BlackBerry FAQ: Can You Use The BlackBerry 9800 Torch On T-Mobile Or Another Carrier?
With the BlackBerry Torch being exclusive to AT&T wireless customers in the US at launch, questions have begun to arise about if you can use the new BlackBerry on carriers other than AT&T. Today we will try and provide some answers for you.
The BlackBerry 9800 Torch is a GSM device that supports SIM card functionality. So if you are on Sprint, Verizon, MetroPCS, Boost, Cricket, or any carrier that uses a CDMA network, the device is completely incompatible with wireless technology and will not work. Think of it as trying to use PC only software on a Apple only computer. They are both computers, but two completely different technologies. Yes Sprint and Verizon both do offer BlackBerry devices that do support GSM SIM cards, but that functionality will only work when you are out of the country. So don’t waste your money buying one of the hundreds of 9800’s that will inevitably show up on Ebay.
Can you use the 9800 Torch on T-Mobile? Most likely yes, but without 3G services. T-Mobile is the 2nd largest GSM wireless carrier in the US next to AT&T. T-Mobile currently uses three network bans which are 850 Mhz, 1900 Mhz, and a 3G ban of 1700 Mhz. You will need to first unlock the BlackBerry 9800, and you can do that at our sister site www.BlackBerryDreamShop.com . Unlock your BlackBerry Torch 9800 for $9.99 until Oct 31, 2010 at BlackBerryDreamshop.com Use Code BBdb9800 http://blackberrydreamblog.com/Torch9800unlock
The problem lies in the 3G ban, since T-Mobile uses a 1700 Mhz 3G network that is specific to them. The BlackBerry 9800 does not support 1700 Mhz 3G services, so there will be no 3G functionality. Since the 9800 does support an 850 and 1900 MHZ network, you maybe able to use the device on T-Mobile’s NON 3G 850/1900 wireless networks. Here is a full list of wireless networks the 9800 will support.
Wireless Networks
- Tri-band 3G UMTS networks: 2100/1900/850/800 MHz
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks:
850/900/1800/1900MHz
There is one last thing to note; BlackBerry smartphones use something called service books to program many network related functionalities into your device.Service Books can control anything from email to web browsing, but also your ability to make a phone call. In the past, T-Mobile has been pretty good about allowing other GSM BlackBerry devices from different carriers on their network. But as of recent, T-Mobile support has stopped offering configuring and programming help to get you up and running. So if  T-Mobile’s Blackberry service books has a few issues with the 9800, you most likely will not be able to turn to them for help without a lot of begging.
For more info on BlackBerry unlocking services visit http://BlackBerryDreamShop.com , and if your looking to get the best price on a BlackBerry Torch, visit our BlackBerry Superstore at http://BlackBerryDreamBlog.com/BlackBerry
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how about tmobile in europe? i live in hungary at the moment… my contract is expiring in 2 weeks and im dying to change my iphone
T-Mobile Europe supports a 2100 3G network, so the 9800 will work fine there.
thanks alot:)
Hello, I have a question about white Blackberry bold 9780. What if I bought a white blackberry bold 9780 from tmobile and unlocked it, can I use it with at&t?
Now that the 9800 is officially available, has anyone tried this?
I've unlocked my 9800 for use with Tmobile. Got everything working except internet browsing. It gives me a message saying I don't have the Browser service books. Any ideas? Help!
You can try calling tmobile and ask them to resend the service book. You can also try logging into your blackberry bis account and resend the servicebooks yourself.
Stanley,
Try contacting t-mobile and asking them to resend your service books, that should fix the issue. You can also log into your BIS account ( BlackBerry Internet Service), and resend the service books yourself. Hope that helps.
i fixed this problem on my phone…here are the steps:
Put your simcard in your previous tmobile blackberry (this is necessary for it to work)
start it up and go to options -> advanced options -> host routing table
in host routing table press menu and click register now.
than connect it to bb desktop manager and go to backup and restore and click advanced .
in advanced save only the service books to your computer (preferrably to the desktop so you can find it. name it something like bb9800sb to make it easy)
next, take your sim card out and put it in the torch
start it up and plug it into desktop manager
go to advanced restore, and open the backup file you saved from the desktop.
highlight the service book file in the left lest and press the arrow pointing to the right (looks kinda like this >>>)
now your torch has your tmobile service books. reset your phone and it should be working. you might have to go to host routing table again from the torch and register again.
good luck
Hello BBfan, I'm currently on a business trip in Israel and after using my 50 MB of datas on my BB9800 from AT&T, i decided to buy a sim card from orange Israel with unlimited blackberry data plan but it is impossible for me to have it work. Any idea what to do please? Thank you. John L.
