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12-01-2009, 06:17 PM
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#1
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CT
Model: 9550
OS: 5.0
Carrier: ATT
Posts: 1,137
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Pros & Cons: Bold 9700 vs Storm 9550 Unlocked
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Hi - I have ATT service and Bold 9000 right now - I tried out the Storm 2 and loved it - However I am stuck with ATT for a while so my question is whether to get an unlocked 9550 and try to config for ATT service or get the Bold 9700 from ebay.
I hate the idea of going to a smaller screen (9700) but also hate that I will lose 3g with the Storm on ATT
Can anyone with experience or knowledge of both post the pros and cons of my pending decision besides what I already mentioned?
Many thanks.
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Fred
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12-01-2009, 07:31 PM
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#2
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Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
Join Date: Jan 2009
Model: 9000
OS: 5.0.0.681
Carrier: Movistar
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Maybe buying a 9520 from another source (unlocked) can give you full functionality.... Im facing a similar dilema....
Whether buying a 9550 from verizon, then pay termination fee, then unlock it and then sell the second BB (with the 2x1) so I can actually make a profit... OR.... just buy an unlocked 9520 from who knows...
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12-01-2009, 11:57 PM
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#3
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Plano, TX USA
Model: 9800
OS: 6.0.0.450
Carrier: AT&T
Posts: 192
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Wasn't there a rumor awhile back that the Storm 2 would also be offered with AT&T? if that were the case, it may make it easier for you.
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12-02-2009, 10:33 AM
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#4
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CT
Model: 9550
OS: 5.0
Carrier: ATT
Posts: 1,137
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DZD
Wasn't there a rumor awhile back that the Storm 2 would also be offered with AT&T? if that were the case, it may make it easier for you.
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Interesting - any time line on this?
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Fred
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12-03-2009, 11:39 AM
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#5
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
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Wirelessly posted
Quote:
Originally Posted by BUC
Maybe buying a 9520 from another source (unlocked) can give you full functionality.... Im facing a similar dilema....
Whether buying a 9550 from verizon, then pay termination fee, then unlock it and then sell the second BB (with the 2x1) so I can actually make a profit... OR.... just buy an unlocked 9520 from who knows...
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So will the 9520 give me 3g and OS 5.0 by default?
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Fred
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12-03-2009, 03:22 PM
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#6
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Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fkjr2
Wirelessly posted
So will the 9520 give me 3g and OS 5.0 by default?
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That's right, I would have thought that unlocking a 9550 would give us 3G over GSM but it seems as it won't...
Anyway the 9520 its the way to go...
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12-04-2009, 12:28 PM
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#7
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CT
Model: 9550
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BUC
That's right, I would have thought that unlocking a 9550 would give us 3G over GSM but it seems as it won't...
Anyway the 9520 its the way to go...
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sorry to be like a 6 year old here....so the 9520 will give me 3g and 0s 5.0?
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Fred
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12-04-2009, 12:35 PM
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#8
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CT
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OS: 5.0
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can't seem to find any 9520's unlocked on ebay
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Fred
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12-04-2009, 04:29 PM
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#9
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CrackBerry Addict
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Model: 9700
OS: 5.0.0.714
Carrier: T-Mobile
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IN order to get 3G, you need to have the correct WCDMA bands. There is 2100mhz, 1900mhz, 1800mhz, 1700mhz, 900mhz, 850mhz. There might be more.
Your on AT&T. Your Bold 9000 for example, has 3 WCDMA bands, 2100, 1900 & 850. Now as for AT&T, they only use the 1900 & 850band, the 2100 band is an international band, so when you travel to europe, you can pick up the 2100mhz band and get 3G.
The CDMA world phones from Verizon and Sprint, like the tour and storms only have the 2100mhz 3G band, which is for international use. It won't work on ATT or Tmo cause neither use 2100mhz as of yet.
I can tell you my tmo bold uses 2100, 1700 and 900. T-Mobile only uses 1700 and 900 for their 3G. A tmo USA phone would be worthless for 3G in your case.
Check phonescoop, they normally list band information on phone models.
If you want 3G, you need to get a phone that uses the same 3G band your network is using. In your case with AT&T, you need a phone that uses 1900mhz & 850mhz. You can have just one of those, but will be missing 3G coverage because you can't pick up the other band. So both is ideal. Are there international phones that have this exact combo? Not sure, you'd have to look up phone models and get the correct version if multiple bands are offered.
*updated, when and looked up info.
Last edited by BallHawk3; 12-04-2009 at 04:38 PM..
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12-04-2009, 06:11 PM
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#10
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Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Carrier: Movistar
Posts: 386
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BallHawk3
IN order to get 3G, you need to have the correct WCDMA bands. There is 2100mhz, 1900mhz, 1800mhz, 1700mhz, 900mhz, 850mhz. There might be more.
Your on AT&T. Your Bold 9000 for example, has 3 WCDMA bands, 2100, 1900 & 850. Now as for AT&T, they only use the 1900 & 850band, the 2100 band is an international band, so when you travel to europe, you can pick up the 2100mhz band and get 3G.
The CDMA world phones from Verizon and Sprint, like the tour and storms only have the 2100mhz 3G band, which is for international use. It won't work on ATT or Tmo cause neither use 2100mhz as of yet.
I can tell you my tmo bold uses 2100, 1700 and 900. T-Mobile only uses 1700 and 900 for their 3G. A tmo USA phone would be worthless for 3G in your case.
Check phonescoop, they normally list band information on phone models.
If you want 3G, you need to get a phone that uses the same 3G band your network is using. In your case with AT&T, you need a phone that uses 1900mhz & 850mhz. You can have just one of those, but will be missing 3G coverage because you can't pick up the other band. So both is ideal. Are there international phones that have this exact combo? Not sure, you'd have to look up phone models and get the correct version if multiple bands are offered.
*updated, when and looked up info.
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Cool, BallHawk3... so that means that when I get my 9550 unlocked and bring it over to my country which uses Movistar GSM 900/1800 2G and UMTS 2100 3G... it will work fully with 3G speeds...?
Thanks for clarifying...
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12-04-2009, 08:41 PM
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#11
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CrackBerry Addict
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Model: 9700
OS: 5.0.0.714
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BUC
Cool, BallHawk3... so that means that when I get my 9550 unlocked and bring it over to my country which uses Movistar GSM 900/1800 2G and UMTS 2100 3G... it will work fully with 3G speeds...?
Thanks for clarifying...
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Yup.....2100 3G band is very common. I believe every 3G phone will have the 2100 3G band. Every country except american uses the 2100 band officially. Some use more than one band. But 2100 is definately around.
I found a nice little website that list what bands are available in what country
GSM World Coverage Map- GSM Country List by frequency bands
Note, it has nothing to do with phones or carriers. Just available 3G bands that are in use in certain countries. It's up to you to check to find out what band your phone has or what band your carrier is using.
List doesn't look 100% complete, but practically everyone outside of the USA is using at LEAST 2100mhz for 3G. Some have an extra band or two along with 2100.
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12-04-2009, 09:59 PM
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#12
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Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Canada
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How about a Storm2 9550 from Telus?
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850 > 7100r > 7520 > 8700r > 8703e > 8100 > 8120 > 8130 > 8320 > 9700 > 9550 > 9900 on Rogers & 64GB Playbook
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