BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint)
Manufacturer: BlackBerry Part number: TOUR9630SILBLKSPT
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Despite the lack of Wi-Fi, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is a feature-rich and well-performing smartphone that will serve Sprint's globe-trotting customers well.
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CNET editors' review
BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Sprint) price range: $139.00
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 07/27/2009
- Released on: 07/12/2009
The good: The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 boasts world-roaming capabilities as well as Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The smartphone features a high-resolution display and an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard. Sprint offers a number of services for the handset and it also supports BlackBerry App World.
The bad: The BlackBerry Tour doesn't offer Wi-Fi. You can't save downloaded applications to a memory card.
The bottom line: Despite the lack of Wi-Fi, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is a feature-rich and well-performing smartphone that will serve Sprint's globe-trotting customers well.
Editors' note: The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 for Sprint is largely similar to Verizon's version of the smartphone in terms of design and features. For this review, we highlight the different features and performance of the Sprint model. For more details on the device, please read our full review of the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 for Verizon Wireless. Also, please note that the ratings have been adjusted since the original publish date to reflect newer devices that have entered the market.
Both Sprint and Verizon Wireless made its customers very happy when they announced the July 12 release of the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630. However, when it came to launch time, Sprint didn't quite deliver on its promise, as customers were met with back-order messages and in-store stock shortages. Though it's not clear how this mess happened in the first place, Sprint has apologized for the delays via Twitter and said additional shipments are on the way and it is working with RIM to meet everyone's needs.
While obviously not the best way to launch a product, the positive side is that the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is worth the wait. We finally received our review unit, and just like Verizon's model, we think the smartphone offers a great combination of a slick but functional design, updated features, and great performance. The phone is a solid upgrade for BlackBerry owners and an excellent choice for Sprint's globe-trotting customers whose needs can't be met by the HTC Snap or the Palm Pre. The Sprint RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is available for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates; at this time, Sprint has not announced a camera-less version of the Tour, like Verizon.
Design
Sprint's BlackBerry Tour is largely similar to Verizon's model in design, with the exception of a couple of minor differences. For example, it has a silver bezel instead of a charcoal gray one. Also, while keeping the partial soft-touch finish on back, the battery cover is completely smooth and doesn't feature a patterned texture like the Verizon Tour, so it feels a bit slick.
Overall, though, we're fans of the Tour's design, especially the full QWERTY keyboard and high-resolution display. Sprint packages the smartphone with a travel charger (but no international adapters like Verizon's), a microUSB cable, a belt holster, a wired stereo headset, a 1GB microSD card, a SIM card, a software CD, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phone accessories, ringtones, and help page.
Features
Just like Verizon, the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 replaces the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition for Sprint, bringing the smartphone up to speed in features while continuing to offer dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities. Dual-mode functionality means the handset supports both CDMA and GSM technology, so domestically, the BlackBerry Tour will use Sprint's CDMA network, but will then automatically detect and switch to the international GSM bands when traveling overseas. In addition, the BlackBerry Tour supports the 2,100MHz UMTS/HSDPA band, so you can even get 3G support while abroad.
You are not limited to using the SIM card that Sprint provided and can swap it out for an international SIM card, but you will need to call Sprint Customer Care first to unlock your phone. Sprint offers voice coverage in 185 countries and data coverage in 150 countries. Before you embark on your trip, however, be sure to check Sprint's international rates, which range from 59 cents to $5.99. You can check rates here (PDF).
The BlackBerry Tour's other phone features include a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, smart dialing, conference calling, speed dial, and text and multimedia messaging. Bluetooth is also onboard with support for mono and stereo Bluetooth headsets, hands-free kits, AV remote, serial port profile, and dial-up networking. To use the smartphone as a modem, you will need to sign up for one of Sprint's Mobile Broadband plans, which start at $59.99 for 5GB per month.
While 3G-capable, the BlackBerry Tour does not have integrated Wi-Fi, nor does Verizon's model. However, Sprint recently announced that it will release a Wi-Fi-enabled model at the beginning of 2010 and will require device manufacturers to include Wi-Fi on all of its future smartphones. While this puts some in the predicament of waiting or just buying the Tour now, we'd say that if you have good Sprint 3G coverage now and Wi-Fi isn't a priority, you'll be fine getting the smarpthone now.
The rest of the Tour's core features--e-mail, operating system, personal information management tools, GPS, media player, and so forth--are the same as Verizon's model; for more details, check out our full review here. Sprint makes a number of its services available to the Tour, including Sprint Navigation, Sprint TV, and the Sprint Music Store. There's also access to several social networking applications, including Facebook, Flickr, and MySpace, and you can always get more apps from Sprint's software store or BlackBerry App World. Note that the latter doesn't come preloaded on the device. You'll have to download BlackBerry App World from your mobile Web browser, but it's a simple and fast process. The one downside is that you can't save apps to a media card, only the phone's main memory.