As long as your BlackBerry is unlocked. Yes it will work, but if you are using BIS email, you will need to setup email service through orange so that you may get your service books and email to push to your PIN from Orange.
I am from trinidad, on the Bmobile gsm network, my storm 2 worked fine here wonder if the torch will…??
The 9800 is Quad ban so it should work fine.. Thanks for the question.
Anderson C, do you have any idea on how we can make the internet browser for tmobile (usa) work?
It really depends on the service books, .. Log -into your BIS account ans resend your service books See if that helps. Anderson
Again, it would be with resending the service books.
i got a bb torch 2 days now. initially, push email worked but BIS doesnt. called tmobile to help out, now i barely get edge service. way out ????
Mr Anderson…
on the above post, you said to try log into the BIS account and resend the service books. Forgive me if i am not a technology savvy, but what is BIS? and how do i exactly log in into BIS account on my blackberry and resend the service books? Please help, since i dont know if i can return the torch 9800 to at&t store where i bought it from. im a little bit worried if they wont accept it back since i already unlocked the torch. im on tmobile, and if i can't get the browsing capability working, i might not want the phone anymore.
Please advise….
thank you very much
Agus, BIS stands for BlackBerry Internet Service, This is what manages your email accounts and Service Books. You must have BlackBerry Data service on your T-Mobile account to get your device to work properly. If you have BlackBerry service on the account, Call T-Mobile customer service and just ask them to resend the service books to your device. Then Power Cycle the device, and web and email should work.
Anderson.
Hi I bouth the Torch two days ago. Im on Tmobile, I can make and receive phone calls, i received my emails but I can't browse because of the service book. How can I fix that problem. Tmobile wont help me.
Hi Mr Anderson,
I live in Holland, europe and my cousin will buy the BB Torch for me in the states. Can he buy this phone already unlocked at an AT&T store? or must he unlocked it somewhere else?
Because i have a Tmobile plan with BIS here in Holland and i want that everything will works well when i'm using it here.
Pierre
Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Pierre,
The 9800 comes locked and AT&T will not offer the unlock code. You can get your device unlocked quickly from our sister site BlackBerryDreamshop.com
Anderson.
Would a Torch purchased in Europe or Canada work at 3G speed on T-Mobile network in USA? Supposedly they start selling Torch in one month overseas.
No because the 9700 does not have a 1700mz 3G ban which is required for 3G service on TMobile USA.
Hi! Will the torch work with 3G network in Orange carrier, Dominican Republic?
Yes, as long as the carrier uses one of the following 3G UMTS networks: 2100/1900/850/800MHz
This was taken form their Wiki Post
Frequencies used on the T-Mobile USA Network
1700/2100 MHz UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+ 3G Uses AWS Auctioned Spectrum
At link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_USA#3G_Upgr…
Does that mean the Torch would work on the 2100 Mhz 3G band and have 3G capabilities?
Good Question, T-Mobile has already delpoyed it's 1700 MHz, and is the only carrier to use it in all of it's markets. We have'nt seen or heard what T-Mobile plans to do with the 2100MHz ban. So far We haven't see any carrier use more than one 3G ban at the sametime in any one market.
hello Anderson, i'm currently in Israel for business with my at&t 9800. After using 50 MB of datas in 1 week i decided to get a blackberry sim card from Orange Israel with an unlimited data plan but except browsing the net, it is impossible for me to get my emails or messenger working. Any idea what might be the issue? Thank you very much in advance for your answer. John L (Miami Beach< FL).
Which 3G bands does Rogers run on? Will a Torch from Rogers Canada be more likely to run 3G on T-Mobile USA?
T-Mobile USA uses a 1700 Mhz network. The Torch does not support 1700 3G service. The device will support Edge on T-Mobile's 1900 and 850 Networks.
