First 3G BlackBerry Announced 89
An anonymous reader writes "The Register is featuring an article on Research In Motion's first 3G BlackBerry, due shortly for release in the UK via Vodafone. The big news is that it contains an integrated 3G data modem - meaning UK addicts will be able to connect from the device and their laptop (via USB/BlueTooth) at 3G broadband speeds. No EDGE so the US will have to carry on waiting, but for those in the UK and Europe, short of integrated GPS, is the BlackBerry 8707v finally the first example of mobile device convergence everyone has been waiting for?"
Re:nobody wants blackberry in the UK (Score:3, Informative)
So? some people like new tech in old packages. [sparkfun.com]
Re:nobody wants blackberry in the UK (Score:1)
Sheesh, Look at the phones that are coming out these days. You couldn't even poke an eye out anymore because phones don't come with antennas.
I can't wait for my Portable Rotary Cellular Phone to come in the mail.!! I wonder, does it have GPRS?, I really need it to have bluetooth. oh wait...
Re:nobody wants blackberry in the UK (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:nobody wants blackberry in the UK (Score:4, Insightful)
RIM is just starting to think about the consumer market with its 7100 series. It's the first "phone-like" blackberry.
Blackberries have always been targetted at business users. That means it has to work well and it has to work all the time. A blackberry does both. It handles email like a champ, makes calls without a problem, and gives you access to the web when you need it in a decent mobile browser. Now, according to the article there's an integrated 3G modem, meaning business types will be able to use 3G networks on their laptops, just by syncing via bluetooth to their blackberry. This makes it an even BETTER business device.
If you only consider what it was meant to do, Blackberry is best of breed.
Convergence Device (Score:4, Insightful)
No, that would be the Treo. And we stopped waiting a while ago.
Re:Convergence Device (Score:2)
Re:Convergence Device (Score:1)
Speaking of that, I have a few unlocked Blackberry 7100's available now going on ebay soon.
Thank-you POSTER!!! (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:Thank-you POSTER!!! (Score:2)
It was a good effort poster
Heard Blackberries aren't that great (Score:4, Insightful)
Maan
Re:Heard Blackberries aren't that great (Score:3, Informative)
First, plain text email is the only aspect of email that the Blackberry does right. If it's HTML formatted you might get the text, plus any graphics that you would be able to view with a competent mail client come through as attachments. With RTF formatted email you'll get the text, but loose all the formatting. If you intend to do anything meaningful with attachments then forget it unless you install third party software. The built-in attachment vie
Blackberry vs. PDA phones. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Heard Blackberries aren't that great (Score:3, Interesting)
Because of the large user base, Blackberry has learned how to make the Blackberry VERY intuitive... try doing something intuitive on a Windows mobile unit and you'll see what I am talking about. It will be at least a year before Microsoft catches up to Blackberry as far as ease of use.
Re:Heard Blackberries aren't that great (Score:4, Interesting)
Get a Blackberry, and get a PocketPC or a Palm. From 4 feet in the air, drop/throw them all on concrete.
I found that the Blackberries are built to withstand a much greater deal of abuse/collision/drop than all other PDAs.
That, combined with a great browser and emails that arrive the second (sometimes before!!) it reaches your mailbox, is a great combo for me.
Re:Heard Blackberries aren't that great (Score:2)
Mobile Device Convegence (Score:5, Insightful)
From looking at the market and hardware available, there's no one device which does anything and everything the "ultimate mobile device" would do. What I do see, is a few devices which merge some features, but miss out others.
For example, this new Blackberry device gives instant email, phone service, and 3G data access, but it's big and bulky and doesn't feature a mobile camera. The Nokia N-Series provides smartphone capability using Series 60, multimedia features, and high spec cameras, but it's small and only has a standard mobile phone keyboard.
The above examples are the way I see the mobile device market going; there will be many devices which offer convergence in many different ways. But, I don't see it possible to create a "one device fits all" type handset, purely because there are so many different market sections and types of people who use them.
