Latest word from Sprint: "mid-May" for BlackBerry Curve

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 2nd 2008 at 6:01PM

So much for Sprint's claim that the April launch date was still on, eh? Turns out Sprint has now officially delayed the introduction of its BlackBerry Curve 8330 on the grounds that it has a "desire to conduct additional testing to ensure a high-quality user experience for all functionality of the [phone], including exclusive Sprint services like Sprint TV and Sprint Music Store." We guess we're willing to wait a few weeks to get all the bugs ironed out, sort of. Hang tight, folks.

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

Tags: 8330, blackberry, curve, rim, sprint

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Neutral

Mills @ May 2nd 2008 6:53PM

if youve been looking for your perfect excuse to switch to Alltel...

Alltel Curve, May first, FTW

Neutral

Mike @ May 2nd 2008 6:55PM

SPRINT, YOU SUCK. BEEN WAITING LONG ENOUGH !!!!!!

Neutral

oZone @ May 3rd 2008 4:25AM

I thought this was out for Sprint ages ago. Damn, Sprint needs to get their shit together...

Neutral

Paul Johnson @ May 2nd 2008 7:07PM

Sprint: FAILED!

Neutral

JD @ May 2nd 2008 7:09PM

Well like usual my great company sprint will be the last to get the curve out. Was suppose to be the first, but now there going to get beat by Verizon like usual and Alltel also.
Great job Sprint

Neutral

Anthony @ May 2nd 2008 7:40PM

The phone is the 8330, not the 8830 :p

Also, I work at a Best Buy, and from what our correction notices, and my sprint rep have told me, the date is actually May 15th. Exactly mid May indeed

Neutral

Chris Ziegler @ May 2nd 2008 7:41PM

If I had a dime for every time I've done that... I'd have, like, 20 or 30 cents. Thanks!

Chris

Highest Ranked

Jason @ May 2nd 2008 7:55PM

The Curve was delayed because of a software glitch that caused the phone to freeze after 7 minutes of using any data application causing the user to have to remove the battery to restart the phone. The Verizon edition of the Curve has the same problem which is why they have had to delay as well. You know.... it's not always a carriers fault when a phone is delayed. Let's look at the manufacturers too, huh?

Neutral

Sal @ May 2nd 2008 10:14PM

that's the way i see it

good point

Neutral

oZone @ May 3rd 2008 4:26AM

Is this only on non-GSM versions of the phone? I have a friend on AT&T and she has one with no problems...

Highly Ranked

jordan.grosh @ May 2nd 2008 10:36PM

May 7th according to my sources.

Neutral

Eric Anderson @ May 3rd 2008 2:57AM

Alright. Come on Sprint. I have been waiting for this for a while... you are ultimately failing. The only reason I haven't yet switched carriers is because of "The Simple Everything Plan". Does anybody know if either AT&T or T-Mobile have comparable plans? Or how much would it cost to have T-Mobile with unlimited data, messaging, and phone calls?

Neutral

Mills @ May 3rd 2008 10:21AM

I work for alltel and had a customer tell me the other day that he wanted to have unlimted plus unlimited data (something alltel cant offer grr) so he went to att and he came back just to chat, told me that he is paying like 130 something for unlimited data and voice. i think text would probably be more but im not sure.

no doubt that sprint has the best unlimited plan.and i wish alltel did because id sell the hell outta it. sprint sucks in our area though so thankfully most people dont have any idea that sprint even offers anything like that

Highly Ranked

evengrift @ May 3rd 2008 12:14PM

You want data on on T-Mobile? That funny.

Neutral

JJ @ May 3rd 2008 2:24PM

IT WILL LAUNCH ON MAY 7TH! CONFIRMED.

Neutral

E1 @ May 3rd 2008 10:15PM

Sprint is a dysfunctional family...they don't communicate with each other before going to the public. The result is public embarrassment! Its not rocket science to check with the field-testers whether the phone is ready before making a splash annocement. To make matters worst, when launch dates are missed, there is no immediate annoucement as to when it would be actually launched....as if they don't give a flyin f****

Neutral

nexmod5 @ May 4th 2008 3:46AM

we have the demo on display already

Neutral

Aaron @ May 4th 2008 11:04AM

I tell ya you guys have got to the the harshest people I have ever seen. I have the Sprint Pearl right now and I hate it with a passion. I am glad to know that Sprint is delaying the release of the Curve to make sure it does not have all the glitches this stupid Pearl has. Who really cares if they are the last to come out with the phone as long as it is the best one out there as far as reliability. I don't know about all of you, but I need a phone that will work not one I have to work on!! Sprint has bent over backwards to help me with my Pearl and they have been nothing but nice to me about it. From the people at my local Sprint store to the people on the corporate end of things. If you don't like the service change it then. Quit complaining about everything. It could very well be RIM that has the phone all jacked up. Did you ever think about that. Just because Spring wants to put out a quality product does not make them a bad company! Most of you people are full of it. You would not be satisfied if they handed the damn thing to you on a silver platter and not charge you for the service plan!! Get off your high horses!! If you can do a better job of getting a phone out to the public open your own cell company and lets see how well you do!!!!

Neutral

Matt @ May 4th 2008 11:40AM

The Blackberry Curve has been released on www.sprint.com !!!!

Neutral

missq56 @ May 4th 2008 2:07PM

i dont see it on sprint.com... ur confused..

Neutral

Aaron @ May 4th 2008 2:11PM

I don't see it either. You must be confused with the 8830!

