Can I use a TMobile Blackberry once I switch to AT&T?

[Caveman]

On a TM Family Plan and one of the users lives in AK and TMobile just decided to kick her off thier network (along with thousands of other irate customers). They pulled the ol bait and switch saying they provide free roaming when they don't...

So... Going to AT&T...

Per subject... Anyone know?

 

[pm]

I presume the second paragraph should be "So... Going to AT&T" - otherwise I'm really confused.

Call T-Mobile, before you call to tell them that you are leaving them, and ask them to unlock your Blackberry so that it will take other SIMs while travelling abroad. They have always happily done this for me when I've called - although sometimes there's been a bit of a delay of a couple of days.

 

[Caveman]

Right... Wrote the wrong carrier. Fixed now...

Stopped at AT&T after the message and the dude said "sorry" we won't be able to understand the software teaks of T-Mobile's 8700G....

 

[DivideBYZero]

Bullshit right there from the AT&T guy. Get an unlock code from T-mo, unlock it and shove an AT&T SIM in there. Job done.

 

[pm]

I agree. Either the AT&T rep is ignorant, or he's being deceptive. In either case, he's wrong.

Ask T-Mobile to unlock it - before you tell them you are leaving them - and they'll get you an unlock code which will allow you to use it on AT&T.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Email TMobile's unlock dept:

"customercare@t-mobilesupport.com

Hello, please provide me the unlock code for my BlackBerry Curve, my family will be traveling to Europe next month.

Name: Pliablemoose
Email Address: pliablemoose@hotmail.com
Last 4 of SS #: XXXX
Phone #: 817-501-XXXX
Account #: XXXXXXXXXXXX
IMEI #: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Make: Blackberry
Model: Curve 8320

Thank You

Pliablemoose
1245 Surburban Hell
Bumfuck, TX XXXXX"

 

[uli2000]

I dont think Tmobiles 8700g has the 850mhz band, so depending on the ATT network up there, it may not even work if all of their coverage is 850mhz.

 

[pm]

Originally posted by: uli2000
I dont think Tmobiles 8700g has the 850mhz band, so depending on the ATT network up there, it may not even work if all of their coverage is 850mhz.

It does:

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/d...,P246#tab_tab_features

Quad-Band network support on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM®/GPRS and EDGE* networks allows for international roaming between North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

 

[Caveman]

So... Will there be any limitations after I unlock?

Also, same question if I switch to Verizon... Is the situation the same... switch to Verizon and keep "unlocked" T-Mobile phone?

 

[pm]

No, it won't have any limitations.

T-Mobile and AT&T use a technology called GSM. Verizon and Sprint use a totally different one called CDMA. You can't take a T-Mobile phone and use it on Verizon.