[DeX]

T-Mobile - I refuse to use GSM for security reasons.

AT&T - I refuse to use GSM for security reasosn.

Verizon:
450 minutes (including Canada) + 1000 evening and weekend minutes = $40 per month
Unlimited Blackberry plan = $30 per month
Caller ID, Voicemail and all that stuff
Using Blackberry as modem = extra $10 per month
Unlimited SMS included
Includes MSN Messenger
GPS - $10 per month
Devices crippled (have to buy GPS, and Bluetooth limited to restrict OBEx)
Blackberry 8830 = $200 with 2 year agreement
1.5 month payment required upon activation

Sprint:
Unlimited Blackberry plan including MSN, GPS and unlimited SMS = $30 per month
Unlimited Blackberry plan including usage as a modem = $40 per month
Calling to Canada not included, I don't think they offer a Canada calling plan
450 minutes = $40 per month
Unlimited Nights And Weekends starting at 7pm
Caller ID, Voicemail and all that stuff
Devices are not crippled (GPS and Bluetooth)
Blackberry 8830 = $200 with 2 year agreement
Not sure how much they require upon activation

Verizon seems like the easy choice but I hate the fact that I can't just write a Java application and upload it to my device. I like to go online and buy third party applications like GPS or things like that, or even to just write it myself if I want something simple. Also, I'm setting up an application to control my air ride suspension in my car through the Bluetooth on my phone and this requires OBEx. This is why I want to go with Sprint but I'll be doing a lot of calling to Canada where my family is and Sprint doesn't include that. But then I'll be using my Blackberry a lot for getting online as a modem and this is extra with Sprint where it's included with Verizon. I don't know what to do! What do you think?

[MidnightCivic]

Check out the coverage n see who has the best. My sister works for sprint n I'm on her plan i have the htc mogul. The internet it super fast and i haven't dropped any calls. Also watch some free sprint tv when I'm bored

[AmbulanceMonkee]

Anything verizon has locked out can be overcome. I haven't got around to circumventing the "you have to pay to use the treo as a modem" thing, but my partner at work did it on his pocket pc. Hell, i think on that one, all you have to do is dial a code. When he figures out how to do it on my other friend's blackberry, I'll let you know. Just look around the internet, someone has already done it. I believe there are also ways to hack the device and enable full bluetooth funtionality. The only negative i see with verizon is that their data plans are expensive for my treo.

[DeX]

I don't think you can get around it with Verizon, RIM developed the firmware in the device so it does a check on bootup and if the provider variable returns as Verizon, it disables certain hardware. But when you purchase the GPS application from Verizon, it enables the GPS hardware so you can use it. And then I think you can access it with your own third party GPS applications if you want. But what's the point if you're paying for it anyway? But with the OBEx, it's pretty much non existent either way. Bluetooth on that thing is fucked. I was hoping to control everything with my Blackberry from the electronics in my house to things in my car. But maybe I can just do it over Wi-Fi instead.

[DeX]

First post updated with newly acquired, more accurate information.

[DeX]

Okay, so I checked out the Sprint/Verizon Blackberrys today and they have some new plans:

Sprint:
450 minutes voice and unlimited email - $70
GPS - included
unlimited SMS - included

Verizon:
450 minutes and unlimited email - $90
GPS - $10
unlimited SMS - included

So I picked up the Sprint 8830 since it's so much cheaper and my dad called me on the train ride home from Manhattan to Yonkers......great, it works fine except there's kind of an echo in the earpiece.....no big deal. I walk into my apartment BAM.....dropped call! WTF? I heard people say Sprint reception was bad but holy crap. He called back twice and those calls dropped too. Then I just tried to dial out twice and both calls failed. So basically the first (all) 5 calls I've made so far have failed, I might have to go Verizon after all.

[Envy]

howardforums.com

excellent site for circumventing verizon

verizon ftw

[white2K2EX]

I would take two tin cans on a string over Sprint. I'd tell you exactly why but I don't need to have a stroke today. In short, they're tied for worst company ever (with Charter Communications).

Thus, I would go with Verizon.

[DeX]

It's getting worse........I had a conference call with a team in Japan last night and had to sit in the lobby for an hour to get a signal.

[VP Stylee]

get the verizon, when you get your phone go to setting&tools and punch # where it will ask you for a code, the code is all 0's(000000) from there you get the tech screen and you can cange all the features you want.

i used that to turn on MP3 on my old LG vx9800(The V) because verizon had locked it to only play vcast. worked on my Samsung u620 also

[DaveyD]

Originally Posted by DeX

T-Mobile - I refuse to use GSM for security reasons.

AT&T - I refuse to use GSM for security reasosn.

Please explain these 2 lines of bullshit.

[DeX]

Originally Posted by DaveyD

Please explain these 2 lines of bullshit.

Wow, you sound really offended. I don't pretend to know everything but this is what I've read in my research:

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) works by encrypting the transmission, sending it over a channel along with multiple other transmissions, and decrypting it before playing it for the second party. So therefore you talk, it gets encrypted, sent, decrypted and the other person hears you. It happens so fast nobody notices. Because of this, it can't be picked up my scanners and you're free to discuss personal information on your cell phone.

GSM works on a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) basis where your conversations is split up into increments and pieces of it are sent at a time over a single channel along with other peoples' pieces of conversations and it's merged back together at the other end of the line. So you talk, it's cut up into pieces, sent, reconstructed, and the other person hears it. Again, it happens so fast nobody notices. But it's not encrypted so people can pick it up on scanners or using other cell phones on the same channel. Also, because of the technology of the network, it cannot handle as many users per channel and cannot handle as many channels per tower. So you'll have more dropped calls in busy areas (I work in Manhattan) because a user making a call on a full tower can knock a current conversation off of it.

If you can prove I can talk about my bank account on GSM without anyone else hearing it, I'm listening......

[gearbox]

had verizon for almost 5 yrs, no complaints. a few dropped calls now and then, but not really a big deal. great reception all the time, even fairly good roaming up in deserted mountains.

[02BLKCIVIC]

i roll sprint

[DeX]

Originally Posted by DaveyD

Please explain these 2 lines of bullshit.

I don't see any argument from you.