BlackBerry Pearl 2 series matures into 8110, 8120, 8130
A few months ago, we broke news of a Wi-Fi-enabled Pearl successor that would be available sometime around a September time frame. To expand on that news a bit, it appears that Research In Motion will also possibly debut an 8110 model. It can be easily found that RIM owns both the blackberry8110.com and blackberry8120.com domains, in addition to the blackberry8130.com (although ownership is hidden by CSC/Register.com, RIM’s registrar of choice).
Anyhow, much of the same means that were used to gather information concerning the move to OS 4.3.0 as a potential next step, this news was also gathered through those means, courtesy of RIM’s own publicly-accessible website (hey, can’t beat free public information from the source, eh?). The obvious question now would be: What exactly will the 8110 model offer that’s not available in the current Pearl and won’t be found in the 8120 model? Well, one thing is for sure, it won’t have Wi-Fi. I can only guess it will include the 2.0 megapixel camera upgrade, as well as everything else within the 8120 model.
The 8130 model, which should see the light of day someday or another, will be the long-rumored CDMA BlackBerry Pearl. Expect the bells and whistles, and likely RIM’s second entry into the ‘World Edition’ arena.
To take a stab a bit further, I’ll predict the 8120 debuting on T-Mobile, taking advantage of their UMA technology and HotSpot@Home service offering, while the rest of the world, including Cingular, will get their paws on the 8110 Wi-Fi-less model. And to further this, both devices will debut the birth of OS 4.3.0, right in time to take advantage of some new features that will debut with BES 4.1.4, which is set for later this month, and T-Mobile’s eventual wide launch of the long-awaited UMA services..
Anyone remember the days of RIM’s device release model of "less is more" (both release schedule and total devices) and the longing for a more Nokia or Motorola-like company with a multitude of devices that do the same thing under the hood but look slightly different to the naked eye? Welcome to the new RIM, a consumer-friendly company that continues to confuse the crap out of their customers.
I just thought about this earlier today that verzion dropped the ball by not launching the pearl earlier this year, oh well at least I will get teh 8130 when it drops later this year.
BG –
Any idea when the 8130 will be available on Verizon?
I think the part of my post that said “which should see the light of day someday or another” may answer your questions concerning when VZW will release the 8130. If we knew more information at the time of publishing an article (and that information may come tomorrow or the next day), then we’d cover that in the original piece.
what about 8130 on alltel?
BG a question…
Me having the pearl 8100 i do not see an importance of upgrading to those “pearl’s” taht being said… Any info on the 9xxx(suretype)… I know in an interview that you had with BB cool you talk vaguely about that series… can you be more specific on that … http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/01/15/blackberry-8800-9xxx-series/
What cingular will be wifi-less that just wrong. They really need to get on the ball. Oh how was the launch party BG? Well let’s hope they change their mind. Tmo should not be enjoying the love wi-fi!
BG what have you heard about why it is taking so long for Rimm and Blackberry to get wifi in there products while Nokia and Apple have supported from day one.
Hey BG
Did anyone besides me notice that Jibi posted this, not BG?
Nope…just you.
lol!
I mean to each his own, but I cant personally stand Suretype. I think its horrible why not just get a curve? Ohh no WiFi I get it.
(Again with the Wifi on a Blackberry with the browser they have…ugh..)
Why has it taken so long to get a BB with camera and suretype on the CDMA platform? I just don’t understand that there are that fewer BB users on CDMA. Anyone have access to user counts across providers?
AT&T Cingular are not responding to me about the new Pearl 8120 after I emailed them. I just hope the new Pearl isn’t all light plastic like the flimsy Pearl 8100, which feels very cheap. I cant believe BlackBerry would make such a flimsy non-durable device. Maybe then next gen will get it right.
any idea on the 8130 release date for alltel?