[Marcos]

I am looking to switch from 7250 to 8700. If I get the the cingular 8700c unlocked instead of waiting for the TMobile, will I be missing out on any upgrade features that may end up on the TMobile version? I want to activate on TMobile service since coverage in my area is better.

[Stinsonddog]

Why wouldn't you wait a few more weeks. Prices will drop. I hear Tmobile has MMS but don't know if its a carrier or handheld OS thing.

I think Cingular has better coverage nationwide since they have both GSM spectrums but they are more expensive and the cust service doesn't appear as robust.

[Marcos]

Thanks, I guess I will wait and see.

[DuckWingDuck]

MMS is overrated, just send an email!!

kidding. Wait for the g.

[nsbalt]

I agree with the others ..... T-Mobile..

[delmarco]

Right now prices for the 8700c are dropping daily. Last week I picked up my 8700c off eBay for $400.00 and that was the best price I could find after 4 months of waiting. This week brand new 8700c were leaving eBay for $315 to$350. Some sellers even have "buy-it-now" costs as low as $359.00 (free shipping).

After a week with my 8700c, I must say that, it is probably the cheapest built of all the RIM devices I've ever owned. That is not saying the device/software is bad. In fact, the software and screen quality is steller and is probably 97% of what you pay for when you buy the 8700c. Everything else about the 8700c from the plastic used to the keypad, especially the keypad, feels like a $4.95 Sharp calculator.

I know most other members here would disagree with me. Then again who would buy a $60,000 BMW 545i and complain that the parts are cheap, when the engine inside is extremely powerful.

Right now, I'm trying to get rid of my recently bought Cingular 8700c on eBay and will be happy if I get at most $390.00 for it.

I'm a long time T-Mobile (since Voicestream 2000 days) and I was very tempted to switch to cingular during the last year. Since cingular has, or had, a better phone line up and stronger service. However, most of my friends that switched over to cingular now complain about higher than expected charges and hidden fees and the optional expensive warranty/insurance charges that should be free
(paying insurance for a cell phone-how stupid does that sound. T-mobile has replaced my last 3 blackberries and previous samsung e815 phones for free after software gliches or me dropping and breaking the phones)

Over the last year T-Mobile service has gotten alot better and I have no complaints. I regret buying the 8700c and extremely feel embarrassed for even conjuring up toughts of fancy for leaving T-mobile for cingular.

And now my reward for patience and dedication to T-mobile is the 8700g when it debuts in a couple of days.

From the pictures and what I've read up on it the 8700g will be a totally difference and better experience than the problematic-ridden 8700c.

The 8700c was fair practice for the 8700g!

[DuckWingDuck]

I sort of see what you mean regarding the quality of the c but I wonder if the g will be better...

[delmarco]

it will
take it on faith...

[DuckWingDuck]

Roflmao!!!!

[NJBlackBerry]

I played with an 8700g yesterday. Belonged to a national account customer service engineer from T-Mobile. Case is different. Guts and software are the same. If you thought the Cingular device was a "problematic-ridden 8700c" then I very much doubt you will have a different opinion of the 8700g.

[delmarco]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

I played with an 8700g yesterday. Belonged to a national account customer service engineer from T-Mobile. Case is different. Guts and software are the same. If you thought the Cingular device was a "problematic-ridden 8700c" then I very much doubt you will have a different opinion of the 8700g.

explain....please.

[NJBlackBerry]

In your note above you say this: "From the pictures and what I've read up on it the 8700g will be a totally difference and better experience than the problematic-ridden 8700c."

There are no internal differences whatsoever between the 8700g and the 8700c. Same firmware. Same OS. Same device. Different case. How will you expect it to be a different and better experience??

[bigdaadio]

3 words...


These babies ROCK!

[rickthornton]

All it tkes is a look at service coverage maps for Cingular vs. Tmobile. Cingular clearly has a significantly larger footprint. If you are happy with Tmobile's coverage then great you can save a few bucks. For me, the large gaps in their coverage is a deal killer. I need it to work and the best customer service doesn't get me a signal. I bet if you calculated the cost of service as a ratio of coverage area, Cingular would look like a decent value compared to Tmobile.

[delmarco]

Yeah Rick Thorton is correct about the footprint. And it is because of that very footprint differential I was formerly inclined to cross over from the pink T to the orange X .