Performance
We tested the dual-mode (CDMA 800/1900; GSM 850/900/1800/1900; UMTS/HSDPA 2100) RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 in San Francisco using Sprint service and call quality was excellent. On our end, conversations sounded clear with very little to no background noise, and we had no problems using an airline's voice-automated response system. Friends seemed even more impressed with the phone's call quality, noting that it sounded like we were calling from a landline. They also had high praises for the speakerphone, as did we, though we thought the sound was just slightly lopsided given that the speaker is located on the left spine of the phone.
We paired the BlackBerry Tour with the Samsung WEP350 Bluetooth headset and the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones. Using the smartphone's 3.5mm headphone jack, we plugged in our Bose On-Ear headphones and enjoyed rich-sounding music tracks.
Video playback was also good. We watched a couple of MPEG-4 clips, and audio and images were both synchronized. We were also impressed with the quality of Sprint TV, as playback was smooth with minimal choppiness, unlike some other of Sprint's smartphones. The Tour's 3.2-megapixel camera had decent picture quality. Images were clear, but we just wish that colors were slightly brighter.
Sprint's EV-DO Rev. A network delivered good data coverage during our test period here in San Francisco. While the BlackBerry Tour's browser leaves much to be desired, CNET's full site loaded in 55 seconds, while CNN and ESPN's mobile site came up in at 5 seconds and 9 seconds, respectively. The smartphone's GPS/A-GPS was also quite reliable and accurate. The Tour consistently came up with location, though not to the exact point, within a couple of minutes or less, both on BlackBerry Maps and Sprint Navigation. We also used the latter to get voice-guided directions from the Marina District of the city to CNET's downtown headquarters. The app returned with an accurate route and we were satisfied with the text-to-speech instructions and traffic data as well as the business searches.
The RIM BlackBerry Tour features a 1,400mAh lithium ion battery and has a rated talk time of 5 hours. The Tour beat the rated talk time by an hour in our battery drain tests. According to FCC radiation tests, the smartphone has a digital SAR rating of 1.43 watts/kilogram. The Tour has a Hearing Aid Compatible rating of M3.
User reviews
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Nice phone, but too many problems initially.
by larrymcj1 on August 10, 2009
Pros: New OS, fabulous display, form factor, keyboard
Cons: Horrible sounding call quallity (to called party), very short battery life, takes an inordinant amount of time to reset, and has to be reset too often.
Summary: I've been a BlackBerry user since the first one came out...I love BBs. When the new Tour came out I was standing in line to get one, but ...
Summary: I've been a BlackBerry user since the first one came out...I love BBs. When the new Tour came out I was standing in line to get one, but a week later I was also standing in line to return it...literally! I in a line of five people and four of us were there returning the Tour.
Along the same call quality line, if you use the Tour with any Bluetooth device, including a hands-free system in a car, the person you're talking with simply can't hear you.
Many other issues involving poor build quality, trackballs that won't scroll from right to left, loose battery cover, but I could live with them. That I couldn't be heard by people I was calling was a showstopper for me.
Perhaps an updated OS and next manufacturing run on the hardware will fix these problems and I'll try it again. For now it's back to my old trusty Curve.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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BEST BLACKBERRY YET. PERIOD.
by theshepherd1 on July 30, 2009
Pros: Great look, great keyboard, Sprint's network is awesome, just all around a great phone!
Cons: No Wi-Fi, I never use it, but it's nice to say that the phone has it for if you ever do really need it. Call quality not always the best.
Summary: I've owned Sprint's BlackBerry Tour for about a week now and I can honestly say that this is the best BlackBerry on the market today. I've owned ...
Summary: I've owned Sprint's BlackBerry Tour for about a week now and I can honestly say that this is the best BlackBerry on the market today. I've owned the 8100, 8120, 8220, 8800, 8900, and now the 9630 Tour. The browser shows some slight improvements over previous versions which is really nice. I really like this keyboard -- The keyboard is one thing I did not like on any of the Curves. It feels much more comfortable to hold in your hand and isn't as clicky. Also, the screen is absolutely fantastic. There are just so many great things about this phone. Please don't let the few bad experiences you've heard from people turn you away. If you like BlackBerries, buy it.
