Wow. I must say, this is probably the biggest piece of news we’ve ever broken here at BlackBerry Cool — and possibly the one that’s made us the angriest. We’ve just received word from one of our friends inside AT&T that the US carrier has been successful in their attempts to lockdown the GPS functionality in their upcoming BlackBerry 8820 so that the only functioning 3rd party software will be TeleNav.
First, this is a major piss off to AT&T customers looking to get their hands on the BlackBerry 8820 mid-September, but what’s more important is why AT&T chose to do this. Apparently - and remember, this is coming from someone inside AT&T - the carrier didn’t want to launch a device that would seem superior (or be competitive) to the iPhone. Sounds a little crazy, until you realize that a GPS/Wi-Fi’d device with push email and no funny-texting touch screen that’s subsidized in price sounds a bit more appealing than a $500 device that enterprise customers can’t use.
We’ve been told that RIM was apparently livid over the decision (and with good reason), but AT&T basically said “do it or we won’t buy the 8820 or any future devices from you” and RIM backed down. Our AT&T informant also said that this was a call made by top RIM/AT&T brass, which sheds new light on Jim Balsillie’s statement that the carriers are one of RIM’s three masters.
So, to recap:
– The AT&T BlackBerry will have neutered GPS capabilities
– The T-Mobile 8820 will be better than the AT&T version
– Apple has won the first round against RIM
Let’s check that last statement for a second. Our informant was unsure if Steve Jobs called the hit, or if this decision was made solely by AT&T to protect their serious investment in the iPhone. The fact of the matter, however, is that RIM’s biggest North American customer just crippled one of their enterprise devices in favor of a consumer device that supposedly doesn’t compete with the BlackBerry.
Post a comment and let us know what you think about this crazy news. Personally, we never liked AT&T that much in the first place, but we like them even less for screwing over the BlackBerry faithful so they can make more money.
Posted by Douglas Soltys in News, Rumors
[...] at BlackBerry Cool has just posted that they’ve received a tip from an inside source at AT&T that the GPS funcitonality will [...]
As a Blackberry user (iPhone wannabe, but without enterprise service, that’s impossible) I’m very unhappy with this decision to cripple the 8820. For some of us, there is no other choice but Blackberry, don’t punish us for that.
I can’t wait until the day smartphones face the same anti-competition restrictions that desktop operating systems are forced to deal with. Its ridiculous that a carrier can cripple the functionality of a device for this purpose. And honestly, i’m quite surprised RIM built the capability to do this into their operating system. I guess the carriers really do make all the decisions.
Sucks that this happened to AT&T subscribers, but i guess this is just their own special way of getting screwed. Us Canadians get it with the data charges. Carriers are just plain evil.
I think RIM should tell AT&T to shove it and boycott them - and push their devices more heavily on the other carriers (or lower the unlocked prices)
Unbelievable. Nice scoop. I really hope you’re wrong, though. But this makes too much sense- the 8820 has a lot going for it that the iPhone doesn’t (which is why I’ve been impatiently waiting for the 8820). I can see why ATT would bend to its iPhone masters. Grrr.
I find the google ad with the iphone quite ironic when considering this post.
I’ve never liked AT&T either.
I just feel really bad for RIM. Their reliance upon carriers like AT&T put them in a really bad position this time.
Basically, they had the option of neutering a device or losing sales revenue from hundreds of thousands BlackBerry 8820s as well as future devices.
But, once again, it’s the consumer that gets screwed.
If an AT&T 8820 is unlocked and used with another carrier, say T-Mobile, will the GPS become usable?
[...] crippled on AT&T 8820? - Today, 12:27 PM EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool According to the linked article, AT&T will cripple GPS on the 8820, just like Verizon did on [...]
RIM is gutless - all they have to do is threaten to pull new devices from AT&T and they will crumble like a house of cards. Everyone always blames the carriers for locking features out of new devices but none of the blame falls on RIM’s inability to put its users first, unlike Apple.
I give Apple full Kudo’s for standing up to carriers in the US and demanding a better package for their product. RIM should follow suit and stop bending over to every carriers whim.
[...] the release of the BlackBerry 8820 on AT&T may not be getting everything that you expected. BlackBerry Cool is reporting that although the BlackBerry 8820 will have GPS, AT&T has been successful in locking it down [...]
I’m sure AT&T is also looking at Verizon, who gets away with crippling BlackBerries left and right in order to sell back built-in features to their subscribers. If there’s no competitive pressure, why not chisel a $10 mrc from customers?
