Sasktel 3g - vs. their own customers

sasktour9630 · Thread Author #1 08-28-2010, 04:10 PM

It was back in november 2009, I decided to go to the new Tour 9630, one reason was the sales rep made it clear the tour was the only bb which would be compatable with the upcoming network upgrade.

Fast forward to August 2010. The new network is rolled out, sasktel now says..."the tour is NOT compatable" If I want the 3g network i have to pay $600 for the bold. "Although the tour is a world phone, it will work on ALL other 3G networks But their own" Can someone explain that to me?

I have been considering unlocking the phone to use the Sasktel 3G.

Can someone advise me on a few things:
1) should/ could I unlock the phone to use it on sasktel's 3G, or is there validity in what sasktel is telling me(and can you explain it in laymans terms)
2) Is it worth even switching from the 1X to the 3G. (before the 1X is obsolete)
3) how can Roger's unlocked IPhones work on Sasktel's 3G, but the bb sasktel sold me won't work on their own network

thanks in advance

mechanic_joe · #2 08-28-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasktour9630

It was back in november 2009, I decided to go to the new Tour 9630, one reason was the sales rep made it clear the tour was the only bb which would be compatable with the upcoming network upgrade.

Fast forward to August 2010. The new network is rolled out, sasktel now says..."the tour is NOT compatable" If I want the 3g network i have to pay $600 for the bold. "Although the tour is a world phone, it will work on ALL other 3G networks But their own" Can someone explain that to me?

I have been considering unlocking the phone to use the Sasktel 3G.

Can someone advise me on a few things:
1) should/ could I unlock the phone to use it on sasktel's 3G, or is there validity in what sasktel is telling me(and can you explain it in laymans terms)
2) Is it worth even switching from the 1X to the 3G. (before the 1X is obsolete)
3) how can Roger's unlocked IPhones work on Sasktel's 3G, but the bb sasktel sold me won't work on their own network

thanks in advance

This is funny, as exactly one year ago I purchased a 9630 and 9530 and was told that both were '3G' compatible, and this is both true and false.

The Tour and Storm will NOT run on Sasktel/Telus/Bell's 3G+ network, this is due to a different frequency UMTS/HSPA - 850/1900.

The Tour and Storm are both 'world phones' because they are backward compatible with GSM 2G networks from North America and Europe (as is my understanding)

Roger's has a 2G and 3G network, their HSPA phones will run unlocked on Sasktel's network IF they support the right frequencies. You have to really dig and do your homework on CDMA/GSM/UMTS/HSPA.

At the moment, only the Bold 9700, Pearl 3G, Curve 3G, and Torch (from the Blackberry family) have the correct chipsets to run on our new network. (Oh, and be careful, as there is TWO Bold 9700's sold in the world, and one does NOT support our frequencies).

I hope that was as clear as mud

mechanic_joe · #3 08-28-2010, 04:27 PM

And... the Tour does NOT run on 'all other 3G networks' The Tour has 2100 UMTS which I believe is used in South America? and 'technically' the CDMA EVDO Rev A is 3G (here comes the wolves with that comment...) so they can call the Storm and Tour '3G' phones. I am NOT a network expert, this is only my understanding of things, and if you go onto the Blackberry site and compare the 'network specifications' for the phones you can see the differences. Cheers

mechanic_joe · #4 08-28-2010, 05:04 PM

Oh, and NEVER trust the idiots that work in the stores! 3 weeks ago I bought my 9700 on the first day of Sasktel's new network, and 3 store employees tried to tell me that the 9630 Tour was a superior blackberry to the 9700 Bold!!! They told me the Bold was older, had a slower processor, and that using the 3G would kill the Bold's battery faster than the Tour

I'm currently emailing back and forth with a senior marketing manager at Sasktel over the whole experience... three of their stores tried talking me out of the new network all together, saying it was unstable and unreliable

Wookie316 · #5 09-10-2010, 10:41 AM

How do you like the Bold? I am thinking I may go with that phone myself? I am currently on Sasktel with a Pearl 8130 & am due for an upgrade next week. Would like to hear your pros & cons on the phone.

