Is the Curve 8900 out for Verizon??

[Ericuse165]

I have two question is the Blackberry Curve 8900 out for Verizon. If so What is the better Blackberry in anyones opinion and fact? The Curve 8530 or the Curve 8900?

[TheGreatOne]

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Ericuse165 wrote:

I have two question is the Blackberry Curve 8900 out for Verizon. If so What is the better Blackberry in anyones opinion and fact? The Curve 8530 or the Curve 8900?

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The 8900 is currently an AT&T phone and was a T-mobile phone. That phone runs strictly on GSM network. Verizon runs on CDMA network. It would be incompatible for Verizon. The 8530 is one of the newer blackberry phones. However the Bold is supposed to come on Verizon. You may want to just wait for that to come out

[Ericuse165]

Thanks for the info. So is the 8530 better like is the CDMA network better then the GSM network??

[TheGreatOne]

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Ericuse165 wrote:

Thanks for the info. So is the 8530 better like is the CDMA network better then the GSM network??

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I have never tried out the 8530 phone myself. You can look up any reviews on any U.S. cell on phonescoop web site. Here are some reviews on the 8530 device-->HERE

I have been on CDMA and GSM network. The things I like about GSM phones is you can unlock them. Then use them on another compatible cell phone network. CDMA phones are harder to flash/unlock. I like also how you can just put your sim card in another GSM phone & pretty much all your info is transfered over. No need to call anything to activate the device. The bad thing about GSM phones is they require a sim card. Without one= no phone. Sometimes you can lock yourself out completely with a thing called the "PUK Code". If locked you'll need a new sim card.

Here are the real differences between CDMA and GSM network from wisegeek....

In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Cellular carriers including Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless, Verizon and T-Mobile use one or the other. The GSM Association is an international organization dedicated to providing, developing, and overseeing the worldwide wireless standard of GSM. CDMA, a proprietary standard designed by Qualcomm in the United States, has been the dominant network standard for North America and parts of Asia. However, GSM networks continue to make inroads in the United States, as CDMA networks make progress in other parts of the world. There are camps on both sides that firmly believe either GSM or CDMA architecture is superior to the other. 

    Coverage: The most important factor is getting service in the areas you will be using your phone. Upon viewing competitors' coverage maps you may discover that only GSM or CDMA carriers offer cellular service in your area. If so, there is no decision to be made, but most people will find that they do have a choice.

      Data Transfer Speed: With the advent of cellular phones doing double and triple duty as streaming video devices, podcast receivers and email devices, speed is important to those who use the phone for more than making calls. CDMA has been traditionally faster than GSM, though both technologies continue to rapidly leapfrog along this path. Both boast "3G" standards, or 3rd generation technologies. EVDO, also known as CDMA2000, is CDMA's answer to the need for speed with a downstream rate of about 2 megabits per second, though some reports suggest real world speeds are closer to 300-700 kilobits per second (kbps). This is comparable to basic DSL. As of fall 2005, EVDO is in the process of being deployed. It is not available everywhere and requires a phone that is CDMA2000 ready.

GSM's answer is EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which boasts data rates of up to 384 kbps with real world speeds reported closer to 70-140 kbps. With added technologies still in the works that include UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Standard) and GSPDA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), speeds reportedly increase to about 275—380 kbps. This technology is also known as W-CDMA, but is incompatible with CDMA networks. An EDGE-ready phone is required.

In the case of EVDO, theoretical high traffic can degrade speed and performance, while the EDGE network is more susceptible to interference. Both require being within close range of a cell to get the best speeds, while performance decreases with distance.

      Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards: In the United States only GSM phones use SIM cards. The removable SIM card allows phones to be instantly activated, interchanged, swapped out and upgraded, all without carrier intervention. The SIM itself is tied to the network, rather than the actual phone. Phones that are card-enabled can be used with any GSM carrier.

The CDMA equivalent, a R-UIM card, is only available in parts of Asia but remains on the horizon for the U.S. market. CDMAcarriers in the U.S. require proprietary handsets that are linked to one carrier only and are not card-enabled. To upgrade a CDMAphone, the carrier must deactivate the old phone then activate the new one. The old phone becomes useless.

           Roaming: For the most part, both networks have fairly concentrated coverage in major cities and along major highways. GSMcarriers, however, have roaming contracts with other GSM carriers, allowing wider coverage of more rural areas, generally speaking, often without roaming charges to the customer. CDMA networks may not cover rural areas as well as GSM carriers, and though they may contract with GSM cells for roaming in more rural areas, the charge to the customer will generally be significantly higher.

         International Roaming: If you need to make calls to other countries, a GSM carrier can offer international roaming, as GSMnetworks dominate the world market. If you travel to other countries you can even use your GSM cell phone abroad, providing it is a quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). By purchasing a SIM card with minutes and a local number in the country you are visiting, you can make calls against the card to save yourself international roaming charges from your carrier back home. CDMAphones that are not card-enabled do not have this capability, however there are several countries that use CDMA networks. Check with your CDMA provider for your specific requirements.