I think it’s wrong to blame the iPhone for this, though it will get you more viewers with iPhone planted in the story. But Verizon has done the same thing. It disabled the silver world edition 8830 gps functionaliy in favor of you paying for the carrier version of the service. At and t launched the 8800 with gps functionality and At and T lost out on a revenue opportunity so they decide to replace the 8800 with the 8820 with wifi and disable the gps so that you will have to pay for Wifi and Gps and not get them for free.
Face it, the 8820 is not a game changing device like the iPhone that would make folks actually switch carriers just to enjoy the device. Until Blackberry can come up with one, they are stuck being second class citizens.
[...] good guys over at BlackBerryCool have released some very sad information about the upcoming BlackBerry 8820 WiFi phone from [...]
[...] with Tele-Nav. That’s because they don’t want the newer BBs to compete with the iphone. See here: EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool Seems odd to me given that iphone does not (yet) have GPS (but is rumored to "upgrade" [...]
[...] 01:55 PM Yep more about it here EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool Does not bother me as I could care less about the GPS and not too much about the WiFi abilities. [...]
Whats with the constant whining that the iPhone isn’t ready for enterprise users?
Firstly I work in an enterprise company and my iPhone works just fine. Secondly there are very functional 3rd party iPhone - MS Exchange solutions.
So seriously, whats the deal with calling the iPhone a device that enterprise users can’t use? Does it make you feel better to outright lie?
[...] 02:03 PM For those who are wanting to use the GPS funtions of the 8820, read this EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool Greg Gebhardt Jacksonville, [...]
@NDPTAL85 - The reason for the BlackBerry architecture is to provide an end-to-end secure fully encrypted centrally manageable solution. BES is a platform and iPhone isn’t. You can have an admin at a company be able to set security policies and push applications from a management console. Just because iPhone can get email through POP from an enterprise account doesn’t make it a secure enterprise solution. This is the true and stop whining about it.
Jake,
I guess now you know why you should be coming to BlackBerry Cool to get your BlackBerry news. =D
Also, we posted that AT&T’s actions were because of the iPhone, because our informant at AT&T told us it was because of the iPhone, not to drum up traffic.
NDP…
Whether or not you believe the iPhone can be used as an enterprise device, it’s a fact that the iPhone is marketed as a consumer product first, while the 8820 is surely an enterprise device.
[...] EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone [BlackBerryCool.com] via MacNN tr { border: 0px } td { cellborder: 10px} table { border: 1px solid black } [...]
[...] AT&T cripples the BlackBerry 8820?s GPS functionality so they can sell more iPhones. EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool BlackBerry Cool - the voice of the BlackBerry [...]
[...] AT&T cripples the BlackBerry 8820?s GPS functionality so they can sell more iPhones. EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool BlackBerry Cool - the voice of the BlackBerry [...]
Hi!
RIM is caught in the “I want to please all” problem. Carriers LOVE to cripple devices, reprogram keys for accidental data usage and so on. The big players love “Carrier branded” phones that emphasize the carrier not the phone makers brand. The problem here is: A carrier is a carrier, the name says it all. They simply carry data and voice but want to be media centrals. However, Nokia, SonyEricsson, Motorola, Samsung, LG, RIM and Apple are too strong brands to play that game. Even HTC became so big with carrier-phones that they decided to go on with their own brand worldwide.
The carrier sees his business across all his products. If he thinks the sell of one device might cannibalize the sales of another, higher yielding product, why not try and change the device so it doesn’t interfere?
It’s legitimate for them, but they have to live with customers that just don’t buy limited products.
However, I think the real reason behind this is pure psychological:
Everywhere in the world you could read that Apple dictated conditions and chose the carrier in the US who dropped his pants the most and accepted to neither brand the phone nor change it in any way. This is no good PR for AT&T, imagine all the phone makers thinking they could do the same. So take the next one, especially a strong growing brand but still relatively small (10 Million Phones worldwide since founding, Nokia sells 48 Million Smartphones and overall 345 Million Phones PER YEAR!!), so take the small one with a strong brand and show the “world” that you are still the Sheriff in town!
Just to prove a point. And if they sell 10k less 8820s due to their decision, it might be well worth it overall.
My personal opinion: AT&T sucks for this move.
But as a shareholder (which I am not!) I would say, right so, who’s your daddy, mobile phone makers?
Regards,
Ralf
This is very difficult to believe and frankly, smacks of someone trying to start a at&t flame chain. I fear that Douglas has been fed some BS in this exclusive.
[...] out your felt tip pens, kids, and colour in the faces of AT&T executives bright shame-red. BlackBerry Cool have been tipped off that the carrier - currently riding a tide of iPhone-inflated success - are so [...]
