BlackBerry FAQ: Can a 3G or 4G AT&T BlackBerry Torch, Bold, or Curve Be Used On T-Mobile?

Can a 3G or 4G BlackBerry Bold, Torch, or Curve be used on T-Mobile or Simple Mobile? Most likely yes but there are a few things to consider. First, ensure that the BlackBerry is unlocked and can be used on another carrier. Next, live with the fact that in general the BlackBerry should work but without 3G services.

T-Mobile is the 2nd largest GSM wireless carrier in the US next to AT&T. Currently, T-Mobile uses three network bans: 850 Mhz, 1900 Mhz, and a 3G ban of 1700 Mhz.  The problem lies in the 3G ban.  Since T-Mobile uses a 1700 Mhz 3G network that is specific to them, the AT&T 3G and upcoming 4G BlackBerry devices do not support 1700 Mhz 3G services.  As a result, there will be no 3G functionality on 3G and 4G Blackberry devices. However, the AT&T Torch, Bold, and Curve supports an 850/1900 MHZ network.  The device may be used on T-Mobile’s NON 3G 850/1900 wireless networks. Here is a list of wireless networks for most AT&T 3G/4G and non-3G devices:

Wireless Networks

• Tri-band 3G UMTS/HSPA+ networks: 2100/1900/850/800 MHz
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks:  850/900/1800/1900MHz

One last point to note is BlackBerry smartphones use Service Books to program many network related functionality onto your device.  Service Books control anything from email to web browsing and the ability to make a phone call.  In the past, T-Mobile has been pretty good about allowing other GSM BlackBerry devices from different carriers onto their network.  However, T-Mobile support has recently stopped offering configuring and programming help. So if you are having a few issues with the Service Books loading, you most likely not get help without a lot of begging.

Here are a few things you can try:

1. Make the BlackBerry data plan is added to the account. No BlackBerry Plan, No BlackBerry Service.
2. Once you have inserted the SIM card, look in the upper right hand corner of the screen for the words EDGE in all caps. This means you are getting BlackBerry data service and you have a BlackBerry data plan on the account.
3. Go to Messages and look for a message that says Registered to the network.
4. Go to email setup and try to add an email account. Even if there was an email account on the device before, you will still need to add the account again to the device because this is a different carrier.
5. If you are able to add the email account, new service books should then begin to download to your device.
6. If you get a website error message, then login to your T-mobile account and look for BlackBerry email setup. You will need to login to your BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) account and add the email account there. The new service books should begin to download to the device.

If you can’t find the email setup in your T-Mobile account, call customer service and ask the where to find it. Do not have them to just resend the service books to the device. You need to add an email account for the service books to download properly.

About Anderson Curry

+Anderson Curry is publisher of Digital Life CEO and Managing Partner at ECS Media Interactive, an Internet marketing agency. Anderson has more than 20 years experience in the technology and marketing industries. He regularly writes and speaks on brand development, social media, technology, and the emergence of the new digital CEO.

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Tagged ATT, BlackBerry, T-Mobile