1. DamianWarS's Avatar
    I'm starting a company in a part of the world that still values BB. I can pretty much go to any cell phone kiosk and buy a legacy BB device. I looking at getting legacy devices for employees because they are cheap and plentiful, BIS is still active, and it has all the features I am looking. Basically I want voice/sms/messaging (like BBM) and email. I don't care about apps or large devices so I think the legacy devices are going to suit me well. What I like about it is BBM is cross platform meaning I can use whatever device I want and still use BBM to communicate with the legacy device.

    I've come to the conclusion that the 9900 is a top contender but I just wanted to know what I'm getting myself into before I do this and if a legacy phone is really going to work. Things I'm concern with is the battery power and durability of the unit. Since you are the guys using them you know what fails first on these things and I want to know what that is. Although I have little need for apps what I do want is a decent map app... does this phone still have a map app that works... how long do you think it will keep on working?

    anything else you think may be a problem please let me know.
    05-18-17 08:51 AM
  2. Uzi's Avatar
    Be careful I think indonesia operator will shut down bis soon enough
    05-18-17 09:19 AM
  3. Dunt Dunt Dunt's Avatar
    Don't know your business... but are you sure that there aren't apps that would make your employees more productive?

    Only issue is you are investing in a product with no future. BIS works today... some point it won't, that might be 3 months or 3 years. Maps do work today, but it is a licensed product who is to say how long it will be supported? It's just not a certain future....

    That said... it's a low cost investment and the hardware is proven to be solid and dependable. Main plus for BBOS device in business was that were easy to setup and manage using BES (or the free BESX for small businesses). But that takes more hardware, and not sure if BESX even exist anymore or if your carriers can provision for it.
    05-18-17 09:30 AM
  4. DamianWarS's Avatar
    Be careful I think indonesia operator will shut down bis soon enough
    that would be a deal breaker. do you have any sources?
    05-18-17 09:33 AM
  5. DamianWarS's Avatar
    Don't know your business... but are you sure that there aren't apps that would make your employees more productive?

    Only issue is you are investing in a product with no future. BIS works today... some point it won't, that might be 3 months or 3 years. Maps do work today, but it is a licensed product who is to say how long it will be supported? It's just not a certain future....

    That said... it's a low cost investment and the hardware is proven to be solid and dependable. Main plus for BBOS device in business was that were easy to setup and manage using BES (or the free BESX for small businesses). But that takes more hardware, and not sure if BESX even exist anymore or if your carriers can provision for it.
    some good points and I appreciate your honesty. I might try and use one myself for a bit to see what limitations it has. I'm not going to have a lot of employees so it's minimal investment. As for apps... as long as this device can email, voice and text really well then I think it should be fine.
    05-18-17 09:50 AM
  6. thurask's Avatar
    Are you using BBM for team communication or just for personal use? What would you define as "communication" anyway? Wondering if you'd be better served by something else, be it a formal team communication solution like Slack or a general purpose messenger better than BBM.
    05-18-17 09:53 AM
  7. Dunt Dunt Dunt's Avatar
    some good points and I appreciate your honesty. I might try and use one myself for a bit to see what limitations it has. I'm not going to have a lot of employees so it's minimal investment. As for apps... as long as this device can email, voice and text really well then I think it should be fine.
    Email.... might depend on the services - but generally that works.
    Voice.... works great, some say better than some newer devices.
    Text..... should work just fine.
    05-18-17 10:24 AM
  8. DamianWarS's Avatar
    Are you using BBM for team communication or just for personal use? What would you define as "communication" anyway? Wondering if you'd be better served by something else, be it a formal team communication solution like Slack or a general purpose messenger better than BBM.
    I would be using BBM for team communication. It of course doesn't have to be BBM but I'm thinking for a legacy it's the best if not only cross platform option. Largely however my communication is going to be one-on-one. I see BBM and voice being the most used.

    I can buy a legacy for about $50 CAD so if I give these out I'm going to be using BBM. I'm open to other options but it's got to be low cost. Slack is wonderful but it won't run on a blackberry or for that matter a $50 device with a BIS package under $10 CAD/month with unlimited BBM. It really is a cost break down thing, I'm not cheap but I'm fiercely pragmatic.
    05-18-17 11:35 AM
  9. thurask's Avatar
    I can buy a legacy for about $50 CAD so if I give these out I'm going to be using BBM. I'm open to other options but it's got to be low cost. Slack is wonderful but it won't run on a blackberry or for that matter a $50 device with a BIS package under $10 CAD/month with unlimited BBM. It really is a cost break down thing, I'm not cheap but I'm fiercely pragmatic.
    You're painting yourself into a corner if you go legacy, I don't think there's really anything other than BBM. Since your comms are essentially one to one text and audio chats you don't need Slack per se, any decent consumer chat app would cut it (Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp). Still, as has been said, if BIS goes you've got $50 clock radios.

