BlackBerry 8xxx = BlackBerry 9000?

It seems that we were extremely enthusiastic, much-too-happily excited, somewhat disappointed, and possibly destroyed when news broke that Research In Motion would be releasing the next BlackBerry as yet another 8000 series device, delaying the eventual birth-by-hatching of the 9000 series legacy.

Well, it appears that our previous information announcing the full specifications of the BlackBerry 9000, featuring only 2.5G EDGE technology, has been updated to include UMTS and HSDPA support. This is official information from RIM. As if it weren’t indicative from the Vodafone slides featured on this website a couple weeks ago that the carrier did not have finalized information for the 3G BlackBerry device due out in Q2, it is now apparent the feature device likely to be launched at the Wireless Enterprise Symposium 2008 will be the BlackBerry 9000 as opposed to another BlackBerry 8000 series release. Sorry for those reporting it as the BlackBerry 8500 or BlackBerry 8920.

With that said, we’d like to make note of one more announcement from this crop of new information received. A new era of OS has now been introduced into the Waterloo storyline – version 5.0.0. Excited yet? We thought so. We foresee the BlackBerry 9000 launching with OS 4.3.2, as previously reported on BGR, but will have an update to OS 5.0.0 by the end of the year. Our early bets are on November. As mentioned previously with regards to OS 4.3.2 and future legacy devices, the new version will be supported on the 8100, 8300 and 8800 series handhelds, with the highly acclaimed 8700 series being retired after the upcoming OS 4.3.1 release. Unfortunately, as this new OS is literally only a couple days young, we cannot speculate on potential features and enhancements that will be present when it’s finally launched.

28 Responses to “BlackBerry 8xxx = BlackBerry 9000?”

  1. 1
    Jacob says:

    do the specs stand? 3G, Camera, Wifi, GPS, Bluetooth?

    This will be my next phone if the specs stand……OS 5.0 doesn’t hurt either

    WES is only 18 weeks away! ( :(

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  2. 2
    Ben Kessler says:

    Ah why can’t we get a simultaneous CDMA release? I am really sick of Verizon not having a full-QWERTY BB with camera. Don’t get me wrong, I love my 8830 but would really like a camera.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  3. 3
    victor says:

    Nice??? So what is the deal exactly, is this device(pictured) the 8xxx or is it being rebranded as the 9000. I am looking forward to it but might have to actually wait for it with another device. Now I have a question to anyone who cares to answer. If you could choose between the ATT Tilt or the 8310 which would you choose… or would you just wait and pray they release the 8xxx(if thats coming out) soon? As the 9000 seems will take a while?

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  4. 4
    Sean says:

    Yeah, am kinda unclear what the story is here.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  5. 5

    The story is that the device floating around isn’t a BlackBerry 8000 series. It’s going to be called the BlackBerry 9000. And that it’s coming with the 4.3.2 OS, not OS 5.0.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  6. 6
    Jeff says:

    I buy all the new releases but might pass on this one. Just doesn’t do it for me.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  7. 7
    morty says:

    looks ok

    a bit fat

    needs to be a little more sexy

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  8. 8
    Jeff B. says:

    Victor,
    If you want to wait and see what the 9000 is like you can otherwise you should definitely pick up a Tilt.

    This does seem intriguing and I’m all for it but I don’t know about the look, I like the Curve better. Maybe they could take all the new specs. and everything for the 9000 and just put it in the Curve’s body??? Like an incredibly smart model?

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  9. 9
    Joeie says:

    Yea a little fat but… i don’t mind it. The vadaphone device doesn’t look like those same pics. why is that?

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  10. 10
    blah says:

    If 5.0 doesn’t introduce a browser better than or equal to the iPhone browser, then it’s doomed to just being yet-another-enterprise BB. The bars been raised RIM, and the days of slipping under it are over.

    Shouldn’t be that hard to do. The base of both the nokia and iphone browsers are both based on open source web-kit, and should be a breeze to port to BB.

    p*sses me off everytime I try using RIM browser. Very rarely does a page render properly.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  11. 11
    DFG says:

    Well at least it is better then nothing….I was looking forward to a touch screen….

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  12. 12
    phoneking13 says:

    So appromimately is this coming out?

    Particuarly a T-Mobile version?

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  13. 13
    Loso says:

    Blah, blah, blah… All these BB updates really never do anything but recycle the same info ya’ll been spitting for over a year now. Come w/ some quality information or just zip BG.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  14. 14
    Greg says:

    is it wider tyhan the 8320 i love the TMo 8700 wide big screen

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  15. 15
    CarBob says:

    Thanks Jibi for this interesting and intriguing information.

    By the way, do you know of a firm date as to when the CDMA Curve will be released? And which OS it will have? Thanks.

    - CB

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  16. 16
    b.N says:

    I was excited until I realized I am on T-mobile.. who knows when we’ll be up to bat. Hopefully I’ll be selling my 8320 & GPS puck by summer’s end. Craiglist + NYC listing = Same day BB Sale.

    Thanks, Jibi!

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  17. 17
    DaveB says:

    Agreed, blah blah blah. No news hear, just more conjecture.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  18. 18
    BB4Life says:

    Another BS story that everyone fell for from BG. I think I sent out a previous email to BG mentioning the next-gen BB with a touch screen but it went un noticed and unpublished. It will be something similiar to the voyager sporting an HD screen and a slide out keyboard.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  19. 19
    whatsgoodjosh says:

    is it for cdma(verizon)

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  20. 20
    sean76 says:

    Why do so many of you blast BG when he brings info to light! The device is in it’s infancy stage right now, any info is better then none! Keep it up BG, and ignore the clowns with nothing good to say. As for the device itself, looks pretty hot! If it drops with 3G, it will definitely replace my Curve!!!

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  21. 21
    Josph Roan says:

    Impressed with the quality of Device

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  22. 22
    Rob says:

    why would anyone listen to jibi? he is a loser. he starts wars and thinks his crap dont stink. people like him need to be dealt with.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  23. 23
    ppcmd says:

    Its not the device we see today that matters its what the device holds for us when its released. If the engineering sample shown is real then its pretty clear that RIM has the ability to pack everything you need into one single BB. I for one would like that BB.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  24. 24
    Jerry C says:

    It looks like they’ve done away with the charging contacts on the back.

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

  25. 25
    takeshi says:

    On Jan 19, 2008 @ 1:08 pm, Ben Kessler Said:
    Ah why can’t we get a simultaneous CDMA release?

    Why aren’t you asking Verizon?

    Thumb up Thumb down 0

Leave a Reply