A changing of the guard — for the better.
Good news for folks who bought an unlocked AT&T branded BlackBerry Priv: updates for your phone will now be handled by BlackBerry directly and bypass any AT&T slow lane silliness.
As CrackBerry reports, this new policy starts today (October 17, 2016) and will be in place for an imminent update headed to unlocked Priv phones.
It's important to note that this only applies to AT&T-branded phones that were purchased unlocked and not for AT&T locked devices that have been SIM unlocked after purchase. There has been no word if phones with branding from other carriers will see the same treatment.
BlackBerry has been working on this solution for a good part of 2016, and it's nice to see it finally arrive.
Reader comments
Unlocked AT&T BlackBerry Priv will now have updates handled directly by BlackBerry
Cool. Blackberry phones just went up a notch in my shopping list
Agreed! Now they just need to come out with an appealing non- keyboard phone with the latest hardware specs and a competitive camera priced just right. Than they should be good!
Posted via Android Central App
Then boy, do I have news for you. DTEK60 will have a SD820, 4gb ram, 2k 5.5 inch screen, 21/8 mp cameras, and be priced at $499 at launch.
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/06/I-dont-believe-you.gif
http://m.gsmarena.com/blackberry_dtek60-8351.php
What?! It even has a decent looking design. Definitely going to keep my eye on BB now. I want to see how they handle updates going forward.
So far so good with the Priv. Aside from the security they update the suite apps as well.
Verizon needs to do this !!
They have yet to release the Marshmallow 6.0 OS update unlike every other carrier...
Maybe other OEM's will follow suite with Pixel and Blackberry. Eff the carrier's
I kinda wish Blackberry was still in the game. I'd honestly probably pick up a successor to the Priv as my next phone.
I miss the physical keyboard...
I'd take a look at a Priv with an 821 inside.
+821
+830
I'd totally upgrade my Priv to one with a better SoC. The 808 is so bad.
All 5 of you with one must feel excited
Lmao. You are hilarious
But you here too
Aww how nice
Wish more companies would do this requiring a SIM is terrible.
T-Mobile has gotten better at updates recently but still weeks behind
"This only applies for AT&T branded phones that were purchased unlocked" - so no phones then BlackBerry, right?
Basically all the ones sold on Amazon. They were all unlocked at&t variants.
Not true. The ones that Amazon actually sold are the same ones from Shop Blackberry, unlocked and unbranded. They got updates direct from day 1.
A few months ago AT&T clearanced out a lot of BB Priv units. These mostly appeared on eBay and Daily Steals for around $300-$350 brand new, unlocked, but AT&T branded. Some sellers probably sold them on Amazon, but they were third party sellers using Amazon's website. It seems like AT&T supplied these IMEIs to BB to have them handle the updates directly on them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019G4UXH0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=147...
This is so sweet. My backup Priv is now current with my factory unlocked Priv! I'm thinking about scoring another one next time I see them under $400 just to be sure.
AT&T branding and blocked updates are the biggest reason why I didn't buy one of those $300 brand new unlocked AT&T Privs. I love my Priv and it doesn't seem like there will be another PKB phone like it. Having a backup would be nice, but I think it should be relatively easy to find a replacement if mine breaks.
Still a great phone. Wish they'd re-release with new specs and a sammy edge screen with super amoled. Their edge is good but doesnt have the right pop.
Got my update for my unlocked AT&T PRIV running a TMO Sim today! It came directly as a push notice from BB, and not from AT&T (TMO SIM in place at the time). It was a big one, 1805.5 MB. Now if BB could just work out the same agreement with TMO and Verizon......
Do we need an att Sim to get the update? I got my priv from Craigslist a week ago with all the wrapping still on it. Is there anyway to find out if my phone was purchased from att or a 3rd party vendor? If it was purchased through att, will they be updating their unlocked devices to get firmware straight from blackberry? I don't get why att bought privs would be discriminated from getting the update.