Has anyone heard any rumors about a duel mode Blackberry that will have CDMA for Verizon's us network as well as GSM for non US network portability? This would be a killer app for me. A little backgound is in order.

I recently (last 2 days) went over to Verizon and got the 7250. The impetus for this was that my Tmobile 7100T sux. I love the 7100 form factor and feature list (I actually prefer suretype to the standard qwerty) but the phone is awful. It shuts down at random (with both the older 3.8 AND the lastes 4.2xx software) and the voice quality is universally bad. So I decided to go with either Cingular and Verizon. I felt that Verizon probbaly has a better overall network than cingular so I chose Verizon.

I have had the 7250 for a couple of days and I like it (although the holding a calculator up to my head part is taking some getting used to). Problem is, I know I will travel int'l at least 4 times a year (most likely more and usually to W. Europe). Thats was why I switched to Tmobile in the first place as they have great Intl' coverage. But I need a phone that has excellent voice quality, Blackberry Data, AND Int'l capability. So is there a verizon blackberry coming soon with duel mode like the Samsung and Moterola verizon phones? Thanks.

The only rumor is a 7130e BB being released sometime this fall. Will have broadband and EVDO. I highly doubt a dual CDMA/GSM model will be released but stranger things have happened.

I don't know about Verizon, but I have a copy of the Sprint Roadmap that shows an CDMA/EvDO/GSM/GPRS blackberry due out in the first half of 2007.

Dual CDMA/GSM? Keep dreaming. Never going to happen until there are no royalties for either technology.

First half of 2007? If true, that's a huge improvement over the other timeline given for this device, which some were reporting wouldn't be released until the last quarter of 2007. I hope you're right about this one!

Many different posters in this forum have been reporting that RIM is developing just such a device for Sprint. And if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Some of the most valuable customers Sprint and Verizon could have are businesspeople and professionals who have to frequently travel abroad. Right now, these folks are forced to choose between Cingular and T-Mobile.

well, verizon does have cdma/gsm phones, just not BB's...it's in the coming..

why didn't you just get a 8700g on T-Mobile?

I stand corrected -- but some devices are WCDMA only, and often a US based CDMA/GSM phone will only allow european roaming on GSM networks..

Still promising, but the carriers will likely restrict such applications in hardware for as long as they can get away with it..

I don't know if you addressed this question to me, but I'll answer it just in case: because T-Mobile's coverage sucks.

Sprint has also had dual CDMA/GSM phones. However, to date, RIM has not released such a device. And, frankly, I find that most of my colleagues when abroad value their access to email more than access to voice service, so those of us who are with Verizon and Sprint need such a Blackberry, as opposed to their current dual mode phones.

The idea is that these devices will only allow GSM/GPRS roaming when outside the U.S. And trust me, Verizon and Sprint WANT these types of devices, especially to retain and attract business customers.

Amen to that. Especially if they want to continue to grow customers each quarter.

My Sprint/Nextel rep showed me this roadmap as well. He tells me that Sprint is trying desperately to cater to the international traveler with this one, knowing that a mere phone doesn't cut it with the international travelers. He uses a Nextel BB, and will switch to the new GSM capable one just so he can show it to as many people as possible when it is released Q4/early 2007.

Can you send me that roadmap document?

I believe you meant to quote paradisephoto. I, unfortunately, have no access to any product "roadmap".

As someone who spends their time equally between the US and Europe I had no choice but to choose a GSM carrier (Cingular) for my BB.

I didn't consider Verizon or Sprint due to their inabilty to allow International roaming with a BB. However if they introduced a BB locked to CDMA in the US that allows International Roaming with GSM I would consider them.

In Europe a phone's SIM will be locked exclusively to a carriers Network when in the "Home Country". Even when there is no network availabilty it won't allow you to roam onto an alternative network in your home country. If the phone isn't locked to a network you can change the SIM for one from another Network and use it.

In a similar manner if you get one of the Verizon dual CDMA/GSM phones (Which has a SIM) it doesn't allow you to Roam onto Cingular or TMO. Therefore I wouldn't expect a dual CDMA/GSM BB to either.

Verizon & Sprint are missing a great big chunk of income from not offering International roaming.

I belive it will come - Nextel took the step to introduce iden/GSM phones to tap into the international market. Then we had three different GSM standards with the US going for 1900 and the rest of the world on 900 or 1800.

A few years back the GSM operators outside the US sold handsets that just worked on their own frequency 900 or 1800. However so as to maximise their opportunity to earn revenues from roaming they worked with manufacturers to develop and sell dual band phones.

Once this became the standard the next market for income through roaming was the US. GSM was in its infancyin the US but Tri-band phones became the norm. These have now been suplemented by Quad band.

All 3G (WCDMA) phones are a minimum of Triband. I have just got a Nokia N80 which is in theory six-band GSM -EDGE-EGPRS 850/900/1800/1900 and WCDMA 1900/2100.

The first BB device to work on both GSM and WCDMA has already arrived - The Nokia E61 and is being sold by the WCDMA network "3" in the UK as well as on Vodafones WCDMA network.


The Japanese and Koreans have different standards again. Eventually we will see handsets including BB's being able to work with all given technologies.

First step must surely be dual GSM/CDMA devices.

Bit of a rant for a Newbie I know but as a gadget freak I have developed some strong opinions on technology. However these are only opinions and I'm sure there are many who believe I'm talking *%^!.

verizon is releasing a gsm/cdma 1xevdo device very, very soon, i am a liar

Would very, very soon equate to 8/28??

its NOT GSM only CDMA.

Thanks boygenius. Any word on when (or if) a GSM/CDMA version is coming?

any updates on if this is ever going to be a reality?