Hi all -

Just stumbled across this forum... great resource!

First, a little background: tech junky/soon to be regional airline pilot. Had a 7750 in college, dumped it for a 700w a couple months ago (BIG MISTAKE), and am now using a 7250 from Verizon. I utlize the internet email utility offered by Blackberry (I do not run off an enterprise server). I am addicted to push email, and am only really interested in using the device for this service.

I am currently flying aircraft that utilize the RIM 950 as dispatching devices. Every time you depart/arrive you enter flight information and it is emailed to a maintenance hub in FL. I am starting to really like this unit - very simple and small. Would be more than willing to carry a cell phone for calls. I do have a few questions about the Mobitex network:

- Longevity: is this network going to last much longer?

- Availability: can someone point me to who provides this service?
I saw "VELOCITA" on the back of one of the 950s and "Cingular MyBiz" on another. Since neither of these providers actually sell 950s, where do I get one?

- Future products: should I hold out for a smaller BB that runs on cellular networks?


Thanks all!
J.

Where I work we have already end of lifed the 950s, and 957s. The 5790s will be end of lifed in December of 2006.

We have it, unofficially, that the Mobitex network will be no more around 12/2006, and have been migrating all our users to 7130s, 7290s, and 8700s.


From the Hill, DC.

Tech Grunt

Get back to work fool, you know I am watching you

You could always contact Velocita Wireless directly and ask how long you can expect to have service if you purchase a new RIM 5790. As far as I know, Velocita is the only company operating a Mobitex network in the US.

http://www.velocitawireless.com/
Customer Care: (800) 662-4839
Sales:

Hope this information helps.

toddz

Thanks all! I appreciate all of the help thus far. I'm going to give Velocita a shout today.

J.

Not sure about the U.S., but in Canada, Rogers intends to keep Mobitex going for a number of years yet. Its a cheap network to operate, doesn't require a lot of maintenance, its very reliable, and we still have plenty of Mobitex Blackberry devices out there...

Velocita is shutting down Mobitext before the end of the year. I would not buy any more Mobitext technology

Velocita Wireless (I can see their office from my building) was purchased earlier this year by Sprint Nextel.

The Mobitex network in the US has changed hands quite a few times, hasn't it? Wasn't it owned by Bell South not too long ago?!

Bell South gave it to Cingular. Cingular spun it off the Velocita Wireless; Velocita sold it to Sprint. In any event, we haven't bought a new Mobitex BB in two years. No future...

Correct. Once Cingular dumped the thing it was time to get out. GPRS and CDMA are going to steamroll Mobitext at this point. Investing in the old techology is just trowing your money away.

I guess that settles it! I just hope BB comes out with something similar to the 950 in the future. They could sell the things as "email only" for very little with a reasonable service plan and I guarantee you pilots would bite. Or, they could have all the features of a 7250 machine in the profile of a 950 and sell at a higher price point. However, who am I to talk business strategy - I'm about to go into the airline industry!

Thanks again!
J.