[...] out your felt tip pens, kids, and colour in the faces of AT&T executives bright shame-red. BlackBerry Cool have been tipped off that the carrier - currently riding a tide of iPhone-inflated success - are so [...]
I know this will tick many people off, but the reason ATT can pull crap like this is due to how we as Americans buy cell phones.
We want the “free” phone. People are not willing to pony up for the true costs of the phone. Hopefully the iPhone can help with this (hey at least it’ll be good for one thing). Since we want the cheaper cost, the carrier gets to run the show when it comes to features. They become the proxy for the consumer and dictate what features and styles we get. If we paid the extra $100-$300 we could buy direct (through a retail entity most likely like CarPhone Warehouse or whatever they’re called in the UK). We get to vote with our dollars among many devices and not just picking phones like we do our politicians, “best of what we’re offered.” Not only that, you can jump from carrier to carrier because they would soon have a problem enforcing the ETF since their reasoning today is the subsidised phone (congress is already talking about this because of the ETF on the iPhone contracts. Hey that’s two things!!!).
All we need to do as consumers is start taking a longer term view of what we purchase instead of accepting the status quo.
if anyone has ideas on how to start some sort of grass roots movement or similar, I’d really be interested in talking. This is something that would really move us forward with cell phone technology. Contact me at wherman at namreh.spam dot com (remove the .spam)
-Bill
Xevious:
I wish it was BS, because it’s a damn shame to see and really sucks for AT&T BlackBerry users (and RIM, for that matter).
If you don’t believe us, I suggest that you hit blackberryforums.com or email any RIM/AT&T employees you know so they can confirm for you.
We did.
you heard from someone inside att?
Right…
well I heard from someone very close to me who is a top executive inside att that rim uses underage labor to build their pda’s. This was there way of pushing rim to stop this sick process. I guess we should all believe that and boycott rimm… Right if u don’t have real news don’t report it. This sight is loosing credibility.
[...] la nueva Blackberry 8820 no tendrá GPS deliberadamente para promocionar el iPhone de acuerdo a un reportaje de una persona bien conectada con la empresa. Aunque el móvil puede funcionar perfectamente con [...]
AT&T was a bad company before cell phones even made it into the mainstream. I didn’t like them. I had been a Cingular customer for years and I was quite ticked off when AT&T bought them out. I just knew it was the start of something bad from my past experience.
Now they just show they are the same as always, My contract is up around the same time as the release of the 8820. Shortly after the reviews will come in and the hard truth will be out and I will be one of the people to tell them to shove it and move my service elsewhere.
Whats the point in buying out a company if you are only going to piss off the people it has a contract with and loose them almost just as fast. Idiots..
To hell with At&T. I’ll go get an unlocked, and “un-AT&T-crippled” 8820 elsewhere. I want to enjoy the full feature set of the 8820 and not some castrated-by-the-carrier-version.
AT@T couldn’t run a land line business without being subsized and monopoly protection. Do you really think they have any clue on how to run competitive wireless business?
Ultimately they will only strengthen their numerous competitors. The iPhone is a limited market consumer phone not in the same league as Blackberry. And as such, consumers will be quickly dissapointed with the typical poor service from AT@T and move on to the next highly advertised device. In the mean time the other carriers will prosper from RIMs enhanced offerings accross several carriers.
[...] out your felt tip pens, kids, and colour in the faces of AT&T executives bright shame-red. BlackBerry Cool have been tipped off that the carrier - currently riding a tide of iPhone-inflated success - are so [...]
tjhood:
Just for reference, Cingular (SBC and Bellsouth) bought ATT wireless…..then 4!9 bouth Bell south and then Att. They took the name for land and wireless by default.
Why would AT&T rather sell an iPhone, where they have to PAY Apple a ton of money per phone, when they can sell an 8820 for a greater profit margin? The iPhone is a draw to their company, and will be with or without the 8820. The 8820 would just be another great phone in their stable?
I am not seeing the big picture that AT&T is. Is anyone else?
Carriers often cripple GPS so only their own programs will work with it.
No conspiracy here. And certainly no Apple influence. Just typical carrier greed.
[...] Wie BlackBerryCool von einem Informanten innerhalb von AT&T erfahren haben soll, wird AT&T, dem iPhone und seinen Verkaufszahlen zuliebe, den BlackBerry 8820 mit [...]
[...] Home Store Jobs About Contact Advertise « EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the… [...]
