[Louise]

Originally Posted by david_uk

Sometimes UK carriers make new models available with new contracts some months before they appear as upgrades.

Strange how getting new customers always seems more important than satisfying the ones they've got.

I know!! If thats the case I'll just cancel my BB contract then start another 12 month one!!

[Foxglove]

I emailed 3 about the 9000 and the response I got was :-

' Currently, we're unable to give you any details of the launch of Blackberry Bold 9000.

However, you can keep looking on our website for further information as it is updated regularly with current and future events'

I was with '3' previously before I got a BB and thier service was excellent so a move into Blackberry could see me returning to them bearing in mind that they are a 3G network.

[Louise]

I e-mailed o2 earlier asking about the BB 9000 and got the following response:

Hello Louise,

Thanks for emailing us to find out more about Blackberry® 9000.

I'm unable to tell you the exact release date and the price for the Blackberry® 9000. You'll need to call our sales team on 08702 257 879. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 9:00pm and Saturday and Sunday between 10:00am and 6:00pm. If you call from an O2 Pay Monthly mobile phone, it'll be free of charge. If you call from any other mobile phones, you'll be charged at 20p per minute. Calls from your fixed line will be charged at your telephone provider's published rates

[Foxglove]

LOl. They are very cagey aren't they. I guess they will tell us when they are good and ready!!

[sunnychad]

Vodafone are saying late July/Early August.

O2 keep saying they have just released Pearl 2 in Pink and the Curve in Red, no idea about the Bold/9000.

[Louise]

o2 told me today that the Bold will be available in September but this may change due to testing!!

[mouseberry]

I think I'm gonna get a curve next week when I'm due to renew then get a Bold later on from Expansys, as it's quite possible T-Mob won't have it for months yet, they only a offer a choice of 2 blackberries now!

[Heathen123]

I just spoke to Vodafone, and the Bold/9000 is now appearing on their system....with an availability date of JULY 24th. Hoorah!

[ash_786]

Spoke to a few service providers today, here are the answers that I received:-

Vodafone - They say they are expecting a late July date
O2 - September
T-Mobile .... well you have to explain to them what a Blackberry bold is, so thats not a good start !,
Orange ..... Who cares, they are crap !!!!
3 - You having a laugh.

The wait continues ..... but gut feeling is going with Vodafone for late July. This has also been confirmed by a RIM source in the UK.

[wgimenes]

Originally Posted by ash_786

Spoke to a few service providers today, here are the answers that I received:-

Vodafone - They say they are expecting a late July date
<snip>
The wait continues ..... but gut feeling is going with Vodafone for late July. This has also been confirmed by a RIM source in the UK.

Vodafone BES version should be out on the 9th of July and BIS version in the end of July.

[ash_786]

Originally Posted by wgimenes

Vodafone BES version should be out on the 9th of July and BIS version in the end of July.

Vodafone offers Blackberry services at the moment, they offer BIS right now. Not sure what the position is with BES.

[Heathen123]

Sorry to be dense, but what are BIS and BES? They sound like Blue Peter labradors.

[Kris2009]

We have been told for us (UK Indirect Distributors) it will be August time. I am in Slough tomorrow with RIM, I will ask again

[wgimenes]

Originally Posted by Heathen123

Sorry to be dense, but what are BIS and BES? They sound like Blue Peter labradors.

BIS is the BlackBerry Internet Server (Service?)

BES is the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. You need to have a Microsoft Exchange Server, Lotus Domino or Novell GroupWise server.

This is also known as the Enterprise Version of BlackBerries.

In other words, if you don't know what it is, you probably don't need it

[david_uk]

Originally Posted by wgimenes

Vodafone BES version should be out on the 9th of July and BIS version in the end of July.

Are the BIS and BES models physically different? I'd always thought they were identical, with BES being provisioned via the SIM.

[wgimenes]

Originally Posted by david_uk

Are the BIS and BES models physically different? I'd always thought they were identical, with BES being provisioned via the SIM.

I don't know. What I know is that Vodafone (UK) sent me a "consumer" version (BIS) once and it wouldn't connect to my BES. When the replacement came, it worked like a charm.

Same happened to one of my customers on Vodafone as well.

Another customer is on Orange (UK) and they guaranteed me that they don't have different versions for BIS and BES.

Look in your Options screen and see if you have "Enterprise Activation" there. It's the tell tale sign.

But then again, I might be talking complete rubish

Only speaking from my experience

[ash_786]

Spoke to Vodafone UK yesterday.

They say theres two different BB Bolds that they are gonna release. One for BIS Server and one for BES server. Something to do with different firmware configurations.

Release dates:-

7th july for BIS
22nd july for BES


BIS version- Has Free vodafonesat nav for 1 year. sat nav provided Telcom
BES - GPS included , but not activated.

[BBAdmin]

They say theres two different BB Bolds that they are gonna release. One for BIS Server and one for BES server. Something to do with different firmware configurations.

It's the same bit of kit, just provisioned differently. Where some networks differentiate between BIS and BES by the tariff (APN), Vodafone have a single APN for BlackBerry but the device PIN is provisioned on one of two subsystems at the NOC - BIS is called 'Prosumer' and BES is called 'Enterprise' and obviously there are different service books associated with each. Other than that, they're the same.

[david_uk]

Originally Posted by BBAdmin

It's the same bit of kit, just provisioned differently. Where some networks differentiate between BIS and BES by the tariff (APN), Vodafone have a single APN for BlackBerry but the device PIN is provisioned on one of two subsystems at the NOC - BIS is called 'Prosumer' and BES is called 'Enterprise' and obviously there are different service books associated with each. Other than that, they're the same.

Presumably every handset can be provisioned on either or both RIM systems? My Service Status says I have both BIS and BES running concurrently.

From memory, the BBs that Voda supply - red boxes etc - are labelled Prosumer and the SIM Free versions are not. I've never had a problem Enterprise Activating a SIM Free, though I've heard of folk who are on BES but only paying for BIS (legacy?), they upgrade their handset, are shipped a Prosumer version then find they have to "upgrade" to BES (UKP25 per month) in order to EA.

As I said in another thread, it's all a bit flaky for a major cellco, compare and contrast T-Mob Stateside who make pricing options for BIS and BES crystal clear on their website.

[wgimenes]

Originally Posted by ash_786

Spoke to Vodafone UK yesterday.

They say theres two different BB Bolds that they are gonna release. One for BIS Server and one for BES server. Something to do with different firmware configurations.

Release dates:-

7th july for BIS
22nd july for BES


BIS version- Has Free vodafonesat nav for 1 year. sat nav provided Telcom
BES - GPS included , but not activated.

Just spoke to Vodafone UK and they tell me it is 9th of July for BES.