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome!! If you're on Sprint, order it today.
by derailed33 on July 22, 2009
Pros: Keyboard, multitasking, SCREEN is AWESOME (The 8830 looks like "Pong" compared to this), Camera w/ image stablization
Cons: Can't seem to listen to music using included headphone set (maybe a Pandora issue?). Some odd character sizes in emails...not sure what that's about. I know they needed to save space...but did they have to go to a micro USB charger?
Summary: If you're on Sprint... It's a HUGE upgrade, and you should go buy it immediately. Skipt the Pre...it's a toy... This is a powerful phone that ...
Summary: If you're on Sprint... It's a HUGE upgrade, and you should go buy it immediately. Skipt the Pre...it's a toy... This is a powerful phone that can deal with both work and play. Get it!!!
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Browser is down, not working, sprint and BB are aware
by vegga22 on July 24, 2009
Pros: Screen is nice, camera takes great pictures for a phone, and video recording.
Cons: Web broswer is not working and sprint and RIM has no idea why, because of this I can't access my work emails, apps store, sprint store, etc.
Summary: I had to re-order another BB tour from sprint and send back the originial due to the browser having MAJOR!!!! issues. Between the two phones I have spent over 4hrs ...
Summary: I had to re-order another BB tour from sprint and send back the originial due to the browser having MAJOR!!!! issues. Between the two phones I have spent over 4hrs on the phone with sprint (who by the way were all patient in trying to help me solve the issue.) According to several representatives I spoke to, Black Berry is fully aware of the issue and are trying to fix it but it's been 10 days and I can't wait no more. I have NO internet, NO GPS, not able to download apps, all due the browser not working. The tour seems like a rush and the R&D department didn't spent enough time on their due diligence. This is my first BB and i'm HIGHLY disappointed on BB and it's browser isssues. To all those shopping for a new phone and are thinking about buying this phone CALL sprint first and ask a representative if they have fixed the browser issue with this phone before purchasing, it's a nightmare to be on the phone with someone from a company who doesn't know how to solve this problem. We in corporate america are very busy and this is just unacceptable. I hope this helps.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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New to Blackberry and I don't plan on leaving!
by cameronsutor on July 19, 2009
Pros: -The BB OS is very quick
-3G
-great email support
-3.2 MP w/auto focus
-screen is the same that's on the 8900 (T-Mobile). It's great!
-256mb of RAM
-keyboard
-call quality is great
-world phone (ships w/SIM)
-true multitaskingCons: -no WiFi
-if you're coming from a phone that's not a BB, the OS will take some getting used to.Summary: WiFi wasn't a deal breaker for me because personally I don't think it's neccessary. If you have coverage, then 3G is enough. If you need to use ...
Summary: WiFi wasn't a deal breaker for me because personally I don't think it's neccessary. If you have coverage, then 3G is enough. If you need to use WiFi at places for work reasons, then buy a laptop and stick with a regular phone. I actually enjoy typing a text message or email on this thing. The keyboard is similar to the Bold (AT&T), just a little smaller. Blackberries aren't just for corporate business people anymore, it's something that everyone can use.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Way better phones out there.
by noblackberryplease on March 19, 2010
Pros: I got it for free.
Cons: Not worth it even if free.
Browser is lame
Requires HUGE and heavy case to use all phone features
Slow phone operation
Screen display is inconsistentSummary: Browser does have setting to use Javascript and emulate a real browser (FireFox) but does not work on most sites including RIM sites with help information for this phone! In ...
Summary: Browser does have setting to use Javascript and emulate a real browser (FireFox) but does not work on most sites including RIM sites with help information for this phone! In full featured mode the browser is painfully slow and virtually unusable. The software is not polished. Navigate through help on this phone and text placement get's overlaid by fame layout. There are many functions on this phone that do not have progress indicator which causes you think it's done doing it thing. You can press other buttons in this unresponsive state and again, no indication or warning.
This phone is slow in navigation through some features and web access. Maybe that's Sprint.
Setup 2 personal email accounts and found it only works day forward or you have to sync email using the PC. No way to refresh mailbox to get latest messages. You have to wait up to 5 minutes to receive the email on this phone. Works well with text email messages but with rich HTML email messages you will be forced to click the "click here if you can't see.." link which launched the lame "lite" browser only to be disappointed again.
You want GPS? I mean to work. Expect to pay Sprint extra for the premium edition to be useful at all.
Memory. 106MB of application space and 916MB or space for media make this phone a joke. 1GB of storage when other phones in this price range have 8GB or more. This, and the fact that there is no touch screen make this phone way overpriced.
