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!
Verizon is 3g speed, it is just not called that. But you have meant Wifi, i do not know
As I read over these comments I can clearly see why our country is in deep trouble. So much parsing of each word. So much fussing. Get a life, I am finished reading this drivel. There are some excellent comments. However, most of you should use your 3G or non 3G or EVDO REV a phones to call your mom or nearest loved one and tell them that you have serious problems and need counseling…. Quickly
woah is this trackball white now?? i was excited for the black one so it wont get gross and dirty looking… any one know for sure what color it will be??
^This is the problem RIM faces with going after the Consumer market. So many get a Blackberry, not realizing that it is, at its core, a business machine. No wonder there are so many knee-jerk kids spewing about how bad the Storm, 8900, or Bold is because it’s not Flavor of the Week feature phone. Something tells me that not a single one of them operate off a BES.
How are you guys so certain it will have WI-FI?
TYPO:
“It has the same 480×320 screen resolution as the bold”
Yet the specs you listed underneath says
“480×360 LCD”
The screen in the picture is closer to curve 8900’s ratio than the bold’s.
Will Sprint get this phone?
I like the Bold color and styling. Hate the curve styling. Can’t imagine a hybrid with curved corners being anything but tired Curve styling.
Who’s making the design decisions for VZ? Come into the 21st century PLEASE
Laura
The first blackberry 3G device was the 8707.
3G IS UMTS. Saying EVDO Rev IS 3G is just plain incorrect.
For sure the carriers push for no Wifi, and will subsidize more for something that doesnt have Wifi. This is where a manufacture has a dilemma; either get more sales from the consumer who will by something for wifi, or the consumer who will buy because of a cheaper price (from a greater carrier subsidy due to no wifi).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3g
“3G” is any 3rd generation technology based on the IMT-2000 standard, not just UMTS. There are currently at least 5-6 radios that fall under this category. CDMA2000 1x EV-DO is one of them.
any new info on avalability? I wanna get rid of my 6800!
So, no touchscreen?
So do we think this “Niagara” being a CDMA device will also offer global roaming on GSM networks?
(Will it be a “world phone” like the Storm?)
In response to fan_of_fanboys…. What do you think Rev A EVDO is??? Duh
In response to Maxpayne79…. What do you think Rev A EVDO is??? Duh
To those saying that Verizon is afraid to offer Wifi, I currently have a phone I bought from VZW and it’s has wifi. It’s the Samsung i760. I also have the data plan. So, I say all of that to say that VZW is not opposed to offering Wifi on their phones. Kill the misinformation!
The WiFi issue is RIM’s choice. VZW has other phones with WiFi. Samsung Omnia for one.
EVDO Rev-A is 3G.
4.6. 4.7 has gotta be a typo, that is the touch screen OS.
Are you joking? You already have the Bold, this is a variation on that and is CDMA so no AT&T wont get it.
EV-DO is verizons version of 3G
U guys keep repeating shit on here u r fucking stupid and it’s really getting annoying LOL.
I was told that verizon will be coming out with a touch screen blackberry but it will also have the keyboard below…any info
Hey guys,
I just got a Niagara, and I registered it with Verizon here in the US. I have 2 problems:
1) My camera doesn’t work. The application doesn’t run.
2) 85% of my ring tones don’t work either.
Any suggestions on how to fix this? Thank you very much.
this is really annoying because the release date was said in the begining of May and it still hasnt came out yet. Fustrating because I want to know if it really is coming in May so i know to wait for it or get the curve. I dont want to purchase the curve then have the new one come out a couple weeks later. That would suck big time.