    I mean, if you really wanted to cut costs, go BYOD and only worry about your personal phone.
    05-18-17 12:30 PM
  10. EFats's Avatar
    some good points and I appreciate your honesty. I might try and use one myself for a bit to see what limitations it has. I'm not going to have a lot of employees so it's minimal investment. As for apps... as long as this device can email, voice and text really well then I think it should be fine.
    I used to work for a very large multinational corporation until last year (you would know if I told you, everyone would). Till very recently most of the staff that had company phones still used Bold 9900 level devices. Then they were given the option to go to iPhone because IT was switching from BES.

    I talked to the IT guys, all of them, on the front lines. They all said moving from BES was a huge mistake but their hands were tied (shenanigans at the upper management).
    I talk to the sales & support guys which were the bulk of the ones with phones. They all admitted that the Bold's worked great & they were amazingly productive with them (some even refused to migrate). But those that did told me the biggest reason was they essentially got an iPhone for "free" and they just wanted to use it for watching videos & letting their kids play games on it.

    Having a phone that can "just" voice call, text, email & message can be a huge productive advantage.
    They can't goof around with them & they'll be unlikely targets for theft.


    Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
    05-19-17 12:26 AM
  11. DamianWarS's Avatar
    I used to work for a very large multinational corporation until last year (you would know if I told you, everyone would). Till very recently most of the staff that had company phones still used Bold 9900 level devices. Then they were given the option to go to iPhone because IT was switching from BES.

    I talked to the IT guys, all of them, on the front lines. They all said moving from BES was a huge mistake but their hands were tied (shenanigans at the upper management).
    I talk to the sales & support guys which were the bulk of the ones with phones. They all admitted that the Bold's worked great & they were amazingly productive with them (some even refused to migrate). But those that did told me the biggest reason was they essentially got an iPhone for "free" and they just wanted to use it for watching videos & letting their kids play games on it.

    Having a phone that can "just" voice call, text, email & message can be a huge productive advantage.
    They can't goof around with them & they'll be unlikely targets for theft.


    Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
    I recognise the same reasons why the masses don't want a 9900 can be a advantage in the right environment. There is less risk of theft as you said and a greater focus on productivity. An iPhone can do everything a 9900 can but a 9900 can really only do a limited range of tasks particularly focused on work and because of that can ironically make these devices more productive. At a fraction of the price they might be a good option but without BIS they don't have much value.
    05-19-17 02:10 AM
  12. Dunt Dunt Dunt's Avatar

    Having a phone that can "just" voice call, text, email & message can be a huge productive advantage.
    They can't goof around with them & they'll be unlikely targets for theft.


    Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
    What was a great reputation for "some" Enterprise users, killed BlackBerry in the consumer market.

    That and workers were buying their own smartphones.... I know the company I was working for, many started leaving their work phones at work. Became an HR issue and in the end, BYOD with a mobile allowance, was what they went with.
    05-19-17 08:04 AM
  13. EFats's Avatar
    ..... An iPhone can do everything a 9900 can but a 9900 can really only do a limited range of tasks particularly focused on work and because of that can ironically make these devices more productive. At a fraction of the price they might be a good option but without BIS they don't have much value.
    Hang on there pardner! Them's fightin' words around here! Sure there's a bunch of stuff the iPhone can do (I gots one next to me all the time) but there is also plenty that my Bold 9900 can do that the iPhone still can't!

    But yes, you are right, if there is no BIS, I wouldn't even consider running a Bold. Unless you want to run your own BES. I doubt it...



    Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
    05-19-17 05:04 PM
  14. anon(9721108)'s Avatar
    I really wish someone could give some proof of WHEN BIS is supposedly "going away forever" because people have been saying that for years now.

    I'm sure it will someday but I don't think Blackberry the Canadian company is going to do this anytime SOON because there are still multitudes of people using them. And why would Blackberry shoot themselves in the foot like this? It would just be another nail in the coffin for the company and I don't think they want the negative publicity right now.

    If you look around at who is limiting the Blackberry company right now it is Facebook, Whatsapp, etc OTHER companies abandoning them, not internal sources IMO.

    Blaize mentioned this and maybe he can chime in if there is a definitive date for the end to BIS.

    But personally I think there is still time.

    -sent from a beautiful Bold 9900
    05-19-17 05:26 PM
  15. EFats's Avatar
    I really wish someone could give some proof of WHEN BIS is supposedly "going away forever" because people have been saying that for years now. ..
    I've not heard of EOL from BlackBerry. That is something BlackBerry will have to announce well in advance. I also doubt it's going away anytime soon.

    That doesn't mean your local carrier won't stop offering it.
    I don't think so though. I'm on a minor carrier that hasn't had BlackBerry phones in a while and came in at the tail end of the BB7 business (so little legacy users to support) AND uses spectrum not compatible with other major carriers around the world yet I still get BIS (at no extra charge)

    BlackBerry Protect is still working on my Bold so I like to think BlackBerry will keep supporting us BIS guys for a while yet.
    05-20-17 11:02 AM
  16. anon(9721108)'s Avatar
    I've not heard of EOL from BlackBerry. That is something BlackBerry will have to announce well in advance. I also doubt it's going away anytime soon.

