BlackBerry services down in North America yet again?

Look, BlackBerrys are always supposed to do a few things well: 1) grab your email in real time off an Exchange server; 2) make you look important; and 3) work. It seems, though, that we're working on our third major North American outage here in less than a month, with reports flowing in that users connected to BIS are having trouble with Messenger, web browsing, and apps that consume data (though email is inexplicably unaffected). Anyone out there seeing problems?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Dave Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:40PM]

BBM/PIN down, gmail up, exchange via BIS down, browsing up.

Sweet.

[Dave Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:40PM]

@Dave

I accidentally left "email me when someone replies" checked, but it doesn't matter because the emails won't come through anyway. Accordingly, i have purposefully left it checked on this one.

[DaveBach Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:07PM]

@Dave

I found a problem...it's called BlackBerry service. My Windows Mobile devices take away the extra layer making them far more reliable and in many cases less expensive to operate.

[Epon Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:13PM]

@Dave NJ/Verizon down.

To reiterate from last outage... when will RIM learn that their connection model sucks. BES has its place, but with the huge surge in non-business consumers, they gotta learn that pseudo-IMAP and their Proxy-bollocks is AWFUL (not to mention expensive to operate!)

[Dave Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:23PM]

@Dave

On the upside, these replies have shown me that POP3 email is working. That's a plus, no?

[simbadogg Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:24PM]

@Dave
i know the outages dont happen all the time, but this is yet another reason i could never roll w/ a BB device. being stuck in a situation where my email/BB messenger is down would stop me in my tracks. Its really one of those situations, where just my luck, the one time where i really need something i either can't find it, or its broken.

[Markos Posted Dec 22nd 2009 6:21PM]

@Dave I'm a BlackBerry fan but this seriously sucks, the service has been reliable most of the time, but today has been the worst, I have no data service overall, my BlackBerry simply doesn't have any Data service at all, nothing works.

[uskastud Posted Dec 22nd 2009 9:36PM]

@DaveBach

I think I just pooped a little bit I was laughing so hard....!!!!!!

BlackBerries might have their problems, but don't use that as a reason to try and push WinMo as a legitimate mobile OS. I can't say it any clearer than............... WinMo SUCKS.................

[CeluGeek Posted Dec 22nd 2009 10:15PM]

@uskastud Sorry to break this to you, but I had to put my SIM card on an iPAQ 910c so I could have data service, because my Curve 8900 has been useless all day. And this is the third time in less than a month. I know, WinMo isn't as "cool" as the iPhone or Droid, and that bashing Microsoft is trendy, but Windows Mobile is far more reliable than BlackBerry, because it cuts the middle man. As long as your carrier has a working data network, you have service. As of this writing, BlackBerrys have data problems even when using Wi-Fi!!!

[LadyCamelot Posted Dec 22nd 2009 11:35PM]

@Epon
all I know is at 6:00 p.m. CA time my email is down for the 3rd time this month. I have to keep resetting the email to load again everytime this happens. Now it says the server is busy and it can't do it. It's busy alright from 50 thousand people trying to reload again.

[John D Posted Dec 22nd 2009 11:37PM]

I had to resort to a partially-assembled t-mo MDA. No data activity on my curve since around 530. bis/bes/browser all down.

[Rob Posted Dec 22nd 2009 11:40PM]

Still down here (Canada - Rogers Wireless) at almost midnight EST. This is not good.

[jerrybills Posted Dec 23rd 2009 5:01AM]

@Dave AT&T Central Texas is also seeing major BB issues... BES and BIS are affected and have been for some time this afternoon and evening..
Ah yes, just when you thought the last BB outage is done, then this one. Detailed Prev: http://bit.ly/blackberry-goes-black-again

[Average White Boy Posted Dec 23rd 2009 8:32AM]

@Dave

Co-CEO Balsillie decided to save money by not upgrading the servers. He said the money could be of better use trying to acquire a hockey team. Well, RIM's share price is dropping quickly and Google wants to take over the corporate smartphone business with Android-powered devices, so RIM's days are pretty much numbered. I'm sure some BlackBerry has already been hacked to run Android. In fact, that very same Android FrankenBerry probably brought down the email servers.

[newjaruz Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:42PM]

WOW! When will the disruptions end? BB is on a streak and not a good one!

[victor Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:45PM]

BES okay...

[One Love Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:47PM]

Santa must be texting his elves again.

[StinkyPete Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:51PM]

@One Love
Telling them to make more Droids and iPhones?

[TikiTeko Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:12PM]

@One Love NO, actually Windows Phones :D

[sirphunkee Posted Dec 22nd 2009 9:51PM]

@One Love

I think we must have just passed some significant point in some celestial cycle somewhere...One Love changed his pic.

