16GB of internal memory via propriety SSD/Flash hybrid technology, 10 hour+ talk time on 3G and a whopping 300 ppi screen resolution

If this is real, it’s definitely a phone that we’d have to scope out! Or would it end up like another failed BlackBerry Storm? What do you think?

The Good:

Rogers has brought Canadian wireless users an excellent data roaming package which far exceeds any data roaming package we’ve seen from any of the US wireless carriers.  Initially they had launched this roaming package with the following rate plans.

• $20 Personal Email on BB CDN/US
• $35 Consumer/Small business BB (BIS) 500MB CDN/US Plan
• $35 Consumer/Small business 500MB CDN & US Data Plan
• $40 Consumer/Small business BB (BIS) 1GB CDN & US Plan
• $40 Consumer/Small business 1GB CDN & US Data Plan
• $45 500MB CDN & US Mobile Internet Flex Rate Plan
• $50 DAP (for MSD customers) 1.5GB CDN & US Data Plan
• $55 Corporate BB (BES) 1GB CDN & US Plan
• $55 Corporate BB (BES) 500 MB CDN & US Flex Rate Plan

If you take a look at their website now, they have simplified those odd looking plans by saying “Add $10 and use your data plan freely in both Canada and the USA”.

“With a One Rate Data Plan you have the convenience of using a single allotment of
data that can be used anywhere in Canada and the U.S. for one low fixed rate. This
means worry-free data for checking email, using the mobile internet or location based
services such as Google Maps.”

The Bad:

They have yet to provide a solution for voice plans.  This is where they’ll make their money! Here are the rate plans they have for voice usage.

By using prepaid/pay as you go services in the USA, the “One-Time_fee” of $15 that Rogers would charge on their lowest rate plan would give you 150 minutes of talk-time at a rate of $0.10/minute.

The Ugly:

Voicemail is probably one of the most standard features that wireless users add on to their wireless packages.  In fact, it is so standard, that 99% of prepaid plans in almost all countries provide voicemail as a free feature along with caller id, call conferencing, and call waiting.  The Ugly News is that Rogers is infamously known for charging wireless users their roaming rate for NOT picking up their phone.  That’s right! for NOT picking up your phone.  Since your phone is technically ‘connecting’ with Rogers communication towers, you will be charged your roaming rate of $1.45 for travel to the USA.  This not only effects Canadian travellers, but all of you AT&T, T-mobile and any other US carrier that has Rogers Wireless as a roaming partner.  You will be charged 1 minute of roaming for NOT picking up your phone and allowing it to go to Voice Mail.

The Solution:

Prepaid/Pay as you Go solutions are always the best! Most carriers around the world offer several different price plans.  A couple examples of US carriers include T-mobile ($0.10/min) and AT&T ($0.25/min).  Of course you would need to unlock your phone before using one of those SIM cards.  Now a second problem arises… How do I use this Rogers data pack, maintain my phone number, and NOT pay $1.45/min?

That answer will be posted here by the end of May

We’re here to provide you with the lowest rate solutions possible.  Stay tuned with Cellfservices Blog!

Through the eyes of a cell phone unlocker, it seems that RIM is always making an effort to tighten security on their new Blackberry devices.  This time it has gone beyond RIM, with Bell and soon, Telus adding new locks on their Blackberry phones.

We like to call them “MEP4″ locks instead the old MEP2 that we’ve grown so fond of. It has already been implemented on the Bell 9700 which has 2 locks – the network lock and the Service Provider (SP) lock.  Unlock code developers, crackers and hackers are still in the process of developing a quick and “Instant” method for unlocking these MEP4 codes.  Although we are able to unlock the Bell Blackberry Bold 9700, it’s interesting to see that RIM, Rogers and T-mobile are still using MEP2 codes for the Rogers Blackberry Bold 9700 and T-mobile Blackberry Bold 9700.

Perhaps Telus and Bell are doing this to protect their new HSDPA network? Or maybe they are passionate about retaining their clientele and keeping exclusivity of their handheld devices.  Who knows?  Regardless, we have discovered 2 methods to unlock the Bell Blackberry Bold 9700.

Method 1: Unlocking the Bell Blackberry Bold 9700 with IMEI & PIN#

Calculate the 2 unlock codes with just the IMEI and PIN #.

PROS:

• Can be calculated accurately within 24-72 hours
• Incorrect IMEI and PIN submissions will result in a “Not Found” code instead of returning an incorrect code due to an incorrect IMEI submission

CONS:

• Longer than normal process times
• If your IMEI and PIN are not in the database, you will get a “Not Found” code even though everything was submitted properly
• Very pricey compared to method 2

Method 2: Unlocking the Bell Blackberry Bold 9700 with Blackberry Logger info:

Calculates the 2 unlock codes with a “Logger” that is read off of your phone with a third party program.This is the method we have adopted to unlock your Bell Blackberry Bold 9700.

