Last week Cingular announced the nationwide availability of BlackBerry voice and data services using its GSM/GPRS network and RIM’s 6280 and 7280 devices. The handhelds, which operate in the 850 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands, will operate in all of Cingular’s US regions as well as in GSM 1800 systems overseas.
Cingular has had no viable alternative to its Mobitex network for BlackBerry customers who needed nationwide service, nor has it had a service to sell those who wanted integrated voice and data nationally; the broad availability of the devices fixes those problems.
Now the question of migrating some or all of its BlackBerry customer base from Mobitex to GSM/GPRS is no longer moot.Will Cingular aggressively try to move certain types of customers before they move themselves (to T-Mobile, for example). I suppose the answer has something to do with Cingular’s ultimate plans for its Mobitex network, but I won’t pour any fuel on that speculative fire…
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