BlackBerry 8830 World Edition announced for Verizon, Sprint

We've been salivating a bit since hearing the BlackBerry 8830 would be released sometime in May on Verizon Wireless, and our dreams appear to be coming to fruition. Hey, a BlackBerry with 2GB microSD support and possible built-in iTunes got our heads rockin' -- what can we say? With word on the street that Telus (in Canada) and Verizon (U.S.) would be the first carriers to get the new 8830, this morning's news confirmed it. Both Verizon and RIM announced today that the CDMA / GSM worldphone is coming to Verizon Wireless on May 14. If you're into a full QWERTY BlackBerry with CDMA EV-DO support in addition to GSM / GPRS (900 and 1,800 MHz only), you're about to be rewarded for your patience. Sprint customers will have to wait until July -- but starting tomorrow, interested customers can pre-register at the carrier's site.

Read - Verizon press release
Read - Sprint pre-registration (starting April 26)

[Jeff @ Apr 25th 2007 11:04AM]

"World Edition" - except for Japan, of course.

[Ayle @ Apr 25th 2007 4:05PM]

"world edition" except for the everyone outside the US....

[robert @ May 8th 2008 1:40PM]

Yeah, how can you call it a world edition if it doesn't work through-out the world. Total rip off !

[theattack @ Apr 25th 2007 11:53AM]

oh my god, i just crapped my self. $399 less 100 for 2 year deal less 100 for voice and data, less 100 for my NE2 = $99 for the best blackberry ever. This is just great news.

[gibber9583 @ Apr 25th 2007 12:12PM]

Sorry, but you cant get $100 for data sign up and NE2 pricing. 1 or the other. This can be had for $199 at the cheapest. Sorry to burst your bubble :-(

[misouza @ Apr 25th 2007 12:36PM]

gibber9583: According to the press release the $100 rebate for the data plan applies in addition to a new two-year customer agreement which I would assume would also apply to the NE2 program. Although, the price of the phone starts at $399 as well, the $299 looks to be after the $100 rebate for the agreement, so you're still right the phone can be had for no less then $199.

"The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone will be available in May for $299.99 after a $100 rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. An additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the device is available for customers who sign up for qualifying voice and data plans at the time of purchase."

[gibber9583 @ Apr 25th 2007 12:39PM]

I know what the press release states. It does SOUND like you will be able to do that, but Verizon has been notoriously bad at letting you combine promotions. I cannot remember the phone, but essentially lets you get NE2 credit when you sign up for data plans.

We will have to wait and see though.

[misouza @ Apr 25th 2007 12:52PM]

Well, if what you're saying is correct then wouldn't the cheapest you could get the phone be $299?

[Andrew Cooper @ Apr 25th 2007 12:44PM]

I was able to use both my NE2 and data plan discounts when I purchased my xv6700 on Verizon. No additional discounts were available at that time, but seems hopeful to me.

[engadget @ Apr 25th 2007 1:05PM]

VZW's Global Blackberry service is only $15/mo more than their regular Blackberry service, which is a pretty good deal for folks who do a lot of int'l travel. I assume it probably doesn't include int'l voice calls, though.

I wonder if there's a way to get a la carte int'l data with a regular domestic data plan on this thing? I don't travel enough to justify $15/mo every month, but would like to have it for the couple times a year I travel internationally (and would be willing to pay $20-30 in those months for it to work).

[Jonathan Loor @ Apr 25th 2007 1:56PM]

Hmmm. I wonder if I can use VZ for voice and Tmobile for Blackberry data.... yum!

[Ian Jardine @ Apr 25th 2007 3:22PM]

Will it be unlocked for international travel?

[Ron @ Apr 25th 2007 7:50PM]

Why does Verizon always get the phones I want FIRST?

Damn you Sprint!!!!

[badonkadonk @ Apr 25th 2007 10:43PM]

Ayle, I don't know what you mean - this phone *only* works on CDMA while in the US, and works on GSM *everywhere else* (except apparently Japan where they're all FOMA, and South Korea, which would still use CDMA). You cannot use this phone on TMo-US or Cingular (or Rogers in Canada).

[Kevin @ Apr 26th 2007 12:23AM]

B2B Sales for Verizon in the past forced me to add the data plan or else they wouldn't sell me the Blackberry phone, they say it's per RIM rules. With that said, the $100 discount should be automatic, taking the phone down to $199.

Blackberries are usually cheaper via the B2B website anyways. Right now they have the 8703e for $99 after rebate on 2-years, or $130 if you take the 1-yr agreement.

[h8rain @ Apr 26th 2007 1:54PM]

Our company uses "Nextel", and I keep waiting and hoping that a new BB will be released, because the 7100i is getting stale. My second hope is they make the new "Nextel" BB better at Direct Connect.

But alas this is probably a pipe dream, since it seems no more iden phones are being made :(

[Dan @ Apr 27th 2007 3:13PM]

Why would Verizon disable the GPS functionality? If they do this, and then later choose to enable it would I be able to do a software upgrade or would I have to have a hardware upgrade?

[Ryan @ May 16th 2007 10:51PM]

Ok guys, here is the truth about the new BB. It must be purchased with data, because once it is purchased it is registered on the RIM network, and BB charges VZW for the license. So the price you are going to buy it for is really $299 with a $100 MIR. Now, if you have a NEWE2 credit, you can use that as well and get an out of pocket cost of just $99.

As far as where it will work, heres the scoop. If you choose the global email and data plan, (64.99 per month) you get the global support package which includes charging adapters, a sim card and a global support phone card so if your stranded you can call global support for free. The phone will only pick up VZW in the U.S. but will work on either CDMA or GSM. It automatically searches for the last used network, and if it is not available, searches for the opposite. You cannot use it for tethering outside of the U.S. (Which does suck). VZW also has the simplest and best international calling rates with just two tiers and a max of 2.49 per minute. (Just text and email while your abroad its included in the plan)

As far as the GPS functionality, it is not disabled at all, that would be illegal and the FCC would never approve it for E911 purposes. There is a software upgrade in the works that may enable PDA users to utilize the best cell phone application ever created, VZ Navigator.... give it 6 months tops...

[Ryan @ May 16th 2007 10:57PM]

Also, you can cancel the global email and revert to the normal one after 3 months and reactivate when you need it. Its a feature, not contracted