Would you please explain what I would lose in functionality if I accept using the Edge network, if buy a 9800 for use on t-mobile? I know that 3G is faster. Will the phone then just default to whatever network it can "see" by inserting my t-mobile SIM card?
Liz, you won\’t find any loss of funtionality at all. BlackBerry smartphones were designed to work great on a 2G or 3G network. This is not the same for iPhone or Google Andriod devices. You will also get better battery life since 3G burn more battery. You will however find that web broswer will be slower as well as using Google Maps or downloading apps from app world but WiFi can help with that. Finally EDGE does not support the use of voice and data at th
e sametime. So if you are on a long call, emails, bbm, facebook and twitter alerts will not come in until after the call.
If you decide to do it and the device is not unlocked. We will be posting a discount code today that will offer Torch unlocking for 9.99.
how about virgin mobile usa? i know virgin mobile canada offers the blackberry torch but if i buy a torch and unlock it, would i be able to use it on virgin mobile usa?
Virgin Mobile USA runs on Sprint's CDMA Network. The Torch is a GSM network device, so it will not work.
Hi There,
I have a corporate BB Curve 8520 and yesterday while there were several bars on the EDGE, I didn't recieve e-mails from any source – corporate or personal. It's as if the phone went dormant. It's wasn't until I made an outgoing phone call, hung up and then the flood of emails that I'd been waiting for came through. Would this be a device problem or perhaps a T-mobile network issue?
are they going to make this phone available for virgin mobile usa or is it just a canada exlusive?
HI…. I am interested in purchasing an unlocked 9800 torch but want to be sure that even on EDGE service that the internet browser will work — i have read nothing but problems. should i expect problems or should it be simple — insert my sim card and everything should work, even the browser, on t-mobile too ?? thx!
Yes, It will work perfectly on Edge service.
i recently got the blackberry torch for Tmobile. I was wondering what do i need to do to use internet on it. I'm using EDGE service.
I recently got the blackberry torch and was wondering what steps do I need to take to be able to use it on T-mobile's Edge network.
I tried using the method bbfan suggested and it doesn't work. I also called T mobile but they don't have a clue as to why it doesn't work either. I don't know what i can do to get internet onto the torch using T mobile. Any ideas?
bbfan way of making internet work on tmobile should work. please check if you follow the steps correctly. what bbfan did was exactly the same way with what i did. i bought the torch on aug 14, had the internet working using the same way, and had no problem with it.
good luck sean
let me know if u need help
Hi Guys, i bought an unlocked BB torch previously on AT&T and Tmobile offered me a plan and got the phone set up, first technical support need the imei, then call back and get them to set up service books, get a smart person because i had 2 retards prior….. No 3G only edge but you know, Tmobile offer unlimited data even on the flex plan, $63 if you pay from your acc every month. 500 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data (5gb)
Hope this helps anything..
Also from what i have realised, BB maps do not work if previously on AT&T so download google maps. EVERYTHING SHOULD WORK ON TMOBILE SO MAKE SURE THEY SET UP SERVICE BOOKS AND HOST ROUTING TABLE
GOOD LUCK GUYS
I had been gifted bb 9800 from some1 living in us .well when now I try to use bis services from vodafone here in india ,no acess to services on bb torch.I asked vodafone abt d same bt dey told me yur services are activated and still I cudnt use it.can some body help me out as it has been along time I hv nt been able to usebis services .
Hi,
will the Torch 9800 will work in Israel 3G network?
thanks
Hello,
I purchased a blackberry torch unlock just was wondering will it work with my t-moble sims card. I have to update my data plan to internet, will the internet work on my blackberry torch.
Hi
I have unlocked my BB Torch for tmobile and everything works except the BBM…. It says the service has been blocked, is there a way to fix that?
The T-mobile shop in San Antonio, TX was very helpful to get my BB 9800 online using the right service books. This includes a full functional browser and usage of the EDGE data stream.
They made a call to the technical support, send me the service books for my torch and a reboot of my phone was all! So it looks like they’re still supportive
can a us made blackberry bold 3 be used in indian network with all available services like push mail, internet surfing etc.
arvind mishra