Blackberry for Non-Business Customers

[MikeVA]

Okay Sprint offers a Blackberry phone for business customers only, do you think they will open it up to non-business customers?

[MsRandall]

Yes supposely there is a new BB for non business customers ...at least thats what the BB rep said the store when I seen him

[MikeVA]

I talked to customer service last week and she did not know if it ever would be offered.

[MsRandall]

BlackBerry rep was in a store...he said yes and soon...who knows with Sprint

[MikeVA]

I swear, Sprint has to do a better job of training their CS reps

[MsRandall]

Keep in mind reps dont get the store information or new product info alot in advance...as a former employee you have ENPOWER yourself by looking over plans, new phones, etc...they do not spoon feed reps there so if you dont take pride in your job you become an uneducated rep....I mastered the ability to change plans correctly because I took the time to look at the different configurations ...beyond the basic. I watched others not read up on phones and lose sales because of it....CS reps have the same duties to learn products and stay current....now to not know the BB will or suppose to be release in a personal edition is not bad...it probably isnt known by many employees at that level if it is true.

[secretxsong]

as of right now we do not offer non-business customers the blackberry. i will definitely check when i go back to work tomorrow if we will be anytime soon.

[Deval]

coming soon....a BB for us all

[MikeVA]

Something about the horses mouth comes to mind here. :lol:

as of right now we do not offer non-business customers the blackberry. i will definitely check when i go back to work tomorrow if we will be anytime soon.

[a_c_s]

I think the data plans for the BB are expensive though, right? Will that change when they make it available to the general public? I have unlimited vision free on my plan, so the incentive to get the BB is minimal if I have to pay a lot for the data side...

[Cnorwapo]

I think if Sprint is smart which I hope they are...they will come up with a BB that has push to talk and with the same concepts as the Treo 650.

[MikeVA]

Nextel already has this BB with Push Talk functionality.

[NinjaMom]

Nextel already has this BB with Push Talk functionality.

Had it for a long time. It is an awesome phone, but limited in 3rd party software.

[NinjaMom]

I swear, Sprint has to do a better job of training their CS reps


I hear this alot. I recently ported to Sprint from Nextel. My experience so far is that Sprint's CS reps are worlds above nextel.

[MikeVA]

Well basically it is like the US Govt. approach to business. Hire the cheapest labor possible to do critical tasks.

[DF@Work]

The 'consumer' Crackberry is coming... though i wasn't exactly thrilled with it... but then again, I was never into the Blackberry concept to begin with...

[Ianbiz]

my dad has a blackberry but its w/ verison.
not for business.

[MikeVA]

Well I would go ahead and not get a blackberry if we could get phones with greater functionality.

[DF@Work]

Define functionality...

[vince]

Well I would go ahead and not get a blackberry if we could get phones with greater functionality.


Do I need a vision plan if I only use the blackberry to check email?

How about aol instant messenger?

Vince
housespinner at gmail.com

[S11208]

Well i have a blackberry 7130, Im a individual liable business customer, this new blackberry is great in a way, but it laks readylink and a cheaper rate plan. The blackbery data plan is quite expensive, Its currently $39.99 per month. The only messenger i could of download for free was yahoo messenger, Its not consumer phone so it lacks the ability to function like one, But its relly great for push email, text messeging, instant messeging and talking.

[Brooose]

THe new BB is now listed on the Consumer side for phones.

http://www1.sprintpcs.com/explore/PhonesAccessories/PhoneDetails.jsp?navLocator=%7Cshop%7CphonesAccess ories%7CallPhones%7C&selectSkuId=blackberry7130&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1476015&CURRENT_USER%3C%3EATR_SCID=ECOMM&CURRENT_USER%3C%3EATR_PCode=None&CURRENT_USER%3C%3EATR_cartState=group&bmUID=1149450288094

[rjmoose]

THe new BB is now listed on the Consumer side for phones.

http://www1.sprintpcs.com/explore/PhonesAccessories/PhoneDetails.jsp?navLocator=%7Cshop%7CphonesAccess ories%7CallPhones%7C&selectSkuId=blackberry7130&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1476015&CURRENT_USER%3C%3EATR_SCID=ECOMM&CURRENT_USER%3C%3EATR_PCode=None&CURRENT_USER%3C%3EATR_cartState=group&bmUID=1149450288094

Great Post Brooose. I was about to mention the same thing. It's ONLY listed on the consumer side. It's not even on the Business side...at least on the website.

[rjmoose]

On another note (don't flame me for this....its a simple question)

Can the new blackberry or any of them use MS Outlook as the PIM or do you have to use the Blackberry Proprietary software?

TIA

[Brooose]

Well i have a blackberry 7130, Im a individual liable business customer, this new blackberry is great in a way, but it laks readylink and a cheaper rate plan. The blackbery data plan is quite expensive, Its currently $39.99 per month. The only messenger i could of download for free was yahoo messenger, Its not consumer phone so it lacks the ability to function like one, But its relly great for push email, text messeging, instant messeging and talking.


Have you tried Ramble? It works for AIM and it is free

http://wireless.sra.com/ramble/

[Brooose]

On another note (don't flame me for this....its a simple question)

Can the new blackberry or any of them use MS Outlook as the PIM or do you have to use the Blackberry Proprietary software?

TIA


You have to use the proprietary software to sync but you can use Outlook as your PIM.

[rjmoose]

Thanks Brooose!!!

So, it uses the proprietary software but, treats outlook like a conduit?

Kinda like palm desktop used to with "Chapura PocketMirror" ?

I may give this new BB a go.

[Brooose]

I have one and I am comparing it with the 700p. I don't know....I just don't know....

[rjmoose]

I have one and I am comparing it with the 700p. I don't know....I just don't know....

So, you get to be the Guinea Pig.....I was going to do the same thing too....please...give the goods and bads...let me know how they compare.

Did you get yours from a store or did you have to order from the website or Telesales?

Talk to me Brooose, talk to me!!!!!!!

[Brooose]

First impressions.....

Email and messaging: better on the BB, although Suretype does have a learning curve. I learned it quickly and don't mind it at all.

Web: Treo Blazer is better than the Internet Browser on the BB. It is faster and has better plugin support and loads more pages faster.

PIM: Treo/Palm does this much better but the BB is adequate.

Mac support: PocketMac flat out sucks so if you are a Mac user, the Treo is much more friendly. Palm Desktop and Missing Sync both work very well.

Phone: RF about equal. Both very good. Earpieces are both clear and loud. The edge goes to the Treo, though, because you can force digital roaming and have the option to allow data roaming or not.

Battery: Better on the Treo unless you do a lot of streaming media.

Multimedia: Treo. You can't do much of anything MM-wise on the BB.

Price: BB cheaper but the Treo does A LOT more so it's a wash from the value standpoint. They are both expensive but with rebates it is a bit better.

All in all, the Treo 700p is my dream phone. I love it. It does everything I want it to do. It isn't perfect but I am leaning towards keeping it. For messaging, the BB is a great device. The web is good and it feels great as a phone. Anyone want to buy a 7130e before I send it back to telesales???!!! :)

[rjmoose]

PM me.....Let's talk :)