Comments on: ThoughtPiece: Do we really need Wi-Fi on a BlackBerry?

By: dhris

dhris — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 10:17:59 +0000

Having recently switched from a pocket pc to a 3g blacberry I do miss wi fi but have to say the bb does exactly whjat it says.on the tin and does it really well. I can live without wi fi to have a devic ethat does what it does so well

By: tjhood

tjhood — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:58:55 +0000

I want Wi-Fi on my phone because i’m cheap, too cheap to pay per use the data rates, and too cheap to buy a data plan at a addition to my monthly charge so as it is right now I don’t look at any website threw my phone. But I have Wi-Fi at home and there are hotspots all over town and even available from residetial areas where people have left there routers open to public access.

I can think of many other ways corperations could utilize this to gain productivity and lower the cost of ownership.

By: ThoughtPiece: The Software Determines Success | BlackBerry Cool

ThoughtPiece: The Software Determines Success | BlackBerry Cool — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:52:41 +0000

[...] it probably won’t spark as much debate as his previous article, our main man Thought comes back swinging this week with a topic that is [...]

By: Weekly Contest: Why is the market undervaluing RIM? | BlackBerry Cool

Weekly Contest: Why is the market undervaluing RIM? | BlackBerry Cool — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:25:54 +0000

[...] Thought asking the best question of the week already in his editorial, it seemed best to make this the Weekly Contest. Whomever posts the best comment will receive 3 [...]

By: Neil Thompson

Neil Thompson — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:21:11 +0000

Wifi is required for those businesses who want to run corporate applications from their own wireless network – for example in a hospital. When coupled with a service that detects a change in network and chooses the best for the situation this is a very compelling offering.

We know companies that have been waiting years for this to be introduced by RIM, so we are glad to finally see it here.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 07:05:33 +0000

Here in Malaysia, unlimited GPRS is over US$40/month (in a country where the average wage is probably less than US$400/month). WiFi is free in some places, or US$5/month for hotspots when combined with a home broadband package.

So, until the telcos come out with reasonable unlimited data packages there will always be a place for WiFi.

By: m

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:43:21 +0000

I’m interested to learn more about this concept of charging for access even if you are hooked up on wifi, kinda brings you down, don’t it?

By: Thought

Thought — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:07:33 +0000

Thanks for everyone’s great input.

To better explain where I’m coming from: when I think of my BlackBerry, I think of a device that I use primarily for email and browsing certain sites on the web for information. These sites are mostly text content: news, finance, and sports. Coverage has always been good for me, and so when I think of why would I need to use a WiFi connection, I draw a blank.

So that’s why I’m grateful to hear from others why they would find WiFi useful. I am all for technological advancement, and I certainly don’t want to project my usage patterns upon others.

Thanks again for broadening my perspectives.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:58:52 +0000

I think this is absolutely a wonderfull idea. My company is a utility and need to build power substations and power lines out in the middle of the desert. There is no cell service anywhere, and sometimes whole communities are build before cell towers are built. If we layer every building with WiFi (which is being done anyway), we can reach a lot more of our users.

I think someone mentioned international before too- want to make a free call? Find a WiFi point!

Finally, the perfect example is my house. I can send and recieve calls great at my house… upstairs. I cant do anything downstairs. With the 8820, I’ll be able to send/recive with no issues at my house. Sure you can try and blackmail carriers into giving you a IPBTS unit, but this is *way* cheaper.

By: nsimpson

nsimpson — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:44:28 +0000

doug, where is steve? I have been wanting to send him some juicey insider info…

By: BBCool Douglas

BBCool Douglas — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:34:58 +0000

Dan,

I agree with nsimpson that the BlackBerry 8820 will come out on Rogers. While they have crippled Wi-Fi in the past, there’s just too much pressure from manufacturers now, and iPhone changes the playing field somewhat.

Also, people at RIM have told me that Rogers became more receptive to Wi-Fi once they decided to charge people for “access” regardless of whether it was on their network or via Wi-Fi. Bleh.

By: What Would You Use Wi-Fi On A BlackBerry For? | RIMarkable | The official, unofficial BlackBerry Weblog

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:21:41 +0000

[...] pal Thought, in his weekly piece over on BlackBerry Cool, asked the question do we really need Wi-Fi on a BlackBerry. I would like to ask a follow-up question to [...]

By: nsimpson

nsimpson — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:13:54 +0000

Dan you are dead wrong about them crippling wifi devices. Take the HTC products rogers is currently selling as well as the HPs that they have been selling for years. The 8820 will be carried by rogers and same with the iphone (once all the legal junk is sorted out).

By: sTen

sTen — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:10:53 +0000

I think WiFi was improved in BB to follow the other device (nokia E90 or pther PDA phone for example) standard.. but is not really necessary for Blackberry users. Here in Italy there are some plain all inclusive … 15€ for mail push and web navigation anywhere ..
Sorry for my bad english..

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:49:35 +0000

I see this as a win in 2 scenarios, both applying to myself:
1) Traveling overseas; even when signed up for Tmobile’s $20 international email plan, data usage overseas can get pricey. If I want to check something online, even if it’s just to see how sports teams are doing, those roaming Kb’s add up quickly. Instead, connect to a hotspot and surf till my heart’s content.

2) If you’re asking for possible wifi usage, you obviously don’t have tmobile. Our building penetration is so awful I don’t even care about paying $10 for an unlimited pool of minutes, I just want to be able to use wifi to boost my reception. Again, if you had tmobile you would understand…

By: WhyWi-Fi

WhyWi-Fi — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:16:24 +0000

While Edge and GPRS are indeed deployed widely, they are not available everywhere. If I can extend the use of by device to times I’m in big concrete buildings will poor cell coverage, at a library hotspot in the middle of nowhere or in another country where AT&T’s roaming fees could pay for a small car that is a nice win for what should be a small premium.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:13:07 +0000

I think this is only a question in markets that have unlimited data plans. In Canada, WiFi is an absolute necessity. Ironically (or is it coincidently?), the Canadian carriers will never offer a WiFi enabled device, and remove WiFi from devices they do offer. This is why the iPhone and the 8820 will never appear on Canadian shelves. I guarantee it.

By: Wi-Fi phone sales expected to top $145 billion in 2010 | BlackBerry Cool

Wi-Fi phone sales expected to top $145 billion in 2010 | BlackBerry Cool — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:49:52 +0000

[...] Home Jobs Hardware Guide Software Guide Store Wallpaper About Contact Advertise « ThoughtPiece: Do we really need Wi-Fi… [...]