[MountainProud]

So...my 9650 has finally died a slow painful death and I'm talking with Corporate about a new phone. My question is this...Considering my carrier is Verizon what's the best phone to get for bridging to the BB and are there any BB10 'ready' phones out there (ie will any existing devices be eligible to upgrade to BB10, if so which ones)

I'm thinking there's currently no device upgradeable to BB10, but I'm not sure so I figured I'd throw this out to the much more informed community.

Cheerios!

[FMB8900]

No im afraid there are no "BB10" Ready phones out there, the QNX devices will run on completely new hardware.

But the best BB to bridge with your Playbook is def and Bold 9900/9930. I went from and Bold 9700 to a Bold 9900 and the speed of the bridge features and the bridge browser is soooooo much faster and snappier on a BB OS7 device.

And you really cant go wrong with a New Bold 9900/9930 its and amazing device. Beautiful hardware, thin, sleek, fast, snappy, perfect combination of touch and type, and a perfect companion for your PlayBook.

[MountainProud]

I was looking at the 9930...but first I need to see what kind of deal they can make me. There has to be some perks for working with a company this size...

[taz68]

I agree with the suggested phone. I recently upgraded from a 9700 to 9900 and agree with the stated improvement in performance. Besides the bridge speed the overall performance and features of the phone are great.

[mikeplus1]

I upgraded from my 9650 to the 9930 and it is hands down the best BB phone to bridge to the PB not to mention the best BB phone made to date, but then again I am biased since I own one. Gonna be a good long 6 months before any BB10 phones hit the stores and probably a year before we see one with a physical keyboard, so might as well get your 9930 now. You should be able to get something like a 25% corporate discount, but sometimes they will "throw-in" some accessories to sweeten the deal, doesn't hurt to ask. Verizon.com has new 9930s for $229 with new 2yr contract or $149 for a certified pre-owned one right now. Also check out Best Buy and/or similar stores for price comparisons, the VZW salespeople hate to lose business to them, although they may not care if you are not buying a new Android device.

[13echo4]

I think it really depends on what your goingto be doing. If your useing the BB to remote control the PB the bigger screen on th 9850/9860 is nice. Makes for a nice mouse pad.
Don't get me wrong the keyboard on the 9900 looks like it will be nice for typing. The virtual keyboard on the 9850 isn't a slouch itself.

[lnichols]

99XX is the best phone that is out now for the Bridge. You may want to see if you can find a used one on ebay or Craigslist and save the upgrade for BB10 though.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Crackberry App!

[Hgouck]

9930 would be m choice. I have had his combo for three months. Came from a 9650. Would recommend to anyone purchasing a BB

[MountainProud]

I don't use the remote for the PB.

Since my BB is a work phone, when I get home, I tend to just leave it on the kitchen counter and don't touch it. The only time my phone goes off at night is because of work.

I'm not to terribly worried about price. Work is paying and so far I've not been given a limit on how much I can spend, just to get what I need so that I'm available (ignoring the fact that I ignore work at home ).

[kbz1960]

I think they all work well but if you love your keyboard the bold has to be the best esp. if you're going to take advantage of typing using your phone.

[MountainProud]

I'm not tied to a keyboard. I'm tied to a phone that works (unlike my possessed phone).

Funny story. I went to open my inbox today and my phone dialed 9-1-1. Tried to end call and it went back to my calendar...fun stuff. I ended up doing a battery pull to end the 9-1-1 call.

[jhanks64]

I agree that the 9930 is great & bridges very well. I tried a 9850, but the 9930 is more efficient i think.

[BBplaybookJS]

Which model is clearly a matter of preference, if you need a phone now any BB running get 7.1 is the best choice, if you can wait, hood out for BB10

[anthogag]

The current playbook doesn't have an auto-focus camera. You should get a Torch series phone because it does have the auto-focus camera. You can take clear close-up shots. That's one thing to consider for the 'best' BB to bridge with, IMO.

A 9810 or 9860

[13echo4]

I agree that the 9930 is great & bridges very well. I tried a 9850, but the 9930 is more efficient i think.

Why do you think that. I only used a 9900 for about a hour bridged to my PB. Thats not that much time I know but I really didnt see an advantage the 9900 had over the 9850 other than the keyboard. But bridge function concerned neither has the advantage. 9900 has a keyboard and 9850 has a bigger track pad.
OP since your not married to a keyboard and your not going to use the remote function then I really think your going to have to put the devices in your hand and see which one fits. Lol

[jhanks64]

I mean the 9930 is more efficient to use for BlackBerry stuff and I get better battery life too.

