Word on TheStreet.com is that the BlackBerry Niagara 9630 could ship on Verizon in May.
There has been recent speculation regarding the timing of the Niagara’s arrival at Verizon. This is of no small concern for Wall Street observers who see the arrival as a potential last-minute enhancement to RIM’s May quarter performance.
The timing of a May release of the BlackBerry Niagara couldn’t be better for Verizon. The BlackBerry Storm has been the number one smartphone selling on the nation’s most reliable network, however, sales are starting to taper off and it has been over a year since Verizon introduced its last full QWERTY keyboarded BlackBerry, the Curve 8330.
The BlackBerry Niagara will be viewed as an upgrade to the the Curve, which has not only been the best selling BlackBerry, but the best selling smartphone in the US since the month after the iPhone 3G came out last year. If the Niagara isn’t delayed and actually comes out in May, it could be a big way to close the quarter for both Verizon and Research in Motion.
[Via Engadget Mobile]
This is great news. My contract is up on my BlackBerry Pearl at the end of May. This will definitely be the next BlackBerry that I get.
Any compelling reasons to upgrade from a Curve?
I swear I think VZW is hiring the castoffs from Sprint. VZW’s customer service has gone to crap, and they can’t follow the bouncing ball these days. Errors in billing, no follow up, etc. I even had a situation today with all the paperwork and answers laid out for them, and they said they’d get back to me in a few days? I gave them 2 hours or they lost our business. They called back in an hour, but not with the answers we wanted to hear. With that said, they’ll be hearing from our atty’s. Essentially, it comes down to the contract, which they screwed up.
Why I published that? Because this phone (the Niagara) couldn’t come any sooner. The Storm is a disaster. They have still not pushed RIM to release an update to at least resolve some of the issues (lord only knows VZW then needs to test it for god knows how long before the ‘official’ release’). .114 looks good, but we can’t roll that out to everyone, not to mention void warranty’s.
I hit up Sprint to see what options were provided…starting with just myself. Interestingly, the ‘Simply Everything’ plan doesn’t allow tethering to be added to the account…chalk one up to software glitch as described by Sprint. But of course, all other plans are acceptable, or the purchase of a USB modem (not interested in yet ‘another’ device to carry).
The Niagara in my opinion could be the perfect device, but VZW is pissing me off ‘perfectly’. To the point I’m considering going back to TMO (8900) and get the service I always loved…minus the coverage. VZW hands down is the best network, but they’ve done it this time. It’s a shame…I was really looking forward to the Niagara.
@ jhp2
For me, it would have been hands down Rev. A. Biggest upgrade for me aside from the OS, processor, camera, memory, and slightly larger keyboard.
This phone will be the killer BB on VZW’s network, not the Storm.
As for what BHS notes about VZW’s customer service: while I haven’t had the same experience, I do think you’re seeing many companies cut back on their customer service staff to save money in this economy. I also think many companies are outsourcing more of their call center customer service, and also replacing higher paid and more experienced employees with lower paid and less experienced ones.
I don’t know that this is what VZW has done, but if their CS has declines, that may be the reason.
UAU! It looks like… like… the same old crap RIM currently offers… what’s so exciting about it?
@ thought
You’re probably right. I did speak with management and they are staying the course. Honestly, I think they look at the market and believe their network ‘is’ their answer to retention. In most cases it is, but there has to be breaking point of putting their reputation on the line. I wonder if they’ll hit the CS ratings on JD Power like they have the past couple of years.
As for this phone, the Niagara, it’s probably ‘the’ phone. I think RIM finally got it right. The only thing lacking is a touch screen (no need to press down…I’m disliking it now on the Storm compared to the iPhone). Hopefully my VZW issues will be resolved and I’ll be holding one of these come May. It’s really funny…they screw up, and then want to change everything and rescind on the original agreement. Contract? Hello…
To bad this BB has been verizon’ed too….
“The one big problem with the BlackBerry 9630 Niagara is that those specifications don’t include WiFi, which seems to be the norm with Verizon as todate Verizon hasn’t offered a single BlackBerry smartphone that has WiFi aboard.”
http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2009/03/04/blackberry-9630-niagara-is-wifi-lacking-verizon-world-phone/
“Apparently RIM might have cut plans to include Wi-Fi in this bad boy. ”
WHY?
