http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/ Engadget Mobile Comments for http://mobile.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://mobile.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Huh?]]>Jul 7th 2009 1:42PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:54PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:59PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:27PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Does engadget not have any friends they can call???]]>Jul 7th 2009 4:42PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:43PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:47PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Verizon would not benefit in any way, shape, or form by forcing RIM to remove WiFi. It's a myth that really needs to die.]]>Jul 7th 2009 1:49PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:08PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
For me this device will bridge me for the next year until Telus has completed their migration to HSPA, once there, the need for the CDMA bands disappears and we can roll with the HSPA and WiFi goodness, yum!]]>Jul 7th 2009 3:05PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 3:09PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 3:12PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
and this thing is a PHONE, you are supposed to be able to use all of its features when you are ... maybe ... OUTSIDE?]]>Jul 7th 2009 3:50PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
1. international travel - unless you want to spend $$$$$ for data roaming, WIFI is a must
2. VOIP calling is very popular these days and some other smartphones have it (mostly via WIFI only)
3. WIFI is faster than 3G no matter what you think
4. I will never open my home network just because I want to access some of my home devices from my smartphone, this is why I use WIFI
5. WPS --> WIFI is used for GPS in situations when you cannot see satellite and have wifi access points around
]]>Jul 7th 2009 4:42PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
2. The only thing limiting VoIP over cellular networks are the developers. EVDO is more than capable of VoIP.

3. WiFi isn't necessarily faster. It's based on bandwidth, same with the carriers. There are instances where WiFi could be hooked up to a slow data network, boggled down by multiple users, or both. Along with that, unless you plan on downloading massive size files, when it comes to web browsing on the *****y BB Web Browser (sorry, I am picking up the Tour, but I know that's one of the main weaknesses with BlackBerries), you're not going to notice a difference between EVDO at 1.1Mbps or WiFi at 20Mbps. Heck, from having the Bold for some time, I barely saw a difference in performance going from EDGE to WiFi...

There main advantage of WiFi, IMO, is the ability to connect when you're in areas with weak coverage, such as being deep in a building or in a basement. I do use WiFi on my iPhone because AT&T's coverage at my house and part-time job is abysmal; however, on my Sprint Palm Treo Pro, I have never been anywhere where I needed WiFi, so I can easily sacrifice it for the Sprint BB Tour.]]>Jul 7th 2009 7:00PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 7:16PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
(1) $70/month is dam lot of money for data you would not need if you need to check your email once a day over WIFI, yes it's not that much if you want to have data plan 24/7, the point is that you have no choice. Users with WIFI smartphones do.

(2) if I understand it correctly $70 does not cover any voice. WIFI is not as flexible but allows me to talk to friends over skype as much as I want for almost nothing, the roaming charges I saw on verizon web site is a joke. Does Verizon allows to you VOIP over roaming data?

(3) dude seriously, you must be joking, of course if you connect on slow wifi, you will get slow network. I've seen way too many places with dam slow 3G and wireless access available ...

(4) no response, so I guess it means that you have no workaround

(5) no response, so I guess it means that you have no workaround

(6) Trevor's good point - I've been on way too many 2 hours conference calls with my BB, I think I'm not the only one

(7) some users don't want to pay for data plan, with WIFI they can get emails at home, at school, in coffee shops


the point is that WIFI is good, it's not solution to every problem but it can solves some for free. Verizon's dumb NO-NO approach means that some users are going to pick AT&T or T-MOBILE. ]]>Jul 7th 2009 8:31PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
your forgetting this is a VERIZON phone. That means, you MUST pay the $30 a month for unl. data... or as they call it "The smart phone plan".

The $70 a month is for the min. amount of voice minutes (Around 550 for AT&T) + unl. data + (maybe) unl. text.

Wifi would be a great feature to have, but if your already paying $30 for unlimited 3G/data, you might as well use it. The speed difference between the average wifi connection your tap into (like at say.. Taco Bell), and the speed of your 3G connections will usually fall in the barely-noticeable to unnoticeable category. ]]>Jul 7th 2009 10:06PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 11:23PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 8th 2009 10:53AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 9th 2009 4:43PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 27th 2009 12:24AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
This is the same issue I have with those assholes who think all vehicles should be small, FWD, and get 60MPG. My wonderful state also requires full-time all wheel drive to get out of your DRIVEWAY 7 months out of the year, and that's if you live in the CITY.

So yeah, there are people in other parts of the world other than your back yard that get shafted on data plans and get Z E R O data coverage. I switched to AT&T in January, when they said they would be rolling out 3G coverage across the state by the end of the year. I literally laughed in the salesperson's face, and when they asked why I laughed, I asked if they were willing to sign their name to that and personally pay me a refund of the data plan if there was not 3G coverage anywhere in the state. To date there is not one single 3G tower in my state, and the first one they are still trying to put up will be 100+ miles away from me (even in other states).