[...] like the whole internet, or, at least the BlackBerry blog reading part of it, is up in arms over a rumor that AT&T will lock down features in the BlackBerry 8820 so that it doesn’t steal any of [...]
[...] Recently our friends over at BlackBerryCool broke a story about AT&T and the upcoming 8820. It seems that there is a rumor that AT&T is going to disable the GPS capability on that device and only enable it for the TeleNav application. The story has generated quite a lively discussion. [...]
[...] 8820 BlackBerry. Why? So the device isn’t better than the Apple iPhone. This rumor WREAKS of bogusness to The Raw Feed. First, AT&T still competes with other carriers for lucrative [...]
[...] 8820 BlackBerry. Why? So the device isn’t better than the Apple Iphone. that rumor WREAKS of bogusness to The Raw Feed. First, AT&T still competes with other carriers for lucrative [...]
Let’s face it if the 8800 came out of the gate and broke sales records then BB users would be enjoying full functional gps with there 8820. Because it didn’t do too hot, your in this dilemma. My problem with BB is they make too many different BBs.
[...] AT&T Neuters BlackBerry - Today, 10:55 AM Sorry if this was posted already… I did a quick scan and didn’t see it so thought I’d share. I found it on the consumerist which found it on blackberry cool. lol. Here’s the link to the article: EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool [...]
[...] 8820 BlackBerry. Why? So the device isn’t better than the Apple iPhone. that rumor WREAKS of bogusness to The Raw Feed. First, AT&T still competes with other carriers for lucrative [...]
Taking a step back and looking at this from a different angle, I think the that standalone gps gives Google an incredible advantage, just think of how fast Google got involved with the Blackberry 8800 along with InfoSpace Findit app.
At least on the iPhone, Apple’s version of Google Maps is At and t’s version, and the version that can’t be easily ported to other carriers. This seems to open the door for T-mobile and Sprint;’s WiMax platform to work with Google on a truly open Google map platform with full Gps functionality, but this is just speculation on my part.
Everyone trying to disprove this based on NOTHING but their own speculation are idiots. Just ask the VZW 8830 owners if their GPS works or not. Didn’t think so…
[...] it will only work with Telenav. The awesome inside connected folks at Blackberrycool broke this story earlier this week. Check their site out for details and me for opinion. I am someone [...]
mistermix
now you know why I did not buy the Blackberry from Verizon I have account with Verizon all my family 5 phones, but because what they did to BB I opened new account with Cingular and my 2 BB8800 is with them.but it’s look like I have to switch again because I want the BB8820 but not crepeld.
This is so stupid, even if At&t released this thing with GPS it wouldn’t be better than the iPhone. The iphone is solid enough to stand on its own without any help from the darkside. If Rim and apple got together and released a blackberry connect client for the iphone than all will be well in the universe.
Carriers have always called the shots with the handset manufacturers. Steve negotiated a better deal with the carrier for his handset while RIM didn’t, or couldn’t. Handsets have been crippled for years but the manufacturers keep buying the dog that bites them. Then they go buy another one. Complaining is disingenuous.
@Bob
And what can you tell us about the iPhone that will prove that it is “…SO SO SO much better…”? I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you’re showing blind fanboy-ism here. While some people might see this as a black and white issue, it’s really many different shades of gray. The iPhone might be nice for someone who wants style, and doesn’t necessarily care about functionality and security; a typical consumer. The BlackBerry is more suited for people who care about functionality and security, and less about following the Apple cult.
Not owning either of these devices, I’m just sitting on the sidelines. However, I would like to point out my disgust at the new generation of Apple fans who praise the company’s every move. Get a f**king spine people. Apple isn’t the best company to walk this earth. Far from it. The more I see, the more disgusted I become. I, for one, will never buy another Apple product again. This is not due to the blind fanboy-ism I’ve seen so much of lately, but simply because there are BETTER devices out there.
I’ve been using Apple products for over 13 years now, and I can say with confidence that Mac OS X sucks, and shouldn’t even be considered a ‘Windows replacement.’ If you’re that desperate to get away from MSFT, get linux.
–Out
[...] that not only was AT&T removing GPS functionality from their version of the BlackBerry 8820, they’re doing it so it won’t show up the iPhone. While carriers crippling phones to stop them from competing with pay-per-use services is nothing [...]
NDPTAL85 : One of the reason the iPhone is not the enterprise type phone is simply because company negotiated plan do not work with iPhone devices…
Figures. Apple’s marketing machine has long trumped their technology or other parts of their industry. And AT&T, already in a bad bargain with a device whose features outstrips its connectivity provisioning levels, needs to get an ROI on the iPhone _as opposed_ to their other handhelds.
