Would this work? (Unlocked 9900 on Tmobile)

**blue_k** · 11-17-2012, 05:22 PM

Hi,

I am looking into purchasing a unlocked Bold 9900 on Amazon. I will be using it with T-Mobile Monthly4G prepaid with a BIS package. I was wondering, would this work? Does the phone NEED to be a T-Mobile branded phone for it to work with BIS? The one on Amazon is just an unbranded OEM factory unlocked Bold 9900, the one that comes in the blank black box that just say BlackBerry on it.

Thank you

**madman0141** · 11-17-2012, 05:28 PM

I don't think so there have been questions of this nature before and the answer has been NO. Save your money and get a phone for your carrier then there will be no problem. UP THE IRONS

**blue_k** · 11-17-2012, 05:39 PM

Are you sure that's the case? The only issues I could find were with 9930's, which are much different from the 9900. If it were brand new, and factory unlocked, I don't see why it would be an issue. I realize I might only get EDGE until the 1900MHz spectrum is rolled out in my area, which T-Mobile claims should be around the end of this year.

**raino** · 11-17-2012, 05:56 PM

Disregard post#2. Yes, you can get a 9900 from Amazon, and use it with T-Mobile monthly4G. You'd want the 1700 MHz frequency band for 3G/HSPA+, but you seem to be aware of that. And if it's a 1900 MHz band phone, it has to be unlocked for your TMO SIM to work in it.

BTW, where do you see T-Mobile claiming that they'll be bringing 1900 MHz 3G to your area? AFAIK, T-Mobile hasn't made such plans public; what we all know is based off of user reports.

**blue_k** · 11-17-2012, 08:42 PM

I should have worded that differently. T-Mobile hasn't claimed my area specifically, but the CTO has stated that a material part of their network will be running on 1900Mhz for HSPA+ by the end of the year. Since I live just a little north of Orlando, Florida, I presume we will be receiving the 1900MHz by the end of the year, due to Orlando being a massive market.

**xSt0rmTroop3Rx** · 11-20-2012, 12:16 AM

yeah, if it is unlocked and is indeed a 9900, you should have little to no issue. the only reason a 9930 would cause you grief is because it is a CDMA variant of the same phone..and well..those tend to cause everyone a little grief.

**adamschuetze** · 11-20-2012, 09:58 PM

Just to clarify, isn't the 9930 only for Verizon? Are there any other CDMA carriers left in North America?

And to add another voice to the conversation, yes, a SIM unlocked 9900 will work on TMO.

**raino** · 11-20-2012, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by adamschuetze

Just to clarify, isn't the 9930 only for Verizon? Are there any other CDMA carriers left in North America?

Sprint is the biggest one. There are probably some smaller, regional carriers too. US Cellular was one, but it's been bought by Sprint (which, in turn, has been bought by a Japanese firm.)

**adamschuetze** · 11-20-2012, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by raino

Sprint is the biggest one. There are probably some smaller, regional carriers too. US Cellular was one, but it's been bought by Sprint (which, in turn, has been bought by a Japanese firm.)

Yeah, Softbank bought 70% of Sprint. Seems like every time I look, Softbank is buying up telecom companies. When I was in Japan in 2006, Softbank (formerly J-Phone) bought Vodafone Japan. Softbank isn't even a bank, they're a telecom company. Not sure what the reason is behind the "bank" name.