A very difficult set of questions to answer, because much is opinion based. So here's my opinion
What's the best carrier in terms of
- BB coverage
Coverage: It all depends; where do you need to use it? Do you travel outside of North America? Do you have an existing agreement with any carrier (I'm thinking Verizon or Nextel). I use T-Mobile and like them. Others detest them. For our customers I am carrier agnostic. I don't care if they get T-Mobile, Verizon, Nextel or Cingular. Since AT&T Wireless is going away, I recommend Cingular for those that need the 850 MHz GSM band,
- price
That one's easy: T-Mobile underprices everyone else. BlackBerrys themselves are cheaper, and the monthly service is also.
- BB support
Not touching that one. No one likes their carrier We have corporate relationships with most carriers, so I never have to call a carrier's call center.
I have been a loyal Verizon customer and I purchased the 7750 when it came out. It worked ok but I like the size or shape of the 7280 from Cingular. Also our company has corporate accounts with both but I was able to obtain the 7280 for a huge discount over the 7750. Long story short I started using the Cingular 7280 on Tuesday. The service has been acceptable but there is no question in my mind that Verizon still has the superior service.
Verizon has a great network, with excellent coverage. My only problem with them has been their lack of dedication to the BlackBerry. They were the last vendor out with v3.6 (for the 6750), the last vendor out with a color BlackBerry (the 7750) and the last vendor out with the BlackBerry Web Client.
Having said that, it you don't mind their relatively high prices and the fact that they are North American only, Verizon is a good choice. Since I travel around, I need GSM/GPRS.
OMG. You guys are all speaking the truth. There is really no "best" for everyone. You have to experiment. Get a device, go to places that you spend most of your time. If not satisfied, return the device and terminate the service within 14 days without hesitation. Don't let them sweet talk you into deals. Remember, if you can't use the device/service, it does not matter how cheap and what bonus they give. Don't worry, if you decide to joint later, they will always let you back in.
Where I live, I only get Sprint and Verizon signal (consistantly). If I have to use BB, Verizon becomes my only choice, thus the best for me, plus I don't travel international. Pricing actually comes in second importance. If you can't use the device/service, it does not matter how cheap it is. But I am sure my neighbor across from me, who gets pretty much any carrier's signal in good quality, will have a different opinion.
This is much of the info I'm looking for. My hunch was that Verizon would have good BB (data) coverage, probably better than anyone else in the US. Price is less of an issue than coverage and services.
I'm specifically interested in BB support less for phone support than for support for the platform. For example, the fact that Verizon was last out with 3.6 isn't surprising; they're also last out with Windows Mobile 2003 for the i700. Nextel seems to have the best non-BES support (allowing browsing, Internet); do others allow that?
Also, among GSM carriers, I'm unclear about GPRS coverage. I can look at coverage maps, but that's not always helpful.
I'm in the Boston area, and I'd be interested to hear from any GSM Blackberry users who have tried more than one carrier to hear which one had best coverage.
GPRS rides on GSM network. However, that does not mean they have equal coverage. GPRS area is usually a subset of GSM coverage. That applies to AT&T GSM, Cingular and T-Mobile. For Nextel, when you have signal, you have both voice and data. For Sprint, as long as you have Sprint signal, you have voice and data. For Verizon, as long as you are on their digital network (not analog), you get voice and data.
I was standing at mid town Manhattan and got full signal (5/5) and GSM lit up. I waited for 15 minutes with full signal and it would not switch to even "gprs", needless to say "GPRS". FYI, "GPRS" is required to recieve browser content and email on AT&T. "gprs" only gets you messaging.
There really is not much activity on this site. I have come to the realization that a Blackberry is the right tool for me versus my I700 or my I600. If I could access webmail on my I600 I would stay with it. I love the functionality of the phone and the voice activated dialing. However with the current software and browser it will not work. I like the size of the 7280 over the 7750 there is however no question that Verizon coverage and connectivity if far superior in the South where I mainly travel. I have been trying Cingular and it is bearable but not consistent.
