Anyone have experience with a BlackBerry purchased via Taobao or online in China?

My company has bought me a new BlackBerry Curve 8320 through Taobao to replace the one I lost last week. (China Mobile still only offers the older clunkers.)

The one delivered looks new, is dark gray and branded T-Mobile.

My concern is that it seems slow. After clicking on an icon on the menu, sometimes it takes a few seconds to register. Also, the trackball is less responsive when scrolling up.

Am I just being paranoid, or is this a lemon / fake?

Have you tried updating the firmware?

Its not a fake, its a US model.
Odds are that its running old buggy firmware, so upgrading it will improve it (dramatically in some instances).

Current OS version as of 12th Oct was/is:

BlackBerry Handheld
Software v4.5.0.294 (Multilanguage) RELEASED 10-12-09

Package Version: 4.5.0.294
Consisting of:

* Applications: 4.5.0.174
* Software Platform: 2.7.0.105
* File name: 8320M_PBr4.5.0_rel294_PL2.7.0.105_A4.5.0.174_.exe
* File size: 92.43MB

This URL may be useful to you - http://forums.tmonews.com/index.php?topic=11472.0

I'd suggest read about upgrading before you do so, and write down your current software version (perhaps in this forum?) so we know what you currently have.
I'm not sure if BlackBerry still does regional firmware, so you may need to download a firmware from Hutchinson or another similar HK provider if you install that and lose Chinese input / language capabilities.

Hence my advice to let us/me know what you have first.

Trackball is probably just dirty, get a little bit of alcohol, and wipe the ball.
I though the new ones used a touch pad though?

Lawrence.

Lawrence, thanks for your input.

Software version v4.5.0.37 (Platform 2.7.0.55).

After a day of using this, I have fewer concerns. The speed has picked up. Call quality is fine.

Scrolling up on the trackball continues to be a problem, and if anyone else out there is going to buy one, check this part out before paying. The trackball should have more texture; mine seems a little worn down. Luckily in my case, my company hasn't paid yet and we've been told we can exchange if necessary.

When I said "new", I mean as in "not used". This model's been around for 24-36 months now. I think this was one of the first models to use the trackball. Awkward at first, but much better than the scroll wheel once you get used to us.

hi, i also recently got a blackberry curve but not from taobao. i got it through alibaba, which is another chinese online shop. the only difference is that the latter is more of wholesaling online business. anyway, as i was told by the seller of my blackberry, all the blackberries you will get in china are refurbished. meaning, they're old inside, but new outside as all accessories and outside parts are made from china. i have since haven't had any problems with my BB. the only trouble i have is getting the email connection, which i think would be difficult in china because china mobile doesn't permit such.

ghinn8 & kao, how much did you pay China mobile for the blackberry service? does it have BB msg and push email?

Just got back from Jakarta and it seems Jakarta is Blackberry heaven, most EVERYONE has a Blackberry. I was speaking to my friends about Blackberrys in China and he laughed and said China is not as advanced as Indonesia He said Shanghai and China is like a computer, lots of new pretty buildings which is the hardware but the software is still Windows 95.