Will you switch carriers just to get a BlackBerry Pearl?

Verizon defector
#1. September 11th, 2006, at 11:20 AM.

I am definitely switching. My two year plan was up at the end of July and I was going to re-up with a new plan and either get a Q or a Treo 700w. Thats when we really started hearing rumors about the Pearl so I decided to wait and see who it was going to come out on.

I really like Verizon but they take too long to come out with new BlackBerries. I am still using a 7250 becasue they still haven’t come out with a QWERTY 8700 yet. I live a a big city and coverage with all the big cell phone companies is a wash anyway.

Eric
#2. September 11th, 2006, at 11:23 AM.

Verizon defector,

I hope that you realize that the BlackBerry Pearl doesn’t have a QWERTY keyboard. It usese SureType like the BlackBerry 71XX model devices…

Aaron
#3. September 11th, 2006, at 12:01 PM.

I am surprised that RIM just wouldn’t send you one seeing all the free plubicity they are getting. I still think that a BlackBerry with a camera is a dumb idea but will be glad when it comes out just so you guys can start talking about something else.

scott
#4. September 11th, 2006, at 12:43 PM.

i’d rather spend a little extra and get an unlocked one than leave cingular right now. there are too many people i know with cingular allowing me to benefit from the free mobile2mobile minutes to switch. plus, i’d really rather wait for a qwerty version. i’m not a fan of suretype and the 8700 suits my needs just fine.

Amit
#5. September 11th, 2006, at 1:27 PM.

Verizon Defector,

You may want to hold off for a little bit. Boy Genius, the first one to start all the leaks is not liking the BlackBerry Pearl all the much according to his review…

http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-8100-series-discussion/46272-boy-genius-8100-review.html#post313823

Shaun
#6. September 11th, 2006, at 4:18 PM.

With t-mobile right now, and will try out the pearl (sure type) even though i love my qwerty keyboarded 8700g, and because everyone else has the cingular silver one, i feel special with my dark blue. Anyone heard any rumors about a qwerty 8700g/c/r coming out? I would hate to extend my contract pay $399 and find out next month the qwerty version will be coming. Anyone heard any rumors about such?

Shaun
#7. September 11th, 2006, at 4:19 PM.

i meant a 8700g/c/r PEARL version, the 8700 is already a qwerty.

Brian McGuire
#8. September 11th, 2006, at 4:36 PM.

Just switched. Love the Pearl.

Amit
#9. September 11th, 2006, at 6:15 PM.

Brian,

How did you get your BlackBerry Pearl a day early?

Jeff
#10. September 12th, 2006, at 2:33 AM.

Yes. I am switching from US Cellular tomorrow to T-Mobile for a few reasons. Mainly the pearl. But we get 500 family minutes for $50 a month right now, and T-Mobile doubles that offer, so just another reason to switch.

t1MANIA
#11. September 12th, 2006, at 8:31 AM.

Am I seeing this correctly? No more trackwheel on the Pearl? Why did they get rid of the trackwheel and replace with up/down buttons? One of the main features of any blackberry has always been the little trackwheel on the right for your thumb…

Tracy Lee
#13. September 13th, 2006, at 10:09 PM.

I switched yesterday and so far so good. I left Verizon and this is the first BlackBerry I’ve had. My husband has a larger, older one and I thought I was never going to get one. But, I was able to check one out on the 11th and told to come back the next day…and I did.

No regrets as of yet.

joel
#14. November 13th, 2006, at 9:13 PM.

When will someone make a phone that will luse Cingular to call another cigular phone and use Verizon if the called paraty is on verizons net etc. Having more than one sim card or the ewuivalent in a phone shouldnt be rocket science but i can see why the carriers wont permote it since it gives u free callilng.

Ron Ariana
#15. November 17th, 2006, at 12:41 AM.

Does anyone know whether the Pearl will be compatible with Cingular’s new HSDPA network? This is the network which will compete with Verizon’s and Sprint’s EVDO networks.

Jaytea
#16. June 19th, 2007, at 10:33 PM.

I switched over from Verizon to Cingular for Pearl. Would do it again since I was able to expense phone but would switch back to Verizon as soon as they have Pearl available.

Cons:
* Expensive switch - canceled Verizon voice, canceled Cingular data, ported Verizon number = $400.
* Inferior Cingular voice coverage vs. Verizon in most Northern California and Orange county areas, especially if hilly (GSM sucks here).
* Need to reboot Pearl often whereas 8700 was bullet proof
* Keyboard isn’t nearly as good as full QWERTY 8700

Pros:
* Form factor - Single device, didn’t use 8700 as phone because looked/felt like talking into a brick
* No need to borrow phone for Europe travel

Overall, still relatively happy to make switch because I’m only carrying a single small device that I can put into pocket. The battery life is amazing. Typing is decent after getting used to Pearl. Cingular reception sucks in areas outside of large metro areas or hilly areas vs. Verizon (except in Lake Tahoe where Cingular works).