T-Mobile may also carry the BlackBerry PRIV

posted by Paul K. / Nov 17, 2015, 8:34 AM

T-Mobile may also carry the BlackBerry PRIV

BlackBerry's recently-launched PRIV is an interesting beast, though, a bit hard to get right now. First, the pre-order rate for the handset was high, so availability has been pushed back to the 24th of November, and it seems that even then, units may be a bit limited until supply meets demand. Secondly, the only carrier you can buy it from right now is AT&T. This will change soon, however, as Verizon has promised that it will also offer the PRIV “soon”.

T-Mobile is also trying to join the ranks of mobile providers that offer the PRIV. A spokesperson for the company has confirmed that while T-Mo doesn't carry the PRIV right now, it is in talkis with BlackBerry and may have something to report soon.

So, it looks like you won't be forced to switch to AT&T if you want to try the first-ever Android-flavored BlackBerry, just in case you were concerned about that.

BlackBerry PRIV Review

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source: CNet via Ubergizmo

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PhoneArena Rating:

7.2

Read Full Review

User Rating:

7.1

Based on 22 Reviews

Display 5.4" 1440 x 2560 pixels

Camera 18 MP / 2 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, Hexa-core, 1800 MHz

Storage 32 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3410 mAh

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23 Comments

1. Pattyface

Posts: 1658; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

Fit and finish aside this is a good phone. It has many hardware fit and finish issues though. The left side where my palm goes gives a bit and creaks, the back can be pushed in with a single finger making it feel sponge like and worse of all the bottom right corner of the screen clicks down when using the vkb. Had this phone came out at 500 I wouldn't mind so much but at 749 it's inexcusable. Everything else is lovely though.. Can't say enough good things about the beautiful screen

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 8:47 AM 1

6. Pattyface

Posts: 1658; Member since: Aug 20, 2014

Forgot to add that this is my favorite size screen now. Phone size feels right.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 9:10 AM 0

2. meanestgenius

Posts: 22072; Member since: May 28, 2014

This is promising news. Hopefully, T-Mobile will be on board just before the Christmas season starts.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 8:53 AM 0

3. Rafishant

Posts: 396; Member since: Oct 13, 2015

After having this phone for a week, it is a very good phone, but the build quality is not excellent. The back is wobbling when you press over with your finger. The grip feels good, but too much plastic and sometimes it is dust collector, especially over the speaker grill. The camera is good, but not in the level of Galaxy Note5 or LG G4 or even the iPhone 6s (I tried those myself). Front-facing camera is terrible. Battery life is good, but again not in par with the Note5 or iPhone6. However, fast charging works very well. Screen is stunning Sound quality is amazing The only critical problem is the very high price. If the Priv was priced for $450-$500, it would have been one of the best phones this year

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 8:57 AM 2

4. cdgoin

Posts: 614; Member since: Jul 28, 2010

If BB Priv comes to Tmo before the 950 or 950XL I will be switching to droid. I feel MS is giving up on WP personally, they just dont want to admit it.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 9:00 AM 0

5. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

Lol that's t mobile, they're not very well known for supporting windows phone. Besides, we can buy our phones unlocked, unless you depend on your carriers financing I don't see a reason to buy from carriers anymore.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 9:09 AM 3

7. combatmedic870

Posts: 984; Member since: Sep 02, 2015

Don't forget wifi calling feature. I rely on that inside my house. I get no signal. It's why I need to buy phones from tmobile. The only exception being the nexus 6p

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 11:16 AM 0

9. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

Actually, the unlocked priv supports WiFi callinghttp://www.tmonews.com/2015/11/unlocked-blackberry-priv-is-fully-compatible-with-t-mobile-including-band-12-lte-and-wi-fi-calling/

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 12:19 PM 1

8. Hexa-core

Posts: 2131; Member since: Aug 11, 2015

T-Mobile is notorious in the forever-long wait upon Windows updates and support cycle.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 11:54 AM 1