What’s lost in all this is the concept that a cell phone is primarily a TELEPHONE. You know: dial a number and have a conversation? The iPhone and Blackberry have both been shown in studies to have a higher drop rate and poorer connectivity (in terms of QOS) than more traditional and focused cell phones. This is the battle of titans not over better phone service, but over features and marketshare on things that, at the end of the day, are relatively irrelevant to the consumer who wants to make a call.
Check out the Nokia, or even Motorola cell phones if what you need out of a phone is voice communications, and not televovellas or a sprained thumb from e-mail.
[...] a source inside AT&T. Why? So the device isn’t better than the Apple iPhone. This rumor REEKS of bogusness to The Raw Feed. First, AT&T still competes with other carriers for lucrative [...]
This is unsubstantiated. Verizon has done the same thing to the 8830, however they are not selling the iPhone. Stop writing conspiracy theories and submitting them to slashdot.
Have anything to do with AT&T at your own peril:
“EFF files suit against AT&T over NSA spying
“By Nate Anderson | Published: April 06, 2006 - 10:38AM CT
“The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today filed the legal documents needed for its class action lawsuit against AT&T to move forward. The EFF is alleging that AT&T has purposely diverted customer traffic to the NSA for years as a means of aiding the NSA’s covert surveillance program that was revealed last December—and they claim to have the documents to prove it.”
Hi there,
those of you have actually used the GPS on Blackberry, how long did you have to wait until it boots up finding all the sattelites?
[...] more here No Comments Leave a Commenttrackback addressThere was an error with your comment, please try again. name (required)email (will not be published) (required)url [...]
Or could it because they charge for TeleNav as a service, and they don’t want to give the same functions away for free?
This makes me wonder if Rim wouldn’t be better off following Nokia’s footprints and start selling unsubsidize and unlocked devices direct to the consumer. The way us Americans buy cell phones is stupid. Especially with being locked into the contract, we get no savings from actually buying the phone from the carrier, plus we get locked into a contract that we can’t change should we decide services is either too expensive or just plain sucks. Its like buying a subsides car and then having it only run on Citgo Gas.
It’s more likely that we’ll have the GPS only function with Telenav because WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH TELENAV.
I doubt highly this has anything to do with iPhone
[...] EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool Idiots! (tags: blackberry att) [...]
The constant crippling of features on mobile phones is a window that allows PDA’s to continue to be relevant.
If phones cannot take over the eDocument reading, GPS functionality, WiFi connectivity, … because of marketing practices, then we all have a reason to:
- buy a Palm/WindowsMobile/Nokia N800 type device for greatest functionality
- buy the cheapest phone and use it for voice and e-mail/texting only.
If that is where the mobile carriers are pushing us, that is where we should go — much faster than they want us to. Screw them and be happy
Greg Conquest
using a Palm Tungsten E2 and a relatively simple mobile phone (keitai) in Japan
[...] I’ve been pondering a potential purchase involving Apple’s iPhone, but after a thorough investigation comparing to RIM’s Blackberry, i’ve decided to go with the Blackberry 8830 World Edition. As much as I like watching movies, and listening to music, i don’t need to spend $500-$600 on an iPhone with 4 gigs of flash memory and a built-in iPod to do that thank you very much. Moreover, i can’t justify entering into a contract with AT&T. My general contempt for wireless phone companies, and their minions who use them whilst driving like assholes extends to the only provider you can use with the iPhone: AT&T. As a consumerist, I’d like to think I have a choice as to whom will collect my money for wireless services. It’s clear that’s not the case with the iPhone. AT&T won’t stand for it. [...]
I guess AT&T can do whatever they want. I guess we can all choose the carrier WE want (and it won’t be AT&T)
[...] that not only was AT&T removing GPS functionality from their version of the BlackBerry 8820, they’re doing it so it won’t show up the iPhone. While carriers crippling phones to stop them from competing with pay-per-use services is nothing [...]
[...] legt den GPS-Empfänger im neuen Blackberry 8820 lahm, um Konkurrenz zu vermeiden. Der Blog Blackberrycool berichtet, AT&T habe dem Hersteller RIM mitgeteilt, dass sie das neueste Modell nur ohne [...]
[...] are several rumours going around today (the enquirer, BlackBerryCool, BoyGenius) that AT&T have deactivated the GPS on the new 8820 so that it’ll only work [...]
[...] of its upcoming Blackberry models so that it doesn’t steal any thunder away for the iPhone (http://blackberrycool.com/2007/08/16/005386/). Has the world gone [...]
