[chamawak]

I've found this thread very useful, which has prompted me to join. Previously I made the mistake of buying the sonyericsson p990 only based on the marketing communication. it's been frustrating especially that I bought it online (egizmo) where the customer service is not that always great, or may be very cumbersome for the customer. so I've figured the best way to get useful and accurate advice/information is from the community of users. so here I am.

It seems from the previous posts that Sprint is the champion for 8830! However, I'm still not clear what network the CDMA capability allows the 8830 to catch, which the 8800 can't. since the latter is described as quad-band operating both GSM & GPRS. I may be missing something, but could anyone give a precise case of existing network or of a country where the 8800 wouldn't work? thanks.

[bikedogrun]

Originally Posted by chamawak

I've found this thread very useful, which has prompted me to join. so I've figured the best way to get useful and accurate advice/information is from the community of users. so here I am.

It seems from the previous posts that Sprint is the champion for 8830! However, I'm still not clear what network the CDMA capability allows the 8830 to catch, which the 8800 can't. since the latter is described as quad-band operating both GSM & GPRS. I may be missing something, but could anyone give a precise case of existing network or of a country where the 8800 wouldn't work? thanks.

Welcome to the BB Community! I'll start the answer, as I'm sure that others will chip-in to complete it.

The issue with 8800 vs. 8830 is not one of country at all. Both phones will work in Europe as both have GSM 900/1800 support. In the USA, the 8800 will use GSM 850/1900 only while the 8830 is a CDMA device and will use CDMA 850/1900 only. Thus; intl support will be similar with the exception of the 8800 (T-Mobile or AT&T) being "unlockable" but not unlocked by those vendors at purchase (it must be requested later). The Sprint 8830 is unlocked by default, while the Verizon 8830 is locked in Europe to using Vodaphone (VZ's co-owner) and will "NOT" accept other sim cards.

USA support is really a matter of where you live/work and whose network provides better/stronger signal.

There are other differences in the devices (Sprint's GPS is also unlocked, Verizon's is locked and they will charge you to use only their GPS software, whenever it finally is released). The 8830 data speeds for EVDO (either Sprint or VZ) will generally be much faster than the Edge data speeds on an 8800.

Additional differences ? ... others please add to the post!

/BD

[ptmis350]

with the sprint 8830, can u put an att sim in there and use both networks?

[bikedogrun]

Originally Posted by ptmis350

with the sprint 8830, can u put an att sim in there and use both networks?

This really has been covered/answered many, many times in these threads already.

The 8830's swapp'able sim is for "overseas only" as it supports just the 900/1800 GSM networks (which are NOT used in the USA). You could certainly put the AT&T sim in the phone while overseas and that would work (but be quite expensive), just not in the USA.

/BD

[chamawak]

Cool! thanks, bikedogrun for this useful information. so the CDMA is basically a US domestic issue, and I'm guessing that it somehow expands one's capacity to get reception (no?). I mean the advantages of having the device unlocked, as opposed to locked, are obvious. But as far as the standard, does CDMA enable additional services/capabilities/functionalities? Any relation with GPRS for example? or UMTS? (just in case you would know, otherwise it's not that important for deciding whether to get the 8800 or the 8830 )

In other words, if I can get the 8800 and find a way to unlock it without additional cost, what reasons c/would I still have to prefer a 8830?
Thanks!

[djcwardog]

Still getting used to it (only had it for 2 days...) but the Phone as Modem syncs up very fast with my laptop from work when I take it away from Wi-Fi areas on the road... The Treo I had before was very buggy on this PAM feature. Of course, Sprint just released their v39 of the Connection Manager and that may have been a fix for the Treo - but too late to figure that out now!

[AndrewAZ]

So far its the best smart phone I have used. And reading about the keyboard complaints had me worried but coming from the 755p the keyboard on the 8830 is excellent and a lot more comfortable than the treo, did I mention I can type faster?

So far the only thing I cant figure out is the email address, I made a @sprint.blackberry.net email address but havent figured out how to access that email account from a computer.

[Travelling Trojan]

Bike Dog, Old Spice and All,

Thanks for the comments on data transmission speeds vs. AT&T. I have both the AT&T 8800 and the Sprint 8830 doing a side by side trial here in Los Angeles. As of now I do not see any significant speed differential between the two and sometimes AT&T is a tad faster with web pages. I have tried downloading files up to 800KB (the 1MB+ ones that come into e-mail do not come with the attachment) and Sprint is maybe one half second faster.

