I avoided the iPhone for a long time. In part out of principle (I’m not one to join the crowd), and AT&T crap network; but also because when I did try them in stores I just wasn’t that impressed.
Posts Tagged ‘BlackBerry’
Now that I have given you an overview of the past year it is only fitting that I share some of my cellular industry predictions for the coming year and beyond. I’m not an industry insider (I WISH!) and these are my own conjecture based upon my own views and info I have gleaned from the cellular phone blogs. This article will focus on the US but make some observations on worldwide issues as well.
My recent article about the past year of RIM innovation over the last year and a half took me down memory lane and has prompted me to take a look into the future as well.
RIM has certainly had an eventful past 18 months, and some would say that they deserve a break, and a lesser company would be tempted to do so, but fortunately for us BB fans that does not appear to be the case at all.
The year 2009 is about to come to an end, and what a banner year it has been for cel phones in general and especially BlackBerries.
Android, a fledgling upstart OS has come into it’s own, expanding the handset and carrier selection, as well as making the OS a lot more user friendly. Palm came out of obscurity with the new WebOS device operating system (too bad the hardware is so cheap, and they are on a dead end carrier). Apple iPhone finally got MMS and push notifications so they can at least pretend like they are multitasking.
And then there is RIM. Ah RIM, everyone’s favorite whipping boy it seems. RIM has had the most promising year of all, though critics are reluctant to admit it.
A year ago the two devices to have were the Bold 9000 on GSM carriers, and Storm 9530 on CDMA carriers.
RIM has just released an update for their native BlackBerry Messenger application!
The new upgrade is to 5.0.0.55 and is now available for download from BlackBerry.com . Expect to see it in AppWorld tomorrow.
This one is only for OS 4.7 and up like the last one and remember to back up your contacts before installing. Demand for this is going to be high so if you get errors on the download, try again later or wait for a mirror to show up in the forums or comments.
It seems that every time I turn around I see another poster in a forum who does not get what the BB model numbers stand for, so I’m boing to take a few minutes here to clarify things for the less enlightened.
BlackBerry Spartphones have 4 digit model numbers. The first two digits indicate the series, for example:
- 81xx – Perl
- 83xx – Curve
- 87xx
- 88xx
- 89xx – Curve 2/Javelen
- 90xx – Bold
- 95xx – Storm
- 96xx – Tour/Niagara
As you can see some of them have fancy names and others are known only by the number.
The second set of numbers indicates what technology is iniside the phone, for example
- XX00 — used to be plan ordinary GSM Blackberries with no GPS chip OR WiFi, however the Bold changed all that. Both the Bold 9000 and Curve 8900 have had both.
- XX10 — mans the phone is a GSM phone with GPS but no WiFi
- XX20 — means that the phone is a GSM phone with WiFi but probably no GPS chip (all phones have aGPS for 911 emergency use at least if they are launching in the US)
- XX30 — means it is a CDMA phoen. Unlike GSM there are not different numbers to indicate whatother features it has inside. So it may or may not have a physical GPS chip, and may or may not be a dual mode CDMA/GSM “World Phone.” This far there have been NO CDMA BlackBerries with WiFi.
- XX50 — usually also has an i on the end of it and is n iDEN phone that only Nextel uses.
Hopefully this clars some things up for a lot of you.
I’m confused, can you explain BB data plans for me?
Absolutely! This page will explain the difference between various voice and data plans available for the BlackBerry Storm and other BB’s on Verizon Wireless.
Okay folks if I hear “i can’t afford the $30 data plan or “I can’t justify the cost of the data plan” (on top of what I have now) one more time I am going to scream! People think it is always $30 more than whatever they are paying now. This is NOT always the case.
White this is definitely true for some people the prevalence of the statement indicates that there is a painful lack of ignorance on this subject out there so I am going to enlighten people.
First of all I am going to address what a Blackberry Data Plan is, why you need it, and how it differs from VPack (unlimited data) that’s also in Premium Plans.
With VPack you are have the ability to make and end data connections and not be charged for data. This is a nice thing it’s hardly the same as a BB data plan. Let me explain:
To surf the web you need to open the browser, wait for the data connection to start, and then wait for the page to download.
If you want to check your email you need to open Mobile Email (or open the web based email site in the browser) , log in and wait for your email to be downloaded.