But a thorough read thru of cingular's data and talk plans and you'll clearly see that you will end up spending $100.00s extra dollars per year, for basically the same if not slightly better thing.

Sadly, my cellphone life is not as important as other things I could've spend the money on during the course of the year; Like engineering books and sneakers, not to mention my the full policy car insurance that someone under 25 pays who drives a BMW.

Study the footprint again and you will understand; that if you live in a major city or near any metro area (where 71.38% of the American population live) then T-Mobile will have bars for you.

As For NJBlackBerry:
As far as the 8700c goes, every line of criticism I've ever written concerning that wretched little device is aimed at it's subpar design asthetics, and questionable build quality.
If there is any praise I've given the 8700c is for what is behind the screen (software and the screen itself, including user interface), that is not saying the software is perfect but good enough (after the mandatory upgrades) for what I want to do.

Now if you say the 8700g is better or different on the outside than the 8700c whiles the interface/software is the same. Then I would gladly kiss you for bringing such good news to your fellow forum members.

Thanks NJ.
Del.

[Meatbag]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

There are no internal differences whatsoever between the 8700g and the 8700c. Same firmware. Same OS. Same device. Different case. How will you expect it to be a different and better experience??

I'd have to agree with this from my brief run with the g version. A friend from England was here visiting and he had the 8700g and the only difference as far as I could tell was the case... which was still platic as far as I could tell. But I also didn't spend to much time examining the thing.

I'm super new to the BB scene but I have to say I love my 8700c. I have nothing to compare it to because I've never owned a BB before but I'm thrilled with this thing. What is suppose to be better about the g compared to the c... other then the cool color? And I prefer the service/coverage of Cing. over TM. TM coverage sux around my area.

[NJBlackBerry]

Now if you say the 8700g is better or different on the outside than the 8700c whiles the interface/software is the same. Then I would gladly kiss you for bringing such good news to your fellow forum members.

I never said the 8700g is better or different on the outside. I don't think you've read a word I said. Outside of the case, there are no differences that I could tell. And I really don't want you to kiss me.

Boy - am I done with this thread.

Good luck with the 8700g. I hope you enjoy it.

[delmarco]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

I never said the 8700g is better or different on the outside. I don't think you've read a word I said. Outside of the case, there are no differences that I could tell. And I really don't want you to kiss me.

Boy - am I done with this thread.

Good luck with the 8700g. I hope you enjoy it.

I did read your post NJ....
when you say "outside of the case there are no differences..." you do understand that we think you mean to say "[apart from] the case there is no differences..."

see wha' I mean partna'?

we thought you meant to say the outside case is different but everything else is the same.

[TheRFGuy]

Just want to give you my experience about network coverage. Both Cingular and T-Mobile has very similar coverage - particularly for all major citiies. Most of the sites are actually co-located (meaning the antennas are transitting from the same location). The coverage maps are created by marketing to offer a generic view of what to expect but they are far from accurate and should not be used to make accurate coverage assessment - I know because I was a RF engineer for both companies for a number of years.

The debate over Cingular's 850/1900 over T-Mobile 1900 is also immaterial for most part because while 850 provide better indoor penetration, t-Mobile has spent more $$ on building more sites to offset that limitation - thus again the debate over which carrier is better is a matter of perception - as both offer very similar RF coverage.

In terms of the 8700g and 8700c, the OS core is the same, the firmware are actually different because each operator has its own customized software load for their network and customers. For example, the ones from Cingular will have their network code as preferrred list while those from T-Mobile will have its own. In those areas that they don't have coverage, they have agreement to roam on the other ($ Billions spent on roaming by each).

Hope this helps to clarify some mis-conception about Cingular vs. T-Mobile coverage. thanks!

[dinga]

I don't think you can find any deal better then this:

* Bought the phone from Amazon for $150
* Cancel my cingular account with in 5 days (paied $12.00 for 5 day's service, no activation fee, no early cancellation fee.)
* Pay $45 to unlock it.
* Call t-mobile to add unlimited bb plan for $19/mo.
* The best part: no need to extend your contract!

This deal has been discussed in another thread earlier. But, it might getting harder to cancel cingular account now because more people have done it.