BlackBerry 8830 hitting Sprint next month?

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 8th 2007 at 12:42PM

This document sure seems to think so. The world-ready variant of RIM's BlackBerry 8800 series -- sporting both CDMA / EV-DO and GSM radios -- saw a recent launch on Verizon, and seeing how these two carriers like (need?) to one-up each other, a July launch makes perfect sense. Looks like the device is pretty much the same as Verizon's variant (Sprint even says right in the slide that price and plans will be "competitive with VZW") though the carrier is touting that its global roaming service will be more user-friendly than Verizon's, offering a single phone number with unified calling and texting.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Sprint, 1xRTT, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: 8830, blackberry, rim, sprint, sprint nextel, sprint-nextel, SprintNextel

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

OGHowie @ Jun 8th 2007 1:10PM

Unlocked SIM is a big plus no matter what others say.

Neutral

kellybrf @ Jun 8th 2007 1:16PM

also, sprint isnt locking the native gps on the device which is another huge differentiator

Neutral

Samuel @ Jun 8th 2007 3:15PM

I agree that the sim-unlocked is huge because you can take YOUR phone with you internationally, and then you just pop in a cheap pre-paid SIM with unlimited incoming.

Neutral

Chad @ Jun 8th 2007 3:06PM

I have the vzn version and have already used it in 5 countries. I only have one number, and the all services were seamless. Not sure what the sprint propaganda means by the two numbers etc. If I understand it correctly, I can also use another sim card in it other than the one provided (to get a better voice rate atleast).

Neutral

jwolman @ Jun 8th 2007 3:15PM

That is a pretty sweet phone. I'm a big fan--let me know when it's GSM.

Neutral

Corey @ Jun 8th 2007 3:18PM

www.sprint.com/8830

Neutral

TJ @ Jun 8th 2007 3:29PM

BGR has another doc stating dates of 7/1 for business and 7/15 for all other channels.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/06/08/deets-on-the-upcoming-sprint-blackberry-8830/

Neutral

Donald @ Jun 8th 2007 9:08PM

"That is a pretty sweet phone. I'm a big fan--let me know when it's GSM."

You mean the 8800, which has been out for several months now?

Highly Ranked

Infinityflex @ Jun 9th 2007 10:11PM

I'm actually typing this comment on an 8830. I've had it for over a month for the beta and it rocks. I usually don't like bb's but this one I like. The only bad part is the keyboard. My Sprint rep also gave me a 7/1 direct ship date so that's another confirmation.

The gps is not restricted in any way, and works with both google maps and the bb maps program (which was already installed on mine). The bb maps program actually gives real time directions, location and speed/direction info, but the device isn't the speediest at picking up satellites. Also, it doesn't announce directions.

Battery life has always been a plus for bbs but this one seems to be even better. I sent it to the UK and the battery went 2 days under heavy phone and email use before it needed a charge. I'm getting the same life here in the US on the CDMA side.

Something else is that it has a Sprint software store app that I never remembered seeing on their bbs before.

Finally, it has a World Mode that automatically chooses CDMA or GSM. All previous Sprint intl phones made you switch manually. This is important when you give them to execs that could care less about learning how and why to switch.

Overall, I give it an 8 out of 10 for the poor keyboard and poor gps pickup. It's the best bb on Sprint ever, but it's still a bb.

Neutral

Andy @ Jul 8th 2007 1:47AM

Has anyone used the 8830 in mainland China? I need a phone that works there and I am flying there next week...

Neutral

Talion @ Sep 28th 2007 4:43PM

8830 GPS won�t work in Europe.

I did a google search and came up with this from: evdoinfo.com/content/view/2051/64/ and last updated 15 August 2007.

Quoting: �Q � Does GPS work internationally?
A � No, the GPS chipset on the 8830 is disabled when the device is in GSM/GPRS mode due to Qualcomm requirement.�

The only mention of a tie between GPS and CDMA in Blackberry�s own user manual is:

Quoting: �About assisted GPS support
Your BlackBerry� device is designed to support assisted GPS when your device is connected to a CDMA network. If you make an emergency call or your device is in Emergency Callback Mode, an emergency operator might be able to use assisted GPS technology to estimate your location.�

I have been unable to find any info on Blackberry�s website or their user manual that the 8830�s GPS will not work in Europe. In point of fact, in a phone conversation with a local Alltel/Blackberry salesperson he indicated that he too believed that the 8830 GPS would work in Europe. Seems like a deceptive business practise on Blackberry�s part to me.

Hardly a "World Edition" GPS-wise.

Travelers beware.

Neutral

Chuck Forsberg @ Nov 1st 2007 11:48AM

The operative phrase is "assisted GPS" where data
obtained from the cell network helps get a quick
and accurate fix. Google "assisted gps".

I was in Europe last month with my Sprint World Edition
8830. Public pay phones are few and far between. You
need a cell phone to call tech support!

I bought the Sprint 8830 after the store manager assured
me the GPS would work world wide as would unlimited data
(if you care to call 1/2 dial-up speed unlimited). The day
before the trip I stopped by the Hillsboro store to have
the international service activated.

I arrive in Dublin the next day and dutifully set the
phone to GSM mode. It picks up strong signals but
refuses to work, displaying SOS in red letters where
it should show 1X, GPRS, or some such.

I had to buy a prepaid phone from Vodaphone to
contact the store manager to complain about the
8830 not working in Europe. Eventually the
phone started working for voice and data, just
as the minutes on the Vodaphone ran out.

But the GPS still did not work. Hours of
sending messages and tech support calls
were not able to get it working. Meanwhile
I pass a number of Vodaphone ads featuring
GPS apps on the Vodaphone Blackberry which
looks just like mine. Tech support suggested
I call them on another phone, oblivious to the fact
that in Spain there is no other phone to call from.
Tech support suggests I "reprovision" the phone
but that always fails with an error message.

After all that trouble, the gps just starts
working after I return to the states.

Apparently we are dealing with a prototype system.

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