I'm a new BB user (8830) and I love it; I have owned smartphones
since day 1 and this device is the best SmartPhone I've ever owned
hands down..

A question please..I keep sensitive info on my BB; I would like to set a PIN on
the SIM card in this phone but do not know how to do so;
The dilemma: 1) manual with the phone tells me that the SIM is used for
GSM calls abroad IMPLYING no contact or other sensitive info gets written there 2)SPRINT support has told me a) 8830 does NOT have a SIM card
and on another occasion b)that sensitive info IS written to the SIM...but
could not provide me with a PIN

Soooooo..the enclosed docs with the phone instruct me to get the SIM
from customer service but they do not know where this number is or in one case that the BB has NO SIM...

Has anyone out there LOCKED their SIM card on their 8830? And if so,
how? Does the 8830 SIM hold sensitive info or not? If not, then contact info & the like is held in flash memory? What keeps info around if power
to BB goes out for an extended time in this scenario?

Thanks in advance..

The SIM in the 8830 was meant for international use. It uses CDMA in the US and GSM abroad.

You should be locking the BlackBerry and not worry about locking the SIM too much. Look under Settings| Options| Security.

Thanx X14 for the reply..so now what happens to my data if the battery
is removed or dies on a long trip..will I lose my contact info? Is
non-volatile flash memory built into the 8830? I presume it must be..

Yes it is non-volatile and pulling the battery or letting the battery die will not lose data. You need to have this data backed up as if someone steals your device or you lose it, after 10 attempts to guess your password, you device will erase everthing. It can never be recovered!

A back up is a good thing!