RIM working on LTE BlackBerry for release when LTE is deployed?
Not wanting to be extremely late to the show like they were with 3G devices for GSM networks (bringing up painful memories, anyone?), the folks over at RIM HQ recently decided to create a work team that’s been specifically entrusted with the task of creating an LTE BlackBerry. The intention of the RIM execs is to have an LTE BlackBerry ready at approximately the same time that LTE begins worldwide deployment, something that could come as early as late 2009 if Motorola has their way. Motorola’s seemingly overly zealous ambitions aside, 2011 is the year when LTE is generally expected to be available with the major carriers of the world. In case some of you are wondering what the hell LTE is, it’s also known as 4G network technology and is the heir to 3G and 3.5G networks. Think of it as an IP-based network in which voice and data connections are streamed together without distinction and are broadcasted through a ridiculously fast connection that has up to four-times the efficiency at delivering data-packets than the 3.5G networks of today. As with all of our scoops, we’ll be sure to keep monitoring this situation and keep you updated with the latest news.
Thanks SaxMan!
Wow, what a scoop there Michael! In other amazing scoop news, I hear that RIM is also working on longer battery life. And Apple is working on the third iPhone
BBSE has had a team in place for a few months now. Quite low on the priority list as well.
So,does that mean I just wasted some money on a G1 at 3G speeds when I could’a/would’a/should’a have waited a little longer for a 4G…?
How about working on making all your GSM products 3G??
Interesting. This may bode well for T-mobile USA which has also decided to bypass 3.5g and move straight to LTE.
Could be a smart move on tmobile’s part. They are missing out on all the 3g, but a move straight to LTE could bring them a shitload of customers.
In other news, Night will fall later today, and Christmas will come on Dec 25th. Seriously, how is this news?
Ip-Based Network, huh? How that gonna coincide with IPv6? Or are the carriers planning on rocking dymanics to everyone?
LOL at all the sarcasm in this one
The only carrier looking at an 4G launch anytime soon is VZW who has committed to rollout in 2010, the rest will be rolling out later than that, AT&T has committed to LTE rollout 5yrs down the road so get ready =)!
So my next Blackberry purchase will be the “Niagara” and it looks like my next Blackberry AFTER that will be LTE. Awesome.
@Markk:
Of course VZW will have the best/soonest/whatever 4G network too. I’m definitely looking forward to it.
Hell, at this rate, I might have faster internet speeds on my phones in 2010 than at my home.
This is news? It would be news if they were NOT developing an LTE Blackberry.
That said, what about 4G that you can have NOW (in Detroit or Baltimore)? WiMax is live, and will be growing fast and widely deployed before the first USA LTE towers even start going up. Or does RIM not care since its Sprint? I betcha there’s and Android WiMax device in the pipes (what with Google’s millions invested in Clearwire).
Sprint is losing a million customers a quarter. Literally. A MILLION A QUARTER. For those of you that can’t do math at home, that’s 4 million customers per year that Sprint loses.
Meanwhile, VZW and AT&T combine for close to 160 million customers, a number that is only going up at this point.
Where do you think handset manufacturers are going to focus their investment?
Moving right along, here’s another thing we can all hope for: an LTE chip in the CDMA iPhone. While we’re at it, maybe VZW will force Apple to support MMS and maybe even copy&paste. Maybe by then (2010? 2011?) the background notification system for iPhone will be live. Who knows, right?
What does LTE stand for?
@David_uk
LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. it’s the “Successor” radio technology to UMTS (3G). It will be better, faster, stonger, etc.
Will current 3G phones be able to be upgraded to LTE (ie, the BB STORM?) OR, will I have to buy an LTE-enabled STORM again in a year or so?!
You get to buy a new device that can support LTE. Currently, there are no commercially available handsets that can use (what will be) LTE. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t recall a specific LTE device even announced.
Fortunately, this will provide a good “excuse” to buy a new phone when the time comes
@Dennis
The radio tech for 3G and LTE is different enough that the Likelihood is no.
I’m sure that by then, RIM will have something better available once the LTE Networks are up and running.
@James & Randy — thanks, that’s what I figured would be the answer.
Oh well, you’re right, this will give me a good “reason” to tell my wife that I HAVE to have that new phone (whatever it is)….hahaha
C’mon now shit, this is the breaking news story of the month, give the author a break why don’t ya
As much as the rampant sarcasm is warranted, in fact, needed, I do believe this is actually significant considering 3g has been around for years on both gsm and cdma, and RIM is just now getting a 3g blackberry out for those gsm networks? Think they’ve learned something from the catastrophe that is the bold?
“Think they’ve learned something from the catastrophe that is the bold?”
The Bold was only a catastrophe because RIM was rushed and pressured by AT&T and their big contract (and I assume lots of $$$) to release a 3G device that they weren’t accustomed (or ready?) to releasing. The device hit market before RIM had time to fully fix all the issues that go along with using their OS on a 3g network (with a new flashy OS as well).
Now that they’ve had time to finesse and patch out most of the issues, the Bold really isn’t a bad device. Do keep in mind though it is still their first attempt at a 3G device.
(and frankly, for business purposes [the intent of the BlackBerry] you don’t need 3G anyway)
Planning ahead for LTE is the best thing they can do, avoiding their previous mistakes of rushing out the Bold.
Great news but i’m surprised Verizon is not mentioned rather the worldwide LTE rollout of LTE. Verizon will be the first to rollout LTE.