Orange and the case of the Bold's missing maps

By Nick Mansell on Fri 05 September 2008

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Orange may have been the first to launch the BlackBerry Bold here in the UK, but eager RIM fans may have got less than they bargained for when they signed on the dotted line for an 18 month contract. According to The Register, the much vaunted BlackBerry Maps app is missing from the Orange version - despite the first Orange specs stating the software would be there.

One call to Orange customer services is all it takes to find out why as those enquiring to its whereabouts are being offered Orange's own service, for an extra £92. Those who try and download the free BlackBerry Maps software themselves are finding that when they install it no icon appears and they can't run it.

One user even reports that on his unlocked Bold the Maps icon appears when he inserts a Vodafone SIM, then vanishes again as soon as an Orange SIM is put back in.

Understandably, customers are a tad peeved. Over on RIM's own BlackBerry forum, one wrote: "Looks like Orange are big fat liars if BB maps are intentionally disabled. All of the promotional stuff I saw, and was persuaded by, clearly said that BB maps are available."

A number have already submitted complaints to the Advertising Standards Agency based on the below screengrab from Orange's online shop (now taken down). Looks like Orange has a fight on its hands.

[The Register]