[kurtla]

go to i-wireless pre-paid wireless service serving the greater cincinnati area (Cincinnati Bell)
click phones
ignore the list on the left, look for the pic of the 9100
add to cart
deselect the card option, order just the device
fill out the shipping and credit card info
hit purchase

$ 300 inc tax and free shipping.

unit is black

30 day return policy and 1 year warranty per CB web site

full report to follow but the wait is over

edit: 07/30/10 - CMW wireless will not ship out of their area, you will have to ship the unit to yourself to a UPS store or friend and then have it sent to you. device only comes with a 30 day return, no 1 year RIM warranty from what I can tell. CBW is a VERY screwed up company, read the reviews on-line - they sound like the carrier from #$%! That said, if you want a device to fly in tmo 3g then this is the only option @ the moment

[Denise in Los Angeles]

I hope it works!!

[Denise in Los Angeles]

How can that website sell the 9100 for a lower price than CBW?

[kurtla]

I hope it works!!

come on babe, where's the faith! lol. same bands as tmo & wind, it will work like a charm

[kurtla]

How can that website sell the 9100 for a lower price than CBW?

it is what it is. people that use prepaid might be more price sensitive so they are just trying to get the device out there. the more I dug into the site the more I see how CB is really screwed up. all there support is out-sourced, so if you talk to them they all sound the same, sort of odd. $ 300 and a 1 year warranty is just fine with me, I am all set

[Denise in Los Angeles]

come on babe, where's the faith! lol. same bands as tmo & wind, it will work like a charm

I just meant the ordering the phone part. LOL

[Denise in Los Angeles]

it is what it is. people that use prepaid might be more price sensitive so they are just trying to get the device out there. the more I dug into the site the more I see how CB is really screwed up. all there support is out-sourced, so if you talk to them they all sound the same, sort of odd. $ 300 and a 1 year warranty is just fine with me, I am all set

Do you mean CBW not CB, right?

[kurtla]

Do you mean CBW not CB, right?

Duh! it works, I have a tracking #, its on the way!

[truelysmoove]

Duh! it works, I have a tracking #, its on the way!

let us know when u n post pics of it working on tmo

[kurtla]

let us know when u n post pics of it working on tmo

Also not a bad deal, I was prepared to pay $ 400+ for the device

BlackBerry 9100 3G Pearl
$349.99 Regular Price
-$70.00 Instant Savings
$0.00 Mail-In Rebate
$279.99 Final Price
FREE UPS Shipping!

Quad-Band

* For use in Domestic US and Worldwide†
* 3G 900/1700/2100 MHz
* GSM 850 MHz
* GSM 900 MHz
* GSM 1800 MHz
* GSM 1900 MHz

[Denise in Los Angeles]

Duh! it works, I have a tracking #, its on the way!

That was quick... Please keep us posted about the arrival of the 9100!

[kurtla]

That was quick... Please keep us posted about the arrival of the 9100!

I don't see anything new coming up and the new win 7 phones are already getting trashed in the press and they are not even out so why wait.

just got a pretty decent looking case and a usb charger for the car...

BlackBerry Pearl 3G Leather Swivel Holster - Black Original (OEM) HDW-29557-001

[SteveStrike]

I have to know if this works... Will you have to unlock the phone? Will it pick up T-mobile 3G automatically?

[kurtla]

I have to know if this works... Will you have to unlock the phone? Will it pick up T-mobile 3G automatically?

I don't know if it will require an unlock or not, will try it with the tmo sim first and then spend a few bucks for a code if not. should pick up 3g right away, that is the entire point of getting the device. it will only cost postage back to CBW to try the sucker for 30 days so there is not much downside to give it a go. CBW has awful customer service from my limited exp so be prepared for anything. the insurance has such a high deductible that I would not get it anyway for this device so that makes getting this from them all that much easier

edit:

here is an unlock place for $2, just got an email from the guy that says its no problem unlocking it. Unlock USA

I see you have the 8120, I like the 'L' theme a lot, if you do too you might like this very basic theme,
and link to purchase Simple Black updated for the BlackBerry 9100 Pearl 3G

gives you the basic icons on the left and scrolling ones on the bottom, looks perfect really, nice and simple

[rocky]

Strong work here! Mine's on the way too. Outstanding.

[rocky]

Duh! it works, I have a tracking #, its on the way!