PROS:

• Accurate codes are generated within 0-48 hours
• A great way to accurately generate all the information from your Blackberry device to avoid errors in typing your IMEI.

CONS:

• Instant speeds are not available
• Altered logs will create incorrect codes – do NOT alter when you send in your Bell 9700 logs.

The program to get your Blackberry log can be downloaded here.  After getting your IMEI and MEP from the program, you can purchase your Bell Blackberry Bold 9700 unlock code.  Simply enter the MEP under the “Model” section.

Happy unlocking

Last year, with much hype, the first 3G Blackberry was released, called the Blackberry Bold 9000.  With it’s super fast speeds compared to the older EDGE phones, amazing picture quality and much much more, RIM was able to set a new standard for their Blackberry devices.  Following came the Curve/Javelin 8900, Storm 9530, Storm 2 9550, Tour 9630 and the Curve/Gemini 8520 . RIM has finally released the Blackberry Bold 9700, and with great pride, have provided faster speeds, greater picture quality, and so many more features.

Many Canadian consumers have been eagerly dialing *611 to Rogers Wireless requesting hardware upgrades, many signing new contracts with Rogers, and the third party markets like Craigslist, E-bay and Kijiji being swarmed with over inflated prices on the Bold 9700 AKA Onyx. An even bigger hype is now in motion.  With T-mobile awaiting their release of the 9700 the American consumers await in excitement.  With all this excitement, we’ve decided to create a comparison between the Blackberry Bold 9000 and the Blackberry Bold (2) 9700.

This review on the Bold 9000 and Bold 9700 will guide you through the new features and hardware of the 9700 and hopefully act as a means to help you make a decision in shopping for a new Blackberry.

We’ve covered the following in the 2 videos above….

Part 1: Bold 9000 vs. Bold 9700 – Hardware, Firmware and Features

The Blackberry 9700 certainly has not failed to please our expectations.  With the sleek style of the Curve 8900 and Tour 9630, RIM has created a device lighter, but faster than the 9000.  In our video, we attempt to cover the following…

• Physical Overview – Embedded Rubber buttons vs. Metal buttons on the 9000
• Text Messaging – Firmware 5.0.0.321 vs. Firmware 4.6.0.162
• Back of Phone – SIM card slots and Micro SD slots
• Stickers – Ripping of the stickers.  It pains us to do it, but it was done for you.
• Loading Screens – Blackberry Logo loading screen vs. Blinding White light

Part 2: Bold 9000 vs. Bold 9700 – Media: Images and Video

In our best attempt, we’ve taken pictures in low light in a stationary position (9000) vs (9700), and in daylight (9000) vs (9700)with the 2 blackberry cameras from the same angles.  We also thought it’d be cool to take video footage of downtown Toronto with the Bold 9000 in 1 hand and the Bold 9700 in opposite hands.  Here, you will be able to measure the video quality as well as the audio quality from both phones.

• Picture Quality: Low light & Day light pictures
• Video Quality: Measuring the sounds of the streets and Starbucks

Conclusions:

We’ve been able to draw a few conclusions from our video review.

• With version 5.0 on the Bold 9700, processing speeds, internet speeds and features such as text messaging are significantly better
• The lighter weight and smaller device make it more convenient to carry around
• Embedded rubber buttons will wear slower on the 9700 than the metal buttons on the Bold 9000
• Images capture more colors with the 9700.
• Video quality is incredibly different.  The Bold 9000 has a higher pitched audio and has a tendency to cut in and out, while the 9700 captures more of what your voice really sounds like and blocks out unwanted noise, yet captures subtle wanted noises.

In our opinion, we believe that the Blackberry Bold 9700 will be the best Blackberry smartphone available on the market for at least the next year.  I’m not sure how, but RIM will have to find a way to outdo themselves, yet again.

If you’ve already purchased this phone or plan to, you can unlock get your unlock code here.

Here’s a quick overview on what exactly comes in the box for the Blackberry Bold 9700 from Rogers Wireless.  If you decide to purchase one of these phones off of a third party classifieds site like Craigslist, Kijiji or E-bay, make sure that all parts are inside to ensure you receive a new product.

What is in the Box for the Blackberry Bold 9700 AKA Onyx?

• Blackberry Bold 9700
• Battery
• A/C Adaptor
• Micro USB cord
• Leather swivel case
• Manuals
• Rogers Wireless SIM card
• Stereo headphones – (Not in-ear)
• Proof of Purchase (for Warranty)
• 2GB Micro SD card (already inserted in the phone)

Being an avid Blackberry user, I’ve used several devices including the 8700, 8100, 8300, 8320, 8800, 8900 and the 9000 within the past 5 years.

I’ve had the Bold 9000 for the past year and have the privilege to create a thorough video review on the Bold 9700 vs. the Bold 9000 with a temp model that I received yesterday.