WHEN will RIM stop bowing down to verizon’s silly quirks and release a phone as designed, as consumers want?
http://blackberrysync.com/2009/03/first-shots-of-blackberry-niagara-9630-cdma-boldcurve-8900-crossover/
“One gripe that many people will have is the Niagara’s lack of Wi-Fi. How could a new BlackBerry not have Wi-Fi? That’s a big turn off.”
http://blackberryrocks.com/2009/02/28/blackberry-9630-niagara-verizon-cdma-world-edition-blackberry/
@ Rock
Bias? Absolutely. How come you don’t rip Sprint for the lack of Wifi? Last time I checked, they had over 50 million reasons to ask for WiFi too…your bias carries no cred.
” The big issue, however, is that it won’t have WiFi. Yes it sucks, and we still wonder why Verizon keeps castrating cool phones, but hey, we’re on T-Mobile anyway.”
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2009/02/blackberry_9630_niagara_world_edition_at_verizon.html
No “Bias” at all…… Posted a assortment of quotes from around the web, both RIM friendly and not so RIM friendly, last time someone thought BGR was “Bias” too….. talk about someone who never could handle reality and has “no cred”. Keep bowing to verizon, keep up the ignorance, that’s exactly what verizon wants from it’s customers.
PS AGAIN there is ZERO reason to take things, nor make things personal here at rimarkable. One must admit RIM putting out flagship after flagship Blackberry out for verizon and magically wifi is verizoned out is more than just strange phenomenon. These actions are bad for RIM and bad for consumers who purchase these verizon’ed wifi Blackberries.
@ Rock
Can’t you follow the bouncing ball?
No “Bias” at all…and then you add…”magically wifi is verizoned out.” Right…no bias at all. This device will also be coming out with Sprint, 3Q, approximately 3 monhs after the VZW release.
You just love to beat the VZW drum. I’m having my issues with VZW right now, but at least I’m keeping it real. You just toss out the typical rhetoric. You’re entitled to your opinion, but at least apply logic to your responses.
Oh also PS back in the day I had a verizon CS agent tell me the reason why there were no bluetooth handsets on verizon is “verizon doesn’t support bluetooth”. They probably still are confused when I told them bluetooth has nothing to do with what I pay verizon to provide me. Like wifi, bluetooth is a completely separate technology.
Also another little funny, a x-verizon customer was shocked to find out that you don’t get nickle and dimed by at&t monthly for iPhone app’s once you buy them they are yours, unlike brew app’s….
AGAIN there is ZERO reason to take things, nor make things personal here at rimarkable.
Nothing personal, just stating facts about you.
Getting back to the device, after reading BGR’s first impressions, is there any doubt that this will be the best BB yet?
Isn’t it also great that for at least a moment in time, that VZW will actually have a better BB than ATT?
Perhaps RIM has been reading all the posts here about how they should show VZW some real love and stop favoring ATT so much 🙂
First the Storm on VZW, and now the 9630…
@Rock
You need to chill out son. Though havin wifi would be a huge advantage, you must understand the concept of MARKETING AND MONEY! which means that the customer CANNOT always get what they want. VZW’s provides unlimited for a reason. If wifi was added, no one would purchase unlimited. They would get the e-mail one and use wifi, thus losing money.
Though a wireless sync would be fantastic and a non-crippled bluetooth as well.
But this will be awesome to have because this has been my new obsession since I first heard it was coming. I have the cure and I do love my curve but I am ready to be upgraded baby, just not sprint beyonce style because let’s face it…sprint sucks lol (no offense just my opinion)
And don’t get me wrong, vzw customer service should always be improving, but it’s like with any company. They get you with something and then I actually have to call a lawyer (i have a service so no it’s not expensive at all) to fight verizon over certain charges that may occur on my bill.
however overall, vzw is better, and the niagra will be a huge hit and won’t really need any tv advertising like the curve. I didn’t see anything for the curve and it was the best selling phone.
TV advertisements are culture statements. When I see “the network” commercial, I see it more as a a culture statement, like At&t commercials with 3g and blah blah blah or even the apple’s commercials which are more of a cultural statement.
So my suggestion is, don’t make too huge of a deal about it VZW, because trust me, we vzw customers pay attention ALL THE TIME. Just keep the perfect service going when I travel from nyc to upstate with no loss of reception in the catskills,, and i’m all yours.
And AGAIN there is ZERO reason to take things, nor make things personal here at rimarkable. People with better “facts” can and will posts the REAL FACTS which yet again show the desperate lack of understanding and misinformation.
The BB 9630, like the Storm could have shown some real RIM innovation however thanks to verizon, verizon’ing app’s and functions from RIM’s new flagship BB’s, the BB have shown little innovation from model to model.
