BTW, a good forum site for the Blackberry

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums//for...p?s=&forumid=7

I've noticed you've posted there as well...

Seems like a bunch of "whiners" complaining of roaming coverage issues in countries where there networks HAVE NO GPRS roaming agreements.

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/rolleyes.gif

I just exchanged my 7230. I have had several bad weeks with it, having to continuously power down the wireless in order to send or receive any messages. I am hoping that the trouble was the unit and not T-Mobile.

T-Mobile is like my cable company: they are very nice, will come out, will talk to me on the phone, will be reasonable and accomodating, but they don't know what they are doing. In the Blackberry case, there is the network, the hardware, and Blackberry Web Client, and it all has to work together but nobody is responsible for the totality.

More and more stuff is like this, n-tier computing in everyday life with multiple vendors.

Complexity, thy name is I.T.!

This might just be a problem with T-mobile, some of my other GPRS devices have the same problem...

The only issue I have with the device is its' inconsistency in roaming between cell towers. The radio modem is supposed to automatically register itself as you move between cells. When this happens routing tables are updated at the gateways so that data packets can be forwarded. Occasionally, the radio modem forgets to do this and you have to give it a re-boot in order to get email flowing.

T-Mobile is aware of the problem and is working on it.

My new 7230 occasionally shows no signal. It doesn't let me power off wireless -- just goes into a power down limbo. I have to reset it using a paper clip.

I am sure it has something to do with the device and T-mobile. The complexity makes it hard to pinpoint.

Sorry for the delay in responding. Yes, I'm using the standard browser.

No, I'm not currently connected using the Blackberry Exchange Server. Although we have it set up, one of my interests is seeing how much I can do without it.

I didn't check this out with the formal support structure yet.
Rich

I'm glad to be on the shared/virtual T-Mobile network in California (via Cingular)... NO issues here with GPRS drop outs, etc... Would sound like either T-Mobile has commited new system software to the gprs service or other issues are causing gprs problems...

Glad to not be in your shoes guys (although I will feel your pain once I'm on the road this week using the t-mobile network)

So my co-workers tell me that generally speaking they get decent coverage while over the lower 48 and in a commercial airplane utilizing the 957. Based on thier messages sent, I believe them. My coworkers have been given the opportunity to move to either the 5810 or 6210 utilizing ATT. Currently thier 957 appears to utilize cingular - it's a fairly old model that has the Compaq logo on the back and no identifyable markings. So, my co-workers travel a lot, usually 4-8 flights per week. Having access while on the plane is important to them, it is my understanding that the differences in frequencies could dramatically affect thier abilities to get signal in a commercial aircraft.

So, does anybody have any experiance with the above two models (other than the 957) and commercial aircraft? And yes - my co-workers are simply curious about the technology aspect of this at the moment, and would be interested in not letting this conversation slide into the realm of whether or not these devices should be utilized on aircraft. My coworkers appreciate your help.

last year I flew transcon on a UA 757 and my seatmate was working the whole time on his BB, probably on the same network, Mobitex, on Cingular.

The FCC is conjunction with the FAA is enforcing device useage fines of $5000-$15000... FAA line inspectors that are doing airline audits CAN right up a pax for mis-use of a wireless device.

FAA FSDO inspectors DO have the authority to write up all the info to get action against a pax. Also FSDO inspectors DO ride in the cabin as well on occasion.

For those on a color blackberry... See the following Scaled Vector Graphics/SVG demolink

ENTER THE LINK on your RIM device (.. it doesn't seem to work on PC based SVG clients right now)

http://www.blackberry.com/demoportal.../svg/index.svg

T-Mobile US added MANY new GPRS roaming agreements (all should cover Blackberry as well). See: http://www.t-mobile.com/internationa...geInternet.asp

Highlights added:
- Telia Sweden
- AT&T Rogers Canada
- Telstra Australia
- Singtel Singapore
- Chungwa Taiwan
- Smart Philippines

The Taiwan and Australia additions are a huge boon to me http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Now if we can get GPRS roaming for, Russia (Moscow), Ireland, Mexico, South Africa and India!

Great news!

TMO just shut off HTML site browsing on the BB 7230. Only WAP is now accessible. I can no longer surf FlyerTalk when I am waiting in line http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif

I wrote the CEO about this incredibly bad decision. Taking features like this away, with no notice, is a terrible practice.