Comments on: Will you switch carriers just to get a BlackBerry Pearl?

By: Jaytea

Jaytea — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 02:33:47 +0000

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).

By: Ron Ariana

Ron Ariana — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:41:01 +0000

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.

By: joel

joel — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 02:13:10 +0000

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.

By: Tracy Lee

Tracy Lee — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 02:09:14 +0000

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.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 12:02:00 +0000

That actually replaced the trackwheel with a trackball in the center of the device so that they could make the device thinner.

By: t1MANIA

t1MANIA — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 12:31:31 +0000

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…

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 06:33:20 +0000

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.

By: Amit

Amit — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:15:22 +0000

Brian,

How did you get your BlackBerry Pearl a day early?

By: Brian McGuire

Brian McGuire — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:36:07 +0000

Just switched. Love the Pearl.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:19:54 +0000

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