T-mobile US customer here. Is there any way to get Chinese pinyin input if I buy a Bold 9780? CSL, Taiwan Mobile and China Mobile all don't offer it so their websites only have downloads for 9700 OS.

Why is Blackberry so backward that I need to dig up OS downloads from other providers in order to get some basic language functionality? For a company that supports so many global businesses, why can't RIM simply offer a "Language packs for all Blackberries" downloads page and a big flashing link on their homepage? This seems like something half the global corporations' users would want.

Delete the vendor.XML file from the apploader folder on your computer, then you can load another Vendors HH code on your device. then you should be able to have it as an option for the language support from there to install.

Generally the local carriers include the language of the area they support.
As suggested by Calebrity, a simple deletion of the vendor file will allow you to see other languages. You can down a current OS with a multi-language tag and should see a list to select from. Not being sure about the specific language display you may have to experiment a bit.

I'm aware of deleting the vendors.xml file. I've done it with a Pearl 8120 which is what I'm trying to upgrade from now.

The problem is that 9780 doesn't even have a Chinese OS -- only the 9700 does. HK CSL doesn't carry the 9780 and T-mo doesn't carry the 9700.

Does anyone know for certain if the 9700 OS will run on a 9780?

This is why I wish the input methods would be downloadable just like Opera Mini, Google maps, etc. What if a Russian in Hong Kong wanted Cyrillic alphabet? With Android it's easy as cake; with BB you're at your provider's knees.

But Android isn't an option for me -- BB is the only one that gives me unlimited international data...