Will Verizon carry the BlackBerry Passport in stores and have demo units?

[DickLewis]

Again, I believe we will see the Passport. Just a thought.

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Edited by:  Verizon Moderator

[ummie4]

So Blackberry is set to make their announcement on Sept. 24th. If this is similar to the z10 announcement then we can expect to get a flood of carriers announcing their support in the hours after the event. Come on Verizon I am rooting for you! I dread going to AT&T.

[DickLewis]

Patience. I expect to see the Passport and the Classic (nee Q20).

Both will be very good sellers. Just a thought.

[sourz]

I am a mobile novice, but through some research and deduction, it seems like Verizon will carry the passport. 

the FCC filing for passport does not list CDMA, but lists LTE band 4, and 13. (4 verizon uses, and 13 it has been rapidly building up for the past 2 years).

according to fcc

FCC ID L6ARGY180LW Mobile phone with GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1900, WCDMA/HSPA FDD 2, 4, 5, LTE Bands 2, 4,...

last week (aug 26th) Verizon announced that in the "coming weeks" it plans to roll out VoLTE which would ditch CDMA to carry HD quality voice on the LTE 13 (700 Mgz) band.

Verizon?s VoLTE rollout will kill off CDMA ? and allow unlocked LTE phones, too | ExtremeTech

Verizon Communications Inc. Finally Launches a High-Voltage VoLTE Service (VZ)

I can only assume that this means that they plan to introduce VoLTE along with the Passport, which is also launching in the "coming weeks".

Again, im not sure on this. Just my speculation. if true, great news. theoretically it means if a phone has LTE 13 band on it, we will be able to use it on verizon regardless of CDMA present on it or not.  i say theoretically as i dont know what restrictions they might put on it at VoLTE launch.

hope this gives assurance to verizon users like me, Or i might be completely Wrong.. lol

[ummie4]

A phone released next month would still need the CDMA band. LTE coverage is not expansive enough to only rely on it to make phone calls. My phone switches to 3G and 1X sometimes. I heard something like 2016 for verizon phones to be released without CDMA bands.

[47seijar]

I just has another conversation with the reps in my local Verizon store. They confirmed Verizon will not carry the Passport IN STORES. But they were sure Verizon would sell it. Originally, when they told me Verizon would not carry the Passport I interpreted it as they would not be selling it. Turns out they just won't have them on display. That is unfortunate, but it squares with their current policy where they don't have BlackBerrys in stock or on display. But you can still order them through Verizon and pick them up at the store. So I guess I'll just have to go to my local AT&T store to see one in person, then order it through Verizon. Better than nothing!

[ummie4]

Chen just announced in an interview that the off contract price of the passport will be $599 in the USA. More importantly he said that some places will have the Passport available immediately following Wednesday's announcement, with most places having it 1 to 2 weeks later. Hope Verizon is included in these "most places" 

[BCalhoon]

I was told weeks before they did that Verizon would not carry the I-Phone by a store rep.

Like others here I am not interested in anything other than a Blackberry.  I will go where they are sold.

[pkcable]

I have a Canadian friend (he works for one of their carriers) and he has recently seen a Verizon branded Passport.  It certainly is/was being tested.  This is NOT to say Verizon will definitely have it, but the signs are there.    Most likely as is the current trend with BBs it will have little to no in store presence with the possible exception of a few flagship stores.  (New York City's Manhattan Flagship for example)   You will order it at the web site, or in stores via drop shipping.  IF they decide to carry it after testing.

[DickLewis]

Thanks PK. Store in little old Big Flats, NY outside of Elmira is now the largest VZW store in upstate NY.

I was told they will not stock nor display the Passport. No display of any kind currently. Sucks.