what is the difference between the blackberry 7780 and the blackberry
7730?  is there a difference, or is it just marketing (one for
tmobile, the other for at&t)?  i am a tmobile sub and am wondering if
i should wait until they have the 7780 (don't have it yet) or whether
the 7730 (which they already have) is the same thing.

Hi george3000!!


After research for answer this question I cannot find a significant
difference between the two models.
The only differences are:
- BlackBerry 7730:
Network: Tri-Band: 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks
Works In: US(1900 MHz) Canada(1900 MHz) Europe/Asia Pacific(900/1800 MHz) 
 
- BlackBerry 7780:
Network: Tri-Band: 850/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks  
Works In: US(850/1900 MHz) Canada(1900 MHz) Europe/Asia Pacific(1800 MHz)

This means that they can work in modes GSM 800 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900,
but 7730 has GSM 900 instead of GSM 850.
Both can work at:
- North America: 1900MHz GSM/GPRS networks
- Europe/Asia Pacific: 1800MHz GSM/GPRS networks

Only BlackBerry 7780 can work at North America: 850 MHz GSM/GPRS networks
Only BlackBerry 7730 can work at Europe/Asia Pacific: 900MHz GSM/GPRS networks


In other words the only difference between the two phones is related
to with which networks can they work. In this case one works for AT&T
network and the other for T-Mobile network in USA.

-------------------------------------------------------

See the following definitions at PhoneScoop Glossary:
"Modes":
http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php?gid=12

"GSM 850 (GSM 800)":
http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php?gid=115

"Glossary Index":
http://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/
 
---------------------------------------------------------- 

For additional reference see the following pages:

At BlacBerry's site:

"BlackBerry - Compare Handhelds - Data and voice-enabled BlackBerry
handhelds - Color display - Java-based" page:
http://www.blackberry.com/products/handhelds/comparison.shtml?type=color

"BlackBerry 7780" page:
http://www.blackberry.com/products/blackberry7700/blackberry7780.shtml

"BlackBerry 7730" page:
http://www.blackberry.com/products/blackberry7700/blackberry7730.shtml


At Karbon Systems' site:

"T-Mobile BlackBerry 7730" page:
http://www.karbonsystems.com/BlackBerry-7730-products_specs-120.html

"AT&T BlackBerry 7780" page:
http://www.karbonsystems.com/BlackBerry-7780-products_specs-224.html


At Phone Scoop's site:

"Research In Motion BlackBerry 7780 / 7730" page:
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=447


------------------------------------------------------------

Search strategic:
blackberry 7780 7730 features
blackberry 7780 7730 compare


I hope that this helps. Please feel free to request for any needed
clarification before rate this answer.


Best regards.
livioflores-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by george3000-ga on 14 Aug 2004 23:45 PDT

Wow, you're good.  My only question is, when you were looking at this,
did you find any website or blog out there where someone commented and
basically said they're the same?  Or was it your analysis.  Thanks
much G

---

Clarification of Answer by livioflores-ga on 15 Aug 2004 00:16 PDT

Thank you for your comment about me!!

When started the research I came to the pages that I listed to you
(BlackBerry's, Karbon Systems and Phone Scoop). They are three
different and independents between them sites. I read carefully the
specs of the two models at each page and also found the comparison
between them at Blackberry's site and got the conclusion posted in the
answer.

But your request moved to find at least one review that says that
these models are identical, except the networks compatibility and I
found one:
"Review: RIM Ups Ante with BlackBerry 7780" a Hardware Review by Gerry
Blackwell July 29, 2004 at RIM Road (The Complete RIM Blackberry
Information Resource - (RIM Software) (Blackberry Software)):
http://www.rimroad.com/articles/2004/7/2004-7-29-Review-RIM-Ups.html

This review adds the model 7750 to the list of "identical" models (as
you can see in the comparative page at BlackBerry site).

Some words from this review:
"The BlackBerry 7780 and almost identical 7750 (CDMA) and 7730
(GSM/GPRS) are a further refinement on the already popular BlackBerry
product line....
The 7780 was announced at the beginning of June and, as of writing, is
only available so far on the Rogers Wireless network in Canada. It
works on 850 and 1900 MHz networks in North America and 1800 MHz
networks in Europe and Asia Pacific....
The virtually identical 7750, announced in May, is a Dual Band, single
mode CDMA2000 1X and cdmaOne phone that works on 800/1900 MHz networks
in North America....
The 7730 is a Tri-Band GSM/GPRS device that works on 1900 MHz networks
in North America and 900/1800 MHz in Europe and Asia Pacific....
The three models are otherwise virtually identical - although the 7780
and 7730 do come with 16 MB of flash memory versus 14 MB for the 7750.
And the 7780 and 7730 are enabled for roaming between North America
and Europe or Asia, while the CDMA 7750 is not...."


I also add the following pages for the model 7750 in the case that you
are interested:
"BlackBerry 7750" page:
http://www.blackberry.com/products/blackberry7700/blackberry7750.shtml

"Verizon BlackBerry 7750":
http://www.karbonsystems.com/BlackBerry-7750-Verizon-products_detail-121.html

"Research In Motion BlackBerry 7750":
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=521



I hope that this clarify the answer.

Regards.
livioflores-ga

fast and thorough, a real jem on google answers

If they follow past patterns, T-Mobile won't be getting the 7780.

The 7780 is just the American version of the 7730.  T-Mobile, unlike
Cingular and AT&T, always distributes European versions of tri-band
phones because they don't use the GSM850 standard here (only the
GSM1900 standard).

Similar situation with the SonyEricsson T610 (900/1800/1900) which
T-Mobile carries (working on ONE US band and TWO European bands), and
the T616 (850/900/1900) which only Cingular and AT&T carry (working on
BOTH US bands and only ONE European band).  Again, this is because
T-Mobile only uses one of the two American bands, and so offers phones
with better International value as a trade-off.

--Joey