Is anyone familiar with the Nextel coverage on the Blackberry throughout the Southeast. I am sure that ATT would not be much different than Cingular.
wannabetech, I love my 7750 and have fairly good coverage with Verizon....but not as good as with my i700. I also miss the voice activated dialing. I don't miss the size of the device though and the 7750 seems small in comparison. Almost got an i600 instead, but saw some unfavorable reviews. I got the 7750, because I figure it will take Verizon/Sansung at least 2 years to introduce RIM capability on one of their devices.
PS. Verizon is the least innovative and the most costly, but still has the best coverage in the Eastern US and coverage is king!
waycool, I am in total agreement. Verizon is definitely not the most innovative but I can make a call when I need to. I really like the 7280 but the Cingular service doesn't come close to Verizon. The 7750 is not much bigger and smaller than the I700. If I could have gotten to my webmail on the I600 it would have been perfect. I ordered the 7750 again last night and I will hopefully have it soon.
I have purchased a blackberry 7750 from verizon and a 7730 blackberry from t-mobile. Not sure which is better, but I am about to test both-- I am wondering--- I live In NYC and travel alot to PR-- I need good quality access in both places only-- I do not travel international.... which is better-- can make up my mind-- We know verizon is more expensive-- but are they better?
sanjuan646 I don't know about Puerto Rico, I will be interested to see how it works. I also am interested in the differences you find between T-Mobile and Verizon. I downloaded the new software for my I600 and what a disaster that was. I am sticking with the 7750 for now.
I'm now trying a BB from Cingular. I was in LGA last week, and the coverage there was terrible. My Verizon phone, on the other hand, always worked great in major airports.
I'll be interested in the differences in coverage between TMo and Verizon.
The major difference between TMo and Verizon is the fact that Verizon doesn't work outside of North America, while T-Mobiles coverage oiutside the US is in some cases better than domestic.
Puerto Rico has also been interesting. The original (data only) BlackBerrys (950/957) work like a champ on the island. My T-Mobile BlackBerry, last time I was there (at the airport) worked as a phone (it must have been roaming) but no data. Cingular, with their 850MHz band, may work there - I know Cingular works great on St. Croix.
I travel mainly throughout the Southeast and Verizon works everywhere I go. I was really surprised how the Cingular service was very inconsistent. Dropped calls no service and that was travelling on I75 from Knoxville to Atlanta. I have driven from Knoxville to Atlanta and never lost a call on Verizon. I do like the 7280 better than the 7750.
I am a rep that carries multiple companies as well. It really does depend on your needs. In my opinion, Verizon and Nextel have good coverage. As far as price, another thing to think about it that Nextel has employee purchase programs that bring down the price of the blackberry A LOT. Becomes better price than other carriers that way. EPP covers teachers, gov employees, employees of large companies, etc. If I knew where you worked, I can tell you what cost would be. Lately, cost for 7510 Nextel is $249. I have also sold a few T Mobile Blackberries and so far - no customer issues with it. They have been happy.
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Originally posted by swingspan This is much of the info I'm looking for. My hunch was that Verizon would have good BB (data) coverage, probably better than anyone else in the US. Price is less of an issue than coverage and services.
I'm specifically interested in BB support less for phone support than for support for the platform. For example, the fact that Verizon was last out with 3.6 isn't surprising; they're also last out with Windows Mobile 2003 for the i700. Nextel seems to have the best non-BES support (allowing browsing, Internet); do others allow that?
Also, among GSM carriers, I'm unclear about GPRS coverage. I can look at coverage maps, but that's not always helpful.
I'm in the Boston area, and I'd be interested to hear from any GSM Blackberry users who have tried more than one carrier to hear which one had best coverage.
We have national accounts with most carriers Nextel, Cingular, ATT and Verizon. So price really isn't an issue it really is more about having service when I need it. I appreciate your input.
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