Disappointed in RIM - no Wifi on Tour..

[BlitzSix]

For the past few years, I've only owned BBs.

I got an 8100 when they first came out. I was 17 or 18, and was super excited about this "consumer" device by RIM, since I love simplicity and efficiency, and BB had it all. While my friends phones had pretty animations in the menus and other "cool" things, mine was text, it was super simple and it was great. Very powerful OS but not overloaded with useless gimmicks. I am also a fairly "advanced" user, and I loved that everything in the phone was laid right out in the options menu, instead of simplifying it for the average user (like most phones)

Not even a year later, I got the 8310. I wanted to upgrade to the "real" BB (sorry suretype users, but it's true) with a full keyboard. I got the GPS version, which was cool because my Pearl had no GPS or WiFi. With the full keyboard, GPS, I was super happy with my upgrade.

Then not even a year later after that it was the Bold. I remember being super excited because with the 83XX, you had to either choose between GPS or Wifi, you couldn't have both. The 8820 I believe had both, but no cam. The Bold had it all. It was a huge upgrade over the Curve, I'm sure I don't need to get into it but WiFi, better screen, camera, processor, more memory on board - it was amazing. I'm not too picky. I didn't care that people said it was too big - it was fine. I was happy with the 1GB on board, as I can put in a memory card and have all the memory I want. I was HAPPY it didn't have touch screen - I don't like it. 3G was cool, it had GPS, and a regular sized headphone jack. Oh, and dare I say the most EPIC keyboard out of any phone I've touched? It is so smooth, comfortable - so much better than the too-cliky Curve buttons (new and old...).

I was SUPER happy with the phone, but only for a month or so until the new Curve 8900 came out. The Bold was supposed to be the flagship - but it's younger brother had better features, and a much sexier design (mute and lock button on top was super sleek). The 8900 had a better cam - I don't usually care about camera, because they suck lol, but the 8900 had the IMO first "usable" camera of any BB. I never used my other ones except for emergencies and documentation, but with the 8900 camera it would be good enough for most simple picture needs, like taking pics of items for sale, etc. Things where quality isn't super important.

The Curve had no 3G - but speed tests showed it's EDGE was almost as fast. It had more application memory than the bold. If you gave the Bold the better cam and the memory, it would have been PERFECT for me. But I thought they kinda messed this one up a little, making the Curve better at it in so many ways. I wish they could just be combined, but alas...

I lost by Bold after maybe 4 months of owning it. I have been using an 8800 ever since. I'm happy with it but I was always wondering what RIM would come up with next, so I could replace it with something new.

I thought the Tour was perfect at first. It had Bold's keyboard, 3G, yet it was super sleek, and had the upgraded cam. I don't even care about the app memory anymore - this phone was EXACTLY what I wanted. I don't think that's too much to ask - I didnt expect/want anything revolutionary, like touch screen like the Palm Pre. Then I read that it has no WiFi. I assumed it would, being that it's an upgrade of the Bold. But no. And it's sad and pathetic really, that their now flagship device (I assume it replaces the Bold eventually?), can't have stupid WiFi which every half decent smartphone has had for years now.

I believe it was because of Verizon, but regardless - I think it's disappointing. People want wifi. And now RIM's newest and possibly best device to date doesn't have it.

Anyone else feel this way or am I being a baby? Am I REALLY asking for too much here? A BB with GPS, Wifi, a full keyboard, and a good cam.

Thanks for reading..

[ndub33]

Undertand your disappointment. The decision to offer certain features within a BlackBerry models ultimately comes down to the capabilties and preferences of the carrier who is purchasing it from RIM.

[NJBlackBerry]

I have one of those. An 8900. What are your complaints with the 8900? And losing your Bold doesn't really help you, does it.

Speak to your carrier about the lack of WiFi.

Why did you *assume* that the Tour was an upgrade to the Bold. It is the CDMA version of the Bold. With no WiFi. That wasn't a surprise - it was known for weeks and weeks.

So what, exactly, do you want?

[jsconyers]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

So what, exactly, do you want?

Well, since you're asking; I would like a cookie, and maybe a pint of lager

[BlitzSix]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

I have one of those. An 8900. What are your complaints with the 8900? And losing your Bold doesn't really help you, does it.

Speak to your carrier about the lack of WiFi.

Why did you *assume* that the Tour was an upgrade to the Bold. It is the CDMA version of the Bold. With no WiFi. That wasn't a surprise - it was known for weeks and weeks.

So what, exactly, do you want?

I don't like the 8900 because of the keyboard and lack of 3G. I don't *need* 3G, but it IS nice to have. To be honest I even prefer the size of the Bold over the 8900, I got used to big phones and it's great, bigger screen helps too. I would take a Bold over the 8900.

I assumed that the Tour was an upgrade to the Bold because it is the same size, and is basically a redesigned Bold with a better cam and without Wifi. It's not CDMA only, it's BOTH GSM and CDMA. I still don't see why they stripped WiFi from it.

Now I'm debating whether to replace my 8800 with either a Bold, a Tour (more $$ than Bold and the upside of better camera is wiped out by lack of wifi..), or to wait until maybe the "Onyx" comes out, which is like the Tour but with WiFi and a trackpad instead of a trackball. But that will be a while still...

My main gripe is that I want an all in one phone. I don't want to sacrifice 3G, the keyboard, and the bigger screen and get an 8900, but I don't want to sacrifice the cam if I buy the Bold, or to sacrifice Wifi if I get a Tour. None of these things are revolutionary, it should not be impossible to make a phone that has all that...

[jsconyers]

It sounds to me like you want the Bold more than the others. The only gripe about the Bold is the camera. Is the camera really that much of a deal breaker for you?