Neutral

Caseus @ May 4th 2008 2:03PM

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAID
"The Blackberry Curve has been released on www.sprint.com !!!!"

Neutral

Caseus @ May 4th 2008 2:05PM

what is the color of it is?? black or is is titanium??

Neutral

Caseus @ May 4th 2008 2:06PM

i mean what is the color of it??
is it black or is it titanium??

Neutral

queen @ May 4th 2008 2:07PM

may 7th is the sprint launch date......well according to my sprint sources..

Neutral

queen @ May 4th 2008 2:11PM

whats the pricing on the new curve??

Neutral

queen @ May 4th 2008 2:14PM

dark gray is the color..not black

Neutral

jovan @ May 5th 2008 12:26AM

actually i work for sprint's internal operations and the 8830 is launching on wednesday may 7th 2008

Neutral

sprint employee @ May 5th 2008 9:21AM

If you work for sprint operations, you'd know it's the 8330 and not the 8830, right?

Neutral

Sal @ May 5th 2008 8:43PM

hahaha!

Neutral

SA @ May 5th 2008 3:47PM

Does this thing have PTT? I am sick of the 7100i!

Neutral

Aaron @ May 5th 2008 9:19PM

No it does not. Hate to be a Nextel customer!

Neutral

CAS @ May 6th 2008 11:34AM

Bad news -- I spoke with Sprint sales yesterday afternoon and was told the update was "sometime in June" for the curve release. So much for May 7th!

Neutral

Sal @ May 7th 2008 11:13AM

i just called a sprint store here in Chicago and they say that they've finally gotten a release date of May 9th on the curve

Neutral

Aaron @ May 7th 2008 11:53AM

Is this ever going to end? All this speculation and still there is no real date.

Neutral

Sal @ May 7th 2008 12:59PM

i'd say it's a little more than speculation seeing as how up until today the only answer i got from any sales rep was that there still wasn't a release date yet.

maybe sprint's actually communicating with their employees

Neutral

yo @ May 7th 2008 3:11PM

Since it is now May 7th and still no release, I'm really not believing anything that I have heard or read so far.

I will just TRY to cont. to patiently wait until I receive the email from Sprint saying I can now purchase. Everyone seems to want to be the first one to give out the right date... Well guess what? the 16th of Apr has passed, so has the 26th and now the 7th of May is passing and so will May 9th.

I spoke with 2 people from Sprint (which they clearly don't know the real date either) and the only thing that I probably took in was the fact that they are preparing to launch a big promo for the Insight (in June) and THEY WILL NOT PUSH THAT BACK because Sprint will loss money and they want to have the Curve out a couple weeks before then.

So we will see if it arrives sometime in May.

Neutral

missq56 @ May 7th 2008 6:56PM

so it's may 7th....the sprint people lied...what a bummer...i guess we will just have to wait until the june launch date..
now that i've waited sooo damn long this phone better not break the bank...and better not break down...

Neutral

queen @ May 7th 2008 7:00PM

may 7th...and no blackberry
the hotties at my local sprint store said they should be getting their first shipment in 5-8days...
then customer service saysthey dont know when the phone is going to be available....
but last week they were the ones who said may 7th...
so wtf!!! what is it??
i guess the june release is true...sucks for everyone else who was hoping for an earlier release...

Neutral

Trevor @ May 8th 2008 10:58AM

Per today's (5/7) dealer palybook, the SPrint version is available from sprint direct starting on the 9th with dealers receving their fullfillment orders soon after. Guess we will see-- this is probably the 5th time it has been in the Playbook

Neutral

queen @ May 8th 2008 6:24PM

blackberry 8330...IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!!
released today may 8th!!

only thing is u have to call sprint tele-sales dept....because stores dont have the phone in stock yet....according to tele sales...stores should be getting the phone shipments in a " few weeks""
so call 611 and order yours...
$179.00 after $100mail in rebate! so total is $279 plus tax

and it ships out in 48hrs

i already ordered mine....

have fun everyone! :-)

Neutral

yo @ May 8th 2008 7:29PM

Heeeey, I just called telesales and the guy went on and on about the 8830, not the Curve. What gives.

R u sure you ordered the Curve?

Neutral

Sal @ May 8th 2008 7:31PM

i just tried telesales 12 times and the only answer i got was early to mid june. i'm not an existing sprint customer so i can't dial the 611 number. maybe i'm dialing the wrong number. what's the equivalent of that number.

Neutral

yo @ May 8th 2008 7:59PM

Tried both 611 and the # provided on the Sprint site... both times told June release and May 9th. I have noticed that the foreign call centers say June and the local says May 9th. I wonder what is that about?

queen, why are you playing with our emotions???

Neutral

queen @ May 8th 2008 8:02PM

i dialed 611 today to pay my bill...then out of curiosity i asked about the curve and the girl searched on her computer and read to me a note she had recieved.about the curve...and then i asked about what stores already have the units...so she called a few in my area and none had n e ...
so she transferred me to telesales....and i ordered it....
i just checked the sprint website...but its not there...so i dunno about ur operators saying its not available...

Neutral

queen @ May 8th 2008 8:15PM

oh and they made me change my plan..to simply everything plan and.from nextel to sprint ...

now im on the phone trying to confirm my order for the curve...
and i just confirmed with a tele sales agent...

so i have no clue whats going on....hate to ""play with your blackberry emotions"" but i ordered mine..

Neutral