why is rim ruining the thunder by only launching on verizon?
 

I guess they just want to sell bolds mainly. I would love a thunder, but I'm on ATT and being down south, att makes sense for the calling plans they have. Doesn't make sense to release an IPHONE competitor and put it on a different network.

I don't really see why it's any different than in the past, other than finally Verizon is getting something first. AT&T has consistantly had the exclusives on the RIM phones (curve, pearl), where Verizon was always left with nothing. Then along came the iPhone, and once again AT&T has the exclusive. I would imagine Verizon finally realized that having the hardware really will make people switch to your service and decided to pay a pretty penny for it.

Yes I have Verizon, and love the service. I've considered going to AT&T several times because of the phones, but I'd rather have the better service. Finally I'm excited that Verizon is going to get something nicer than the other providers leftovers.

I'll be pissed though, if Verizon goes and disables all the cool stuff about the phone, as they usually do. If they do, it's off to AT&T for me.

Just the way it is....It's a Vodafone/Verizon exclusive.

from what I can tell, the sprint and verizon phones don't have wifi

They have not disabled anything you can still use it you just have to pay for it. And its only GPS

Exclusives at first, but both those devices came out in CDMA. The Thunder/Verizon deal is LIFETIME, read it will only ever be released on Verizon and Vodaphone [with the small caveat that Verizon meet certain sales quotas, which I am confident they will.] I don't agree with lifetime exclusives and even the iphone doesn't have that.

Wasn't it rumored though that they were going to come out with a touch screen slide out keyboard to be released in GSM. I would imagine that would be why they would make Verizon lifetime exclusive. I do agree, lifetime is kinda lame. Even the iPhone is a 5 year contract. In cell phones that's beyond a lifetime.

Yes, but with a smart phone I'd like to have a fully functioning GPS. I honestly could care less about using it for driving. I'd like to use it offroad and for golf.

You need to check out this article. I have no idea why people would think RIM would shoot theirself in the foot and only allow this device to be used on one network in the states. WOW. ---> Touchscreen BlackBerry Thunder details and specs

Here is the paragraph you really need to read--->

What about other carriers? Well for the US, Verizon Wireless and At&t will be the two major carriers moving over to LTE 4g technology while T-mobile has not announced their plans and Sprint is using WiMAX. At&t subscribers will undoubtedly be able to purchase an unlocked version of the BlackBerry Thunder (9500 Series) and use it on their network, regardless of the lifetime exclusive agreements between RIM and Verizon Wireless. There is also the possibility that Verizon and Vodafone will not hit their sales quotas and the exclusive lifetime agreement will be void, making the device available to all carriers interested in some touchscreen Blackberry action.

Then buy a gps puck or buy a stand alone GPS unit. Its never been a secret that they disable the gps

If I'm not mistaken doesn't Verizon sell a hell of a lot of BB's. I could be wrong though.

I wouldn't bet any money on that. Verizon has a lot of BB users and many of them are chomping at the bit for this device.

It doesn't matter, you will be able to unlock one of these and use them on AT&T.

I know it's not a secret, you are correct. I'm just saying, if it's there, why not let us use it, that's all. I understand they want to make money on a service, and I'm fine with that. It would just be cool to use it for other things without having to attach more stuff to the hardware. I wonder if there is a way they can lock it so you need to vz navigator for directions, and then have it unlocked for everything else. Like the apps for the iphone. I know it won't be, but it would be nice to have everything in one.

I haven't heard that the Thunder would include the US GSM frequencies. If they are not, then it won't work on ATT, unlocked or not.

I refer you again to this article, although that isn't the only confirmation I have on the subject. ;)

Touchscreen BlackBerry Thunder details and specs


There are currently 9500's being used on Rogers, and we all know anything that will run on Rogers will run on AT&T.

There are??? :? I believe thats the first I've heard of that. I think you have it confused with the Bold. I haven't read anything about the Thunder running anywhere. And as far as it running on ATT if unlocked, that would mean that this one model phone would run on any network in the world, CDMA and GSM. That would be a first for RIM or any phone for that matter and don't think that is likely.

considering thats not an official RIM web page i wouldnt believe a word of it. I am with arjon on this one I havent heard a thing about it running on anything but cdma. You are mistaken about them running on rogers as well thats the bold.

Telus is getting an exclusive on it here in Canada. Which doesn't make any sense...but oh well :-(

Whoa, this article makes some pretty big assumptions. This tosser in the article talks about LTE adoption and the Thunder including LTE support, perhaps dropping EVDO completely. Sounds like he's just pulling facts out of his butt. And even if they include GSM support for a "world phone" like the 8830, we can probably expect it to be disabled for North America and instead only function in Europe. That's been the pattern so far at least.

I'd love to try one out on AT&T, but I'm not expecting it anytime in the next 2 or 3 years.