8830 on Sprint will be SIM LOCKED!
Although various news releases and Sprint's own website (see full posting below) says a major feature will be that the phone will be unlocked so you can use cheap prepaids when roaming internationally - this is NOT the case. Immediately below is a repsonse from CS at Sprint.
Being as I travel overseas, this would have been a great phone and feature. This does nothing to encourage the GSM users (T-M and ATT) to even consider switching to SPCS. GSM carriers will unlock almost all phones for their customers.
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Email from SPCS on 6/19:
We do apologize for that information listed. That is the generic information being sent out for that device for all carriers. This device for Sprint is actually sim-locked. If you have any f...
(continues)
Being as I travel overseas, this would have been a great phone and feature. This does nothing to encourage the GSM users (T-M and ATT) to even consider switching to SPCS. GSM carriers will unlock almost all phones for their customers.
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Email from SPCS on 6/19:
We do apologize for that information listed. That is the generic information being sent out for that device for all carriers. This device for Sprint is actually sim-locked. If you have any f...
(continues)
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I don't know if that is accurate. I just met with my Blackberry rep yesterday and he stated otherwise. That also does not make sense since it would not be "generic" information as the only other carrier with the 8830 is vzw and their 8830 is SIM locked.
Guess we will just have to wait and see.
Guess we will just have to wait and see.
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I did write a followup email to CS copying that info that is on their own web site.
Supposedly, this is supposed to be available for business accounts by July 4th and for everyone else by the middle of the month. I'll take my T-M, ATT, and one of my foreign SIMS and check it out for myself.
My original question to CS assumed that the phone was unlocked. I had simply asked if I would be charged for call forwarding to a local callforwarding service like voicestick.com or kall8.com that forwards my calls to whatever cell I use overseas. I was hoping just to use the 8830. I would have made SPCS my primary carrier instead of T-M and put in a low priced SIM when overseas.
It appears that Sprint is the only carrier that normally i...
(continues)
Supposedly, this is supposed to be available for business accounts by July 4th and for everyone else by the middle of the month. I'll take my T-M, ATT, and one of my foreign SIMS and check it out for myself.
My original question to CS assumed that the phone was unlocked. I had simply asked if I would be charged for call forwarding to a local callforwarding service like voicestick.com or kall8.com that forwards my calls to whatever cell I use overseas. I was hoping just to use the 8830. I would have made SPCS my primary carrier instead of T-M and put in a low priced SIM when overseas.
It appears that Sprint is the only carrier that normally i...
(continues)
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You can try to put your AT&T or T-Mob SIM in the 8830 and see if it gives you an error message, that should confirm wether or not it is unlocked. However, do not expect to be able to make calls with one of those SIMs since the 8830 only supports overseas GSM frequencies. Keep us posted with your findings.
-JM
-JM
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You can't go by CS. They have been telling some that you have to get the $70 international BB data plan to use this phone when it is not the case unless you use the phone overseas.
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