BlackBerry Tours, come and get 'em on Sprint and Verizon

If you've had you eye on the Tour, we bet you didn't forget they were going on sale today -- but just in case you had, consider this your official reminder. Both carriers are now offering RIM's latest and greatest CDMA BlackBerry for $199.99 on contract, so you're probably not going to see a lot of defections between carriers this time around. Pardon us if we don't shed a tear for the lack of exclusivity on this one.

Read - Sprint
Read - Verizon

[Byrdman @ Jul 12th 2009 12:06PM]

Just was at a Verizon store to look at this. Very nice phone. Definitely worth it to upgrade.

[Evan @ Jul 12th 2009 12:27PM]

being forced to upgrade via web sucks :|

[Evan @ Jul 12th 2009 12:45PM]

Mmmm, I either spend $390 for the retail upgrade or I wait another 14 months for the discounted upgrade and get stuck with the outdated 8330. Decisions decisions.

[m3nphls @ Jul 12th 2009 1:47PM]

@Evan

Since when is $390??

1yr upgrade or new line is $270 after rebate and 2yr is $200.

As for me, I'll get my phone tomorrow or tuesday paying only $477 w/o contract so I can use my NE2 for something better in the future.

[MRCUR @ Jul 12th 2009 2:04PM]

@m3nphIs - The Tour is $489 off contract, which is generally "retail" as referred to by others.

[m3nphls @ Jul 12th 2009 2:19PM]

@MCUR

I know, but i work at a indiredt agent location so our incoming price for the tour is $477, that's why I won't be paying VZW retail price+tax

[Jared @ Jul 12th 2009 4:00PM]

Just got my tour. Woot woot.

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 12th 2009 5:46PM]

How nice is it?
Here's the deal. I am stuck on Verizon for the time being, and currently have a BB Curve 8830. I also have an iPod Touch gen 1 that I carry around primarily for WiFi web browsing and a few games and utilities.

The BB 8830 I use is incredibly sluggish, slow, and "laggy" by comparison to the iPhone and Palm Pre, and in particular *web browsing* is a very poor experience, even using 3rd party browsers like Opera. I tried the BB Storm when it came out, and that wasn't much better. The whole OS was again pretty sluggish, and the web browsing experience, while certainly better than the 8830, was still sluggish. Most of the problems with BB phones in my opinion have to do with using relatively slow processors for the unoptimized OS, and especially *** not having support for hardware graphics acceleration **. I don't care that much about games, but clearly hardware graphics acceleration is necessary for a decent web browsing experience. Just look at the Pre and all the iPhones, both of which have native OS support for their PowerVR chips, and it results in fast, fluid web browser engine panning and zooming.

Obviously the new BB Tour (and all the new-ish GSM models like 8900/Bold/etc) seem to have excellent high-resolution displays, a slick new interface, and (slightly) faster processors. But my real question is has the overall experience improved from the 8830-era devices? Do applications run faster? Most importantly, is the *web browser* a lot faster in page rendering? Does the native or any 3rd party browsers have fluid panning, scrolling and/or zooming? I am really looking for a fast browser and application experience. I have looked at review, but I never can find a straight answer.

Can someone that has had experience with the BB Tour (or Bold or 8900) help me out? Thanks

[Evan @ Jul 12th 2009 8:24PM]

@m3nphIs

20% corporate discount

[BuffaloX @ Jul 13th 2009 11:31AM]

@loosely_coupled

Yes, the newer Blackberries are a definite upgrade from your 8830. The web browser is improved but not as good as the iPhone or Pre. You can use the BB as a music player. I use my with an 8GB microSD card. It's not the best music player around but it does a descent job.

Go down to a Sprint or Verizon store and try it out. I think you will be happy with the new BB Tour.

[Jared @ Jul 13th 2009 4:40PM]

Lets say I used to have an orange Env and carried my Ipod Touch for my music and other goodies, now I am selling the Touch b/c the Tour has replaced them all. It can hold upto a 32GB microSD card, which holds all of my music and them some. Along w/ having GPS and all the intrawebs I could ask for. It's fast, multitasks like a mofo, and is lighter then the storm. What more could you ask for from a Verizon phone?