[MSM Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:49PM]

I was wondering why my BBM wasn't working today, even with ROGERS (Canada), early afternoon, messenger just stopped (though BBM groups is still working)...

[KupOfJoe Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:50PM]

MSN Messenger, Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger and the web all down for me.

[JeremyM Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:53PM]

BBM has been giving me trouble since about 2 or 3 pm Eastern time. Along with my girlfriend. Quite annoying as we were in a pretty substantial discussion.

I pay $29.99 a month for my BlackBerry to not work 10% of the month. Funny, it seems.

[Aellus Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:05PM]

@JeremyM
Funny, my girlfriend has been giving me trouble since 2 or 3 as well!

[Christo Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:08PM]

@Aellus Dammit, beat me to the punch. Damn Engadget password...

[MSM Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:14PM]

@JeremyM
I was chatting with my fiancee (who's not in north america at the moment, she says her blackberry was working fine, mine wasn't though,, so we had to switch to SMS)...

[Markos Posted Dec 22nd 2009 6:23PM]

@JeremyM LOL same situation here, arguing with a failing BlackBerry Messenger is frustrating as hell!

[MRCUR Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:54PM]

Uh yes, I'm seeing problems. I find it odd you end the post asking if people are having issues when you already know people are having issues.

[JeremyM Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:55PM]

@MRCUR

They just like to mess with our heads.

[DaveBach Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:11PM]

@MRCUR

They'd like you to think twice about having a BlackBerry all together. Perhaps you'd be better with an iPhone...no? Perhaps you should consider a far better experience like Wimdows Mobile or Android at Sprint speeds.

[MRCUR Posted Dec 22nd 2009 6:38PM]

@DaveBach - Ha, it's funny you mention an iPhone. I actually have my 3GS ready to reactivate if BB keeps having these outages.

[kojo87 Posted Dec 22nd 2009 10:21PM]

@DaveBach go be a troll somewhere else please.

[Bloodember Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:56PM]

I can only use my as a phone right now it seems.

[TikiTeko Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:15PM]

@Bloodember how archaic and neanderthal.... !!! I feel your pain brother

[JuanDavidM Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:56PM]

Mail, MSN messenger, BBM; BIS.... all down in SOUTH AMERICA... i think the outage is worldwide... ughhh... reportin from Colombia!

[Markos Posted Dec 22nd 2009 6:28PM]

@JuanDavidM Yeah I think it is in all of America at the least, I'm from Ecuador and all the data services are down, it works as a basic phone only, this is SO FRUSTRATING for someone who relies on a smartphone.

[MRPysnik Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:59PM]

BBM down (Los Angeles, Verizon)

[kbaboun Posted Dec 22nd 2009 4:59PM]

South Florida down, BBM, Web, Email working???? weird

[sycamore714 Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:01PM]

Other than BES services which I totally appreciate I still dont understand why would anyone go for a blackberry with BIS with a pathetic browser

Android and Iphones are so much better.

And yes I get by corporate exchange email synced to my iphone over the air on the $30 ( not $45 ) plan with 23% employee discount.

[victor Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:50PM]

@sycamore714

Totally agree. Got corporate BES (working fine) on a Bold 9700, and a personal iphone syncing via Exchange Activesync. If it wasn't for corp policy with BES, i wouldn't even bother with a blackberry.

I don't know why people use a BB unless you have the power of BES; which even then is easily replicated with Exchange Activesync

Bottom Line, BIS is SH*T

[bonesb Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:04PM]

No email notifications, data's sloooooooooooow, no BBM. Twice in a week, WTF?

[make Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:09PM]

I have a BlackBerry on AT&T and I'm not currently having any issues with email, internet, or messaging.

[TikiTeko Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:10PM]

2) make you look important; EXCELLENT REMARK

[fastoy Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:10PM]

AT&T BIS has been fine in Memphis.

[ml99ca Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:17PM]

AT&T BES/BIS running fine here in Chicago.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:20PM]

E-mail was down in LA, but only for about 30 minutes. Hey Blackberry, I feel like I'm on the friggin' Eurostar.

[Tovy Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:45PM]

I think its just Verizon data in the NY area, my storm 2 can only make calls and receive texts... my t-mobile blackberry has no problems sending or receiving BBMs and no problem with e-mails or web

[Hellam Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:47PM]

BES, Gtalk, and Gmail are up, but everything else has been down for the last 3hrs. I've only been able to get 2 BBMs through, but no confirmation that they've been read.

[Hellam Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:56PM]

@

Correction....Gtalk is down. Only BES and Gmail are up :(

[MJ Posted Dec 22nd 2009 5:54PM]

Do what I did SELL your BB... buy a real phone/email device DROID DOES!!!!!!!!! work P E R I O D!!!

My emails are working just fine :) GMAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BB is that like bestbuy HAHA just about as bad....