We have been hearing for a while now that a CDMA / GSM Verizon BlackBerry 8800 would be coming to Verizon sometime in Q2 and more rumors about the device have begun to surface.
According to new BlackBerry Forums member rianlu, Verizon will release their branded version of the BlackBerry 8800 which will be called the BlackBerry 8830 in the May / June time frame. Sprint will follow with their branded version of the BlackBerry 8830 shortly after Verizon.
I was on a call recently with a rim rep. I work for a local carrier on the east coast don’t want to go to specific cuz they said it was mildly confidential but the device will be the 8830. verizon’s looking at may/june and sprint soon thereafter other carriers are looking at august. so far all the test devices have verizon software or atleast the ones we saw. the device will be trackball and will have a few new features some of which have been mentioned. it is quadband but will only be marketed as cdma in north america and gsm in europe and other markets. it will also have a micro sd card slot and has a full media player, music and video!!!!! it will have a built in spell checker 54 MB onbaord data and 16 MB ram. overall it looks pretty cool very similar to the 8800. best features imo are the next two: stereo bluetooth, and extended battery included when you buy. it has 33% more battery life than the standard in the 8703e so should be pretty good. thats pretty much all they told us on the call hope that answers questions and clears up some myths if you have any other questions i can research them and ask our rim rep and see what he says.
Im a bb guy all the way, and ive been reading up on verizons blackberry 8830(cyclone). the thing that gets me is that , i know it has a micro sd slot, bbut will it have a camera??
I certainly hope so, however, my guess is not the first version.
I’m confused about the CDMA/GSM thing. Will I be able to use this phone on CDMA while in the US and use it in Europe as GSM? From the sound of it, the answer is no which is a great disappointment to me.
Any word on whether the built-in GPS will be active or will it be disabled like the 8703e?
VZW “has” to be close to releasing the crimson. Just went to a VZW company store and they have 8703e for $149 = $349 list -$100 ARC -$100 mail in rebate.
I’ve always been lead to believe rebates = clearance for new version and a 8703e for $149 seems like the last price that was available for 7250 before the 8703e was launched.
So I went to a Verizon store yesterday and was told by a manager that their 88xx is coming in March! Hope this is true! Crimson is absolutely correct on the 8703e price drop btw.
Verizon is dumping their full line of PDA/Smartphone & BB’s. Looks like there will be some great things to pick from….. Hopefully the 8830 will have some kind of a camera on it to stay competitive with the TREO that is sure to launch soon as well. Earlier comments regarding “rebates” as I would concure that they are clearing the shelves for something new. It is about time VRZ gets their act together regarding new products. They lag severely. Hopefully by the 15th of March we will see the 8830.
It will not have a camera and the GPS will be disabled, although, they are going to enable via a firmware upgrade shortly after its release.
Oh, look for the release of this on March 14th.
I don’t care about a camera, what I really want is something smaller than the bulky ugly 8703 that I lug around. Will this be as thin as they Pearl?
Yes. It has the exact same form-factor as the Cingular 8800.
So glad to hear it won’t come with a camera. A camera in a blackberry is such a bad idea. The BB is the last bastion of a “work” smartphone. It feels so good to be able to bring your phone into the courthouse and be productive while the treos have to check their phone with the guard.
And I wouldn’t mind a 7250 formfactor, so much nice spacing between the keys yet still slips right into front pocket.
I have heard lots of rumors. Everything from March to Q4. What is the latest information? My Cingular contract is up but I need to change off of my 7290.
I certainly hope for March/April timeframe as I might get forced into staying with Cigular if it is any later.
I don’t think it will have a camera. But I think it will have speech activated dialing..not sure. Maybe somone know. Device is sure to be a big splash @ WES, and probably release after that is my guess.