[keatonreckard @ Jul 12th 2009 12:15PM]

there are too many blackberry phones already.. and they arent all that different from each other

[d889 @ Jul 12th 2009 5:32PM]

but, there is a difference....

[Ruben @ Jul 12th 2009 8:20PM]

For people that contemplate purchasing a Blackberry, they are well aware of the differences, and they are numerous. You cant just say "ill pick up this Blackberry instead because its the same." There is a lot of product separation with Blackberry devices.

But if all you see is screen on top, keyboard on bottom, then you are not looking in the right places, nor are you probably trying to research the devices at all.

[MeanSpyvie @ Jul 12th 2009 8:44PM]

Where could one go to get a lucid breakdown of the differences between models?

Serious inquiry...

[Ruben @ Jul 12th 2009 8:53PM]

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/compare/


Or read reviews on crackberry.com.

[MRCUR @ Jul 12th 2009 12:16PM]

I really hope Sprint makes the Tour available for data-only...

[Ivan @ Jul 12th 2009 12:21PM]

got my tracking number. it'll be here Tuesday :)

[Miguel @ Jul 12th 2009 12:24PM]

Mite be a good idea for Sprint to Go ahead and get that 8830 off the Site now....People may ask why the old is $580 and the New is only $500. Anyway, ill buy off contract now....then renew my Sprint Contract later when the Touch Pro 2 or watever is released in Q4.

anyone see that Inferno Orange Curve on the Sprint Site?

[Sofunnytom @ Jul 12th 2009 1:33PM]

I saw the inferno orange curve.... right with the other two colors of the curve on the website

[jim G @ Jul 12th 2009 12:25PM]

Sprint only has it available online. NONE of the stores near me in Illinois have it in stock. NONE. They all say it is online and phone sales only. Thank you sprint. I have to go to a Verizon store to see what it is like.....I wonder what will happen there......hmmmmmmm

[Lynx @ Jul 12th 2009 4:22PM]

Hmmm, I am due to upgrade both my lines in a few weeks. If this phone is online/telesales online, and the other phone I want for my other line, the Palm Pre, is in-store only, it will be tricky for my upgrade.....Thanks Sprint for making this hard.

[J @ Jul 12th 2009 12:26PM]

Damn corporate account won't let me order this yet. I've been dying for this phone for 6 months now.

[grull27 @ Jul 12th 2009 12:26PM]

You got your point across.

[hxq17 @ Jul 12th 2009 12:35PM]

Why is Verizon imitating the Pre with the sunset background?

[Sneakz @ Jul 12th 2009 12:45PM]

Maybe you guys should add Bell Mobility in Canada to the article. They actually launched the 9630 on Friday.

http://www.bell.ca/shopping/en_CA_ON.BlackBerryTour--9630/68195.details

[DonD @ Jul 12th 2009 1:23PM]

They posted an article about it when it was released. On Friday.

[jim G @ Jul 12th 2009 12:55PM]

LMAO...i made the mistake of sending sprint a complaint letter online....this is what I get

https://search.sprint.com:443/inquiraapp/emailCare.jsp?submit.x=63&submit.y=11&submit=Finish

[Tdburn @ Jul 12th 2009 1:40PM]

Looks like they don't want to hear your complaints! Ha ha ha

[Kevin @ Jul 12th 2009 1:49PM]

ordered mine at midnight..

and the status is

Status: The order has been submitted and requires manual processing. If there is an issue processing the order we will contact you. Please allow 2-5 business days for your order to be processed

[Brandon @ Jul 12th 2009 1:53PM]

Same here

[rkpmobile @ Jul 13th 2009 10:43AM]

Same here, I hope to have by the end of the week!!!

[rkpmobile @ Jul 14th 2009 9:24AM]

Just checked my order status from sprint, got a UPS tracking # and is out for delivery. just sucks I won't get home till 6.

