FAQ
1.
What do I do if my carrier is not listed?
If your carrier is not listed, ask! CB is a great community with many knowledgeable and helpful people, and we will do a compatibility check for you.
At the very least, all models are quad-band GSM, so they will work on all GSM (2G) networks.
2.
What is this 'Comparable to' column?
If you already own a BB10 phone (pre-Passport,) you can quickly and easily figure out which Classic to get by looking at this column. The Classic model listed will always meet or exceed compatibility for the corresponding BB10 phones listed in this column.
3.
What is this list of Compatible Carriers?
If a Classic model/variant has all the bands for a carrier's network frequencies, that carrier will appear in the "Compatible Carriers" list below that model's information. This list may not be complete, because I cannot check each and every carrier's compatibility. I have done my best to research complete compatibility, but I cannot guarantee it.
4.
Will there be updates to this graphic?
Yes.
This thread is a work in progress. It will be updated frequently. Usually, my sources of most information are "official" listings/documents: ShopBlackBerry listings, BlackBerry manuals, FCC filings, etc. As more information is made available, I will double check everything and update as necessary. And as mentioned above, if someone wants to come up with an easy and efficient way to generate a Partially Compatible Carriers list, I will add that too.
5.
If my carrier uses multiple bands, what's the best way to find out which networks are around me?
If you already have a BB10 phone, there is a way through escreens to find out which network your phone is parked on. Click
here for UMTS instructions,
here for LTE instructions. This is the best localized check you can do to make sure you are looking at the most compatible Classic for the networks around you.
For instructions to run similar tests on iPhones, click
here. For Samsung Galaxy devices, dial *#0011# and look for RRC band. Credit to @
yhamaie for all this excellent information.
6.
What's the deal with Verizon and Sprint, will the SQC100-4 work?
While this model has Verizon's LTE bands 13 and 4, Verizon reps have been unable to activate non-CDMA BB10 phones (i.e. the Passport) on their network, most likely because of the missing CDMA bands. So this model will not work on Verizon at least until voLTE is deployed in 2016, if at all.
This phone also has Sprint's LTE band 25. Just like Verizon, Sprint does not activate non-CDMA phones on their network, so this model should not work. If someone with a Sprint LTE SIM wants to confirm, please let me know.
I would
not recommend buying the SQC100-4 for use on Verizon or Sprint.
7.
Anything else I should know?
This is a community driven thread. So if you buy a Classic and would like to chime in with compatibility information, please feel free to do so and I will update the OP. I won't edit the list of "Compatible Carriers" unless I'm provided with solid proof (carriers' websites confirming bands/sub-models, other semi-reputable printed sources such as Wikipedia, etc.)
This is a reference thread to document the different models and network bands for the BlackBerry Classic. Similar Passport, Z30, Z10, Q10, and Q5 threads are located here, here, here, here, and here, respectively.
I have seen some stuff about Verizon Classic models (yes, models.) Just...nothing that suggests a release right away.Yes. The SQC100-2 has been through the FCC. I don't know it's entire band complement yet, but it has at least AT&T-friendly bands.
Take a look at the screenshot and the link.