If you don’t like AT&T, editor, then you’re going to hate the king of device cripplers, Verizon Wireless. AT&T has few crippling blemishes on their record in comparison. And let’s face it; the 8820 is just a Wi-Fi’d version of the 8800, the latter of which you can only use TelNav with for GPS anyway. What’s the biggie? Being a new 8800 owner as of today, I’m frustrated about the lack of third-party support for GPS, but this is nothing new- more of the same from the 8800 launch. The iPhone is an incredible asset in AT&T’s pocket- I don’t blame them for protecting it. But one would think it’s special enough in its own amazing right that AT&T wouldn’t feel threatened by a fully-loaded 8820. The interface doesn’t compare and I would think be enough to not worry about it.
@ EGOR:
Here’s a handy-dany post we did a while back that should help you use GPS on your BlackBerry:
http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/12/18/003023/
Hope this helps!!
What a bunch of “rent seeking” nut bars.
This goes to show that there is still lots more room for competitors.
This is barely even news. The number of wireless devices with crippled features must number well into the dozens. AT&T, Sprint, VZW… they all do it. So, again… why is this even news?!?!?
[...] l’iPhone By Harry WinchAdd commentsActualité du smartphone La rumeur lancée par Blackberry cool enfle sur Internet : AT&T aurait en effet décidé de faire verrouiller l’option GPS sur [...]
[...] and over again, the idea of a free market becomes a bit of a joke. Well, I guess monopolizing is about par for AT&T these days. Permalink Share This Post Comment Print This Post Posted by Simon [...]
[...] out they’re up to no good. Last week Sean sent this article in to me about how AT&T is hobbling the new BlackBerry 8820. That’s right, apparently in order to prevent anything from impacting their iPhone sales, [...]
Elliot, you are not a bright person. Loosing? Typo’s? PDA’s ? There way…. It’s hard to take you seriously when you obviously could not pass a high school grammar test.
Underage workers in other countries, that lose their jobs due to protests and boycotts organized by dumbass do-gooders in the states, often GO HUNGRY or worse. Your values are not their values.
[...] BlackberryCool says that AT&T is crippling the Blackberry 8820 to please Apple. [...]
[...] neuters the upcoming BlackBerry 8820 so the iPhone doesn’t look so [...]
[...] This podcast was recorded the day before we broke the news on AT&T neutering the BlackBerry 8820, so it wasn’t addressed in the podcast. However, be amazed at how ominously pertinent our [...]
I just got one and mad as hell. I will see to the hacks and if does not work look for service else where!
You should also note that AT&T has chosen to cripple the WiFi as well, as they will NOT be enabling VoIP (i.e., UMA), so you can’t use your WiFi for voice calls…only data.
Hey, does “unlocking” these phones restore their original capacities? i’ve never understood how the unlocking works… anyone?
Apple had a chance to make a Blackberry-killer and blew it, with a product that’s not yet ready for prime time. Then RIM had a chance to take advantage of the iPhone’s shortcomings, with the 8820 and they also blew it, by crippling the 8820. This leaves the consumer with a choice of two half-baked products, both requiring serious trade-offs. The question that this raises is, can you purchase a non-crippled 8820 (either from T-Mobile, in the USA or Orange, in the UK) and use it on the AT&T network, without the AT&T limits? If not, then this would be enough to make me wait for version 2 of the iPhone, in the hope that Apple will fix the myriad shortcomings in that device. But, I won’t hold my breath.
[...] none too pleased with the hurricane of negative feedback that rolled through the Internet after we broke the story. So basically, loyal citizens of the Internet, you have yourselves to thank for putting AT&T in [...]
[...] was recently reported by BlackBerry Cool that the BlackBerry 8820, when released by AT&T, will have it’s GPS features [...]
This is awful news to hear. It is a perfect example of a “service” provider/Telecom using their unchecked power to dominate consumers. This is exactly why America needs real competition in the industry. We all need to hope that the upcoming wireless spectrum auction results in an open network that doesn’t lock-out/in certain devices. That way WE can buy our device from the manufacturer so that AT&T/Verizon/Sprint don’t have the chance to cripple them. Until real competition shakes up the industry we’re all going to be victims. Like the airlines, the telecoms are oligopolists in a race to the bottom!
I was using my new AT&T Blackberry 8800 to access GPS yesterday 9/1/07. This was the the first time to access this GPS feature. It seemed to work pretty well. Will that change? How will the GPS be affected?