[Brandon @ Jul 12th 2009 1:51PM]

Got mine online last night from Sprint... But no tracking # yet.

I talked to a sprint rep and he said they wouldn't be selling them in the store until August. He doesn't even think they're getting display models til August either. Just shows you how rushed Sprint was to match Verizon's release date.

[gouken85 @ Jul 12th 2009 1:52PM]

pic on the right blackberry: Nice
pic on the left blackberry: Ugly

[drakeshipway @ Jul 12th 2009 1:58PM]

It was also released by Bell today in Canada.
http://www.bell.ca/shopping/en_CA_ON.BlackBerryTour--9630/68195.details

I still can't get over how much hype there was over this phone..
(That last bit was 100% sarcasm)

[Andrew T. @ Jul 12th 2009 2:23PM]

The titanium bezel is so much more nicer than the regular silver bezel. Too bad Verizon is the only carrier (IIRC) with the titanium bezel while the rest are on silver. If I decide to pick one up from Bell, might have to do a little modification to black it out.

[Terry @ Jul 12th 2009 2:44PM]

Its $99 at Best Buy. Looks very nice, very solid build. But no wi-fi kills the deal plus I have too many iPhone apps that are not on the Blackberry and probably never will be unless they get a real OS.

You would think Verizon would know by now that may corporate users cannot get a signal inside large buildings but they are more interested in selling everyone as much of a data plan as possible. Assbags.

[Cris T @ Jul 12th 2009 2:32PM]

Honestly? $299? You have to do better than that.

[CTT @ Jul 12th 2009 2:33PM]

Um, for the same price I would just get a Pre or a Storm.

[Orlando Ayala @ Jul 12th 2009 2:46PM]

Just got back from Best Buy where I purchased a Tour with my upgrade for $149 plus tax. That's no MIR and $50 less than Verizon!!! Also, the sales associate bought my 8830 from me for $50. Gave her a good deal because she was pretty hot. Don't usually say this, but, thanks Best Buy!

[Tmacfan4321 @ Jul 12th 2009 5:20PM]

LOL, the Storm? Really?

What a joke.

[oldmanhorton @ Jul 12th 2009 2:41PM]

im just happy that we finally now have end products for all the super-confising codenames of last year. javelin, kickstart, niagra, thunder, and whatever else i am missing.... to be replaced with code names for the 9550, 9520, 99xx, 8520. what happens when rim runs out of 8xxx and 9xxx numbers? do what NVIDIA did and go to triple digits?

[lyl18 @ Jul 12th 2009 2:53PM]

probably a dumb question, but do current verizon customers w/o free phone upgrade get the 2yr price as long as a new contract is singed?

[Dan @ Jul 12th 2009 9:10PM]

I just picked mine up... still waiting for VZW to activate the line. All these complaints about lack of WiFi... when you're sitting in a building - don't you have a computer? Are you at a desk, with a job, maybe even working at said job instead of playing with your phone? Wi-Fi seems like a gimmick to me.

[Hector @ Jul 13th 2009 2:38AM]

Nope. WIFI consumes less power than 3G. And save you money from roaming charges when you travel abroad. WIFI is a must for a smartphone!

[troyboytn @ Jul 12th 2009 2:59PM]

nope, but Sprint allows yearly full upgrades with a new 2 year agreement

[JohnTitor @ Jul 12th 2009 3:08PM]

GSM > CDMA

[Timothy @ Jul 12th 2009 4:50PM]

I just looked at Sprint and Verizons sites. With Verizon, it looks like they can ship it overnight, and it has free activation, whereas Sprint is saying that due to strong demand, it may take a week to ship it. I don't know whether they are offering free activation either. This may really sway some folks buying decisions, unless you are already with the carrier, or you prefer one over the other strongly.

[Bill @ Jul 12th 2009 5:13PM]

I got mine on Saturday at a Best Buy for $150 with a contract upgrade.