other BB's are 4GB capable. That would be significant news for consumers to consider, that is, people considering the Pearl/other BlackBerry over the iPhone. Imagine how some of the iPhone hype would have been toned down if all the discussions could have included the point that some BlackBerries can use a 4GB chip [and just a matter of time before they can use the 8GB chip SanDisk has in beta].

Second, if this is true, that later model Pearls work with 4GB chips, what's the deal with not keeping us updated about such a significant event.

If RIM does not think that such is a significant event, then the marketing heads at RIM are lame for not thinking so. And they ought to fire the person who is leaking info on the Pearl 2 for not including the leak that a Pearl 2 will support 4GB chips.

For those of you chiming in, thanks, this is very interesting.

It makes me wonder if this is one those coming enhancements RIM spoke of last week?

For anyone that's curious, here's a light engineering breakdown of MicroSD memory at one of the trade rags.

Mobile Handset DesignLine | Untangle the web of removable storage

i've called lots of times.

perhaps some others here can call Blackberry/RIM and ask for clarification on tmob and PEARL with 4gb

ask to actually speak to someone in tech/marketing, not a salesperson...

and post any new info.

i really hope it's a firmware issue, that will be addressed and not a hardware limitation on most PEARLS...

Anyone at Blackberry/RIM read these forums? please respond...

Based on the tech specs and FAQs at SanDisk:

Yes, the 4GB cards are based on a different standard than the 2GB cards, microSDHC vs. microSD. The difference is in hardware. Unless a device manufacturer has taken the big leap and implemented an SD controller in a reprogrammable chip (FPGA), a firmware upgrade will not enable 4GB cards.

Reference: SanDisk | Products | Memory Cards | microSD Cards

have 2 bberries. one bougth last year one bought last week.
Have upgraded both to the latest OS.
have then tried the 4gb on both. It works only on the new one.
i'm in UK, O2 network.

hope this helps.

Ah! Found some more specific info in a SanDisk white paper, SDHC1.pdf. In short, 4GB cards won't work in a 2GB slot.

There is a file system incompatibility - specifically microSD uses a FAT 16 file system while microSDHC uses an SD FAT 32 file system.

Further, "4GB SDHC/miniSDHC/microSDHC cards can only work wiht SDHC/miniSDHC/microSDHC compatible host devices." That means the controller chip has to be microSDHC specific.

To further complicate the issue there are some non-compliant 4GB cards on the market - will not work with a true microHDSC device and may not work with a legacy microSD device.

Here's a link to the white paper and a FAQ, not for the non-techie:
http://www.sandisk.com/Assets/File/pdf/retail/SDHC1.pdf

That all being said, there must be by now a controller (host) that can translate between both standards. But it's not an issue of a firmware upgrade.

For the Pearls that supposedly do support 4GB, they are probably only getting access to 2GB.

So my OP was accurate, that the MicroSD circuitry and controller have to be SDHC compliant. If not, then our "older" Pearls cannot be firmware upgraded to accept 4GB chips?

Great stuff. Thanks for the post.


And interesting point, are those who say that the 4GB is working only getting 2GB use? The drama and plot thickens.

Laurentio... thanks for chiming in. Is your one Pearl getting 4GB use or is it limited to 2GB?

i'm surprised no 3rd party has come out with a bolt-on 80GB drive for berries.

that would probably make apple cry.