BlackBerry 8820 launching on AT&T next week?
July, or August? There have mumblings for a while, heck even an official press release, but now our good ole’ insider information starts to surface again. It has been told to us that there is a high possibility of the BlackBerry 8820 launching on AT&T in the next week or so. the handset pricing should be $299 with a 2 year agreement, and the current BlackBerry 8800 "will be phased out immediately with upcoming promotions." Apparently AT&T has told sales persons to not bring up WiFi unless specifically asked about it. Other rumors have pointed to an August release which might make more sense, but "next week" is floating around inner AT&T corporate offices. For all you negative ones out there, a completely different tipster has told us that he "saw an internal AT&T training document yesterday that showed the BlackBerry 8820 as exclusive to AT&T and available in "August". Poor T-Mobile. We will soon find out!
On Jul 20, 2007 @ 2:38 pm, Avi Said:
You know, im wondering when Tmobile is going to get some love. I mean they arent bad! Sheesh, why cant tmobile strike these good deals?
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 2:39 pm, mickeyp Said:
am I the only one that thinks this is worthless? Other than using something like the Tmobile @home service I think the BB browsers are too slow to make the wifi worth the investment. I would not pay more for a wifi blackberry but if it was included ten ok but i see nothing worth paying for.
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 2:47 pm, victor Said:
Since the Kraiser has hit the release rumor mill I would rather get that one. But I will also live this phone. Now let me know when the other (Kraiser) will come out or maybe even 9xxx.
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 2:57 pm, Bullfrog184 Said:
so, i guess the 8820 is going to beat the q9 & kaiser to the shelf, huh?
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 3:02 pm, eJay Said:
@ mickeyp - I totally agree with you. Same browser theres ABSOLUTELY no point in having WiFi…
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 3:04 pm, Jibi Said:
From my understanding of the Wi-Fi devices, I agree with you whole-heartedly about AT&T getting the exclusive for the BlackBerry 8820. Perhaps this is to satisfy their customers who wanted Wi-Fi capabilities? Considering they’re likely releasing the 8310 and 8110 at some point sooner than later, along with a rumored 3G device by the end of the year, I’m baffled as to why they’d release a UMA-capable device for it’s Wi-Fi data connectivity only.
For T-Mobile customers, where UMA is now available across the board, it makes a LOT of sense. Some rough statistics show that people actually use their cellular devices rather than their desk phones (Avaya, Cisco PBX systems) for making calls. From this standpoint, if the WLAN environment is built out to accommodate the extra load that would be placed on it for voice calls from Wi-Fi devices, then paying $10/mo for an unlimited outbound calling may make a lot of sense for some companies.
In all honesty, I think UMA is going to be one of those ‘either they get it or don’t get it’ ideas that succeeds or flops. The jury is still out until more compatible devices are released. The main reason for T-Mobile jumping on the technology is to further increase their marketability against companies with established copper and fiber penetration for traditional POTS lines (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint).
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 3:07 pm, Jibi Said:
P.S. - The Wireless Browser, when connected to a Wi-Fi network, is very fast, but you’re still limited to the faux-HTML parsing of the BlackBerry Browser.
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 3:17 pm, TJ Said:
Why is everyone so hyped about the 8820? Its the same as the 8800 but with WiFi! Nothing more. Same design. T-Mobile will get the 8320, which is the Curve as AT&T calls it, but T-Mobile’s version will have the @Home service and Wi-Fi enabled.
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 3:18 pm, victor Said:
Well said Jibi and eJay but does this translate to the Opera mini? Or any other similar 3rd party product. If there is no change then would a WM device really be more effective than a BB?
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 3:19 pm, jericho Said:
BG: When will the 8320 be released? Will T-Mobile get it? Who cares about 8820…the 8320 is what I am waiting for
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 3:25 pm, ALEXANDER GRAY Said:
WHAT ABOUT WIFI BLACKBERRY CURVE!?
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 4:03 pm, David Said:
thats what i want
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 4:22 pm, john Said:
TJ - would you know by any chance when the 8320 would come out on tmobile? thats all i really want
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 4:24 pm, mickeyp Said:
I’m going to say that the wifi craze with blackberries will die unless they get a better browser.
I dont care how fat the wifi is the device cannot go much faster that it is going now.
There is a bottleneck in the device & browser that will kill the speed of the wifi. Same goes for whatever Curve BB, same issue will plague it.
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 5:34 pm, bpdunsta Said:
I don’t get the obsession with WiFi. Maybe it’s because I don’t use hotspots. When I’m in my house and I need something fast, I use my always -on PC. When I’m away from home, I’m not trying to do anything hard core enough to require WiFi connectivity.
I would much rather see a 3G BlackBerry.
Just my $0.02…..
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 6:08 pm, JJLO Said:
I just want a 3G blackberry also. That will get me to move to AT&T. Because we know Sprint will not get one even though they have the network.
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 6:48 pm, Big C Said:
I was looking to get this as my first smart phone, but I suppose that if the device is plagued by a browser problem there really isn’t a point. Although there aren’t any semi-affordable wi-fi choices left, unless the Moto Q9 happens to be wi-fi…is it’s browser fast?
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On Jul 20, 2007 @ 6:56 pm, TJ Said:
8320 for T-Mobile is slated for release very late August/early September.
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On Jul 21, 2007 @ 1:04 am, CarBob Said:
Jibi,
In your 3:04 pm post of July 20th, you mention a BlackBerry 8310 and a BlackBerry 8110. What features will these models have?
Have I missed something? I wasn’t aware of these models. Has your source at RIM told you something that is not commonly known? Please advise. Thanks.
CarBob
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On Jul 21, 2007 @ 1:22 am, ozziedog Said:
I’m still trying to learn all the in’s and out’s, is WiFi only for data transmission? Will it help like the old roaming on Cingular/AT&T for voice transmission? If not I will keep my 8700 and wait for something better from RIM. If there is something better coming.
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On Jul 21, 2007 @ 9:19 am, bbrim Said:
I’am not happy aboyt the 8320 for tmobile because it has no gps and most of my clients will not let you in the building with a camera device. That’s why cingular having the exclusive on this kinda sucks. TJ could you please lock down that detail. Is it really a cingular exclusive and what wifi phone should we expect from t-mobile?
By the way I agree with the browser but did not the BG report a new browser underdevelopment for the berry. I think a firmware upgrade should take care of that. I figure by December/Jan when new devices are released we should start seeing the new browser and the spell check go standard.
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On Jul 22, 2007 @ 2:31 am, dude Said:
im honestly leaving t mobile if this phone does not come out with them. first it was 8800, then curve, and then iphone and now still t mobile wont be selling the 8820. bye bye t mobile
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On Jul 23, 2007 @ 9:57 pm, jay Said:
thts wat i did 2 dude, left t mobile 4 the ATT’s curve..and its awesome!!
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On Jul 24, 2007 @ 1:32 pm, Chris Said:
I heard T-mobile is getting the Curve or 8320 on Sept. 7th!
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On Jul 24, 2007 @ 1:33 pm, Chris Said:
oh and it’s supposed to have Wi-Fi and a 3 MP camera
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