Blackberry or Treo, Rogers or Telus
My friend Jamie asked me this via email:
I may have the option to get a blackberry or a treo on either a Rogers or Telus network and I was wondering if you have had any experience with these products.
I know Telus has better network reliability in some of the locations I will be frequenting (ie. Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast), so I am leaning towards Telus.
The Treo is an open platform, so you can easily load other applications and get accessories for it. Blackberry stuff only comes from Blackberry, and there is little to no developer community making apps for it.
Rogers uses SIM cards, so you can get unlocked devices from any where and use them on the network. I've been through three phones (Sony Ericsson T610, Sony Ericsson P800, and now my Nokia 6630), and all I did was take the same chip and move it between phones. You can only get Telus phones from Telus, and you can't use the devices on any other network ever.
The only point in Telus' favour is wider network coverage. But where are you going to be using the device the most? How much time do you spend in remote places vs. central places?
My recommendation: get an unlocked Treo (either locally or online) and get Rogers/Fido (Rogers bought Fido). I would never willingly put myself in a position where I have a locked phone or am locked into a service provider.
Hope that helps. Ask questions in the comments or share your own experiences with advanced mobile devices here in Canada.
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Telus
I felt it important to educate people about the terms they sign on any carrier. First off, the consumer receives a lower price on the product, therefore they have already beneifitted from the Telcon. Also when signing a term plan, you are only promising to keep the number active for the duration of the term. You can change plans,features,or even the phone if you wish. The telcons need a term as they need do have an idea to base their financials to the shareholders. Air is not a tangible item and needs to have some type of formula. Yes I know if you lose or break or liquid damage your phone during the term, you do have to purchase another phone at full price. We have to take responsibity for what we do. You drop your new 600.00 digital camera on concrete, should Minolta have to buy you a new one? I think people should get off this term thing as there is more to it than -"now your locked in" If you really hate the Telcon, pay out the term and go somewhere else.
Huh? Its not fair of me to
Huh? Its not fair of me to say this to you but I can't help myself: You're a very confused person that (i hope otherwise I'm really worried) for Telus.
Went with Telus...sorry
Hey Boris,
Thanks for your thoughts on the Blackberry vs Treo, in the end I have gone for the new Blackberry 7250 from Telus.
Other people I work with use the Treo and they have found that it is not very durable. One guy said he has gone through four in the last six months! Also, the phone component does not have very good quality.
I do agree with you when it comes to applications and other programs for the device. There is lots of different things written for Palm, not much for Blackberry.
Well I'll keep you up to date on how the unit performs. I'm sure I'll drop it in the water within a year and be on to something else soon.
- Jamie
i've got the same dilema......
my inclination is to go with a blackberry, not sure which carrier....too many variables. so i guess, jamie, how goes it for you? anyone else have experience with treo or blackberry on either network?
cheers,
rosy.