There are many example of why a keyboard BB is more efficient: Application shortcut keys save me time many times a day.
Examples: File an email into a folder - press the letter I and start typing the folder name and then press the trackpad.
Select multiple messages to delete or file away is quick and easy with the shift key and track pad.
Find someone in my contact list: press A to bring up the Address Book, type first initial, space and last name and boom, I've found them in short order.

With the Torch, I kept having to slide around or find a menu item to complete some action that I could have pressed a single key to do with a keyboard.

I can provide more examples, but that is what I was referring to, not the bridging stuff so much.

[mundo472]

Went from the Storm 2 to the 9850 and after five months, continue to be stunned and amazed. This is the most under-rated phone on the BB lineup. The new PB update and the latest leaked OS make this a shockingly fast Bridged Browser experience. I was at work (no wifi) yesterday and I swear it is as fast (I'm sure it's not, but it was hard to tell!) as my wifi at home. Plus that remote feature is brilliant. Plus the screen, particularly with over-40 eyesight, is SO much better than the Storm2.
But if you really need a keyboard, the 99series is probably the way to go. Either way you'll be happy (until BB10 arrives)

[homer1475]

Seeing as your on big red, I wont suggest the 9810 which is heads and tails better then the 99xx series(even though everyone and their grandparents things its the "flagship" device) and this isn't the place to discuss the merits of each, and its been done many times over.

9860 or 9930 is your choice. Either all touch with a big screen, or a physical keyboard with an eye squinting screen(RIM really needs to stop thinking that the bold screen is plenty big enough, with the sales of larger screened devices(Iphone and any android)this should be painfully obvious). Any OS7 device will have the same functionality and speed as far as bridge goes.

[MountainProud]

OP since your not married to a keyboard and your not going to use the remote function then I really think your going to have to put the devices in your hand and see which one fits. Lol

This is what's killing me. When I was in the store yesterday I was playing with both, both seem responsive and I do like the BBOS7.

One thing popped in my head driving home last night (why not driving back to the office, who knows...) both phones from what I've read function the same with the Ford Sync. Is this accurate?

I picked up a 2012 Flex Limited a couple months go for our ever growing family (already hauling 5, soon to be 6 maybe 7) and I'm digging the Sync.

[MountainProud]

Hmm...after watching the keynote this morning I think I'll just deal with possessed.

My PB works as phone / contacts / calendar / ...

Now if only I could find a way to get my text messages to my PB..any ideas?

[Chaddface]

Hmm...after watching the keynote this morning I think I'll just deal with possessed.

My PB works as phone / contacts / calendar / ...

Now if only I could find a way to get my text messages to my PB..any ideas?

I think I may hold out as well. Waiting for any developments in the coming months.

For text messages, SMS bridge(paid app for your phone) can fill the gap for light use. It will take your incoming text and convert it to email. You receive an alert on the PB as a new email. Responding to the email sends it back to the phone and out as a SMS. The problem is all the incoming and outgoing are saved in your email. If you do a lot of texts it can become a problem.

[MountainProud]

I'll look into that. Paid apps aren't a problem and I'm more than happy to support developers.

I don't send a lot of texts, usually only for emergencies.

Now if only there was an app for my PB that pulled all my various IM's into one spot...Hmm...

[MountainProud]

So...I shouldn't have opened my mouth at work.

Now I have to get a new phone (which sucks as I'll miss the BB10 launch now )

So..the 9930 or 9850.

Ignoring keyboard, how does OS 7.1 run on these? Smooth on both, locks up on one but not the other, ...?

When calling, how is call volume?

How does speaker work?

Battery Life? I saw the 'specs', but I doubt those are anywhere near reality

Camera? Is the auto focus worth it on the 9850? Do you even notice it's gone on the 9930?

Also, my boss threw out that he would cover the cost of a new iPhone 4S if I wanted one, how would that effect the PB?

Am I the only one who's hopeful that RIM will release a bridge app for iOS / Android phones to extend the functionality that we see on BB's to other platforms?

Having a good day so far?

How's the weather?

Who's going to see Avengers Friday? I know I am, first showing

[F2]

While I do miss the autofocus, you can read hundreds of replies on this issue in the 9900/9930 subforum.

I do not know if it is my 9930 (verizon purchased from BestBuy) but the speaker phone is quite low in volume.

[darkangel07760]

I have a Curve 8530 I hope that wouldn't be a problem to bridge with the Playbook?