Say, how'd you get the tracking number? All I got was an order number, and it didn't ask me for an e-mail address...

[kurtla]

Say, how'd you get the tracking number? All I got was an order number, and it didn't ask me for an e-mail address...

not tracking number, confirm # and bad news, I just called to get the tracking # and the order was rejected because they will only ship locally. great. do you know someone in the ohio area, lol.

[rocky]

not tracking number, confirm # and bad news, I just called to get the tracking # and the order was rejected because they will only ship locally. great. do you know someone in the ohio area, lol.

Is Cleveland close enough? Or do you have to be in the greater Cincinatti area?

[kurtla]

Is Cleveland close enough? Or do you have to be in the greater Cincinatti area?

as i alluded to they sort of make it up as they are going along, I think somewhere in their specific area would be a slam dunk, why cleveland, you have a connection there? boy, I and I thought sending drugs and guns was a hassle

Cincinnati Bell Wireless Coverage

[Tiassa]

not tracking number, confirm # and bad news, I just called to get the tracking # and the order was rejected because they will only ship locally. great. do you know someone in the ohio area, lol.

Oh well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!

So i-wireless is Cinci Bell's prepaid service, right? If one happened to be in Cinci for some reason. Could one find an i-wireless storefront and get one there? There is a small chance that I might be in the area in Late October - Early November.

[kurtla]

Oh well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!

So i-wireless is Cinci Bell's prepaid service, right? If one happened to be in Cinci for some reason. Could one find an i-wireless storefront and get one there? There is a small chance that I might be in the area in Late October - Early November.

foiled again. not a big deal, getting the device sent to a friend and he will slap some shipping on it. they list the stores on the prepaid site but that does not mean anything with this company, best to call yourself to verify

Edit:

just called a ups store and they will also forward it.

[kurtla]

just to close the loop, I did order one last night and had it shipped to myself to a local UPS store who in turn will forward it to me. from ohio ground will add ~$13 and 4 days to the delivery time. CBW is an interesting company to deal with, thrilled again to be a tmo customer

[Denise in Los Angeles]

just to close the loop, I did order one last night and had it shipped to myself to a local UPS store who in turn will forward it to me. from ohio ground will add ~$13 and 4 days to the delivery time. CBW is an interesting company to deal with, thrilled again to be a tmo customer

How did you arrange that to ship the 9100 to a UPS store? How long will it take for you to get it?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[kurtla]

How did you arrange that to ship the 9100 to a UPS store? How long will it take for you to get it?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

there are a zillion ups stores in the area, I called one and told the person what I wanted to do - have a phone shipped to me there and have them slap a label on it and forward it to me. my 9100 will be shipped on tue the 27th so what will happen next will depend on when the store gets it. if they get it overnight on wed then I might use 2day to get it to LA on friday but I will prob just ground it and get it mon or tue - it takes ~4 days from ohio to la. I gave them the tracking number and will email them and tell them when to expect it. very nice of them, I bet any store will do the same

There are several things about this transaction that are less than ideal. first is that although CBW has a slick site they are a make it up as they go along company - nobody knows anything there. the phone comes with a 30 return policy with no restock for online sales. after that any warrany claim must go through the manufacture and who the **** knows how RIM does this if @ all. CBW 3rd party warranty is done by the below folks, I am going to get in touch with them to see what they offer but my gut tells me this is no better than getting a device off ebay or craigs. its a shame as I am looking for something to hold me over for maybe a year until a droid comes out with a decent physical kb and I have been through 7 8120s so I can see what is in my future unless I luck out. so it is with being an early adopter I guess.

btw I was in a tmo store the other day, looked @ the slide and the vibrant, both interesting devices. they are very close to getting it right for me, the slide has the best physical kb of any droid device I have seen and the vibrant is just flat out amazing for what it is -- has a droid kb, samsung kb, T9, swipe, talk to text, etc. device is instant. screen is the best I have ever seen. no front camera and no flash. funny, I use the movie camera led as a flashlight on the pearl all the time so this is actually something that is important to me.

anyhow, the clock is ticking, I can see that I will not be a berry customer for long - this would change if they came out with a kb I could use or tmo got the pearl.

eSecuritel

[rocky]

It is very sharp looking! About to unlock it to rock T-Mo!

Cleveland may not have LeBron James anymore, but we've got friends at Cincinnati Bell!

EDIT: I am now unlocked, T-Mobile, and 3G.