Sprint sez BlackBerry Curve 8330 still on track for this month

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 19th 2008 at 5:23PM

We've been hearing a groundswell of rumors this week that Sprint reps are telling folks that the Curve 8330 -- looking lovely in dark gray, may we add -- has been pushed all the way back to June 1. In mobile minutes, that's basically like an eternity and a half, but thankfully, we can put those rumors to rest. A quick check with Sprint has confirmed that it still intends to launch the Curve some time "this month," and seeing how there isn't much "this month" left, we figure that has to mean we'll be seeing it in the next few days. Stay tuned!

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Sprint, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: 8330, blackberry, curve, rim, sprint

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Neutral

gpdrummr @ Apr 19th 2008 6:37PM

hurry up and come out.
i wanna buy you.
i wanna touch you.
i wanna feel you.
woo.

Neutral

yousaf @ Apr 24th 2008 2:46PM

Just read on Phonescoop, the phone will be shipped May 07.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/p_forum.php?fm=m&ff=1560&fi=1696997

Neutral

Mark @ Apr 19th 2008 9:01PM

20th April

Neutral

blackberryuser8830 @ Apr 19th 2008 11:47PM

don't count on the 20th ;-(

Neutral

Nino @ Apr 20th 2008 12:15AM

My money is on June 1st.

software related issues with EVDO set it back.

Nino

Neutral

CoolBradG @ Apr 20th 2008 12:25AM

Its also on its way to Alltel: http://demos.blackberry.com/8330/na/us/alltel/

Rumor is its hitting Alltel May 1st according to an Alltel insider at HowardForums.

Neutral

Dahk @ Apr 20th 2008 3:10AM

GAH I wish Bell up here in Canada sported the black housing. The silver housing for both Bell and Telus just don't do it justice in terms of aesthetics =/.

That black housing is quite the hawt.

Neutral

Caseus @ Apr 20th 2008 9:51AM

so its april 20th and it still hasn't come out yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! grrrrrrrr

Neutral

Timber @ Apr 20th 2008 11:31AM

So who cares that its April 20th, the article says APRIL.....so they have 10 more days to release.

Neutral

Chris @ Apr 20th 2008 11:58AM

I believe most people (including myself) grabbed the 4/20 release date from the Brightpoint shcedule:

(http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/03/21/brightpoint-schedule-solidifies-sprint-8330-release-date-more/)

However, after looking it over it says that the titanium version for Sprint was due today. I don't think Sprint even has a titanium version, only the black one that appears on their website

(http://delivery.sprint.com/m/p/nxt/dyn/reg.asp?promo=curve&id9=vanity:curve)

I just got off the phone with Sprint, as I am actually trying to buy this phone, and they said it will be out in May. If the company line is that it is coming out in April, they might want to alert their salesforce.

Neutral

Honch @ Apr 20th 2008 1:22PM

i spoke to sales on Friday and they told me the release was for today i'm going to my nearest sprint store to finally get rid of my PPC 6700 for one of these

Neutral

Brett @ Apr 20th 2008 8:06PM

You won't get very far then.

Neutral

The Beer @ Apr 20th 2008 1:53PM

Let us know when you get back from the store with your brick still in your hand, or use it as a wepon... your choice

Neutral

wajeeha @ Apr 20th 2008 7:24PM

So ok, 9a.m. today, off the phone with Sprint Telesales…….. June release date for the Curve 8330. My 7100i BRICK (and weapon) are still together!
I want to wait until “later this year” for the BB on the Nextel side but.. it’s only been 3 years since that rumor started!! And yes Chris, I think that's where I got the 4/20 date too..........what the hell! June 1?

Neutral

TareX @ Apr 21st 2008 8:14AM

This is one BRILLIANT looking phone. Now if only it had a front camera and and a different OS....

Neutral

Ian @ Apr 21st 2008 10:09AM

Don't forget that Sprint add a monthly surcharge of $15.00 for any and all Blackberry variants.