    That doesn't mean your local carrier won't stop offering it.
    I don't think so though. I'm on a minor carrier that hasn't had BlackBerry phones in a while and came in at the tail end of the BB7 business (so little legacy users to support) AND uses spectrum not compatible with other major carriers around the world yet I still get BIS (at no extra charge)

    BlackBerry Protect is still working on my Bold so I like to think BlackBerry will keep supporting us BIS guys for a while yet.
    Are you in the US Fats?

    -sent from a beautiful Bold 9900
    05-20-17 05:46 PM
  17. idssteve's Avatar
    I used to work for a very large multinational corporation until last year (you would know if I told you, everyone would). Till very recently most of the staff that had company phones still used Bold 9900 level devices. Then they were given the option to go to iPhone because IT was switching from BES.

    I talked to the IT guys, all of them, on the front lines. They all said moving from BES was a huge mistake but their hands were tied (shenanigans at the upper management).
    I talk to the sales & support guys which were the bulk of the ones with phones. They all admitted that the Bold's worked great & they were amazingly productive with them (some even refused to migrate). But those that did told me the biggest reason was they essentially got an iPhone for "free" and they just wanted to use it for watching videos & letting their kids play games on it.

    Having a phone that can "just" voice call, text, email & message can be a huge productive advantage.
    They can't goof around with them & they'll be unlikely targets for theft.


    Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
    This mirrors my experience perfectly. We are still using our 99s, along with other stuff. A significant part of our client base is Indonesia. Some of those clients prefer working with my company precisely because we still use 99s.

    As others have noted, BIS days are numbered. No one knows the number. Probably not even BB themselves. Last I heard, it was sill earning good margin revenue for them. I'd be surprised to see BB shutting down a profitable revenue stream anytime near term.

    My company's philosophy on this is that we're going to use the most efficient tool available, for as long as possible, while keeping migration options open and ready. If you get three years out of your "cheap" 99s, you'd likely be looking for new iPhones (or?) in three years any way. Then, you'll still have a superbly comfortable data entry pocket calendar... lol.

    It's your business. You know what you want from each component of it. I've started three, and turned around one, very successful businesses. In every case, success meant KNOWing how every component interacts with the mission. I'm perpetually researching potential advantages to newer stuff. Seek and listen to feed back from mission focused employees. BUT if I don't see how it fits my mission, I generally leave it alone and stay focused on the mission. Fwiw.

    9900 is blessed with the fastest processor of BBOS. It's compactness is partly attributable to its relatively modest OEM battery. BUT, since that battery is user swappable, demanding only 2 minutes & 40 seconds to boot after battery swap, you can readily swap in a charged spare. OR swap in a larger battery! I frequently use a 5000mAh monster that powers my 99 thru multiple DAYs of heavy use. BUT, always enjoy the ability to restore 99 compact form by using compact OEM battery when appropriate.

    As far as spare parts, i'd find a reliable source of good keyboards and keep some on hand. We routinely wear the paint from our keys. Once your thumb muscle memory learns where each key is, the paint wear is mostly cosmetic but some of my folks like a nice looking handset and so swap KB pretty routinely. Batteries are so easily swapped, we rarely mention when one fails. Just pop in another and back on mission... in 160 seconds...

    Good luck!
    Last edited by idssteve; 05-22-17 at 08:59 AM.
    05-22-17 08:45 AM
  18. EFats's Avatar
    Are you in the US Fats?

    -sent from a beautiful Bold 9900
    Nope, not any more. I was down there with T-Mobile and they were great. Now I'm up on the north side of the border with an AWS Bold from them. I did seriously think about keeping them on as they have/had this great no roaming plan and always gave me such good customer service.
    05-22-17 11:18 AM
  19. ColinsCity's Avatar
    I used to work for a very large multinational corporation until last year (you would know if I told you, everyone would). Till very recently most of the staff that had company phones still used Bold 9900 level devices. Then they were given the option to go to iPhone because IT was switching from BES.

    I talked to the IT guys, all of them, on the front lines. They all said moving from BES was a huge mistake but their hands were tied (shenanigans at the upper management).
    I talk to the sales & support guys which were the bulk of the ones with phones. They all admitted that the Bold's worked great & they were amazingly productive with them (some even refused to migrate). But those that did told me the biggest reason was they essentially got an iPhone for "free" and they just wanted to use it for watching videos & letting their kids play games on it.

    Having a phone that can "just" voice call, text, email & message can be a huge productive advantage.
    They can't goof around with them & they'll be unlikely targets for theft.


    Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
    Yes, i heard things like this too from people who work in companies, they were excited to get a free phone that can do all the multimedia, there is nothing wrong with the Bold 9900. I think BIS support will last for a few more years, i love using my Bold 9900 everyday, the memopad is amazing and i have never found something that's better, even in BB10 the memopad is not as good, so for my needs the 9900 suits it better. Also, nobody would steal a Bold 9900, they would however steal an iPhone, probably even an iPhone 4s they would steal.

    Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
    06-22-17 07:44 PM

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