RIM’s BlackBerry 8300 Lineup
There has been a little bit of confusion with the 8300 series and I just got some new info from one of my sources to try and clear things up. Please note before we begin that device specs and hardware do change before final production, but this is most likely very accurate. I reported here that the unit I have had GPS. It has a GPS option in the options menu, yet doesn’t work because this unit apparently doesn’t have GPS hardware. There has been talk about T-Mobile 8300 test devices with GPS and WiFi built in. Why the drama? Well, here we go! There are 3, yes 3 versions of the 8300. The 8300, 8320, and 83xx. Code names are Baby Bear, Mama Bear, and finally Papa Bear respectively. My unit is code named "Baby Bear" hence no GPS and WiFi (please no comments from the peanut gallery). Why RIM would go to such outlandish lengths to ever confuse the consumer with 3 more variations of the same model is beyond me — one 8300 device guys. Also don’t confuse the 8320 with the 8820 which will be the regular 8800-style device except with WiFi. I completely agree with RIM’s strategy to differentiate the business oriented lines, and consumer lines as much as possible. I really do. Releasing the 8800 first after the Pearl was a great idea — show that you didn’t leave the corporate and business market behind. Enter the 8300. Great! But why RIM. Why Jim? Why Mike? Can’t you release just one 8300! Quick rundown below.
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8800 (No Camera, GPS)
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8820 (No Camera but WiFi and GPS)
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8300 (Camera, no WiFi, no GPS)
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8320 (Camera, WiFi)
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83xx (Camera, WiFi, GPS)
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9xxx (Don’t get me started)
On Mar 13, 2007 @ 8:25 am, Adam Said:
Excellent update…thanks! Confusing on RIM’s part….but par for the course. BUT - what about the release dates for each? Anything at all?? Put us out of our misery…!
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 8:26 am, FandI Said:
BG-Thanks for the clear up on the mix up. How about carriers and launch dates. I can tell now I want to get my hands on Momma Bear. I’m not the Papa bear type.
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 8:28 am, Don Kelly Said:
On the engadget post of BGR pics and info (or was it here?) someone reported the t-mobile version had wifi and gps.
Are they all running on EDGE? No 3G?
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 8:41 am, Mike Said:
BG - any news on a new blackberry for Verizon? do you have info on the 8830? Maybe the 8300 will have a CDMA version for Verizon?
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 9:12 am, Anthony Said:
Release dates ? Prices ?
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 10:01 am, Torben Said:
RIM = Ridiculous Identification Mammoth
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 10:12 am, Marvin Said:
On Mar 13, 2007, Mike Said:
BG - any news on a new blackberry for Verizon? do you have info on the 8830? Maybe the 8300 will have a CDMA version for Verizon?
^
Exactly what he said, BG any news on the “Cyclone” CDMA/GSM hybrid models.
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 10:21 am, Mike Said:
Are the 8300/8320/83xx models all GSM?
Any info regarding whether there will be CDMA versions? — and I mean “upcoming” versions, not a year from now
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 10:27 am, Billy Said:
I am also curious about Verizon… Do they ever get any of the new RIM phones??
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 11:46 am, Jaydie Said:
BG Why so tight lipped on Verizon? There are plenty of rumors out there that we are dying for you to confirm…..
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 12:49 pm, Joe Said:
Which model of the three 8300’s is Cingular likely to release?
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 1:12 pm, Stephene Said:
How about Rogers release info? They have the 8800 in stores as of now in Canada. What about the 8300 series? Will all three variations in the 83xx series be released at the same time?
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 1:47 pm, mas90guru Said:
Oh no - the endless variation game. Surely a sign that nearly every bit of innovation is gone. RIM is borrowing a page from Motorola and flinging out devices with ever so slight variations.
Can we please get something useful like html email.
Personally I think wifi and camera are flops to the masses. The camera always sucks on every phone (which still doesn’t prevent people from hyping the capability) and almost every Blackberry plan includes an unlimited data connection (no savings by using wifi) and the Blackberry browser isn’t great at rendering most web pages into a state that you’d want to spend hours on the device no matter how fast a connection you could attach to it.
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 2:04 pm, coldcc Said:
I can’t wait to see it, someone I know is going to be showing it to me shortly
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 2:26 pm, The Boy Genius Said:
Working on Verizon confirmations!
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 2:45 pm, Jaydie Said:
Thanks BG! Until there is a BB 3G I’m stuck with “Big Red”….
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 3:31 pm, blee Said:
nice… now lets talk about the 9xxx..
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 4:00 pm, Yelus Said:
Do We know anything about the specs or features of the upcoming 9xxx series BB
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 5:32 pm, CarBob Said:
Hi Everyone,
Now that it appears that BG has broken the RIM code for BABY Bear (8300), MAMA Bear (8320) and PAPA Bear (83XX), could the 8820/8830 be “TEDDY” Bear.
I’m not kidding.
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 5:42 pm, ben Said:
Are the dimensions still the same 106×50x15.5mm ?
How about UMA? thanks
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 6:37 pm, Kirby Said:
I would say the 8300 because it does have the AT&T OS.
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 6:43 pm, Ken Said:
Confused by this news. BG: Does this mean that AT&T/Cingular will be releasing all three versions?
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 8:29 pm, FandI Said:
BG- If you are gonna clarify Verizon will you check what is in the works for us Sprint folks. Have piti on us
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 8:43 pm, Clyde Said:
Still no 3G?
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On Mar 13, 2007 @ 9:39 pm, James Said:
Good and needed summary by RIM to set the landscape. This helps sets some reasonable expectations for the models. Thanks.
I join BG in appaulding the value of RIM having separate consumer and business product lines, but in a post iphone-announced market, the bar is high and too many phones within a product line without a clear “killer” model (all available features piled in one phone), will lead some significant percentage of customers/prospects to leave RIM for another OS/phone that does have a “killer” in their pricebook (part of the American culture - we need everything possible in our phones, cars and on our pizzas).
I love these products and I hope RIM continues to be a strong player. However, it is myopic to think that it is merely a question for the consumer of one RIM phone vs. another.
With new, but heavyweight players entering the market, RIM’s success hinges on their ability to find a way to take more control their features in their phones and to lead with the ‘killer’ and forget the fragmentation product line business model. That day of smart phone market dominance has passed.
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