Official Sprint Curve 8330 Coming Soon Thread

[tomvb2000]

I think it depends on the definition of "released". Hopefully telesales will actually take and ship orders starting May 7 (or latest early May 8) but inventory won't show up in the stores until May 11 or 12 since they have to get through the distribution process (BrightPoint to regional distribution centers to big Sprint stores). It might take another week or two to get to local stores to strip mall stores and partner retailers.

[gopdon]

i don't understand their business plan. If Verizon can do the deal for $150 cheaper to buy the phone outright, Sprint is never going to get customers to pay $599. While many of us would not leave over this amount (cause we know Sprint's plans are better), there are many that would. This either proves they are not banking on the Curve whatso ever and how ever many people they sucker into upgrading for $599 is gravy to them. They are betting the farm in the Instinct and WiMax. While the Curve is simply a minor device to Sprint, the communictions breakdown in the Curve's release reveals much more about the company's health than it does about how they release devices. When you add the confusion they have created to everything else (read this....http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...gn_id=rss_tech)
I would be surprised to see this company make it another three years in its current form.

[IamGOV]

I believe there was a little bit of confusion by some on my post here. The rentention team put me on a list and I will recieve a phone call tommorrow. I never specifically asked to order the phone, the rep just said I will make sure you get on of these....said I was like the first one. Now we all know how these Sprint reps work and how they tend to get things screwed up. I was just trying to give some insight that a new email was sent to the Sprint team officially announcing release tommorrow. I apologize to all those who took the order part and interpreted as though I was actually gonna receive one tomorrow. I still have to receive that call and go over the pricing. And No I have no affiliation with the company.

[spike747474]

Originally Posted by IamGOV

You guys are not going to believe this, but guess who just ordered the 8330 from SPrint! That's right this guy! I gave up my 8830 two days ago for a stupid Palm, now I can get back into the wonderfull world of RIM!

Says here "guess who just ordered the 8830". Perhaps it's not a misunderstanding on our part as much as it is a poor choice of words on your part.

With that being said, 11 and a half hours to go!

[mrdave543]

Spoke to retention rep and he told me that it shows only the red color version being available tmrw. Nothing on price or anything but he is going to order it for me and I am hoping the titanium color comes out within a month and I dont have a problem switching....

cant wait to get rid of my treo but I dont think red color is going to fly with me!

will see if what he said comes true tmrw

[thundrbird1]

Just got this a few minutes ago. Wanted to pre-order and got this reply.

Dear Jerry ,

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, you are absolutely correct. The launching date for the handset
Blackberry Curve is May 07, 2008. So, as soon as the handset is launched
feel free to write back to me and I would place the order for the
handset. We cannot place the order unless the handset is launched. So, I
would request you to please write back to me after 02 to 03 days so that
we can update the status for the handset. We appreciate your
understanding in this concern.

Have a great day.

XXX
E-Care
Sprint

I'll believe when I get the confirmation that order has been placed

[tomvb2000]

Originally Posted by gopdon

i don't understand their business plan. If Verizon can do the deal for $150 cheaper to buy the phone outright, Sprint is never going to get customers to pay $599. While many of us would not leave over this amount (cause we know Sprint's plans are better), there are many that would. This either proves they are not banking on the Curve whatso ever and how ever many people they sucker into upgrading for $599 is gravy to them. They are betting the farm in the Instinct and WiMax. While the Curve is simply a minor device to Sprint, the communictions breakdown in the Curve's release reveals much more about the company's health than it does about how they release devices. When you add the confusion they have created to everything else (read this....http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...gn_id=rss_tech)
I would be surprised to see this company make it another three years in its current form.

I'm not sure where the $599 Sprint retail price is coming from and Verizon doesn't list a no-contract price on their website. In the past, I've seen the no-contract price almost the same from all the carriers. All the carriers want to add/keep customers which is why they focus on the subsidies/upgrades and loyalty programs - their revenue comes from the monthly billing. I doubt they count on significant number of people to pay full retail.

