Cellphone Question

[Crazy Flamer]

Ok, So I had an older Blackberry 8330 that started to crap out on me. I went to Bell, my provider, and because I'm only 15 months into my contract they wouldnt give me any sort of credit towards a new phone. But the guy at the store suggested I could go online and search for a used one, so long as it was a Bell phone or was unlocked.

So I found an ad for a Blackberry Bold 9700. Reasonable price so I meet the guy selling it and buy the phone from him. Now I'm not well versed in cell phones, it looked exactly like the phone my friend has who is also on Bell so I thought I was golden.

I take it to the Bell store and he tells me its not a 9700 but a 9650. And even though its unlocked they can't put it on their network. Apparently the serial number starts with MEID but needs to start with IMEI.

Is he right? Will Rogers or Telus support this phone?

[To Be Quite Honest]

IMEI is GSM/WCDMA/iDEM International Mobile Equipment Identity ("NEW" Network Tech in Canada)
MEID Mobile Equipment Identifier is CDMA (OLD network used buy Telus and Bell)

Your data pack uses IMEI to work where some countries still use MEID, however, if you call it in to Bell and add the MEID it MIGHT work on the old network and old pre-3G 12kb/s internet speed.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

Ok, So I had an older Blackberry 8330 that started to crap out on me. I went to Bell, my provider, and because I'm only 15 months into my contract they wouldnt give me any sort of credit towards a new phone. But the guy at the store suggested I could go online and search for a used one, so long as it was a Bell phone or was unlocked.

So I found an ad for a Blackberry Bold 9700. Reasonable price so I meet the guy selling it and buy the phone from him. Now I'm not well versed in cell phones, it looked exactly like the phone my friend has who is also on Bell so I thought I was golden.

I take it to the Bell store and he tells me its not a 9700 but a 9650. And even though its unlocked they can't put it on their network. Apparently the serial number starts with MEID but needs to start with IMEI.

Is he right? Will Rogers or Telus support this phone?

From what I googled, the 9650 is the CDMA version of the 9700. In this circumstance I'm not sure if you need a sim card. I'm with bell but I have the 9700 and had to buy a sim card. But all you need to do is sign online, and switch your phone there. It should work.

I read your post wrong. But if Bell supports it, Telus should too. I think they run off the same towers here. I'm fairly certain it wouldn't work on Rogers, Fido... or any GSM network.

[secol]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

Ok, So I had an older Blackberry 8330 that started to crap out on me. I went to Bell, my provider, and because I'm only 15 months into my contract they wouldnt give me any sort of credit towards a new phone. But the guy at the store suggested I could go online and search for a used one, so long as it was a Bell phone or was unlocked.

So I found an ad for a Blackberry Bold 9700. Reasonable price so I meet the guy selling it and buy the phone from him. Now I'm not well versed in cell phones, it looked exactly like the phone my friend has who is also on Bell so I thought I was golden.

I take it to the Bell store and he tells me its not a 9700 but a 9650. And even though its unlocked they can't put it on their network. Apparently the serial number starts with MEID but needs to start with IMEI.

Is he right? Will Rogers or Telus support this phone?

you might consider trading in your old one for a new one with a discount

https://tradeup.blackberry.com/en/ca/web/home.html