[BBAdmin]

Before loads of UK users post about this, O2 are upgrading certain segments of their UK network with EDGE compatible transceiver units on the base station subsystem, This is to support upcoming device releases (which obviously is the iPhone announced today at London Regent Street).
I've had a few BlackBerry devices switching between GPRS and EDGE over the last week, so here is the heads up!

[maxsquared]

I know fulham in London is on EDGE, from fulham broadway to waitrose.

[BBAdmin]

Interesting. I've had it up on EDGE in Hammersmith, Chiswick and Ealing so far.

[maxsquared]

Ye, the EDGE netowk does feel much faster tho, especially when I launch Google Map.

[mr-o]

I've just got a Pearl and haven't seen anything other than GPRS on my screen so far - does that sound right? I live in the Putney area but work all over London - if O2 are improving EDGE for November for the iPhone, what state is it in right now? If the Pearl can find an EDGE network will it join automatically or o I need to change some setting in the device?

Cheers.

[BBAdmin]

If EDGE is availble your device will switch to it. My BlackBerry jumps on to EDGE now again and will stay on it for sometimes as short as a few seconds before dropping back to GPRS - the most it has stayed in EDGE for (that I've noticed) has been about 20 minutes, although the average I've seen on mine has been maybe a couple of minutes. Right now it's on GPRS but 5 minutes ago it was EDGE.

[maxsquared]

Originally Posted by BBAdmin

If EDGE is availble your device will switch to it. My BlackBerry jumps on to EDGE now again and will stay on it for sometimes as short as a few seconds before dropping back to GPRS - the most it has stayed in EDGE for (that I've noticed) has been about 20 minutes, although the average I've seen on mine has been maybe a couple of minutes. Right now it's on GPRS but 5 minutes ago it was EDGE.

Same here, longest I've got is around 20-30 mins too, I got EDGE in Fulham, City (Liverpool street and Algate), South Kensington and on my way to Croydon..

[chetzy]

oxford circus (edge)
finchley rd (edge)

[autovalet]

I have just bought the new blackberry pearl 8100 on o2. Can anyone tell me if I can connect to my laptop and use it as a modem on windows xp. Help needed as 02 have told me nothing.

[MeiYi]

Originally Posted by autovalet

I have just bought the new blackberry pearl 8100 on o2. Can anyone tell me if I can connect to my laptop and use it as a modem on windows xp. Help needed as 02 have told me nothing.

I would like to know the answer to this question too. I just upgraded my pearl 8100 to 8300 (on O2) and would like to use either as a modem.

Thank you very much.

[BBAdmin]

Yes you can thether it as a modem. Search for "Marks BlackBerry FAQ" and you'll find details.

I was in Birmingham on the weekend for the Villa game and had nothing but GPRS while I was there. It would seem to be EDGE in London only for now, as reports had suggested.

[John Clark]

There's also a good run through here:

Using BlackBerry As Modem - BlackBerryFAQ