Comments on: Blackberry Thunder – as good as or better than an iPhone? http://www.geardiary.com/2008/07/08/blackberry-thunder-as-good-as-or-better-than-an-iphone/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marko Polohttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/07/08/blackberry-thunder-as-good-as-or-better-than-an-iphone/#comment-38099 Marko Polo Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:48:39 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=10100#comment-38099 Yeah I've pretty much noticed that the GSM carriers give you the option of signing up for the Blackberry plans, but with CDMA carriers it's a mandatory add on except for Sprint because BIS is included in Simply Everything. I have the original curve and at the time Tmobile didn't have it yet, but I did notice that Tmobile still does let you surf at EDGE speeds even without the add on plans. I'm still not sure who is the main culprit, but either way I don't think it's going to be good for RIM in the long run especially since they're trying to attract more consumers to the Blackberry line. Yeah I’ve pretty much noticed that the GSM carriers give you the option of signing up for the Blackberry plans, but with CDMA carriers it’s a mandatory add on except for Sprint because BIS is included in Simply Everything. I have the original curve and at the time Tmobile didn’t have it yet, but I did notice that Tmobile still does let you surf at EDGE speeds even without the add on plans. I’m still not sure who is the main culprit, but either way I don’t think it’s going to be good for RIM in the long run especially since they’re trying to attract more consumers to the Blackberry line.

]]> By: mchinskyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/07/08/blackberry-thunder-as-good-as-or-better-than-an-iphone/#comment-38073 mchinsky Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:31:16 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=10100#comment-38073 Alas, another phone that wants to be "like an iphone." I guess imitation really is flattering. 2 Issues. 1) This isn't RIM's sweet spot in terms of customer demographic or experience. They better have hired a whole new crew of people to design this things. Without a keyboard, what's the advantage to an iphone other than not being forced to AT&T? 2) As wayne stated, Developers. BB never has had a huge 3rd party development commmunity. Always struck me as odd since it has such a large install base. Guess the SDK or licensing is difficult or expensive. I don't think even Microsoft Mobile will be able to touch what the iPhone developer community is going to look like 12 months from now... Alas, another phone that wants to be “like an iphone.” I guess imitation really is flattering.

2 Issues.

1) This isn’t RIM’s sweet spot in terms of customer demographic or experience. They better have hired a whole new crew of people to design this things. Without a keyboard, what’s the advantage to an iphone other than not being forced to AT&T?

2) As wayne stated, Developers. BB never has had a huge 3rd party development commmunity. Always struck me as odd since it has such a large install base. Guess the SDK or licensing is difficult or expensive. I don’t think even Microsoft Mobile will be able to touch what the iPhone developer community is going to look like 12 months from now…

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/07/08/blackberry-thunder-as-good-as-or-better-than-an-iphone/#comment-38061 Wayne Schulz Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:48:20 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=10100#comment-38061 I've seen a lot of people try to get around the mandatory Blackberry data plan -- however it seems to take away a lot of functionality if you don't subscribe. Push email isn't active (the main claim to fame on the Blackberry) and some people have problems browsing the web. While it's true that there are users who completely forgo the Blackberry data plan and are happy -- those seem to be in the minority. I don't have as much of a problem with the required data plan (all PDA devices usually require some type of plan) as I do with the extra point of failure for my email. Since ALL my email must travel through RIM servers -- I've just added one more place where the data can be delayed by an outage or other issue. I’ve seen a lot of people try to get around the mandatory Blackberry data plan — however it seems to take away a lot of functionality if you don’t subscribe. Push email isn’t active (the main claim to fame on the Blackberry) and some people have problems browsing the web.

While it’s true that there are users who completely forgo the Blackberry data plan and are happy — those seem to be in the minority.

I don’t have as much of a problem with the required data plan (all PDA devices usually require some type of plan) as I do with the extra point of failure for my email. Since ALL my email must travel through RIM servers — I’ve just added one more place where the data can be delayed by an outage or other issue.

]]> By: cenobythttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/07/08/blackberry-thunder-as-good-as-or-better-than-an-iphone/#comment-38060 cenobyt Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:50:08 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=10100#comment-38060 I believe that is carrier dependent. I have the curve through T-Mobile and I just have their data plan. I opted to not use the blackberry service which is honestly geared towards big biz. Therefore I only pay for the standard data plan. Gmail works fine. So I note only surf with Edge, I also have wifi which I believe is not available on the AT&T Curve. I believe that is carrier dependent. I have the curve through T-Mobile and I just have their data plan. I opted to not use the blackberry service which is honestly geared towards big biz. Therefore I only pay for the standard data plan. Gmail works fine. So I note only surf with Edge, I also have wifi which I believe is not available on the AT&T Curve.

]]> By: Marko Polohttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/07/08/blackberry-thunder-as-good-as-or-better-than-an-iphone/#comment-38057 Marko Polo Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:34:06 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=10100#comment-38057 What I wish RIM would stop doing is force people to sign up for a blackberry email plan. Without one the devices are limited because my AT&T curve was surfing along at GPRS speeds because in order to gain access to EDGE I needed to sign up for a Blackberry plan. I loved the curve's design and mainly wanted it for texting, but forcing consumers to choose between a crippled device or a $40 email plan is kind of ridiculous to me. It might also turn off some of the consumers that RIM is trying to capture. What I wish RIM would stop doing is force people to sign up for a blackberry email plan. Without one the devices are limited because my AT&T curve was surfing along at GPRS speeds because in order to gain access to EDGE I needed to sign up for a Blackberry plan. I loved the curve’s design and mainly wanted it for texting, but forcing consumers to choose between a crippled device or a $40 email plan is kind of ridiculous to me. It might also turn off some of the consumers that RIM is trying to capture.

]]>