11. rsiders

Posts: 1954; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

But AT&T screwed the Lumia 830 and the "not really Denim" update but they still get exclusives. But that's all T-Mobile's fault for not getting a single flagship worthy device that people really wanted instead of a 16gb Lumia925 or those other second rate crap they have us.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 3:24 PM 0

12. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

Say whatever you want, we know you're one of those carrier payment plan dependent.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 4:20 PM 0

13. rsiders

Posts: 1954; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

Oh and that's why I bought my last four Windows Phone off contract. Ok. And that still doesn't change the facts. Nobody is going to continue to support an OS that favors one carrier while every other phone is available hassle free on yours. And AT&T did screw up the Lumia 830.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 4:58 PM 1

16. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

What does the lumia have to do with anything but okay. Anyone with a brain would know that American carriers suck at updates, that's why you buy international unlocked versions or Canadian versions if LTE was also an issue.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 6:50 PM 0

18. rsiders

Posts: 1954; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

No they literally showed off and advertised the Denim features on the Lumia830 and AT&T didn't update until well over half a year later and it was overpriced. But Microsoft is so in love with them that they continue to go exclusive with them.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 10:57 PM 1

19. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

You do realise these same practices were in place since Nokia days right? Like I said American carrier phones are dumbed down versions of their unlocked/international counterparts but still nothing to do with blackberry right? Exactly. So please don't make Goku look this clueless and spit random stuff that has nothing to do with blackberry, now if you're so butthurt why not buy phones unlocked directly from Microsoft instead of complain about a carrier you don't even use.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 11:31 PM 0

14. rsiders

Posts: 1954; Member since: Nov 17, 2011

Oh that makes me so much less of a person because I have a family and more important things to spend $600 on than a phone. Trust me. My priorities are in the right place.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 5:09 PM 0

17. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

I never said you were less of a person. If your priorities are straight, please don't be that person that likes to complain when they have a solution to work with. You end up spending the same amount of money over time and if you wanted to do payment installments get a citi credit card.

posted on Nov 17, 2015, 6:55 PM 0

21. cdgoin

Posts: 614; Member since: Jul 28, 2010

Not necessarily.. with carrier purchase, they sometimes have the phone priced cheaper than buying outright. Also with carrier program there isnt any interest.

posted on Nov 18, 2015, 1:09 PM 0

22. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

I have yet to see a case in which a carrier (specially T-Mobile) offers a handset priced less than what I can get it unlocked for online. When purchasing something, I either go through the paypal interest free financing for 6 months or just get a citi card which has no interest for 21 months, which is far more useful building up credit than carrier financing.

posted on Nov 18, 2015, 1:50 PM 0

20. cdgoin

Posts: 614; Member since: Jul 28, 2010

I depend on carrier financing.. and the Jump program to be specific. I also don't like having phones not supported by the carrier tech. If I have a problem with a phone I buy from Tmobile its usually real easy to get taken care of. On my own most the time otherwise. Friday will be the day I see what I am going to to.. I will go to AT&T and check out the 950 against the Priv as both them and the 950XL have Tmo bands.. I may have to bite the bullet and just buy it direct.

posted on Nov 18, 2015, 1:03 PM 0

23. Bernoulli

Posts: 4360; Member since: Sep 01, 2012

The jump program is a rip off, the only jump that was worth it was the one that let you upgrade 6 months later regardless of what phone you got and regardless what amount of money you paid, but new jumps are a joke. The priv is fully compatible with t-mobile out of the box, read the link I posted on comment 9. Good luck to you, I hope you get what you want and not let a carrier decide what it is that you want.

posted on Nov 18, 2015, 1:53 PM 0

10. surfboarder

Posts: 168; Member since: Nov 17, 2015

Too late went with the LG V10 and comes with a removable battery and free 200gb sd card, not bad, but still like to see the priv, maybe get that for my girlfriend she likes the priv specs