[cueva]

Hello All,

Great forum here. I am very impressed.

I want to get the BB 8130 from Verizon but have some concerns since my work is outside their enchanced coverage area and is in the extended coverage area.

I have looked on their website as well as talked to them on the phone. Both seem to infer that I should be able to use the BB service with the $30 data plan. But of course they play it safe and say I have 30 days to return. I just do not want to waste my time.

My work is using Lotus Notes and I want to sync with it as well as my personal email.

Is anyone familiar with the extended network coverage?

Is the BB my best choice since I have to stay with verizon for family reasons?

Thanks in advance.

cueva.

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Welcome to the group, cueva.

Someone else will have to help witht the verizon question. I don't know what enhanced versus extended coverage means.

It sounds like you will be using this blackberry on BIS and syncing to Lotus Notes using Desktop Manager. If that's the case, you will be able sync the PIM data but not email. New email is pushed to the blackberry by BIS; it does not sync inboxes.

See http://blackberryfaq.com/index.php/Main_Page for more info on BIS etc.

[Dawg]

Yeah i cant answer the extended coverage question either but someone will know.

[aiharkness]

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

Doing some searching around, I gather the services/features available depending on which coverage zone (enhanced vs extended) the user is in and which plan the user is subscribed to. Examples of services I see mentioned are VZ navigator, SMS, push to talk, etc. So bottom line seems to be that having voice service doesn't necessarily mean you have all services. That's my quick take on what I've found. Can't say it's accurate today and for blackberrys, or not. If it were me, I'd question VZW and get it in writing.

[scottjb]

Some data services are available in the Extended Network. It usually depends on who the carrier is. If you are roaming on Alltel or US Cellular, you will probably be OK. The only real way to find out is to try it. One drawback is that sometimes when data services are available in Extended, they are limited to 1X speeds even though Ev-DO is available from the carrier.

[vzwbbuser8130]

I have verified with our Verizon Wireless business contact that the difference between Enhanced vs. Extended is that enhanced is actual Verizon Wireless towers; extended coverage would be a similar CDMA company like Sprint or Alltel. Depending on your plan, people with Verizon Wireless may need to adjust coverage especially if you are in an extended area. I have confirmed from our contact though that all blackberry phones, no matter what plan you are on, as long as you have used them first in an Enhanced area will work perfectly fine and as normal in an extended or roaming area. Some of my co-workers have tested this and it seems to be the case.