Wookie316 · #6 09-12-2010, 06:16 PM

That is too bad about the Tour not working on the 3G network Sasktel just launched.

My wife has the Tour & it is over a year before she can upgrade. Once I get my 3G phone, she will be jealous.

mechanic_joe · #7 09-13-2010, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wookie316

That is too bad about the Tour not working on the 3G network Sasktel just launched.

My wife has the Tour & it is over a year before she can upgrade. Once I get my 3G phone, she will be jealous.

As a phone, the 9700 is (in my opinion) the best blackberry, and best smartphone currently on the market. It is my third BB, it has amazing battery life, very fast functionality, exceptional wifi, amazing keyboard, and absolutely beautiful call quality.

As a network, Sasktel's new 3G still has a few holes in it. If your like me and you spend 98% of your time in the city, then your fine... if your a travelling salesman throughout the province, then I would say NO, it would be a terrible decision.

If your a city dweller, then defineatly get the Bold !!! If you need the coverage of the older CDMA network, then I would get a Storm2 or 8530 (yes the Tour has a sexier screen and keyboard, but it has the older S1 processor, no wifi, and the call quality/radio strength isn't fabulous)

Just my 2 cents

Wookie316 · #8 09-14-2010, 07:33 PM

My home town gets their 3G tower sometime this month as well as another town I have to travel through to get there. I am in the city most of the time so signal is no issue for me.

Also I know there is nothing I cannot do on a 9700 that I currently want to. My contract is eligible for an upgrade this Saturday, so I have to decide if the Bold gets the nod or to wait a bit & see what comes out?

My wife has a Tour & it is a nice phone IMO.

mechanic_joe · #9 09-14-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wookie316

My home town gets their 3G tower sometime this month as well as another town I have to travel through to get there. I am in the city most of the time so signal is no issue for me.

Also I know there is nothing I cannot do on a 9700 that I currently want to. My contract is eligible for an upgrade this Saturday, so I have to decide if the Bold gets the nod or to wait a bit & see what comes out?

My wife has a Tour & it is a nice phone IMO.

Get the 9700, you can't go wrong, its a superb phone, and the network will only get better and better in the coming months

Wookie316 · #10 09-14-2010, 09:33 PM

I don't know what to do? I know when I got my Peral it was because they were out of stock on Curves & I didn't want to wait. I regretted that & I've been tied to it for 2 years now. I am torn between the 9700 & the Torch should it arrive

mechanic_joe · #11 09-14-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wookie316

I don't know what to do? I know when I got my Peral it was because they were out of stock on Curves & I didn't want to wait. I regretted that & I've been tied to it for 2 years now. I am torn between the 9700 & the Torch should it arrive

Wait the two weeks, the Torch is coming to Sasktel before the end of the month... I haven't had any experience with the Torch, or OS6 so I cannot even try to compare the two. Wait till it arrives and compare for yourself... Good Luck

Wookie316 · #12 09-14-2010, 10:57 PM

I keep hearing the Torch will be out at the end of the month, but know one I have talked to from Sask mobility will give a clear answer

What the heck, my Pearl has been with me for 2 years, what's a couple more weeks

mechanic_joe · #13 09-14-2010, 11:03 PM

Here's a little bit of Sasktel Torch love for you

SaskTel confirms BlackBerry Torch 9800 launching by "the end of this month" | MobileSyrup.com

Wookie316 · #14 09-14-2010, 11:27 PM

Been watching YouTube videos on the 9700 for the past hour & now I am thinking the 9700 will be fine. I hate finger prints on a screen & I am a no BS straight up phone type of guy. Also the Torch is bigger & heavier & I am not so sure I'd like that.