[CDGCurve]

Is there anyway to upgrade my current phone, which is running on EDGE, to 3G?

I thought that all new phones were going 3G because it's supposed to be so much better, but my sister just bought a new BB Pearl and it's on EDGE too. So that got me thinking...can you upgrade or can EDGE phones only run on EDGE?

Also does running EDGE vs. 3G have anything to do with your data plans, etc.., and bills?

These might be dumb questions, but I gotta learn somehow right?
Thanks!

[Foxglove]

Wirelessly posted

Only the Bold, Storm and one of the older 8700 models are able to run on 3G.



The pearl uses either GPRS or EDGE.



Hope that helps

[JerryD]

Errr.... Sorry Foxglove, but you're kind of wrong.

3G typically refers to the third generation GSM network (predecessors being EDGE and GPRS). However, sometimes EVDO (on the CDMA network) is also refered to as 3G.

In that respect, the 8703, 8130, 8830 are 3G, however the Bold is the only GSM 3G BlackBerry device.

And no, you can't upgrade an EDGE device to 3G. It requires the correct hardware.

[Foxglove]

Wirelessly posted

Thanks for pointing that out jerry.

[takeshi]

Originally Posted by CDGCurve

Also does running EDGE vs. 3G have anything to do with your data plans, etc.., and bills?

AFAIK at&t doesn't differentiate. You use the same BB data plan whether you're on 3G or EDGE and you pay the same amount.

[BBbuddy]

"...because it's supposed to be so much better..."

That's relative! In normal use (like me: mailing, some browsing and using viigo) the advantages aren't so much
Ok, it's faster but is it so much time to wait 3-5 sec. longer to load a page? Another thing, your charge will go faster down on 3G. In my opinion another problem is, you have not a full supply when you aren't in a metropolitan area. And so your device is switching back to EDGE. Check your location for this.
Otherwise I see 3G should be the better next-gen-network.