[BlitzSix]

Originally Posted by ndub33

Undertand your disappointment. The decision to offer certain features within a BlackBerry models ultimately comes down to the capabilties and preferences of the carrier who is purchasing it from RIM.

Yeah, but it's still disappointing. I was always happy with RIM because they didn't have any stupid digital right management or some ridiculous stuff that others had (iPhone for example, you can't just transfer your MP3s there, hell you need to hack it just ot change your ringtone).

Now they strip wifi because Verizon doesn't want it?

A) That's ridiculous for a provider to do that, and I hate them for it. I mean I know they have to make their money just I really dislike when phones are crippled so they can make a few extra bucks. What's the world coming to? I want to connect to my home network, but I can't, even though the technology is there, because of this. In the end I'M paying for the phone, it's mine, why does the provider dictate what I can't do with it just because it doesn't suit them ? I'm still going to have a data plan, this is just for convenience, and it doesn't affect them in any way..

B) Verizon is not the only carrier to get the phone, so it sucks that they made it like this just to suit them..

I really don't like this trend of just locking the phone down so badly that you can't do simple things on it anymore. Hell I couldn't send my buddy a ringtone to his iPhone because they crippled it so badly. Where are our rights and freedoms here?

[BlitzSix]

Originally Posted by jsconyers

It sounds to me like you want the Bold more than the others. The only gripe about the Bold is the camera. Is the camera really that much of a deal breaker for you?

No, and you're right, I was just hoping that a YEAR after the Bold's release, they could have come up with something at least a LITTLE better. Just a LITTLE upgrade, is that too much to ask? But they make one thing better and strip out something else, that's what I'm just disappointed in...

I will probably pick up a used Bold for now and then see how the Onyx is when it comes out or any other future phone. I hope no one is taking this post too too seriously by the way, as it IS int he rants section. I understand the reasons why phones can't have all the features, and that there have to be compromises, I just wanted to vent a little and share my story, where I still can't find a phone I'm super happy with...

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

Originally Posted by jsconyers

Well, since you're asking; I would like a cookie, and maybe a pint of lager

For me, I will have for my wife to get home.

[ArgonNJ]

Put the blame where it belongs, Verizon.

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

9530 will have wifi

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

oops
Cant edit. 8530 will have wifi

[SteveO86]

Your not totally wrong the new 9530 (whatever the new number will be) will have wifi

[jacobsaa]

Verizon is responsible for this one. They don't want anyone using VoIP when it becomes available. They want to keep the overage charges coming.

[SteveO86]

Heh, as long as they have the service and they can pretty do whatever they want... but they are getting better... We have GPS and soon wifi so people will not be able to rant about VZW lol.

[nyczwillz]

i thought it had wifi.

[SteveO86]

.....Nope...... Nothing ever pointed/said it to have wifi :(

[SueWNY]

WiFi is pointless if you have a data plan, and it kills battery life. I have an iPod Touch and while I love it, there are really very few free hotspots around outside of my home network.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by SueWNY

WiFi is pointless if you have a data plan

Are you serious?
Pointless to you, maybe.... because you obviously don't understand the technology and how it pertains to mobile devices.
Ever hear of UMA?

[NJBlackBerry]

Sprint user.

[SueWNY]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

Are you serious?
Pointless to you, maybe.... because you obviously don't understand the technology and how it pertains to mobile devices.
Ever hear of UMA?

Yes I have but my provider (Sprint) is not a GSM provider so it's of no use to me. That's also probably why the Tour doesn't have WiFi..it was meant for CDMA networks (here in the States anyway) primarily. CDMA networks can't use UMA.

[NJBlackBerry]

And therefore Wifi is pointless. Got it.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by SueWNY

Yes I have but my provider (Sprint) is not a GSM provider so it's of no use to me. That's also probably why the Tour doesn't have WiFi..it was meant for CDMA networks (here in the States anyway) primarily. CDMA networks can't use UMA.

This whole post is utter nonsense.
You're suggesting that WiFi is only for useful for GSM devices, which is completely ridiculous.
UMA is only one example of why WiFi is useful on a mobile phone.
There's many other uses for WiFi, on CDMA networks alike, that make it far from pointless.

Maybe it's better if you simply stopped making such sweeping generalizations about technology which you obviously don't quite grasp yet.

[CanuckBB]

So WiFi on the Bold is wseless as well because UMA does not work with 3G?

[NJBlackBerry]

WiFi on a Bold is great for data as WiFi is faster than 3G.

[skamer07]

i agree.

[dankarlinski]

so we have established that there is no wifi because of the CDMA carrier on the phone.... correct me if i am wrong, but very few, if any CDMA phones even support wifi? no??

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by dankarlinski

so we have established that there is no wifi because of the CDMA carrier on the phone.... correct me if i am wrong, but very few, if any CDMA phones even support wifi? no??

I hope you're being sarcastic.

[Tragic]

There are no CDMA Blackberries that support WiFi (on Sprint) and only a handful of Palm and HTC CDMA phones that do support WiFi, so you're correct.

Sprint's Tour doesn't have the WiFi either so Sprint is also partically to blame. But it really isn't needed because Sprint requires all blackberry users to pay for the BB Data Plan that includes 3G... 4G in some areas.

[dankarlinski]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

I hope you're being sarcastic.

indeed i was.... i dont get it... no cdma phones have wifi... yet, he complains that RIM is following industry standards??

[Lord Chrispin]

Iv never had Wifi on a BB.... SO I sapose w/ my tour I wont miss what Iv never had.... Yet I agree it would of been pretty kick ass to have it.

[Codito]

Originally Posted by CanuckBB

So WiFi on the Bold is wseless as well because UMA does not work with 3G?

FYI this isn't true and t-mobile's 9700 will support UMA and be 3G