BlackBerry Forums Support Community

tom.bruetsch · 02-26-2009, 03:59 PM

For those of you who are RIM 950 enthusiasts, I recently tried to activate my RIM 950 in the US on the Mobitex network. I was activated through Cingular several years ago but was informed that the Mobitex network was being shut down. I found out recently that it was sold to Sprint/Nextel, and then sold to Velocita/Skytel. The reliability of the Mobitex network is legendary. There were many stories in the news about it being the only network left standing after 9/11. According to Wikipedia "Mobitex is a packet-switched, narrowband, data-only technology mainly for short burst data". This network is ideal for Blackberrys.

After suffering through device error 411 problems with my 7290, I decided to switch back to my old reliable RIM 950. I use it strictly for email, and occasional SMS messaging with I use email to do. I just add the SMS domain name to a phone number and I can text message. The building penetration is phenominal on the Mobitex network, wheras GSM/GPRS is very sketchy.

I called Velocita/Skytel to get activated. They sent me to RIM. RIM told me they would only activate for corporate customers who have Blackberry Enterprise Server or Outlook Exchange. They would not activate for Blackberry Internet Service for personal email.

Bummer. I really wish they would continue the type of service I had through Cingular. I guess Earthlink had a similar service but it is no longer available. Is there anyone out there who uses the Mobitex network for personal email? In my book, the RIM 950 was the best little device designed by RIM. It ran for weeks on a single AA battery, and the keyboard was easy to type on. I don't like the small keyboards on the newer models.

Anyone out there still using a RIM 950 on Mobitex?

tom.bruetsch · 03-15-2009, 06:52 PM

no one out there using a RIM 950 in the USA? on BIS?

penguin3107 · 03-15-2009, 07:32 PM

Wait... You're serious?

tom.bruetsch · 03-16-2009, 05:32 AM

Absolutely! Have you ever used the Mobitex network?

rambo47 · 03-16-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom.bruetsch

Absolutely! Have you ever used the Mobitex network?

Yeah, but that was when they enforced IT Policies by sending a Roman Centurion to your cubicle.

penguin3107 · 03-16-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom.bruetsch

Absolutely! Have you ever used the Mobitex network?

Yes, I have... which is why I'm surprised you still want to use it.

tom.bruetsch · 03-16-2009, 06:23 PM

My experience with Mobitex was that it was a very reliable network. With deep building penetration. Unlike GSM where I have to be near a window to get a signal. Your experience may vary. It depends on your proximity to a tower. The Mobitex network was legendary during 9/11 for being the only network left standing.

It is ideal for Blackberry. The frequency has better penetration and it handles short bursts of data well. I didn't use it on a BES. My experience was on BIS. So the comments on BES may be justifued.

The "killer app" for a Blackberry is Email. Wireless Push Email. Nobody does that better than Blackberry. I use email and messaging (PIN or Email address), and text messaging 10 to 1 over any other multi-media app. So for text data, the RIM 950 on Mobitex is hard to beat.

The 950 has the most ergonomic keyboard of any Blackberry device since. The 7200 series comes close, but I could type faster on a 950 than any other device. It was simple, straightforward, and reliable. It ran for weeks on a single AA battery. Which is why it was a standard issue in most corporate and government environments.

If you want all the multimedia stuff, and can suffer with those networks, then the 950 isn't for you. If you need a good reliable email/text device, in my mind, you can't beat the RIM 950.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get RIM to activate a BIS account. They said they are only activating BES accounts currently. So for now I am sticking with my 7290 on T-Mobile. To each his own.

verywireless · 07-14-2009, 10:31 PM

Last i heard, within a couple weeks that mobitex is very much in business. You probably called the old Cingular number and told you to call RIM incorrectly. Call Velocita wireless.
I agree that the 950 was way ahead of its time. it came out in 1998 and nobody else had anything like it.

rambo47 · 07-14-2009, 10:45 PM

Back then a guy told me to check out the stock of this Canadian company called Research In Motion. "Email devices," he said. My comment was "meh." $5 per share seemed too high for a company with devices like BlackBerrys, with such limited potential. So I passed.

Yeah, that's me. "Great Predictor Of Tech Trends". NOT!

jpoesq · 08-23-2009, 01:19 PM

I also have a RIM 950 that I would like to reactivate. Who did you contact at RIM? Since I run BES in the company, I assume that RIM will provide corporate service to me.

juwaack68 · 08-23-2009, 01:35 PM

You would only get 'corporate service' if your company purchased T-Support services from RIM. Otherwise it's a pay per call setup.

NJBlackBerry · 08-23-2009, 03:57 PM

I tried to install OS v5.0 on my 950. It is now glowing and flying around the room. Can anyone help?

djm2 · 08-23-2009, 04:03 PM

Cool. Can you get a picture of that?

NJBlackBerry · 08-23-2009, 04:13 PM

The camera in the 950 isn't working properly.

pgmomni · 11-01-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom.bruetsch

For those of you who are RIM 950 enthusiasts, I recently tried to activate my RIM 950 in the US on the Mobitex network. I was activated through Cingular several years ago but was informed that the Mobitex network was being shut down. I found out recently that it was sold to Sprint/Nextel, and then sold to Velocita/Skytel. The reliability of the Mobitex network is legendary. There were many stories in the news about it being the only network left standing after 9/11. According to Wikipedia "Mobitex is a packet-switched, narrowband, data-only technology mainly for short burst data". This network is ideal for Blackberrys.

After suffering through device error 411 problems with my 7290, I decided to switch back to my old reliable RIM 950. I use it strictly for email, and occasional SMS messaging with I use email to do. I just add the SMS domain name to a phone number and I can text message. The building penetration is phenominal on the Mobitex network, wheras GSM/GPRS is very sketchy.

I called Velocita/Skytel to get activated. They sent me to RIM. RIM told me they would only activate for corporate customers who have Blackberry Enterprise Server or Outlook Exchange. They would not activate for Blackberry Internet Service for personal email.

Bummer. I really wish they would continue the type of service I had through Cingular. I guess Earthlink had a similar service but it is no longer available. Is there anyone out there who uses the Mobitex network for personal email? In my book, the RIM 950 was the best little device designed by RIM. It ran for weeks on a single AA battery, and the keyboard was easy to type on. I don't like the small keyboards on the newer models.

Anyone out there still using a RIM 950 on Mobitex?

I would love to go back to the 950 too!
Fast, lightweight, battery lasted forever. Got mine in 1998!
I have a 7250 now that is got from Earthlink with Verizon VM.

Frankly, I hate cell phones. The 950 is all i need,
I used to be able to type one handed will driving or hanging on in the subway.
7250 is top heavy and one handed typing on it stinks.

And, like, you pointed out, you had coverage in the whole bldg.

Pete

BlackBerry Forums Support Community

RIM 950 Activation