Sprint/Nextel BlackBerry 8350i iDEN Release Confirmed
By Thomas on Nov 11, 2008 with 55
Filed Under: 8300 Curve • Sprint
*Update: I was not okay with having a Dec. 1st or 2nd release (as I’m sure you guys weren’t either) so I contacted Sprint to get the skinny. At first they would not tell me, but then after I asked again, they caved. The official date of online release will be Dec. 1st! Make sure you are all at your computers Nov. 30th at right before midnight. I am still working on getting you guys a date for the in store release, so be patient please. If you want to see the emails I received from Sprint, read after the link.*
I just received a tip that the release date for the BlackBerry Curve 8350i will in be Dec. 1st or 2nd for an online only release. As we told you before the phone will release in stores before Christmas. Our tipster who spoke to a RIM representative at the 8350i Training event tonight, told us that RIM said that part of the reason the release was pushed back from November is because the trackball was too recessed into the phone and that the problem will be fixed before the launch. We are thinking since the rep said 1st or 2nd of Dec. that it will be a late night deal Monday night of the 1st, Tuesday of the 2nd deal. Either way, be at your computers Dec. 1st to order yours!
Thanks for the tip Matt!
Check out a Fact Sheet and minion Matt’s swag from the Nextel 8350i Training
*The email is part of the update
Official email from Sprint:
Dear Magsaysay,
Thank you for contacting Sprint.
I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.
The expected launch date of the BlackBerry Curve 8350i is December 1,
2008. You can preregister for the updates for the handset by
registering at the below link:
www.sprint.com/instantconnectbb.
Thank you again for contacting Sprint. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Specialist
Sprint
Original Message Follows:
————————
So there is no way that you can tell me which day it will be available
online? Because too frequently do I receive the notifications days after
the phone is already out.
Thanks
——Original Message——
From: Sprint Customer Solutions
To: T money
Subject: Re: Care #20081112011140 (General Inquiry – General Inquiry)
(KMM55768400I15977L0KM)
Sent: Nov 12, 2008 12:29 AM
Dear Magsaysay,
Thank you for contacting Sprint. I understand that you want to purchase
BlackBerry Curve 8350i handset.
You can find information on the BlackBerry Curve 8350i Smartphone and
sign up to be notified of availability at:
www.sprint.com/instantconnectbb.
Thank you again for contacting Sprint. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Specialist
Sprint
Original Message Follows:
————————
========================================================================
Name: Thomas Magsaysay
Form: Ask A Question Learn OR Feedback and Suggestions – Learn
Topic: General Inquiry
Contact Number:
========================================================================
Original Question: release
Question: I was told at the BlackBerry Curve 8350i training tonight,
that the phone would be released online either Dec. 1 or Dec. 2. Is
there anyway I can get a confirmation on which date it will actually be
released?
========================================================================
****************************************************
Additional Data
****************************************************
SUB Topic : General Inquiry
Current Customer ?: No
Email Address: tmagsaysay@berryreporter.com
Zip: 92886
Thomas Magsaysay
Editor In Chief/Co-Founder
BerryReporter.com
Nextel 8350i Training Swag
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About the Author:
quick review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OGZ4qKqQp8
unboxing here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eajsd_z_nyA
I have the Nextel 8350i, and it is by far the BEST nextel out there. I have had the 8330 Curver from sprint and hands down the 8350i is the last phone i will ever need to buy!!!!! call me if you need to know anything about it at (704) 902-5825 or text!!!!!!!!!!!!
A week ago, I went to Sprint and got the Blackberry 8330. Sprint’s 3G network is blazingly fast. Then I saw a colleague with a Blackberry 8350i, so I went back to Sprint and exchanged the 8330 for the 8350i—since my job requires me to also have a walkie-talkie.
The Sprint salesperson did point out that the 8350i runs on the Nextel radio network, but failed to make it clear that Nextel’s network is slow and nowhere near Sprint’s 3G network. The store only had two 8350i’s and I was lucky enough to get one before they were put out as display models.
Now I’m stuck with the 8350i (since Sprint would only allow one return/exchange with 30 days of purchase) which takes 2, 3 or 4 times longer than the 8330 to open a website. Watching Youtube.com is a joke as Nextel’s network is rather slow.
If you love to surf the ‘net, don’t get the 8350i and stick with Sprint’s 8330 or other 8000 models running on the 3G network. But if you use the walkie-talkie more than you surf the ‘net, then get the 8350i.
I know I cannot have everything in one phone such as the 8350i. But considering that I have to now carry only one phone instead of three (and capable of using the 16gig MicroSD compared to the 8330′s 2 gig capacity) —more than outweighs the shortcomings of the 8350i running on Nextel’s network.
Overall, I’m still happy with the 8350i. I only wished that Nextel runs on the 3G network.
Well like every one else i have been wating for months fof the 8350i. I hated my 7100i so bad i went thru 6 of theme
till i finally gave up so now i waited for the 8350i now that dame phone is giving problems i only had it for not even 24hrs. It’s so bad when i had my 7100i. I new every step sprint will go thru with me now this is having mms problem now sprint is tell me the same bullshit that a had problems before with my old phone.now telling o u have to masterreset type six 000000 and etc. For a new phone i should not even have to take the battery out every night for my mms to work properly telling me i have to wait 2 weeks for they could solve the problem it’s a new phone should even be on the market if the phone have issues. U KNOW WHAT NEXT TIME I WILL JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH VERIZON THEY HAVE BETTER PHONES AND SERVICE ANY WAY
I have 3 of these in use in our warehouse locations and I have to say they are just a bad as the 7100s, laggy OS dropped calls constant lock ups, going to have to go get 8830s and a separate phone with PTT on it for those users, save you money this unit is craptastic.