Hi all, I finally grew sick and tired of the Windows Mobile bugs in HTC devices, and have decided that the Bold is my new phone. It won't be out here in the UK prolly till after the AT&T July release date in the USA.

However, the good news is I am travelling to the States for a month in mid-July. I know it has been announced on AT&T for July, so I need some advice:

Will I be able to buy it 'from launch' without a contract?
If so what is the estimated price if the contract price is $300?
Is there any other way to get hold of it from AT&T without being stuck on a contract I'll never use when I return to the UK?

Thanks in advance!

Wirelessly posted (my new touch button BB)

You will likely be able to buy without contract. Price well this is pure speculation but I would say in the 500-600 range

I have never had a problem buying a new launched Blackberry from my local ATT Company stores. Stay away from the Kiosk authorized dealers! You will pay top dollar and I would agree with exrunner's price range of $500-600.

I hope that the 9000 is getting close!

There was another thread exactly like this a little while ago.
Smartphone, Pocket PC & Ultra-Mobile PC Store - eXpansys UK are taking pre-orders at £550 (or $1100)

Thanks guys that's great. Would a non-contract AT&T one have any specific AT&T branding (i.e. do current AT&T Blackberries?) or any changes to the OS, or would it essentially be a stock Blackberry model without customisations? I'm keen not to have it deviate too far from how the official unbranded ones will function.

As for Expansys UK, the point was I wanted to buy it while away in the USA rather than wait till I return to the UK at which time it might still not be released over here!

yes they will have the ATT splash screen and such

Sorry for being a bit of a newb to Blackberry, but presumably splash screens and such can be replaced with the standard factory splashes?

No, you can't de-brand a Blackberry. Once it's been issued to AT&T their splash screen is burned into the device and is not replaceable. Not even with an new operating system from a different carrier. It's there for good. Fortunately, you'll only see it for a few seconds at startup. Once it's on the branding is invisible.

Okay, thanks for all the advice from across the pond. I look forward to getting Bold when I arrive in the States next month!

Oh, just one more thought (or 3) but presumably the hardware will be identical in the US and UK models? No funny unsupported data formats or anything no?

Is there a nice Blackberry Configurator website that will send me all the GPRS and MMS settings for O2 UK?

What about unlocking it to use my SIM - is that normally a simple procedure or won't I need to if I buy it without a contract?

And oh dear it looks like it will have the AT&T logo on the front. I spose I could scrape it off with a chisel! ;)

o2 will send you all the settings you need via service books when your blackberry is activated with them.

A further bit of good news is that o2 is now giving a free Blackberry Bolt on with certain voice tariffs.

O2 adds BlackBerry Unlimited bolt-on - Mobile News

Thanks, can they send Service Books from UK>USA?

Will I need to unlock the non-contract AT&T Blackberry to use an O2 SIM?

Hi

I am sure they can send them from Uk to USA but do not hold me to that one. Check with o2. Be aware though that whilst using the 02 package abroad you will be subject to roaming charges which can be very expensive so check that out. I think it is £6 per mb.

Also if the BB is locked to AT & T you will need to have it unlocked before you can use the o2 sim.

You would actually be able to use your unlocked Bold with a US pay and go sim for calls and texts only but no BB services if you cannot get set up with o2 whilst in the US. If your o2 sim is active for voice you could use that too.

There is a good unlocking service advertised on the top of this forum, Horizon wireless.

an ATT Bold purchased even without a contract would still be locked to ATT. Like another member stated, you would need to unlock the phone in order to use with your O2 carrier.

Very helpful replies to this new Blackberry-to-be So thanks.

One more Q - could I just buy the unlocked AT&T Blackberry with an AT&T prepaid SIM card? That'd be great as I can use it while I'm in the USA, then do all the setting up and unlocking when I get back to the UK on O2.

Yes I assume you could if AT & T do pay and go sim's ( it's called prepaid in the US).

You will get calls and texts only and if the Bold has wifi you can browse with that.

Bear in mind that it may be cheaper to get it unlocked in the US, AT & T may even give you the unlock code if you ask nicely. You can still use the AT & T sim when it is unlocked.

Then when you return home, get the Blackberry package, sweet

im using a att 8820 in australia. and i havent had to send any settings to my 8820. everything just works out of the box.
it just has att splash screens which isnt a big problem.

Will there be any difference with the Data networks between the US and UK , i.e. GSM / 3G / HSDPA or CDMA ? and will the phone be network unlocked ?

It looks like a good proposition buying form the US.

The phone should work in the UK as well as it does in the US. The only thing you will need to do is unlock the phone so that it will support your foreign SIM card. That's the first thing I do with every new BB I get from my US carrier (AT&T) - I unlock it so I can use it in Sweden!