I saw a contest on Crackberry for an unlocked T-mobile Blackberry Bold 2.  All you have to do is comment on why you think the Bold 2 9700 is better than any other Blackberry device out there. I was tempted to hold back and to let my video speak on my behalf when it is completed, but I had to regurgitate a few words, which ended up being too many words.

For those of you contemplating whether or not the Bold 9700 is a worthwhile buy, take a read through here and you’ll have a better idea.

Blackberry Bold 9000 vs. Blackberry Bold 9700

Trackpad:

1.) Although this is not the first Blackberry with the trackpad, it is my first time having the opportunity to play around with it.  It makes life on my Blackberry a lot easier, allowing me to process my business orders quickly and more accurately.  It kind of reminds me of those IBM laptops with the cylindrical rubber mouse in the middle of the keyboard where you just move your finger on it.  However, the trackpad is actually a lot smoother than the trackball and even the IBM mouse.

Weight & Feel:

2.) It’s significantly lighter than the bold 9000, yet it still has the same keyboard design.  The weight is a huge factor for both men and women since no one really likes carrying around heavy weight.  For women, the 9700 provides a lighter solution than the Bold 9000 for your purse, handbag etc.  For men, lighter on the belt clips.  In fact, every morning when I go to Starbucks to grab my morning coffee, I leave in sweatpants and sweatshirt with the weather cooling down.  The Bold 9000 actually has enough weight to pull my pants down a little, but from this mornings encounter with the 9700, the pants stayed up just fine

Display:

3.) The resolution is a little bit higher on the Bold 9700 (480×360) compared to the bold 9000 (480×320).  Even with such a small change in resolution, since the screen is small compared to your desktop monitor, it makes a world of a difference!

Battery Life:

4.) Battery life is significantly better especially with 3G on.  On my Bold 9000, which I still love, my battery would die anywhere between 12pm-4pm if I left it on 3g.  So far from the 9700, with a full charge and unplugged at 8am EST this morning, it’s at 75% and it’s 2:00pm.  With the bold 9000, I had to revert to EDGE in order to use my battery for the full work day.  The 9700 provides a method to sustain your battery life for high talk-time users and high e-mail/data users.
Wireless Info – 3g, Wifi, GPS:

5.) The phone has 3G, wifi and gps! Finally RIM has a package for all 3 with the compact size!
Text Messaging – Firmware 5.0:

6.) Text messaging looks like Blackberry messenger now! I think it’s the 5.0 firmware update, but regardless, since the 9700 come stock with 5.0, it’s beautiful with the changes

Processing Speeds:

7.) Processing speed is SIGNIFICANTLY faster.  I think this will mean a lot less battery pulls for those of you who can’t stand doing it!

Better support on ASP.net Websites:

8.) In order to make some web orders, a lot of the modern websites are adopting asp.net.  With the Bold 9000, ALL of the dropdown menus were all bunched up and you couldn’t read any/all the text to select the appropriate option.  The 8300s, 8800s and anything produced before these are even worse for asp.net sites!  Since a lot of the websites I go to are asp.net format, the Bold 9700 has provides all of the dropdown menus in perfect sync and does not distort properly optimized sites.  This can all be done on the built in web browser now instead of using third party apps like Opera.
Media – Pictures:

9.) On to the media!  I tested the bold 9000 vs. the bold 9700 for pictures in low light and day light.  The bold 9000 created some what of a “rainbowy” effect in low light while the phone was completely stationary taking the picture.  The 9700 had much better light balance, resulting in a much better picture.  In day light, they were very similar, but with the 3.2 megapixel camera on the 9700 compared to the 2.0 megapixel camera on the 9000, the difference is evident.

Media – Video Recording:

10.) As for the video recording, I recorded myself walking to the bank with the Bold 9000 in 1 hand and the Bold 9700 in the other hand.  Although some people would look at me funny, it was definitely worth the venture!  The quality on the Bold 9700 was significantly better on both video and audio.  The biggest difference I found in the video is with the audio.  From previous concerts and/or events that I’ve been to, the Bold 9000 resulted in some choppiness in the audio.  I think the 9700 will have a much clearer sound in loud settings.

CONCLUSION:

For the past year, I thought that the Bold 9000 was the best phone that RIM has ever made, hence, I didn’t stay with the 8900 for very long and all the other previous Blackberries I used, nothing compared to it.

Now that the 9700 has been released in Canada, and soon in the USA and worldwide, I can confidently say that it will be the best phone that RIM will have out for a very long time.  RIM has truly outdone themselves and I cannot wait until they attempt to outdo the Bold 9700 in 2010!

Post Script:

We will be uploading our video as soon as it is completed for you to see the difference between the Bold 9000 and the Bold 9700 in more detail.  We’ll also have an unlocking tutorial for the Bold 9700 as well.  The Blackberry Bold 9700 Unlock Codes are available on our site now.