I have not tried a tethering test just yet and perhaps that is where there will be a difference?

From a general email perspective I have set up both my Yahoo and Mac accounts. There is up to a 10 minute differential in delivery times - sometimes Sprint ahead and sometimes AT&T.

Look forward to any comments and/or help.

Thanks

[BlackbEric]

I just got mine yesterday and let me tell you this is the best smartphone I have ever used. Ive had the BB 7520, Treo 650, BB 7130e, BB 8703e, Treo 755p and now the 8830. The 8830 blows all of them away.

I wanted to try the 755p so I could reduce my monthly bill so I bought it a couple weeks ago and that is the biggest POS I have ever had. It constantly crashed with my push ChatterMail and wasnt very responsive. So I decided that the BB plan was worth it and bought the 8830.

First off, I didnt expect the 8830 to be so thin. I hadnt seen any of the new BBs in person so its size was very surprising. Its such a sexy phone. I wasnt sure about the trackball at first but I got used to it by today and now I like it better than the track wheel. Being left handed it makes it easier to operate. The only downfall about the phone is the keyboard. I think the keyboard on the 8703 is perfect and they shouldnt have changed it. Maybe I just have to get used to it. But its an awesome phone and worth every retail penny I paid for it. If you want a true push email device that is sexy and stable go blackberry. If you want a POS that crashes in the middle of phone calls and drops the bluetooth headset connection every 2 seconds then get the Treo.

[Sgooter]

Newbie here.
I will soon get an 8830 for U.S. only business - using either Sprint or Verizon.

Any big, glaring reasons to go (or not) with either carrier in terms of service, reliability, and features? The price for either pkg is virtually the same in my case.

[birddog]

VZW does not offer the GPS navigation capabilities that Sprint does.

[chapaj]

I just got one. I love it. The GPS works great.

[Sgooter]

Originally Posted by chapaj

I just got one. I love it. The GPS works great.

Are your commenting about the GPS on a new 8830 with Sprint or on your 8703 with Verizon?

[veks]

i have it and like it very much. bb maps is a nice feature. having nextel and then porting over sprint makes a big difference. i have been to a few places where my nextel would have no service and surprise i have service with my blackberry. i dont miss any text messages or worry about what emails have i gotten when i couldnt log on to the internet on my nextel. i like my 8830 and one of my co-workers asked me if it was an iphone!!!!!

[jordana816]

How does AIM Work on it? Is it easy to set up?

[bmw1986]

Apparently there is an issue with AIM on these phones...am I correct?

[vawireless]

Originally Posted by bmw1986

Apparently there is an issue with AIM on these phones...am I correct?

AIM did not initially work but as of last week works great. The service books were not initially being pushed to the device but are now.

[level9]

I wish they had included a camera, but other than that the 8830 is pretty sleek.

[Fire7]

Originally Posted by chamawak

I've found this thread very useful, which has prompted me to join. Previously I made the mistake of buying the sonyericsson p990 only based on the marketing communication. it's been frustrating especially that I bought it online (egizmo) where the customer service is not that always great, or may be very cumbersome for the customer. so I've figured the best way to get useful and accurate advice/information is from the community of users. so here I am.

It seems from the previous posts that Sprint is the champion for 8830! However, I'm still not clear what network the CDMA capability allows the 8830 to catch, which the 8800 can't. since the latter is described as quad-band operating both GSM & GPRS. I may be missing something, but could anyone give a precise case of existing network or of a country where the 8800 wouldn't work? thanks.

I think what they have done is that they enable 2 of four frequencies that work around the world and disable the 2 frequencies that are in USA and Canada, as we know there are 4 frequencies on GSM network. just because they don't want you to go to a GSM network in north American but they are allow you to do so anywhere else in the world. it would be sweet to have all 4 GSM frequencies + the CDMA. like the N95

[Fire7]

Originally Posted by level9

I wish they had included a camera, but other than that the 8830 is pretty sleek.

if this thing had the camera (just basic at least 2MP) and WiFi oo man that would be soooo freaking nice

someone works in RIM and he mentioned a new one is coming With Camera and WiFi