Sprint Bold 9650 Factory Unlocked Out of the Box

By Adam Zeis on 21 May 2010 11:41 am

In case you missed it in David's BlackBerry Bold 9650 review, a very cool feature of the new device is that is comes factory unlocked right out of the box. This means no more scrounging for unlock codes if you want to use the 9650 on another carrier. You will be able to use EDGE on North American GSM carriers as well as 3G providing the carrier supports the proper frequencies. Simply put - this means if you are on a GSM carrier and want to use the Bold 9650 from Sprint, you just need to pull it out of the box, pop in your SIM and you're good to go. Makes things much easier for international traveling. Although the yet to be seen Bold 9650 for Verizon is essentially the same device, it is highly doubtful it will boast the same feature.

Read our full BlackBerry Bold 9650 Review >>

Topics: Sprint BlackBerry Bold 9650 News & Rumors Devices

Adam Zeis 3025 (articles) 2789 (forum posts)

47 comments

BBubbaGump May 21, 2010 at 11:44 am

What are the 3G frequencies?

thaguh4real May 21, 2010 at 11:48 am

That's awesome, but I wouldn't leave my beloved 9700 for it.

mi_canuck May 21, 2010 at 11:59 am

I didn't want to leave my 9700 either... but the absurdly slow T-Mo data speeds in my area drove me insane... Rockin' the 9650 now and loving the Sprint data speeds!!!

mi_canuck May 21, 2010 at 11:57 am

Yup! confirmed... ran MEPD in the SIM car section of the Advanced Options... sure enough... Everything is Disabled = SIM UNLOCK baby!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

dmarcus48 May 21, 2010 at 11:59 am

Hooray for Sprint! Every phone company should do this, I mean you're buying the phone right? And they'll give you the code if you ask, so why use it?

mi_canuck May 21, 2010 at 12:05 pm

Sprint is making some seriously good moves these days...

XWolf May 21, 2010 at 12:09 pm

Is the 3G the same?

wtenns May 21, 2010 at 12:19 pm

Can't view the video! Anyone else?

jstray May 21, 2010 at 12:56 pm

So what gsm companies have the frequency needed for 3G with this bold?

jcagg1271 May 21, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Are you serious???? So I could pick this up from Sprint or ebay or off the back of a truck (ha ha...I'd never condone the transfer of stolen products) and not have to switch to Sprint because they really suck where I am?! That is Freakin' AWESOME!!! I have AT&T and was thinking of switching to verizon when this comes out, just to get the phone, but I really prefer GSM. I'm so excited! NOW I want the 9650 BaAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!

robinater4223 May 21, 2010 at 1:18 pm

yeah i want to do the same thing

ItsMe6 May 24, 2010 at 1:07 pm

You can stay with AT&T and use these phones. i have the 9650 on my sprint line and the 9630 on my AT&T line, speeds are good and phone works nicely. pop the SIM in tell the network settings to auto grab AT&T and your good to go

javdvd May 21, 2010 at 1:22 pm

So..I want to check on which frequencies de 9650 is capable of 3G over GSM...is is really cable of 3G network speeds on GSM or only on CDMA networks????

ramsfan3068 May 21, 2010 at 3:29 pm

its only the 3G freq in europe. in good ol usa you will only get EDGE

lewisc1979 May 21, 2010 at 4:08 pm

BlackBerry Bold 9650:
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
Single-band: 2100 MHz UMTS®/HSPA networks
Dual-band: 800/1900 MHz CDMA/EVDO REVA networks

eve6er69 May 21, 2010 at 1:40 pm

another +1 for sprint!

nydog May 21, 2010 at 1:43 pm

You gotta love Sprint for this. I upgraded from the 9630, which was also unlocked out of the box. I'm glad Sprint does not cripple its devices like some carriers, hint: big red.

donch May 21, 2010 at 1:46 pm

Can anyone tell me if the new 9650 has visual voicemail like the 9700 bold on ATT?

Thanks in advance

ItsMe6 May 24, 2010 at 1:09 pm

think thats just a app you can install on it. i've wiped some of my users BB and the visual v-mail icon came once it registered on the at&t network

Berrydale May 21, 2010 at 2:03 pm

I wish all of the new phones that come out were unlocked. Everybody could choose any phone and use it on the carrier of their choice. (Within the limitations of GSM vs. CDMA of course.)

blazed12 May 21, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Nice to see Sprint releasing the Bold 9650 unlocked at least you don't have to deal with there rude customer service just to unlock the phone xD

glinc May 21, 2010 at 3:35 pm

This is old news. Every world phone from sprint is factory unlocked.

mi_canuck May 21, 2010 at 5:15 pm

Shut up Debbie Downer! :p

clexman May 21, 2010 at 5:20 pm

and by "every world phone," you mean only the 96xx phones.

glinc May 21, 2010 at 10:31 pm

Touch Pro 2, 8830, 9630 and now the 9650. Sprint launch every world phone factory unlocked by default.

clexman May 21, 2010 at 5:16 pm

I heart Sprint

jen1025 May 21, 2010 at 5:23 pm

you know, ive got the verizon 9650. i sent pictures to crackberry but they didnt run it. i dont know if itll let me post pictures here or not, but it's legit.

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/goldenexit/36089342.jpg

bjustice May 21, 2010 at 5:29 pm

Will a sprint 9650 work on verizon network? Could I buy one and just activate it on verizon?

tj_elward May 21, 2010 at 8:19 pm

i was just wondering the same th

tj_elward May 21, 2010 at 8:19 pm

i was just wondering the same thing

aerophage May 22, 2010 at 11:15 am

No, unfortunately. CDMA and GSM are two totally different animals. You'd have to know someone who works at Verizon and get them to put their job on the line to put the MEID into the Verizon database to be able to activate it on their network.

312 May 23, 2010 at 3:20 pm

Uh...wrong, buddy. The 9650 is also a CDMA phone. It, technically, can work on Verizon if Verizon allowed you to add the phone to your account. Search before posting an answer which you have no clue about.

Jaredius May 21, 2010 at 10:10 pm

My AT&T 9700 came unlocked.

Finch250 May 22, 2010 at 4:39 am

this will get ATT 3G becuz att 3G bands are "AT&T 3G 850/1900"

some1 correct me if im wrong

aerophage May 22, 2010 at 11:12 am

That's not really a new feature for Sprint world phones, the 8830WE and the 9630 both come unlocked out of the box as well.

mikeplus1 May 22, 2010 at 4:05 pm

My Verizon Tour 9630 came unlocked out of the box as well.

tnewton3 May 22, 2010 at 7:13 pm

That's the smartest thing I have seen Sprint do in a while. at&t is very easy to get your device unlocked but shipping it so will definitely get some more people to make the switch.

Nice job Sprint.