Neutral

The Honch @ Apr 21st 2008 1:27PM

ok so i went yesterday and i was told the date was changed to May 3rd so i'll wait it out

Neutral

PhxZooGeek @ Apr 21st 2008 2:11PM

Sprint's Simply Everything ($99 monthly) includes Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) which is what the basic user will need.
Also, I can't believe that anyone else still has the 7100i! I thought that I was the last one. Whenever people see me use it, they're like, "Wow, is that like the original Blackberry?" or "Wow, that thing is so old it should be called a GreyBerry" - okay, I made the last one up, but STILL!
One thing that I never understood, is why would the "release date" be 4/20? Who releases consumer products on a Sunday? Then the BrightPoint release schedule that everyone got this date from said, "Blackberry Curve 8830 Titanium." The curve for sprint won't be titanium, nor is it an 8830... All of these things together make me say, "hmmmm"

PZG

Neutral

Greg D. @ Apr 21st 2008 2:23PM

Don't fret the greyberry...Your not alone. Me an my buddy have been on quite a while. I catually left at one point and went to sprint for the Treo 700wx. Big mistake. I came back to this just waiting for the right blackberry to come along, looks like it has, but it just needs to get here!

Neutral

PhxZooGeek @ Apr 21st 2008 4:25PM

Well, I just got off of the phone with Tech Support since my 7100i "GreyBerry" refused to send/receive text messages. And once the problem was all resolved, I had the tech lady check the wire to see what the latest news was about the curve...
"The Blackberry Curve (in dark grey) will become available this month, not in May or June as previously reported."

Great work Engadget!

Neutral

Brad Claeys @ Apr 21st 2008 4:54PM

What will be the price for Sprint Nextel employee on buying a BlackBerry Curve 8330? Let me know when I can purchase one and if still has two year contract?

Neutral

Caseus @ Apr 21st 2008 9:33PM

man i'm pissed i was looking forward to it coming out on April 16th or the 20th now i bummed

Neutral

Naffy @ Apr 21st 2008 11:06PM

Me too! lol

Neutral

OverIt @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:46AM

OK so I never comment on these things — I find a lot of people who put too much of their self-worth on which wireless carrier they use. They defend to the death in shockingly cryptic language the perfection of XYZ network as opposed the morally bankrupt ABC network. I don’t get that. But I have been a Sprint customer for almost 5 years. Through good and bad. Pre and post Nextel. Seeing 80% of my friends leave. Almost had it myself. Then, wow, the $99 deal is great. And, YES, the Curve! Finally a decent phone. First it would be released 4/15, then 4/20, then the 21st and now, yes, for sure, 4/23. Or 24th. But that doesn’t seem reality. A store rep in Glendale, CA told me no, it would be JUNE FIRST. I refused to believe it. NO NO NO. But yes, it now looks that will happen. Even though another sprint rep at the west hollywood store the 23rd. And I have to leave. My last 2-year contract is over. My evil Treo is dying. I was waiting on life support for the Curve. If it isn’t released on the 24th I’m done. Done. Done. Done. I’ll run to the arms of another carrier and they will love me and cherish me and give me good phone. So I’ll pay $10-20 more a month. At least this dysfunctional relationship will be over.

(and why doesn’t Sprint stop all the mis-information? how can employees in different stores tell you completely opposite stories. a healthy company employs public relations)

Neutral

Albert @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:50AM

this is what i recieved from sprint you for contacting Sprint.

I will be happy to assist you about
the Blackberry Curve launch date.

At Sprint we do continue to come up with the latest technology cater to

the needs of our valuable customers like you.

The Blackberry Curve 8330 will supposed to be available for the Sprint
Customers from June 01, 2008.

I trust you found my information helpful. If you have any further
questions or concerns, please let me know and I will be glad to address

them for you.

Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Sophia M.
Sprint

Neutral

Brian @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:55PM

Alltel has the Curve on their website for Pre-Orders to be shipped May 1st. Again, Sprint is behind the "Curve". I wish they would just be straight up with everyone for a change. I thought that things were turning around for them with the Simply Everything Plan and now this nonsense over the Curve. Either you have it or you don't, but don't leave your customers hanging and have them reading blogs all over the internet trying to get answers they should be providing thier current and prospective customer pool.......

Neutral

Sal @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:09AM

it was originally supposed to come out on the 20th. i work at a best buy and our sprint rep tell us it's just been pushed back to the 27th. so don't fret.

Neutral

Robert @ Apr 22nd 2008 6:21AM

I was told yesterday by the local Sprint retailer that the 8330 will be available April 29th. And I too have the "brick" 7100i that I've had to "reset" the text settings 5 times in the last 10 months.

Neutral

Aaron @ Apr 22nd 2008 1:16PM

I got on wireless buzz last night and sent a message to "DAN". I got a call back from one of his people and she stated that there was not a release date determined as of yet. So.....looks like we all just have to sit and wait. On the Sprint web site you can get set up to get a notification when the phone is coming out. Beats doing all this speculating. Seems that no one knows and wont know until it comes out.

Neutral

wajeeha @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:17PM

OMG!!! i think i'd better start a union for the 7100i users, to include my daughter!! PhxZooGeek , greg d and buddy, and robert, thats 6 of us! pray tell, are there more? greyberry united!

there others will come out of hiding when this baby gets released. can you believe they are still selling them, even on ebay? i brought mine in oct 2005!!! with insurance, have had at least 6 replacements. don't ask, you would have to be a greyberry to understand. did someone say suretype @#!!*&^

Neutral

PhxZooGeek @ Apr 22nd 2008 3:39PM

I'm sure that there are more of us, but they're probably all too ashamed to come out of hiding.
Wajeeha, I think I've got you beat. I got mine in January 2006 (I was so excited for it that I threatened to leave nXtl when they told me it was only available for new customers) - To think, I was EXCITED for this new technology! haha. Anyway since then I've had 10 new Greyberries (3 in the past 2 months!) I can't wait to get rid of this thing. Can you believe that there are still phones with WHIP antennea (is that the proper way to say that?)

PZG

Neutral

wajeeha @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:04PM

but, you know we can NOT ever whip that foot long antenna out in public! i used to think i'd get better reception???? what i got was poked in the eye and a lost contact lens. i am ordering on line too. there will be too many dark shades, big hats and trench coats at the sprint stores whenever they hit!

come on greyberrry's, we know you're out there :)

Neutral

albert @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:28PM

Okay I just got this one Today its a wrap

Dear Mr. Stevens,

Thank you for contacting Sprint. I understand that you want to know
about the launch date of the Blackberry Curve (8330).

I would like to share with you that the scheduled launch date for the
phone 8330 is June 01, 2008. I apologize as we would not place the
pre-orders for the phone. If it would have been possible for us we
will
definitely done it for you.

I truly appreciate your understanding in this matter. I request you to

please contact us in June to place the order we will definitely process

your order from here.

Thank you again for contacting Sprint. We appreciate your business.

Sincerely,
Rose K.
Sprint

Neutral

greg nauman @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:07PM

I went to a sprint store today in Lees Summit Missouri and they said it would be released on the 24th.

Neutral

Aaron @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:30PM

This is the e-mail I got from Sprint today. I have been having problems with my pearl and have been trying to get them to do something about it. I was wanting to swap it out for the Curve, but it is looking more and more like that will not happen and I am stuck with this piece of shit phone that only works when it wants to. So...here you have it direct from DON'S office. No release date as of yet!!!! Go figure!!!!

Please keep in mind that you have 30 days to do an exchange on your
phone if it is not working properly. I understand that you have
exchanged it once already and I am very sorry that you are encountering
the same issues. I do want to assist you with these issues so please
contact me by email or 757-223-3919.