You get a rugged case that is almost 2" thick when the phone is placed in the holster which also brings the weight of this setup to 6 5/8 oz. Hang this off your belt and you can understand why some many have their "pants on the ground". Walk though an airport and you can spot Blackberries bulging out in plain view and from under suit coats.
OK. Business email is a use case. I mean, business email IS the only use case for this phone. The experience is not that good but you do have the benefit of receiving partial email. It does keep you connected in a low quality sort of way.
I hope tethering works because that will be the only use I have for this phone. I am a bit bitter because I was forced to use this Blackberry phone running the the Sprint NOW Network through a Managed Corporate plan using Bluefish services. I can off of a personal plan using the iPhone. I was shocked, shocked to experience the difference in the user experience. If you like this phone don't try the iPhone. What kills me about this whole thing is that Bluefish is charging in excess of $125.00 per month for only 1500 talk minutes plus data. With corporate discount at AT&T I was under $100.00 per month with the iPhone.
I really believe my Treo of 6 years ago was better than this phone.
I can't believe CNET ratted this phone so high. The specs look pretty good but in action this phone is just lame by todays standards.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent Phone despite the lack of wi-fi.
by TheGreyFedora on August 5, 2010
Pros: Can switch apps easily,multifunctional,can have several email accts connected,outstanding pics, nice chat/txt style, qwerty, not a delicate phone .. can stand a beating, bookmarks & fav on internet, bedside mode, good apps avail for dowload,& FB!
Cons: No wi-fi. Internet can be slow at times.
Summary: I'm able to organize, view, and respond to emails easily (business & pleasure accounts). There are decent apps available. This phone has not locked up or froze, love the ...
Summary: I'm able to organize, view, and respond to emails easily (business & pleasure accounts). There are decent apps available. This phone has not locked up or froze, love the bedside mode, FB can be viewed in different ways by Mobile or directly. I can save favorites and bookmark sites on the internet. Offers a variety of messaging. Pictures are clear and of excellent quality! Can send pic slide shows. Love the chat style texting. The calculator is easy to use! Can easily switch apps and run more than one program.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Blackberry Tour 9630 is a decent phone but....
by hendixon on April 12, 2010
Pros: I like the slick design, nice and clear picture and the ease of the navigation function.
Cons: For the first 2 mos I had serious battery and some trackball issues. It kept freezing up all of the time to the point of annoyance. I had to remove the battery every other day to get it working again. Sometimes the phone wouldn't come on at all.
Summary: The bottom line is that if I could do it all over again I would probably go with an HTC due to the early one problems I had. I was ...
Summary: The bottom line is that if I could do it all over again I would probably go with an HTC due to the early one problems I had. I was excited when I first got this phone, but soon after my excitement left and my disappointment began to grow. Early in my Verizon contract, I had to ship the phone back because after freezing and removing the battery it wouldn't come back on. It would give me a white screen with the picture of a battery error! They then shipped me a refurbished one (which still looked cosmetically good), it worked for a few days, froze up after removing the battery, and I had to send it back again. I was then sent a 3rd replacement and that was working well for a while. After the phone froze up again, I was afraid to remove the battery out of fear it wouldn't come back on again. I tried to look on the Internet for solutions besides removing the battery. I tried everything I read to revive my phone and nothing worked. So I removed the battery again as my last resort, and you guessed it, it wouldn't come back on and I got the "battery error" message again.
I called Verizon out of pure frustration because at this point, I was without a phone more than I was with a working phone. Even though shipping was paid for by them, I was annoyed taking the time going to the FED EX drop off centers to ship these crappy phones back and being without a phone in the case of an emergency.
Well after threatening to drop their service and demanding that I get a different brand of phone, they said I could only change my brand to a lesser brand or get a new replacement instead of a refurbished one due to my previous troubles. At this point I was willing to pay to have them terminate my service. I agreed with getting a new phone.
So when my new phone came I wasn't too hopeful but it has been several months now and I haven't had any of the previous issues nor have I ever had to remove the battery once. It has froze up a few times, but I have a program on there that does a soft and hard reset which seems to solve that problem. Occasionally I would have trackball problems. I heard that this is an issue with this phone. Make sure you have a case on it to keep it dust-free as this may help the trackball move smoothly. But since I do, it still jams sometimes.
Also, texting may be a quite uncomfortable for those with big fingers because the keys are pretty small. The keys are way smaller than what I'm used to.
I may keep this phone when my contract is up to save a little money because I gotta pay something out of pocket for a better phone with my upgrade, but if it starts giving me major problems again, this phone will be dumped quicker than yesterdays newspaper.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not up to 2005 standards.
by bjbouch on March 19, 2010
Pros: Free case is about all.
