[givechanceachance]

I just ordered a Bold 9900 (AT&T branded) after spending three days to find out that there are issues with unlocked BBOS phones going to AT&T.

I am expected to get the AT&T branded Bold by August 9th (Friday) however if I can work around the unlocked 9900 issue that would be great. T-Mobile already provided me the MEP code so the unlock was successful.

Thanks,

[anon(10512033)]

I just ordered a Bold 9900 (AT&T branded) after spending three days to find out that there are issues with unlocked BBOS phones going to AT&T.

I am expected to get the AT&T branded Bold by August 9th (Friday) however if I can work around the unlocked 9900 issue that would be great. T-Mobile already provided me the MEP code so the unlock was successful.

Thanks,

The 3G bands available on the T-Mobile version may not work with AT&T. I *think* T-Mobile's 3G is AWS (1700/2100) and AT&T is 850/1900.

I seem to recall having read -- but don't know from experience and don't live in the U.S. -- that both carriers are re-farming that spectrum to LTE. So it may not be possible to use a Bold 9900 for long, even if it has the correct bands.

Note that while AT&T's model indicates 4G, it is really just enhanced 3G (kind of like their new fake 5G, which is still LTE).

[givechanceachance]

The 3G bands available on the T-Mobile version may not work with AT&T. I *think* T-Mobile's 3G is AWS (1700/2100) and AT&T is 850/1900.

I seem to recall having read -- but don't know from experience and don't live in the U.S. -- that both carriers are re-farming that spectrum to LTE. So it may not be possible to use a Bold 9900 for long, even if it has the correct bands.

Note that while AT&T's model indicates 4G, it is really just enhanced 3G (kind of like their new fake 5G, which is still LTE).

I found this out yesterday talking to someone at ATT that acutally knew something. So yes you are correct: different bands entirely. I just ordered a BB9900 ATT yesterday and should be deilvered on or before Friday.

[conite]

I found this out yesterday talking to someone at ATT that acutally knew something. So yes you are correct: different bands entirely. I just ordered a BB9900 ATT yesterday and should be deilvered on or before Friday.

All 9900s are created equal.

The two NETWORKS use different bands though, yes.

Edit: Equal, except for some mysterious model starting with RDV.

[anon(10512033)]

Nope. All 9900s are created equal.

The two NETWORKS use different bands though, yes.

I'm fairly certain there is a T-Mobile variant that supports the same 2G frequencies as the AT&T version, but not the same 3G frequencies.

Here's a link to T-Mobile's tech specs: https://web.archive.org/web/20140901.../docs/DOC-2389

Note the UMTS frequencies.

Here's a BlackBerry document showing two different models of 9900 (starts on p. 41): https://web.archive.org/web/20120114...228-001-US.pdf

[conite]

I'm fairly certain there is a T-Mobile variant that supports the same 2G frequencies as the AT&T version, but not the same 3G frequencies.

Here's a link to T-Mobile's tech specs: https://web.archive.org/web/20140901.../docs/DOC-2389

Note the UMTS frequencies.

Here's a BlackBerry document showing two different models of 9900 (starts on p. 41): https://web.archive.org/web/20120114...228-001-US.pdf

Strange indeed.

There is no perfect fit for TMO, which supports 3G 1700, 1900, and 2100.

The RDE and RDY models support 1900 and 2100, but not 1700.

The RDV model supports 1700 and 2100, but not 1900.

------

AT&T supports 3G 850 and 1900. The RDV has neither.

------

There seems to be very little info regarding the mysterious RDV, and who actually ever got it originally.

[anon(10512033)]

AT&T supports 3G 850 and 1900. The RDV has neither.

So then not all of the 9900s are the same and it's quite possible @givechanceachance has one that won't work with AT&T.

[conite]

So then not all of the 9900s are the same and it's quite possible @givechanceachance has one that won't work with AT&T.

It would seem, but I cannot determine to whom the RDV was ever originally delivered.

It's possible that it was a TMO exclusive - which is why we don't see it in Canada or on AT&T. Although TMO would have done just as well on the ones that everyone seems to have received.

[anon(10512033)]

It would seem, but I cannot determine to whom the RDV was ever originally delivered.

It's possible that it was a TMO exclusive - which is why we don't see it in Canada or on AT&T. Although TMO would have done just as well on the ones that everyone seems to have received.

There's some stuff on RedFlagDeals that suggests that it might have been issued to WIND and Videotron as well, or that people using those services bought the T-Mo version, or something like that. I think it was probably the device required for all the AWS carriers.