Upcoming Verizon news: BlackBerry Niagara, Hub updates, Netbooks, Apex
One of our trusty ninjas just hit us up with a couple details on some of Verizon’s upcoming products and product offerings. First off.. Netbooks. We’ve been told that Verizon Wireless will 100% start selling Netbooks in stores around May of this year. The first one looks to be a 10-inch HP Mini which should go for $99 on a 2-year agreement (with BroadbandAccess plan). On a related note, we’ve been told that AT&T is in the process of setting this up as well (selling Netbooks in stores).
The hate-it-or-love-it Verizon Hub home phone will be getting an upgrade to enable streaming radio on or around February 22nd.
There’s a new feature for Verizon Wireless subscribers rolling out called Media Manager. What we’re told this does is enable you to backup all your ringtones, games, and phone content to one location for free as long as you use the My Account feature online. Basically think of it as a free backup assistant, rumored to be rolling out momentarily.
The BlackBerry Apex (BlackBerry 8230) we’re told was removed from Verizon’s data devices road map. Our contact doesn’t know why or what it possibly means, but he said it either means it is coming very soon (likely) or not being released at all (unlikely).
Finally, the BlackBerry Niagara. We showed you the first photo of it, and it turns out it is pretty much spot on. We do have some more information, however. You can definitely think of it as a cross between the Bold and the Curve 8900. It’s bigger than the Curve, but smaller than the Bold. It has the same 480×320 screen resolution as the bold, and thankfully we’re told rocks the same processor as well (624MHz CPU). Lastly, it runs the 4.6 OS but you didn’t really need us to tell you that. In terms of release date, you’re going to be a little disappointed — we don’t have one. We were originally told by our original tipster that the Niagara would launch in May of ‘09 on Verizon, and darn it, that looks pretty accurate. When we have something confirmed, we’ll obviously share that news. Below is a recap of the information we reported on the Niagara when we broke the news:
- “Large screen family”
- QWERTY keyboard
- 480×360 LCD
- EV-DO Rev. A
- aGPS
- 3.2 megapixel camera
- 4.7 OS platform
- BES 5.0 support (HTML email, etc)
- Qualcomm MSM7600 processor
Pretty good, eh?
Thanks, NotHTCKid!
THANK YOU. Best news I’ve heard all year..I was thinking about switching to ATT for a bold but looks like Verizon is finally catching on.
Now if they could add wifi to blackberries..
I’m really curious as to how these netbooks will do? Could they replace the smart phone altogether? And I heard Apple’s Tablet Pc is actually going to be a netbook? And what are the specs on the netbooks?
May be going from this storm if they don’t start
Fixing thungs with real is update
Instead of leaked ones.
so no 3g eh?
that’s a shame.
You say OS 4.6 in one place and 4.7 in another. Which is it?
GIMMIE!
As long as theres THREADED SMS!!!
Also, PLEASE RIM!, I plead.. make BBIM add contacts more smartly. please.
Shazam
ShopSavvy
you know… hop to it, k?
it’s listed as containing EV-DO Rev. A which is certainly 3G, but it IS disappointing to see no wifi if that’s what you meant.
Waaait … No wifi ?
Its EVDO Rev-A. That’s 3G man.
@ David Thande
Where did apple come into this? For the record Apple has said Netbooks are a waste of time.
As for replacing smartphones, smartphones will replace laptops if anything. That’s of course my opinion, but will increased functionality and processing power in time, they will become more like a “computer in your pocket.”
As for the Niagra, hopefully it has GPS and WiFi like the Bold.
I’m just curious does verizon have that uma capability ?
It’ll kill it for me if Niagara doent have it and The 8900 does.
So is it 3G or not?
Whaa??…”Lastly, it runs the 4.6 OS but you didn’t really need us to tell you that.” – Then why do you list “4.7 OS Platform” in the spec list?!?
Maybe the netbook guys will keep making them smaller until their also in the handheld market.
It looked like it could go the other way with that old massive HTC Athena.
Friggin copy cats. Verizon has the curve and the storm which is a 3g phone. The javeelin, or excuse me “niagra”, doesn’t. Plus the storm is touch screen. Who would give that up? So why the heck does Verizon need the 8900 when it’s not 3g? Un-friggin-believeable!!!
Sorry, meant to say javelin and niagara.
Touch screens are the future, not these!
i think Verizon is afraid of loosing customers if they offer wifi… just think free data if ya kinda cheap or just wanna save an extra 30 for data… wells that’s at&t’s price… the 30 is well worth it… Now for 3g… Maybe their towers are not equipped for wide spread 3g yet… Like at&t We’re all over… but hey what do i know… AT&T was the first one’s to offer a 3G Berry Device… It dude it’s tight…
first of all it is 3g (evdo revA)
also quadband edge and 2100 hsdpa (same radios as storm)
and this is javelin/bold for the cdma carriers
Evdo rev a is 3g.
Am I missing something? What do you guys think EVDO is? The 8130, 8330, and 8830 all had EVDO, VZ’s 3G. This and the Storm have EVDO Rev A (faster 3G). Just because VZ didn’t put it in the commercial doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Also, VZ isn’t losing any data customers if they add wifi onto their BB’s because the require all BB’s purchased to have a data plan.
The amazing number of stupid post on this one thread is amazing
“It doesn’t have 3G? Bummer”
Morons.
I was so amazed I said it twice. Flame away.
Will the Niagara have Wifi?
The Niagara WILL have wi-fi. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.
it looks like the same size as the storm