Nope, sorry BB customers nor RIM should allow verizon, nor any other provider to cripple their devices while fooling the sheep into thinking the crippling is for anything but verizon’s long and desperate need to fleece and nickle and dime it’s own customers. It’s even worse when those who claim to know better are desperately trying to excuse and coverup verizon’s actions which not only screw consumers, but also screws RIM making what could be a great BB devices into crippled BB’s which doesn’t have the functions which are available on other flagship smartphone devices.
“Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in abducted (verizon customers), in which the hostage (aka verizon customer) shows signs of loyalty to the hostage-taker, regardless of the danger or risk in which they have been placed. In this case, victims (aka verizon customers) became emotionally attached to their victimizers, and even defended their (crippling actions, because they don’t know any better, and have been brainwashed into thinking verizon has magical coverage)
Poor RIM, Poor verizon BB customers, never being allowed to innovate or have functions and applications which a verizon deems unacceptable.
AGAIN there is ZERO reason to take things, nor make things personal here at rimarkable.
With Verizon, it’s a simple business proposition: they furnish the clients the best network, but in return maintain more control over the apps and service and features to preserve profit margin, so that they can pay for that great network.
Customers can choose to buy VZW service or not on those terms; apparently, enough are choosing them to merit their continuation of their business practices.
When another network comes along that can offer the same network coverage at the same price, but without some of the carrier controls, then VZW will be forced to change. Until then, VZW will just continue being VZW.
@Thought
could not have said it better myself. I personally feel that there is a huge difference in service between att/tmobile and verizon. I do travel a lot from the city to upstate ny and to get to albany you have to go through the catskill muntains, this is a huge service drop point for about 15 miles, from my experience in the past verizon has served me very well.
though I wish there were a few more benefits such as free wifi and i wish bluetooth was not crippled, but you can’t always get what you want.
att has a good business model, but through consumer ratings, verizon has the best service, and it is because they have the money to pay for it, while att puts a lot of its focus on phone delivery and what’s new and shiny.
either way, the niagra will be a huge hit. and I am very very excited for it, i just wish there were more details about it.
but time will tell.
I think this will be the best blackberry ever. And it definitely puts vzw and sprint back in the game, especially for sprint since they are in need of a huge profit margin push.
no longer is tmobile and att the primary carriers of blackberries, thus expanding and having more earnings.
since this is suppose to be an updated version of the curve, im guessing we expect fantastic os, speed, and more updated applications. I wonder though if html e-mail will be available.
it would be nice to be able to view html and graphics on my e-mail since i get my e-mail on bb first before my windows live account
There is no “best” when it comes to service providers. They all have places where they are good and not so good. verizon loves that some customers repeat it’s commercials like sheep but sadly reality shows verizon’s network claims are far from the truth. Lucky for everyone soon Vodaphone is making verizon upgrade to GSM/LTE technology and verizon’s desperate stranglehold on devices and the application and functions which manufactures design for them will be taken care of. Sadly with misinformed consumers making excuses for verizon’s crippling actions, verizon continues to nickle and dime consumers and hardware manufactures like RIM watch their well designed devices turned into yet just another verizon crippled handset which lacks the functions and applications which are standard on other handsets. It’s tough to think RIM is happy that flagship devices are being crippled no bluetooth? no autonomous gps? no wifi?
Also just a thought, sure the Storm is a new device for RIM however what is to say many of the Storm’s problems are not due to verizon’s firmware? it’s happened before……
Caveat Emptor. Consumers these days need to have a clue, and stay one step ahead of those we think we can truth and buy services from.
@ The Rock (hellno)
Let us know when you have a clue.
roflmao bluehorseshoe
rock hates on verizon…and dude…like i said, “my experience,” no sheep here, not getting paid by verizon, i am actually fighting a charge by verizon, so relax over the son… you need to relax homie! i’m just talking from my perspective about what i feel. no need to get all worked up and what not! and i agree with you that verizon takes away a lot of great features, but i personally rather have a phone that works for me all the time, then have the ability to watch a youtube video while im at panera waiting for my smoketurkey applewood bacon sandwhich and chai tea latte lol
back to the phone..check out this quick post i read about the niagra
http://www.phoneplusmag.com/hotnews/blackberry-niagra-so-awesome.html
and this
http://www.crn.com/mobile/215901405
what do you guys think? best bb of all time surpassing bold and 8900?