But I don't need WiFi in a phone, no, I like 6KB/s when my laptop is tethered... Especially when I am paying $10 more for effectively crappy dialup than I am for the business class Comcast 6Mb/1Mb connection I have to my house... ]]>Sep 19th 2009 1:20AMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Sep 19th 2009 3:49PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:44PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Ok, then THIS proves it!]]>Jul 7th 2009 1:47PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
That said, this hardware is already pretty old. I know that the hardware has been finalized for at LEAST 2 months, and it's really been a software game after that.]]>Jul 7th 2009 1:52PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/]]>Jul 7th 2009 1:56PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:35PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:02PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Microsoft Windows devices have WiFi because their manufacturers aren't as tight with Verizon and simply go ahead and develop their devices, and present them to Verizon and say "Hey, here is a device for you. Do you want it?" At that point, Verizon has said yes in some instances. But ask yourself: How many Blackberries does Verizon sell vs how many Microsoft Windows devices? How many marketing dollars does Verizon put behind Blackberry vs how Microsoft Windows? RIM simply caters to the carrier's preferences all the way, from day 1, thus this result to date.]]>Jul 7th 2009 2:17PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
I'm not going to believe some unnamed RIM insiders on Crackberry just because they claim demo units had WiFi. Show me.]]>Jul 7th 2009 2:22PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:36PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
I'm just not buying that argument. Most of the WinMo device Verizon have are only on Verizon. Are you telling me Samsung created a Saga for Verizon with WiFi without asking Verizon if they were ok with it? That makes no sense.

They are not going to waste time developing a device, then present it to Verizon. They work together on that stuff.

That will change with LTE.. I'll just go buy some unlocked LTE device and pop a Verizon SIM in it eventually. Man that will be sweet.]]>Jul 7th 2009 2:41PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:57PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
What about HTC?

It just doesn't make sense. Verizon clearly has no issue with WiFi; if they did, there wouldn't be five different devices (over half of their Windows Mobile lineup) with it.

The only explanation I can think of that makes any sense whatsoever is that Verizon wants to push WiFi as an exclusive feature of their Windows Mobile phones so they can actually sell some of them. That theory has its own issues, though.]]>Jul 7th 2009 3:08PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 3:40PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Like the avatar, hate the vibe it brings...you're apparently a Verizon fanboy. Didnt know that such ppl would exist!

I'd just like to mention one more Wifi advantage that hasn't been picked up yet. UMA. I travel alot abroad (which is why we dropped VZW - useless), and as long as there is a wireless rounter in range, I have my own little (free) femtocell, thus full reception with lighting fast internet and, best of all, I am always able to call the US for free (on minutes).

THAT is frikkin' awesome!]]>Jul 7th 2009 3:55PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 7:18PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Not really a VZW fanboy. I guess you could call me a VZW network fanboy. Have to drive a few hours to get a sniff of AT&T 3G and that only came about in the last few months. Kinda like the first car you buy.. you have an attachment to it.

I don't see why you would drop Verizon because of international travel. Their voice rates are identical to AT&T's. VZW also has the superior data plan. If you are overseas for a month, a week or even a day you just call VZW, move your data plan to the unlimited global plan ($64.99) and when you get back, you move it back. They charge you for the time you have it, so if you have it for 1 day out of 30, you pay 1/30th of that $64.99. Doesn't AT&T force you to keep the plan for the entire month?

The only downside is device choice for International users. You are very limited currently with VZW. 8830, Saga, Ozone and Storm.. The Storm is the only one with UMTS.

But when you support users who live or work in every single state in the USA, it's a no brainer what network you go with. Network good, device choice bad though.]]>Jul 7th 2009 11:07PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 8th 2009 1:01PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
Money wasn't the issue (tho VZW is def the most expensive). The 8830 was simply unreliable abroad. We've had problems in
Denmark
Spain
England
Germany
Norway
Italy
Singapore
China
Bermuda

only Korea works fine.

Probs would range from callers being sent direct to voicemail, no data, all SMS of 24h arriving at one time, no SMS being sent/received. Even sending SMS from here to phones in Denmark and Italy was not possible. Frankly a nightmare. Though VZW tech support tried hard to figure it out, nothing came of it.

We've been 10 months with T-Mobile now, and while reception sucks outside cities, we have not had a single problem abroad. Knock on Wood.

]]>Jul 8th 2009 2:02PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 14th 2009 2:33PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:46PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:47PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:09PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:56PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 2:09PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/Jul 7th 2009 1:59PMhttp://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/07/07/verizon-blackberry-tour-review/
With that said, I had the bold for a few weeks, and the wifi was so horrifically done, I dont know if it would be a plus on here anyway. Medianet? I never did figure out what the heck that was. But on the bold you had to use a specific browser for wifi. It was so stupid I never used it.]]>Jul 7th 2009 2:05PM