Blackberry Bold 9700 any good?

Alwyn Swart

Alwyn Swart

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Good day all,

I'm eligible for upgrade this Saturday the 19th of June 2010 and would like to go for the Blackberry Bold 9700... My question is, is this the 'best' Blackberry? Is it worth buying?

I currently own a HTC Tytn II and I'm sick and tired of Windows Mobile... well that and the handset itself :) HTC done a very good job with this phone, until you try and make a phone call, the speaker is really bad!!

Anyway, I'm planning on getting the Blackberry Bold 9700 on MTN AnyTime 200, you pay like 369 per month... this also include BIS (apparently)... This any good? I see on Vodacom you actually pay separately for BIS!?

Is there any hidden costs with BIS I'm not seeing? The way I understand the 'free on device browsing' is I'm connected to the internet 24/7 and pay NOTHING extra, for data bundles ext. right?

Also, I read that Blackberry has a tethering service whereby you can use you Blackberry as a modem so you can brows the internet ext on your laptop, is this true? Do you pay extra? What limits me to connect my Blackberry to my laptop and suck the world wide web dry!! :) Any file limit on downloads?

Okay... I think this is enough questions for now :)

Thank you guys in advance for helping me out to make the correct decision.
 
Okay... so I'm reading the sticky on page one right at the top, answers some of the more technical questions... Some user reviews of this phone would be appreciated, no sales talk, actual people using the phone and how they like or dislike it please :)

Also on 'tethering', the sticky says NO, cannot be done... yes, no?
 
I'm also wanting to get either this or the storm 2 , really can't decide which!
 
I have used HTC for years, there is no comparison.
Blackberry bold 9700 is by far the best phone and fastest phone I have ever used.
Windows mobile is a failure compared to this
 
A friend of mine is selling a brand new blackberry 8900 for R2 500. Thinking of buying it, is it worth it. Is the phone any good?
 
Hey Pooky... Reason I'm looking at the BB 9700 and not Storm 2 is because its not touch screen!! If had my share of touch screen with the HTC TYTN II, not impressed... The way I understand it is, the two phones are almost similar spec wise, only difference mainly is the touch screen of the Strom 2... That being said, that is what I have read.
 
Alwyn Swart said:
Okay... so I'm reading the sticky on page one right at the top, answers some of the more technical questions... Some user reviews of this phone would be appreciated, no sales talk, actual people using the phone and how they like or dislike it please :)

Also on 'tethering', the sticky says NO, cannot be done... yes, no?
Click to expand...
I have had my BB9700 for about 6 weeks and I love it. Cannot answer technical questions, but I find it very user friendly. I am on Vodacom Business top up, so I pay R315 plus R59 for BIS. I wouldnt change to MTN but that is a personal decision. ALl email is free, and browsing is free if you use the Blackberry browser. There are various other apps that so far seem to be free. The GPS is great and you also have Blackberry messenger where you can message other BB users free. Calls are clear, so--- what more could a girl wish for
I passed my old BB8310 to my daughhter and she is over the moon-- it is already saving airtime expenses. ;-)
 
Marine1 - Cool, then that settles it... 9700 and not Storm 2 ;)

Lizl - Wonderful, just what I wanted to hear!!! I'm on MTN all my live... not had any major issues with them... so far... So I'll stay on MTN... for now :) Wonderful to know the GPS navigation is free also that you can hear the person you are speaking to, a bonus (not included with the HTC TYTN II :P )...

Thank for the replies so far guys!!

Read up on tethering (using your phone as a modem to connect your laptop to the internet), seems like because you are not using the BB browser and not going through the correct APN normal data bundle charges apply if you brows with you phone attached as a modem... this correct?

So far I'm looking forward to get the BB 9700... anything I should watch out for? Hidden costs ext?
 
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you pay normal rates for using your phone as a modem. I believe MTN offer the 9700 on anytime 200 for about R370 a month which is the normal price (make sure if you take it on another deal it includes BIS).
 
Thanks Oronte, going for the MTN AnyTime 200 with BIS included as you stated... Now I only hope the R369 per month is the only costs I have to cover... On my HTC I have a data and sms bundle and at the end of the day with calls included I pay WAY to much (according to me)... so by going BB with BIS included I'm trying to cut the data bundle cost at least... Apparently Google Maps Street View is also free, awesome!!!
 
Just make sure you change your APN to the blackberry APN, and not MTN's! You'll be saving A LOT of airtime, trust me! The only problem you may have is that not all applications use BIS, but I have encountered, at most, 2 applications that don't, so it's not a major factor :)
 
100%, thank you miz_pimp, will make sure that is the first thing I change!!! Will not venture onto the internet before my BIS is activated, I understand it takes about a day or so... going to play it save, do not want to be surprised by a 'extra' bill at the end of the month :)

Thank for all the replies so far, really making me feel like I'm making the right choice... not big on impulsive buys, like to do a bit of research before I buy something... and what better advice than from people who actually own the device, no sales talk :) "Oh your looking at the Blackberry, you would go wrong buying that sir, I prefer Blackberry myself"... "cool, which one do you own"... "huuummm... I do not have one.. but my friend says it rocks" - Sound familiar :)
 
Look at the BIS is it free sticky thread for more info. I've been caught out with charges so I wrote the guide to ensure no one else is.
I'm with you on the Blackberry choice. I would love a desire or even an iphone but what's the point of those phones if you have to pay double for a data bundle and still not have enough data? And I don't think I'll ever be able to leave my hard keyboard.
 
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Great phone! Even the Vodacom CEO uses it - must tell you something.
 
Wicked!! Then it is decided, will pick one up Saturday!!! Presume I will be a bit more active in this section... well after BIS is activated anyway :D
 
Okay... got my BB 9700 today!!! BIS is activated and everything, 3G in capital letters with the 3 blackberry dots next to it, also the word EDGE is capitalized when my connection is a bit slower... Changed my APN to blackberry.net, like advised on this forum, so that is also sorted...

Question... How do I get rid of the horrible orange background MTN 'picked' for me :)

Also,can I be certain that when the 3G or EDGE i capitalized that I'm using BIS, do not what a fright at the end of the month...

Also, when downloading like for example the google maps app, is that free...? Okay so I'm paranoid :)

Last question for now, how do I get my contacts from my TYTN II to my BB 9700? Thinking of maybe syncing with laptop and then syncing the BB after that, sharing the contacts...?

Awesome phone by the way!!! :D
 
I am also tempted to get the 9700 but have just read that BB is refreshing the 9700 as well as going to release the 9800 in the next month or two - hope that it will make it to SA soon as well so that I can pick one up before September...
 
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