What happened to Black Berry 8820, most of the sites mentioned it will be released on September 4th, but 4th has come and gone, but ATT is really not opening their mouth on the release date, this is totally sucks! i will need to look for a better alternative, with unlocked BB8820
If one gets an unlock BB8820 and still use AT&T. Will this be able to go around the GPS problem?
As someone who has seen AT&T’s decision making first hand, I can guarantee you that MANY different reasons get bandied about for any specific decision. Unless this person was the person that made the decision, they most probably do not know what all the reasons were.
However, “we can make more money if we do X” is generally considered a strong argument. The executives have a fiduciary/moral responsibility maximize shareholder value and profits.
I have had the device for a day and a half. I’m seriously considering taking AT&T up on the 30 day satisfaction guarantee.
I have found that the GPS will work with Google Maps, but the phone seems to reject a lot of other software.
I also found that the home page on the Media Browser is locked down. The phone comes with 2 copies of a similar browser… one has the Blackberry Logo, and one has the AT&T logo. When the AT&T version of the browser comes up, it keeps forcing the user to go to AT&T’s default home page.
The network has blocked the use of AIM, so you cannot use AOL Instant Messenger.
Check out the ATT customer agreement. In the terms of use for the data service it says that service is provided only for ATT “certified” devices. Seems like a loophole….when “the masses” learn to make/buy unlocked devices then the carrier will simply refuse to let them on the network!!!!
People should think of smartphones as their own “pc”….just shell out the bucks for an unlocked device and then sign up one year with carrier of choice..maintains autonomy and flexibility.
BTW…if you want real shivers just swing by the Verizon site and take a look at their new customer agreement….one paragraph says that they can put software on your phone which gathers info on usage to be shared with affiliates, vendors and third parties…..oh yeah….I want Verizon loading my phone with spyware!!!!! Give me a land line and an IBM typewriter!!!!
It doesn’t matter… still not good yet.
lacking the following VERY important features:
- 3G modem .. that is the reason why we need wi-fi so much! EDGE network really sucks and again we are not always close to a wi-fi hot spot are we?
- CAMERA … Yeah right! .. a better BB just without one of the most important accessories on cell phones/pdas nowadays.
need to say more? we know At&T sucks… but come RIM .. you can do better than that!
Besides the backstabing Jobs doing in the gps,at&t did it to increase revenue the same as verizon did. Funny how Apple appeals to the hippie fringe…yet can you be more corporate or capitalist than Apple. No cloning…everything proprietary…stupid liberals…
I tested out both the iPhone and the 8820 and think they both have their pluses and minuses.
The major minus of the 8820 is that it call 911 when locked in you pocket. Nothing is better than having the police find you because the phone called them while locked.
I blogged about it if you are interested.
http://graymerica.com/wpblog/technology/worst-cell-phone-feature-ever-key-locked-blackberry-8820-calls-911/
STARTED CHECKING OUT DIFFERENT PHONES ON INTERNET- I LIKED WHAT I READ ABOUT BLACKBERRY 8820 PHONE-WILL BE USING WITH MY BUSINESS’S-DID NOT NEED CAMERA-SO I ORDERED 8820 FROM ATT-SPENT APPROX AN 1 1/2 HOURS PICKING OUT RIGHT PLAN-NOT ONCE DID ANYONE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT NOT HAVING GPS BLACKBERRY MAPS=
PHONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TOMORROW OCT 15=THIS IS GOING TO BE 1 MAD TURKEY IF GPS DOESNT WORK
@Mickey: You can set up Google Talk (native for BB) to communicate with an AIM transport, using a Jabber client for a desktop OS. I connect to AIM, Yahoo, etc all with Google Talk.
Despite all of the pro’s and con’s of owning an Apple iPhone I finally purchased one in the beginning of October 2007. By the 14th day I was so fed up with the iPhones lack enterprise support (there may be a better way to give better enterprise support, but it sure isnt easy)…
I RETURNED my iPhone in favor of the Blackberry 8820.
This is my second blackberry and for business users. Blackberry has no comparison. Too bad they backed down to AT&T though 
[...] BlackBerry Cool had an item up about AT&T neutering the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone. They got word from an insider at AT&T that the GPS functionality in their upcoming BlackBerry 8820 has been locked down so that the only functioning 3rd party software will be TeleNav. Can you imagine? If I were a Blackberry fan, I would be a very unhappy camper … come to think of it, they could do it to Windows Mobile devices too! Yeah, I am now unhappy …. it is wrong! [...]
Hi all,
I have a Blackberry 8820 from AT&T and just installed Google Maps on it, a screen poped asking if GM could access the GPS info….I said yes…and a couple a seconds later I had a petty blue dot on my google map showing my current location. Even gave me direction to the meeting I have tomorrow.