Re:Mobile Device Convegence (Score:2)
As far as camera's go, in my opinion, they are completely pointless on any device whose primary purpose is not to be a digital camera. Cellphone/PDA cameras are bulky and of low quality. Which makes them kind of pointless. Furthermore, it is safe to say that cellphone cam
Re:Mobile Device Convegence (Score:2)
On the other hand, there are certain situations where people won't necessarily have digital cameras or where it may not be appropriate to be carrying a digital camera. Examples of this would be nights out, shopping (where you can simply video call someone else and quickly show
start with the camera (Score:1)
I have no idea, anyone make anything like that? Niche market but it might sell.
Re:start with the camera (Score:1, Insightful)
eat the rich (Score:1)
I'm sure blackberries are just fine products. I don't need one, but I am not
Re:Mobile Device Convegence (Score:2)
Convergence? (Score:3, Interesting)
It's a killer (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:It's a killer (Score:1)
Re:It's a killer (Score:1)
3G e-mail device? (Score:1, Funny)
Who needs 3 gigabytes of local e-mail storage in a handheld device?
Re:3G e-mail device? (Score:1)
"Convergence" is here - has been for a while... (Score:5, Interesting)
To me, that's convergence. The only thing it lacks is support for the higher-speed cellular broadband standards (and enough internal RAM), but the Treo 700w (Windows Mobile-based) works with the CDMA EV/DO service from Verizon, and the forthcoming 700p (PalmOS) is expected to work with Sprint's EV/DO network. GSM EDGE versions of both are slated to arrive pretty soon as well.
And the Blackberry that's covered here? That's the tip of the iceberg. The CTIA Wireless show [ctiawireless.com] is in Vegas less than two weeks from now. And there's sure to be quite a few relevant announcements there. I'm holding my breath for a ExpressCard-based EV/DO card, though - My MacBook Pro is on order and I'd rather use a card than tether a phone (I use a PC5220 card from Verizon right now with my existing PowerBook).
The ultimate definition? Convergence is a state of mind. And when your device does all the things you need, it matches that.
Re:"Convergence" is here - has been for a while... (Score:3, Interesting)
Why bother talking about products that don't exist like the Treo 700p or future imaginary Treo's that have EDGE support? They don't exist a
Re:"Convergence" is here - has been for a while... (Score:1)
Read the Treo650 spec sheet sometime. Class 10 EDGE. That and my Treo650's data connections are too fast to be GPRS anyway.
Re:"Convergence" is here - has been for a while... (Score:2)
Re:"Convergence" is here - has been for a while... (Score:2)
Sprint is planning to launch their version of the 700. What software that's included isn't announced. There is other speculation on future Treos for GSM and I'd prefer the ones without the antenna to a version of the 700.
Treos are th
What's an integrated 3G modem? (Score:2)
Nokia E61 (Score:2)
What convergence? (Score:1)
Re:What convergence? (Score:2)
Oh yeah? (Score:3, Insightful)
<br><br>
And the only thing faster than the connection will be the speed at which the bill rises.
First, reduce connectivity costs (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:First, reduce connectivity costs (Score:2)
What's the point of having mobile phones you can download and play movies on, and all that 3G promised land functionality, if you need to remortgage your home to pay for it all?
Re:Not again! (Score:3, Insightful)
Ever hear of the HTC Universal (XDA Exec, Qtek 9000, T-Mobile MDA Pro, I-Mate Jasjar, etc)?
VGA screen, 520mhz processor, 3G (UTMS/HSDPA), WiFi, Bluetooth, dual cameras for video-conferencing, Windows Mobile 5.0, 128MB of RAM (I believe), and a SD slot.
It also has a swivel screen that opens up into a full QWERTY keyboard. The screen flips around and covers the keyboard for portrait/phone usage (although there is no number pad, which I guess could be a little annoying for some people).