Cons: useless browser. JavaScript does not work
Slow.
No progress indicators form most functions
Almost 7 oz and 2: thick when in the case
Slow response from phone (not data transmission)Summary: Treo 600 was better than this phone
Summary: Treo 600 was better than this phone
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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new blackberry tour, sleek phone
by yaseena on August 15, 2009
Pros: i just upgraded from a handy dandy (AND EXTREMEMLY STURDY samsung clam-shell phone). right out of the box i really enjoy the feature rich environment.
Cons: not the most intuitive menu's/options. it'll take a bit of a learning curve but im sure i'll eventually get used to it.
no wifi (really, come on...)
no downloadable ring tones (... not a big deal, but yeash... EVERY phone has this now)Summary: I've had the phone for about 5 hours today. Thus far, its been a very enjoyable experience, and def worth the wait of seven thousand years before i upgraded. ...
Summary: I've had the phone for about 5 hours today. Thus far, its been a very enjoyable experience, and def worth the wait of seven thousand years before i upgraded. I chose this over the palm pre (unfortunately the pre just doesnt 'feel' solid, and the keys are pretty small for my pudgy fingers). Despite the obvious learning curve involved with the phone i've caught on pretty quick. now - in all honesty, the keys on the blackberry arent all that much more roomier than the pre...
all in all, i def LOVE the upgrade and would recommend this phone to anyone...
note - it came with a case. this is my first blackberry, so i dont know if they've always done this - but this is a nice touch :)
N.B. sprint adds on an 18 dollar 'upgrade' fee when you sign a new 2 year contract. argue that out with them... i think its somewhat rediculous1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: BlackBerry
- Part number: TOUR9630SILBLKSPT
- Description: Connect, browse, stream, download and more on global networks with 3G reliability. The BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone helps you stay in touch from almost anywhere in the world. A full-featured global smartphone including voice dialing, conference calling and a built-in speakerphone, it can travel along with you to most of the world on 3G networks. Going out with your BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone doesn't mean leaving your entertainment behind. With 256 MB of on-board memory and a built-in media player to play your songs and videos, you'll be entertained and informed from almost anywhere life takes you. Watch videos while you're on the train, play that energetic song when out for a run, or just share pictures and memories with friends over a cup of coffee. The BlackBerry Tour 9630 features a slim design that smartly goes with you wherever you are. Lightweight and sleek, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 ensures that sending messages, answering a phone call, browsing the web or simply holding it in your hand is a comfortable experience.
General
- Product Type Smartphone
- Form Factor Full keyboard
- Integrated Components GPS receiver,
Digital camera,
Digital player - Width 2.4 in
- Depth 0.6 in
- Height 4.4 in
- Weight 4.6 oz
Cellular
- Technology CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS)
- Band WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / CDMA2000 1X 1900/800
- Mobile Broadband Generation 3G
- Service Provider Sprint Nextel
- Operating System BlackBerry Handheld Software
- Input Device(s) QWERTY keyboard
- Phone Navigation Buttons Trackball
Messaging & Internet
- Cellular Messaging Services SMS,
MMS - Instant Messaging Services Yahoo! Messenger,
AOL Instant Messenger Service (AIM),
Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger),
Google Talk Communications
- Data Transmission GPRS,
EV-DO,
EDGE - Wireless Interface Bluetooth 2.0
- Communication Features Internet browser,
Mobile Email client Phone Features
- Phone Functions Vibrating alert
Media Player
- Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3,
MIDI Memory
- ROM 256 MB - Flash
- Supported Flash Memory Cards microSDHC,
microSD
Digital Camera
- Sensor Resolution 3.2 megapixels
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Digital Zoom 2
- Camera Light Source Flash
- Features Video recording
Navigation System
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
Display
- Type LCD display
- Technology TFT Transmissive
- Display Resolution 480 x 360 pixels
- Color Depth 16-bit (65000 colors)
Connections
- Connector Type Headset jack
Battery
- Technology Lithium ion
- Capacity 1400 mAh
- Run Time Details Talk - up to 300 min,
Standby - up to 336 hour(s) Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Power adapter , Power adapter
- Also Included 256 MB
Product series
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Manufacturer: BlackBerry
Specs: Sprint Nextel,
CDMA2000 1X / GSM / WCDMA (UMTS),
Up to 300 min,
With digital camera / digital player,
4.6 oz,
3.2 megapixels
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse BlackBerry products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:BlackBerry
- Address:
295 Phillip Street, Waterloo, ON N2L 3W8 - Phone: 1-519-888-7465
- Email: webinfo@rim.net
- Fax: 1-519-888-7884
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