With a BB data plan you have an ALWAYS ON data connection.
BIS (Blackberry Internet Services) checks your email boxes periodically andPUSHES the emails to your phone. If you use GMail there is an app that gives you all of most of the features of the web based email system in the convenience of your handset. You may ask how fast this is but I can tell you from experience that it shows up in the BB inbox BEFORE it shows up on the site by at least a minute and sometimes more.
To surf the web all you need to do is open the browser and call up the page. No waiting for the data connection to start. Also if you leave the browser open in the background that’s one less thing you need to wait for. (For anyone who does not know BB’s are at their core multitasking, so yes you can do that.)
Add to that many apps can also PUSH the data to your phone (weather reports for example) so it is there at a glance.
Since the data connection is always on there is a lot less waiting involved. But it also means more cost.
The cost comparison:
Okay folks, when people talk data plans they most often throw out the $29.99/month price point for the unlimited data plan. (However there is also a lower priced one for people who don’t use it as much.$10/month for 500 MB)
BUT what people frequently forget is that you ONLY need to ADD this of you are adding a data plan ON TOP of your existing data plan. The only people who absolutely MUST do this are people who are secondary lines on a family share plan.
Everybody else can just upgrade to a plan that INCLUDES the data plan
This is the grid and the one a little below it from the vzw site and book and I took out the stuff that you don’t need.
| Anytime VoiceMinutes Used | Email Plan(no unl text messaging) | Email & Messaging Plan(includes unlimited text messaging) |
| 450 | $79.99 | $99.99 |
| 900 | $99.99 | $119.99 |
| 1350 | $109.99 | $129.99 |
| UNLIMITED: | $129.99 | $149.99 |
| Data Sent or Recieved | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
Now let me reiterate for those that missed it these plans INCLUDE the data plan.
Now let’s compare them to the Nationwide Premium and Select Plans most of you are on.
| Anytime VoiceMinutes Used | Nationwide Basic(no unlimited texting) | Nationwide Select(includes unlimited texting | Nationwide Premium(not available with a BB data plan listed here for comparison only) |
BlackberryEmail Plan
(no unl text messaging) |
BlackberryEmail & Messaging Plan
(includes unlimited text messaging) |
| 450 | 39.99 | 59.99 | 99.99 | 79.99 | 99.99 |
| 900 | $59.99 | $79.99 | $99.99 | $99.99 | $119.99 |
| 1350 | $79.99 | $99.99 | $119.99 | $109.99 | $129.99 |
| UNLIMITED | $99.99 | $119.99 | $139.99 | $129.99 | $149.99 |
| Data Sent or Received | $1.99/MB | $1.99/MB | INCLUDED | INCLUDED | INCLUDED |
Notice that the Email plan (no unlimited text messaging) $20 more than the Select plan is the SAME the Premium equivalent.
Of course by going off of Premium you loose:
- Mobile Email (does not matter, a much better email solution is included in the BB data plan)
- VPack (does not matter unless you want ESPN MMVP which is part of VPack but that or an equivalent app will will no doubt be made available for BB)
- VZNavitoator — But you will be able to use BB Maps and Google Maps for free
NOTE that you can’t add the data plan to the Premium Plans since it would be duplicating services. If you are on Premium now you need to go down to Select or Basic.
So let’s add it up here.
Most of you who have Voyagers either have the Select or Premium Plans.
Let’s just say that 450 minutes are enough for you. Right now you are paying $79.99 ($59.99 for Select).
You have two choices:
1 Add the ($29.99) data plan to your existing calling plan: $79.99 + 29.99 = 109.98 ($59.99+29.99 = $89.98 for Basic)
2. Subscribe to the plan that includes the data plan $99.99 (79.99 for those who don’t need the unlimited text)
There are also rumored new data plans specifically for the storm but that has not been confirmed so obviously we can’t really talk about it 
But if there are any updates on this I will be sure update this page.
Hopefully this is going to make it easier for some of you to decide what. Please feel free to ask any additional questions and I will do my best to clear things up.
ADDENDUM:Another option for people like me who use a BB as a second device and only need data access:
Personal Email for BB (no voice) $34.99 (no unl. text messaging, but you can add a bundle if you want). If you want the unlimited text you have to upgrade to the commercial version which us $54.99.
UPDATE: Looking for info on family share plans? Check out this post in the main blog.