If I had to
Re:Not again! (Score:1)
Re:Not again! (Score:2, Interesting)
It comes with Skype and MSN pre-installed in ROM usable over wi-fi or 3G, so you can war-drive, chat to your mates, video conference, VNC or RDP into a desktop PC, GPS navigation for your car, hell there is hardly anything this device cann
EVDO Blackberry Has Been Out Since Last Year.. (Score:1, Insightful)
An EVDO Blackberry has been out since late 2005.
Therefore, this is not the first 3G Blackberry.
Unless they want to make the distinction that the voice traffic is being handled by a 3G-type connection as well?
Re:EVDO Blackberry Has Been Out Since Last Year.. (Score:2)
Not to split hairs here, but as far as I can tell, the "word" 3G is about as real as "AJAX" or "broadband" when it actually comes down to meaning something. Mainly it is an idea, not an actual
What I want in mobile convergence (Score:2)
Re:What I want in mobile convergence (Score:2)
Re:What I want in mobile convergence (Score:1)
Re:What I want in mobile convergence (Score:2)
Re:What I want in mobile convergence (Score:2)
Re:What I want in mobile convergence (Score:1)
Re:What I want in mobile convergence (Score:1)
I was planning on getting one, but my priorities have changed. I would have used it with my SonyEriccson t68i as a bluetooth modem. Supposedly, you could use a bluetooth headset for the phone bit, if necessary (I don't use the phone much - mostly use it for sms).
I might be more tempted by the next version...
and... (Score:1)
ehm... so what? (Score:1)
Push email is over-rated (Score:1)
They need to get back to what the internet is all about, what increased 3G bandwidth is all about, hell, what am I talking about? High definition porn direct to your hand... ( just where you need it )
And the name of this new product, the RIM BlueBerry .
Re:Push email is over-rated (Score:1)
An example of this is in these lyrics to Encore by Jay-Z:
"I'm in, Boeing jets, Global Express
Out the country but the blueberry still connect"
Re:Push email is over-rated (Score:2)
Not really the "first 3G BlackBerry" (Score:2, Informative)
I suppose because the 8707v (Vodafone) is being released in Britain that's implied already. But "3G" isn't a single technology, and in fact the BlackBerry 7130e - which has been commercially available in Canada, the US, and Australia for a while - uses the CDMA2000 standard (with 1xEV-DO technology), which is also considered 3G.
So t
The Global Link (Score:2)
It Depends On Definition Of Convergence! (Score:2, Insightful)
The concept of convergence depends wholly on your personal needs, and based upon the posts so far, seem to have a lot to do with the BlackBerry vs the devices running Windows Mobile and Symbian that tend to have a lot more add-ons that people add into their personal definition of convergence.
RIM have built up a critical mass of customers because lots of companies and organisations really don't want devices with removable media or integrated cameras because it would break every security rule they have. T
7250 technically first 3G blackberry (Score:3, Insightful)
Hell w/ these fancy pda's. Just get a good phone (Score:2)
I got a Motorola e815 -- it is first and foremost great at being A PHONE. Reception and clarity being the key. It does bluetooth and is easily hacked to remove the verizon crippleware. It does EVDO and can act as a broadband modem. It has a pop3 client, calendar, text message, camera, and MP3 player. It has a 512 meg transflash card I can pop into
Slashdot is not the target demographic... (Score:1)
And they like the BlackBerry. (Hell, it's a lot more convenient than trying to boot up a laptop and pay the Marriott ten freaking bucks for internet access, and a thousand times more convenient that unlugging your desktop-replacement laptop.)
Why do they like it? It. Just. Works. It gets email from point A to point B, fast. It's fully integrated with either Exchange/Outlook and Notes, which covers, what... 90% of the Fortune 500 companies? The people who use Black
Verizon Blackberries already have EVDO (Score:1)
Already got one (Score:1)
So I was driving out in the middle of nowhere today and noticed a new e-mail in my gmail inbox. I stopped to see what it was, a friend alerting me to a slashdot story about a brand new blackberry. Ok, I'll bite. I opened up my web browser and checked it out, and laughed to myself as I began typing a reply to my deluded friend. I was interrupted by his IM, and explained to him that the future has a