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You are here: Home / BlackBerry / Sould RIM Release CDMA BlackBerrys Sooner Because Of The iPhone?

Sould RIM Release CDMA BlackBerrys Sooner Because Of The iPhone?

July 22, 2008 by Robb Dunewood 10 Comments

Because I am a Verizon subscriber I’ve always thought that Research in Motion should come out with CDMA BlackBerrys a lot quicker than they normally do. For those of you not aware, CDMA versions of BlackBerry devices often lag behind their GSM counterparts by a year or more. I am aware that GSM is the world wide global standard and that RIM caters to a global market, not just the United States, however it kind of sucks wait for so long to get what GSM subscribers got many months ago.

Even though I am aware that GSM is the global standard, I can’t say that I understand RIM’s decision to launch CDMA BlackBerrys so long after the GSM version. I’ve heard that more CDMA BlackBerrys are sold right here in North America than all the GSM BlackBerrys sold everywhere else, but, I digress. What I am really wondering is if the fact the iPhone is sold exclusively on AT&T here in the U.S. should prompt RIM to get next generation BlackBerrys out in CDMA variants as quickly as possible?

We know that the BlackBerry Thunder is coming out on CDMA, and in fact, will only ever be available from Verizon, but, how cool would it be if the BlackBerry Bold or even the BlackBerry Javelin were coming out on Verizon as well.

From what we’ve heard, not too many BlackBerry users are switching to the iPhone, however, a hell of a lot of Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel subscribers not using BlackBerrys are switching to AT&T so that they can get the iPhone. I would be willing to bet that many of those users would at least take a look at a BlackBerry if it was the latest and greatest RIM had to offer. Unfortunately they only have devices that have been around for as long as a year on the other networks to choose from and sadly to say, they just aren’t as compelling as the iPhone.

I have a feeling that the BlackBerry Thunder will be a big hit with first time BlackBerry using Verizon subscribers. I think that the BlackBerry Bold, on the other hand would be a big hit with both new and existing BlackBerry users. Maybe the BlackBerry Thunder is the start of a new game plan from which we will see next generation devices on come out out on CDMA in close proximity to their GSM counterpart, however, if it isn’t, it probably should be…

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  1. bluehorseshoe says

    July 22, 2008 at 11:55 am

    If Verizon was quicker to get the phones to market before putting them through the VZW testing phase, I think CDMA would get a little more consideration. Since AT&T and TMO don’t change much to the devices or disable many of the features, it’s a quicker time frame to market. I guess RIM’s approach is launch the device ASAP on the band that promises to get the devices out their the quickest and then we’ll take care of the others. That’s where AT&T beats VZW. Plus, with GSM, it covers a wider market around the globe. Yeah, if I were RIM, I’d have the same strategy too.

    Reply
  2. Amish says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    I am a die-hard verizon subscriber, however, isn’t it kind of sad that they can put out a device a year after AT&T, lock it down to hell, and charge me what they AT&T charged for the same device a year ago?

    I bought an iPhone 3G. It will not be my primary device but I wanted one so I bought one. The coverage is not quite as good as Verizon, however, other than not being able to make calls from my basement which I can do from my 8830 and having one dropped call where I could use my 8830, I haven’t been disappointed in AT&T’s coverage. My plan is up in November. I may completely swicht to AT&T and get the BlackBerry Bold uless I really like the BlackBerry Thunder when it comes out.

    Reply
  3. modidlee says

    July 22, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    This is a very good point. I’m a Verizon subscriber. I want the Bold but hate AT&T. And I see people going into Verizon everyday looking at their selection but choosing to go with AT&T because of the iPhone. I don’t exactly know the technical aspects of releasing these devices but I don’t understand why they can’t develop the CDMA and GSM versions simultaneously if they know it’s going to be released in both versions anyway.

    Reply
  4. Pete says

    July 22, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    They should do that in the US Market. Can they? Will they? I’m sure they sell more GSM devices, since they can market those in Canada and Europe — which they can’t do with CDMA. I don’t know how much more in technical resources it takes to develop the CDMA and GSM simultaneously — which I suspect is the issue.

    Reply
  5. JaggedXJ says

    July 22, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    I think it is time for the phone suppliers to stop bending to Vzw dinosaur tech. I know they are eventually going to be on 4G/LTE, but almost a decade after the GSM alliance. WTF.
    I guess ideally the manufacturers would only build “world phones” with GSM that could be used standalone & trouble free, or CDMA & locked to all hell w GSM as backup out of the country. I know it would make the design/circuitry more complex but I would think it easier to make one “unified” device than 2+ flavors of the “same” device.
    /rant

    Reply
  6. Thought says

    July 22, 2008 at 10:18 pm

    I know Robb has beaten this point home many times before, but it is so true.

    RIM constantly makes a huge mistake in not developing their CDMA BB’s for VZW concurrently with their GSM counterparts.

    As Robb noted before, now this is biting them as they try to release the Thunder to keep up with the iPhone.

    I also concur that the Bold on VZW, if it were released at the same time as on ATT, would sell huge…it would probably outsell the Thunder on VZW. The Bold on VZW would be a better competitor to the iPhone on ATT.

    Given the large percentage of sales for RIM that come from the CDMA side in the US, I just don’t get why they constantly treat this market as second priority.

    Reply
  7. Johnnyheff says

    July 23, 2008 at 9:09 am

    …isn’t this point a bit moot, Rob? Seeing as VZW is changing their standard with their next gen technology? Unless things have changes to the contrary, I thought their next gen was going to be GSM based?

    thoughts?

    Reply
  8. beastmaster says

    July 25, 2008 at 2:46 am

    if the cdma version came out sooner, why would anyone buy the gsm version?

    Blackberry needs to push VZW to get the CDMA versions to market sooner if they want to compete with the iPhone 3G. there are only really 2 negatives to the iPhone: battery life and AT&T

    Reply
  9. Robb Dunewood says

    July 28, 2008 at 8:37 am

    I don’t think it is a moot point at all Johnnheff,

    Verizon is years away from going to LTE and it is safe to assume that half a dozen or more CDMA BlackBerrys will come out before they do. 3G, which is still slower the EVDO in the U.S. and doesn’t have near the coverage footprint in the, so, I can’t imagine that Verizon feels significant pressure to move to LTE before they milk every penny out of their EVDO network.

    Reply
  10. Jon says

    July 30, 2008 at 10:24 am

    So? Sould they or souldn’t they? 🙂

    Misspelling aside, I too am a bitter, bitter, bitter VZW loyalist. I hate myself so very harshly for staying with VZW while the cool kids are all watching Youtube videos on the iPhone 3Gs.

    We VZW loyalists just riding the short bus. Really, we do.

    Reply

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