[TorontoMortgageBroker]

Hey guys, on the top left of my blackberry 8800, the place where I plug in my charger, it seems like the small black piece inside broke away from my circuit board as the battery won't charge anymore

Is there a cradle charger that I could use that would charge my battery rather than have to repair the phone?

I live in Toronto, anyone know if Fido/Telus or Rogers carries any accessories that will work so that I can bypass the side plug and be able to charge the phone?

Thanks

[BigA]

BlackBerry Power Station & Extra Battery Charger for 8800 Series - ShopCrackBerry

[Klotar]

While charging is one worry, backups and data transfer (as inevitably, you will likely get another phone) is another.

Unless only part of the USB connection isn't working and you can still make backups, I wouldn't put it off if so.

[cpalmer17]

I just experienced the same problem. I thought I was in luck for having found the little (and I do mean little) black piece that fits inside the mini-usb charging port. I attempted to re-insert this piece which, as far as I can see, is used to help seat the pins and connectors. I tried every which way to re-insert it, turning it both around and upside down. The connection is very loose to the point of never getting a sure charge or laptop connection. It's one of those situations where you really can't reliably do what you need to; any time you have to jiggle a cord to get the connection, it's not good. I wonder if anyone has either: 1) had this problem fixed in a Verizon store, or 2) found a way to securely re-insert the little black piece and get a solid, snug connection. Would love to know if anyone has had luck with either.

[John Clark]

The USB port has to be replaced and resoldered to the circuit board. There is no other way of fixing it. It might be time to get that new Curve 8330 you know you've been wanting.

[TorontoMortgageBroker]

Thanks for the help guys. Oh well later blackberry. I just bought an iPhone.....I'm glad it broke because if i had a choice between the iphone and the 8800, there is no comparrison. So long Rim.

Take it easeeeeeeeeeeeee

[John Clark]

There are lots of BB devices out there besides the 8800....Good luck with the iPhone. We'll all be here when you decide to come back.

[oBBsessed]

Happened to me--my two-part solution was to 1) use my backed-up data and SIM to move over to my wife's old 8300 and 2) wait for a warranty replacement unit to show up. This seems to have been a problem with early 8800s (my "new" one has a much tighter USB port), so don't give up on RIM just because this happened...do be sure to back up, though.

[cpalmer17]

Had the same issue. Despite all attempts to re-insert (and seat) the little plastic block that covers the usb port pins, no luck. Took it back- in person- to the VZW store and they grudgingly replaced it. The service counter guy said he didn't have any "product bulletin" announcing this issue nor had he seen any problem like this before. I was waiting for him to say, "no replacement, user misuse." Thankfully, he didn't and swapped mine to a new one, free of charge. Full disclosure: I'm on a corp. contract and did make mention of the research I did on this issue on the internet. Moral of the story, ask for a replacement...for free. This is not a user problem. It's happening to lots of people. It's a poor design.

[oBBsessed]

Originally Posted by cpalmer17

This is not a user problem. It's happening to lots of people. It's a poor design.

I'd be interested to know whether this was in fact worse on earlier 8800s and has improved, or has been more evenly distributed through the production run--my first 8800 had the problem from day one (I should have asked for a replacement then and there), but the "new" (refurb) unit came with a much more solid port.

[adamli9]

I had an AT&T 8800 that I replaced under warranty a couple months ago because of this same exact issue. Sadly, they had to send me a 8820 instead

[khaoohs]

Are there any cheap third party side contact charger cradles for the 8800? My usb port crapped out on me and I just need this to last another few weeks (I hope) until the Bold is released for AT&T.

[mikejaret]

i have the same problem, and to COMPOUND problems since its the only data port and VERIZON locks out the bluetooth profile to wirelessly sync, I CANT GET ANY OF THE INFO off my phone. VZW is giving me 50 bux towards getting it resoldered, but the store in tucson that fixes em (blueridgewireless dot com) charges $95 bux. SO basically im gonna end up dropping 45 bux of my own money to get a backup of my info and a new phone which VZW is sending me....totally stupid, verizon needs to quit the crap and quit removing bluetooth profiles that are necessary!