Currently, I cannot provide you with a release date of the Curve;
however you can go to this website and be notified as soon as it is
available. http://delivery.sprint.com/m/p/nxt/dyn/reg.asp?promo=curve&id9=vanity:curve

Thank you again for contacting Sprint. We appreciate your business.

Sincerely,
Amanda F
Sprint
757-223-3919

Neutral

Dax Norfolk @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:01PM

I'm in the market for my first unit of this type. Sprint advises June 1 availability. My contract is up and I do like Sprint, but..

I also noticed that the 8330 does not have GPS capability which I really would like. I'm becoming confused by all of the different models. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Neutral

Sal @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:55PM

Hey Dax the 8330 does have GPS

Neutral

MnMCarta @ May 2nd 2008 8:28AM

It does have GPS on it.
http://www2.sprint.com/mr/cmastaticfiles/non-landing//documents/PressKit/BBCurve8330FactSheet.pdf?id16=blackberry_curve_8330

This is the fact sheet.

Neutral

wajeeha @ Apr 24th 2008 2:13PM

http://www.thesprintstore.net/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/5127659/vpcsid/0

i'm just saying............

Neutral

caseus @ Apr 24th 2008 7:22PM

Dax Norfolk the blackberry 8330 does have GPS but no wi-fi

Neutral

Jason @ Apr 25th 2008 10:42AM

http://www.thesprintstore.net/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/5127659/vpcsid/0

links down

Neutral

wajeeha @ Apr 24th 2008 9:42PM

Here we go, again

http://www.thesprintstore.blogspot.com

Neutral

Sal @ Apr 25th 2008 1:39AM

great find!!!!!!

Neutral

Caseus @ Apr 24th 2008 10:02PM

thanks wajeeha you really cleared things up for me.

Neutral

wajeeha @ Apr 24th 2008 10:30PM

caseus,
you're welcome. only time will tell :) IF they ever release this baby!!!

Neutral

PhxZooGeek @ May 8th 2008 5:33PM

So I did some digging and found out some information about theSprintStore.net since I saw that theSprintStore blog was only a week or so old.
Wajeeha, do you know much about this company? I mean are they a legit distributor of Sprint Wares? It looks like they come from my neck of the woods, so I'm totally on board with helping them out.
I love the information provided on that blog. and it makes sense that there was trouble with Sprint TV and that was causing the delay. On one hand, I'm excited that they're delaying to make it perfect, but on the other hand... SERIOUSLY, you've had a year and a half to get it right!

PZG

Neutral

wajeeha @ Apr 25th 2008 2:13PM

i don't know anything about them! i got the link from a friend at crackberry. initially the site had the phone available 5-7-2008, direct buy. after a few hours that link was GONE and the same poster sent us the blog link. i plan to go through telesales. may 7, just like april 16th, no the 20th no... too many dates/lies, :) i will be on the phone!

Neutral

caseus @ Apr 25th 2008 5:57PM

engadget your wrong the blackberry curve comes out May 9 th not June 1st.
get your facts straight
lol

Neutral

PhxZooGeek @ Apr 25th 2008 6:26PM

Okay...
Caseus, great work that is correct May 9th is the date for sprint.

I did some "Who Is" hunting and found out some good information about TheSprintStore.net. In fact, since I happen to live so close to where the company is located, I actually just got off of the phone with the owner who's also the owner of TheSprintStore.blogspot.com. Hegave me the lowdown which unfortunatly ends with him having to close down/ rename his site due to Sprint's Legal team!

The reason that he had to take the curve off of his site was because he got phone calls from 4 different directors at Sprint saying that he could not pre-sell units (even though he wasn't). He does have solid confirmation from someone at RIM and backed up by the manager of Warehouses and distribution at Sprint that the device will hit on May 7th for online and telesales and take 2 days to ship, and will hit stores on May 9th. So no matter how we slice it, we're all getting curves on the 9th.

By the way, it's was CRAZY hearing the story from Seth at the sprint store... it was like all "Enemy of the State" or something like that.

Neutral