Regarding "communications breakdown", I think it's a stretch to say that's a big factor in the company's health since most large companies with big subcons find consistent real-time communications a major challenge. I think Dlognar covered that topic very well in post 492. That said, the Sprint financials aren't great right now. At the same time, other carriers will likely "look different" in the next 3 years due to many other factors. Sprint could conceivably sell off Nextel to pay down debt or launch QChat and get Sprint and Nextel onto the same network. Either way, it'll "look different".

[tomvb2000]

Originally Posted by mrdave543

Spoke to retention rep and he told me that it shows only the red color version being available tmrw. Nothing on price or anything but he is going to order it for me and I am hoping the titanium color comes out within a month and I dont have a problem switching....

cant wait to get rid of my treo but I dont think red color is going to fly with me!

will see if what he said comes true tmrw

The rumor of titanium now and red on June 1 has been fairly consistent, so perhaps you'll get the titanium you wanted after all.

[IamGOV]

Originally Posted by spike747474

Says here "guess who just ordered the 8830". Perhaps it's not a misunderstanding on our part as much as it is a poor choice of words on your part.

With that being said, 11 and a half hours to go!

Yes. Poor choice of words. My apologies.

RIM has go to feel pretty proud with this. I mean you do not see many people out there with this type of anxiety about a WM product!

[gopdon]

Originally Posted by tomvb2000

I'm not sure where the $599 Sprint retail price is coming from and Verizon doesn't list a no-contract price on their website. In the past, I've seen the no-contract price almost the same from all the carriers. All the carriers want to add/keep customers which is why they focus on the subsidies/upgrades and loyalty programs - their revenue comes from the monthly billing. I doubt they count on significant number of people to pay full retail.

Regarding "communications breakdown", I think it's a stretch to say that's a big factor in the company's health since most large companies with big subcons find consistent real-time communications a major challenge. I think Dlognar covered that topic very well in post 492. That said, the Sprint financials aren't great right now. At the same time, other carriers will likely "look different" in the next 3 years due to many other factors. Sprint could conceivably sell off Nextel to pay down debt or launch QChat and get Sprint and Nextel onto the same network. Either way, it'll "look different".

when i say "look different" I mean in a very substancial way. 15 years ago, Sprint was a long distance carrier pretty exclusively. Now they are a wireless company. With the financials the way they are and the highly competative nature of the industry, Sprint is just a couple industry changes away from not being able to compete.

I agree the monthly contract is where the money is to be made. As with the SEP and the value if delivers for new Curve owners, it will be Sprint's draw for customers. I would assume that would go for their newer phone offerings as well. However, Sprint's SEP plan was not the first (but it is the best) and it was a result of other carriers doing it. Every change in the industry almost has to be replicated by the competitors since they would lose business otherwise. Since the FCC and courts have cleared the way to allow customers to essentially have unlocked phones and portable numbers, the next big thing to allow customers to really take advantage of that is getting rid of contracts. That will happen. Some industry player will determine that they could benefit by not having contract (as they have all seen by getting into the pay as you go business) and smaller companies like Sprint will have to follow suit just to stay competative. Unless Sprint remakes itself, it may not survive that change in the industry...Curve or no Curve.

[srd05c]

So lets say this phone is available tomorrow. What are the chances I could have this thing in my hand ready to go by saturday? (going on vacation then)

[spike747474]

Originally Posted by srd05c

So lets say this phone is available tomorrow. What are the chances I could have this thing in my hand ready to go by saturday? (going on vacation then)

I would say pretty good. Even if you have to order it through c/s, they will send it out overnight to have by Thursday.

[srd05c]

Originally Posted by spike747474

I would say pretty good. Even if you have to order it through c/s, they will send it out overnight to have by Thursday.

Oh man that would be amazing. I was really hoping that I would have it for the trip. beach + curve = paradise

Now to hope for the best. I'll be staying up until midnight to see what happens!

[nlasassin]

Originally Posted by srd05c

Oh man that would be amazing. I was really hoping that I would have it for the trip. beach + curve = paradise

Now to hope for the best. I'll be staying up until midnight to see what happens!

Beach+Salt water+Sand=Insurance claim..
Have fun at the beach..

[srd05c]

Originally Posted by nlasassin

Beach+Salt water+Sand=Insurance claim..
Have fun at the beach..

Haha that would be my luck... wait this long and then end up juicing the blackberry!