So, at least my AT&T 8820 does not have its GPS locked down….thank god…
Robert
[...] 8820 BlackBerry. Why? So the device isn’t better than the Apple iPhone. This rumor WREAKS of bogusness to The Raw Feed. First, AT&T still competes with other carriers for lucrative [...]
[...] since I may be getting one soon as a partner to my 8310 Curve…and it really chapped my butt!! EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool If this is true, and AT&T has effectively blocked the 8820 from using any other GPS [...]
THis is only a rumor, my company got this new model for me and it does enables GPS applications with Google Maps, the pre-installed application and best of all, with Garmin, although I had to pay $99 for the activation of the software, but is the best of all, with voice prompts, mobile manager, gas prices, etc, etc.
Bought a usa bb on e-bay - no sim. It does not work on T-mobile in the uk -contract. Anyone help please?
Many thanks
[...] Originally Posted by ezrunner Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8800/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100) I believe that was all suspect info! Gps wasn’t disabled and wifi works just fine. EXCLUSIVE: AT&T neuters the BlackBerry 8820 in favor of the iPhone | BlackBerry Cool [...]
I just got an 8820 through AT&T, and one of the first things I did is install Google Maps which seems to use the GPS just fine… oh and it also has Wifi…
A few things, this article states the T-Mobile 8820 will be better. There is NO T-Mobile 8820 and there never will be, it’s an 8800 and does NOT have WiFi.
MegaCorps like AT&T can do as they please because YOU the consumers allow them to. I’ve worked in the cellular industry since about 1991 and I have watched how the the market flows. Large cell companies and guide the direction things go by limiting features or in the corporate sector.
It’s funny because they do something similar in the consumer sector. They get college students to jump on their bandwagon by introducing some feature you have to have.
However they can not predict everything. Texting is the biggest thing on college campuses and when parents started getting outrageous bills they started taking phones away and this was hurting the CellCos. This started the trend of free test messaging. This is proof that if you demand something and quit using their services till they cave they will indeed cave.
The only other option is to wait for the hackers to bypass this lockdown.In fact if you know the right people it’s already done. As is a universal algorithm for generating unlock codes on the 88xx series phones.
It’s a free marketplace. If AT&T does not want to play fair and threaten to not buy RIM’s devices all RIM needs to do is threaten to cut off AT&T’s access to the RIM network and write an app that will unlock AT&T blackberry devices so customers can migrate to other networks. AT&T has a LOT more to loose with all the existing Blackberry handsets out there. All of AT&T’s customers could march down to T-Mobile and activate their handsets. If AT&T does not want the enterprise market thats their choice. Even a one day shutdown to the RIM market would have AT&T’s phone lines lit up with screaming customers canceling contracts.
RIM has their niche market. AT&T is just another crummy service provider. AT&T is probably one of the most evil companies out there. They are the main reason I refuse to buy an Iphone. Apple you screwed yourself by selling out to the devil’s phone company!
The iphone is pathetic. Well Apple is pathetic. They make shitty products that are supposed to be unique and superior but they don’t sell. Then they make companies like att do things that should be illegal(blocking competition). Bottom line is that when my contract runs up in september with att, they better give me a blackberry 8820 with GPS for no extra charge. It comes with the capability so they should give it to us…and no i will not buy an iphone because they are outrageously priced and i like the black berry phones much better anyway. Im pissed but this consumer(like many others) will just go to T mobile and have a blackberry with GPS and no extra charges. I don’t like att anyway, it’s just an excuse to take my business elsewhere when it would be simpler just to extend my contract. Oh well, GPS would cost at least 10 or 15 bucks EXTRA a month for a blackberry with att than at T mobile where they let you use RIM which is free. With all the business people getting smartphones you bet they will shop around when they are faced with a choice between 15 extra dollars a month or going somewhere else. Honestly, this just makes the iphone look pathetic…like they aren’t selling very well. And their not, and thats why blackberry has been neutered. RIM shouldnt stand for this!
I do not know where you are getting your crazy comment about apple products not selling well. Are you blind or do you not keep up with news. I am a PC user but let’s be frank and look at facts. The rate macs, ipods, iphones are selling are just incredible compared to competitors. The new iphone 3G is an amazing device, not because of the hardware…but the intuitive software. No matter if you like Steve Jobs or not, he is a brilliant marketing guru and knows exactly what the majority (obviously not awax)of the people want. Blackberry was a great device…but they need to really start innovating more than listening to all these complainers. Blackberry is going to lose serious market share if they dont come up with something, NOW.
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