First, some background. I'm with Sprint on Simply Everything. I'm pleased with the plan and would like to keep it -- I don't think there's a better domestic value -- but I'm also out of contract, so I have options.
I would like to obtain a BlackBerry with international capabilities. (By "international," I mean Europe.) What I'd like to know is if the Bold 9650's international capabilities are generally equivalent to and/or as good as the international capabilities of GSM-only BlackBerries, or are GSM-only Bolds more versatile than the 9650 when it comes to international usage? Here's what I found for specs on each:
Bold 9650 (Sprint)
2100MHz HSPA|CDMA 800/1900MHz|EDGE
Bold 9780
GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz|3G 900/1700/2100MHz
If the 9650's international capabilities are substantially limited compared to the GSM-only device, I would consider getting the GSM-only phone, provided I could find a plan (even a prepaid plan would be okay) that I could live with domestically. Also, how does an unlocked Torch (850/900/1800/1900MHz GMS/GPRS/EDGE|800/850/1900/2100MHz UMTS|3.6 Mbps HSDPA Category 6) compare with these Bolds in the international realm? I'd really like to get the 9650, as I love Simply Everything, but if its radio specs are lame or soon to be outdated (internationally or domestically), I'd go GSM. Also, I realize Sprint has an international add-on, but I'm thinking in terms of third party SIM's as far as these questions I have are concerned. For example, would the 9650 play well with a T-Mobile Sim in Europe? Thanks, all, in advance,for your knowledge and experience.
The 9650 will be fine as far as Europe is concerned. The problem with a T-Mobile prepaid european SIM is you may lose BIS access (on a GSM only BB you would definitely loose access).
