WiFi Blackberry approved by the FCC
Yesterday, the FCC put their official stamp and go-ahead on a WiFi Blackberry (pause to let readers rejoice). Though not the biggest surprise in the world, as we all knew it was coming, but what is a touch surprising is that the BB in question, and that was approved, was of the 88XX-series variety, not the 83XX that many have predicted. The handheld was approved for the GSM 850/1900 band in the US, and we all know that RIM has planned a WiFi ‘Berry by the end of the year. The plot thickens…
Sveet. I like.
I thought so, now if you can only give an idea of an actual release date.
You would think that this would be available for the entire 8800 family. CDMA comes in last again. I did not think that the keyboard was too bad on the 8800.
so another step closer to the 8820… at last
good news but the browser on the BB is horrible so I would like to see an updated browser with the wifi.
Hopefully they’ll include 3G too!!!
Given that the handset was only approved for the 850 and 1900 Mhz bands (and not anything on the 1700 or 2100 Mhz bands), it doesn’t look like it will have anything more than EDGE.
here we go now all the iPhone haters can rejoice and brag about their wifi blackberry with no 3g and a CRAPPY browser!
@eJay so you got one, who says whe don’t have a browser upgrade on the way? But for now enjoy the moment, we shall overcome… all together now we shall overcome…
Can you say the first data to be launched for Tmobile @ home!?
So this begs the question… up until now, I haven’t seen BGR showcase the WiFi-enabled 8800 in the gallery here but we have seen the WiFi-enabled 8300 series (that was apparently sporting the T-Mobile Zen theme.)
Does this mean that the 8800 series will be the first release with WiFi? Or did the 8300 already get the FCC blessing?
I’m just confused. I heard about the 8800 with WiFi via Engadget, I believe… but we’ve already seen images of the 8300. I’m not at all really concerned about WiFi, but do want to get my hands on the 8300 with it if it does end up on T-Mobile.
@
Ejay perhaps you should become a bit more familiar with the specs on your phone….no 3g and although the browser is less than desired its guaranteed the blackberry is in a realm of its own. All in all read then comment. Thanks.
Even so, I’m elated to see the 88@@ series come out with wi-fi. This will definately be a welcome departure from slow speeds on edge.
@ Ejay
You do know you can install mini Opera browser on BlackBerry right?
wifi is great for mobile phones. business travelers will like it. when u r at a hotel with no cell coverage, if hotel has wifi u can get some work done!
i sent a tip about this long ago that there was a wifi varient of the 8800. People at my work have it and AT&T will be carrying this sucker.
I read up on the FCC’s website about the approval of the RIM Wi-Fi device and found something interesting about the documents (link included below) sent to the FCC for approval. The ‘external’ and ‘internal’ pictures as well as the ‘user’s manuals’ included in the report sent to the FCC were all placed on short-term confindential status until August 20, 2007!
Could we be expecting something sooner than September???
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Sum&calledFromFrame=N&RequestTimeout=500&application_id=794698&fcc_id=‘L6ARBG40GW
oh and I found the site for that information from phonescoop and looked through the directories of each frequencey approved by the FCC and found that listing of what the reported included for the 5320 Mhz.
Here’s the initial link from phonescoop.com
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearchResult.cfm?RequestTimeout=30
During the investor’s conference call Jim mentioned a nice little hint that 3G is coming for the BlackBerry by the end of the year:
“We support all the different air links out there. UMTS is one of the things you could expect to see more from us. HSDPA… This might be more winterish than autumnish.”
Source
So eJay, will you be downloading a 3G radio for your new toy too?
What’s the point of WiFi if you have to get a data plan anyways?
Let me guess… T(rash)-Mobile will get it six months after AT&T…Like everything else…
I don’t understand why you would want wi-fi on a blackberry? what would be the point? the browser sorta-stinks, 3G data would be so much more useful, you can’t send attachemments in email-
what would wi-fi give you?
Seriously i cant wait.Ill get it the first day it comes out.
My NAR for TMO is already push the 8320 for September and has been for a couple weeks.
@All who think I was dissin’ the Blackberrys. Its a GREAT phone for email but even with Opera Mini and every other browser it is TOO small to see. You go blind seeing it. Plus to whoever mentioned 3G, who CARES about 3G. You get almost no talk time on the phone and with wifi who needs it.
@Erica – Listen honey, I know more about cell phones then you know about “that time of the month” So go clean or cook or something…
yeah, who needs 3G if you have wifi…cause im sure we all sit within a wireless network at all times.
The fact is some of us need to be able to teather our phones to laptops at any given moment (im a network engineer who is almost always on call) and NOT have the overhead of a VPN connection destroy the tiny amount of bandwidth that AT&T’s EDGE network has to offer. I would kill to have a blackberry with 3G. im not a phone/gadget fanatic, i use it for very practical purposes. trying to surf the web on a phone with any size screen is crazy to me (outside the occasional googling of something, which my blackberry gets that job done fine). i need 3G for my laptop, and i want wifi because we’re finally starting to see the ability to jump off the cell network and onto a wifi network for phone calls (something at&t has been telling me about for almost a year and tmobile just released).
so yes, a blackberry with wifi is useful
and yes, a blackberry with 3G is useful
im glad rim is releasing a phone with wifi; seems like they’re moving in the right direction. Until RIM lets out a phone with 3G AND wifi, I’ll probably stick to my pearl even though it doesnt accommodate either of what i REALLY want. i considered an iPhone, but it’s out of the question since it doesnt have the wireless sync capabilities of a blackberry (no, im not talking about email, im talking full exchange sync…calendar,contacts including GAL lookup, memos, tasks, etc.)
my 2 cents….