@Ted,
Well, it won’t be hard to pass the 8900 simply because the 8900’s distribution is limited to T-Mobile, at least for now. I am guessing that it will probably catch the Bold because it has been so long since the last QWERTY BlackBerry came out on Verizon.
The question for me is can it catch the Curve 83xx? The Curve is the best selling BlackBerry of all time, however, it is available all carriers in one form factor or another. It looks like the current trend coming out of Waterloo is to create and offer specific devices to to GSM carriers and different devices to CDMA carriers.
“i personally rather have a phone that works for me all the time” Lucky we do, and it’s not the verizon network.
Robb,
I too agree it will be tough for the Niagara to top Curve sales.
With Vodaphone and Verizon upgrading to open, global, standard, GSM/LTE soon (2010) it should make things easier and cheaper for RIM (and other hardware makers) as they will not have to make specific devices for different carrier technology.
“bluehorseshoe 03.22.09 at 6:51 pm
@ The Rock (hellno)
Let us know when you have a clue.”
AGAIN there is ZERO reason to take things, nor make things personal here at rimarkable.
Anyway…
Just read on a post buried in forums that this could be a world phone like the 8830, I haven’t seen anything related to that feature posted anywhere,
was wondering if anyone else had seen that feature or at least heard of it?
I’d almost bet the ranch that it would be a world phone.
“Niagara is a slimmer version of popular BlackBerry Curve and borrows some of the keyboard design from AT&T’s successful BlackBerry Bold. Like the BlackBerry Storm, Niagara is a 3G world phone, meaning that it works on Verizon’s U.S. EVDO network and on Europe’s GSM systems. As a world phone, RIM can sell the Niagara to Verizon’s partner Vodafone”
Well, looks like my storm will hold me for a while. The .113 release is the real deal, and has made the phone a pleasure to use. I still hate the touch screen for typing, but all other functions are solid now. Zero issues so far with this released leak.
See though the Storm has amazing features, the one thing that kept me from upgrading was the touch screen. Though it is cool, but my ex gf had the voyager, and to me that was a piece of crap lol…still looking for new updates on the niagra all over…can’t find anything yet…lets turn this post into the mega post like last year with the curve!!!! update update update!
I remember this time last year waiting and waiting for the curve to come to VZ. I love my curve but am ready to upgrade as soon as this becomes available. I had the chance to play with an ATT bold and fell in love with the keyboard. Obviously that, plus the screen, better camera etc makes this a great overall phone.
@ The Rock-
What exactly is with your rants about VZW? It all seems so familiar, and then I remembered when bluehorseshoe brought up the name “hellno”, that you were trolling around here talking about the same things in the curve release thread under a different name.
From what I gather from your posts, you do not have VZW and you have every right to dislike it, but why do you constantly post here preaching about how terrible VZW is? You’re not convincing me or anyone else to switch from what works for them. Instead you come off looking a little bit crazy.
I don’t want to start a flamewar here, but if the Niagra doesn’t have uncrippled GPS I’m gonna try out the iPhone and see if the reception is ok for me. I don’t travel that much.
It’s just GPS is getting insanely useful, especially with all these apps available (Google Maps for one) and I am NOT paying Verizon $10 a month for permission to use hardware I own.
On a separate topic, does anyone know if/when the BB Pearl Flip will be coming to Verizon?
I actually don’t recommend the verizon gps system whatsoever. I think it is absolutely atrocious. However, you can still get directions with blackberry maps. it’s just not turn by turn command. and if you were to leave verizon for say att, there are no restrictions on third party gps apps at all.
my garmin does a better job in the mid tunnel than verizon gps
and it has been rumored that the pearl flip would be coming to verizon first, but i haven’t found any new updated articles about it
@NV
good point
Funny, I love the VZW system and use it constantly. Haven’t had one bad direction yet, and it runs ahead of the turn very well. It’s worth the $10 for the voice instructions. Using Google is nice, but for $10 I can get voice. As for the iPhone, it’s also not aGPS, so my directions weren’t always on target.
Wow! I came hear to read about the darn phone…not all this drama!
Off to crackberry Forums I suppose….
Jonathan.
asked a verizon rep today, they say middle of may!!!!!!
I am going to get an upgrade in may and I want to get a blackberry and I totally want this one over the curve! I hope the may release date is true!!
New Information
The release date for the Niagra, now apparently being called the Tour, is in July
noooooo! I was hoping for may! I don’t know if i should just wait for july or go ahead and get the curve….I just need to get rid of this stupid voyager before I go insane!