BlackBerry 8520’s hitting T-Mobile in Q4
We just got some hands on time with the now infamous BlackBerry 8520 (code-named Gemini). Optical trackball? Ooooh yeah. While there hasn’t been too much time to play with them, early impressions are definitely fitting in with what CrackBerry reported; real solid feel and the optical trackball is awesome and makes your brand new BlackBerry feel outdated. Literally. It makes what you have feel primitive. We’ve been able to confirm the handset is going to hit T-Mobile USA in Q4 of this year, obviously don’t have a price yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see this device hit one of those “BlackBerry In A Box” thingamajigs. It’s definitely aimed at the low-cost/emerging market segment, so it’s a bit odd T-Mobile USA will carry it out the gate, but hey, the more BlackBerry users the better, right?
Thanks, Brian!
1st !!! Have @ it T.Mo !!!
love it, but the low rez screen? wtf
put the innards of the 8900 in (i’m not even asking for 3g here) and I’m a buyer
also rimm, if you are reading this, make a hsdpa niagra and put os 5.0 on it. done. then focus on your os for god sakes, bis blows nuts too. 2 way sync for gmail now!
I hope the start pushing this optical trackball into the high end devices right away.
I dig the current trackball, from a usage standpoint. However, moving parts, especially with the play of these trackballs, are just asking for a short life.
whats the difference between this and the new javelin? besides the all important optical trackball. this is what happens when a company becomes content on w their sucess-they get lazy-look at wes no storm 2 or magnum nothing but this peice of junk
I’ve read somewhere that palying brickbreaker isn’t a smooth ride with the trackpad. So there you have your “con”
Wait, wat?
A new Berry with a low-res screen and an advanced optical trackball? WTF?
RIM is turning into Microsoft, where they put together all sorts of different crap that has bits and pieces of things people want, but never put them all together in one device.
joecurve=joetour?
@O.man
1st to claim that you are a “QDB” congrats.
I’m a bit dissapointed that the Bold doesn’t have the optical trackball. Next gen bold will be insane, god knows when it will drop though
@ M
yes
Damn you sprint! Each carrier has gotten a new blackberry and is on their way to a second and sprint has gotten none. No cdma love.
where the hell is my 3g blackberry tmobile stop wasting time on this bulls*it ass phone
Tmobile? At&t! Highjack it!!
I second that Veks… RIM needs to send some CDMA love Sprints way. Not that I don’t still love my 8330 but I’m starting to get a lil’ jealous here…
Yeah I’ll DEFINITELY be Passing on this Mockery of a Blackberry Innards and Hold off for the Driftwood, a “Proper” 3G Blackberry for T-Mobile that may or may not have a Touchscreen to boot.
Too bad because it looks really sleek although I still prefer the 8900’s style way more.
Chill out NERDS! This device isn’t for you!!!
I think this would be a great way for T-Mobile to generate ARPU and cater to the prepaid crowd.
T-Mobile will need a game changing differentiator to its lineup.
If they are the first out the gate to offer a very competitive BlackBerry in a Box offering nationwide, it ought to be a hot seller.
All the better if it works off WiFi.
I agree Daniel. Glad to see there is someone else on this board who sees reality.
Another sidepoint I’d like to bring out is that the launch of the 8520 doesn’t mean there will not be 3G enabled BB’s for T-Mo later this year or in the future.
All this is will be another revenue grabber for a different demographic.
You can’t only cater to the highest caliber smartphone fanatics. When you are a nationwide player, you cater to everyone.
t-mobile always gets the blackberry i want to check out. ugh.
i’m still waiting on the tour on verizon.
I am not convinced of the low cost berry in a box strategy. This is what Palm did right before the wheels came off. Remember the Zire?
I agree the Low Cost Blackberry Strategy is JUNK. They’ve had Low cost Blackberries in the past and it’s not worked to generate excitement or revenue. It just Doesn’t work.
People who care about the Blackberry brand care about the Technology also, other wise those cheap consumers can go for the generic low end Motorola junk instead. No need to parade around pretending they’re not cheap with a NEW FLASHY Blackberry that’s a pale image of a proper one.
Sorry.
@Anthony There most DEFINATELY is a 3G Blackberry coming out this year for Tmob. For you to say that because this Cheap, Chinsey Piece of C*** is coming out that there will not be another coming out this year is Naive and lacking in reason.
Galen20K: Please reread my comment then reread yours and see if you still feel I’m being naive.
You misread my post especially the part:
“doesn’t mean there will not be 3G enabled BB’s for T-Mo later this year or in the future…”
I just suspect that 8900 is going to att and 8520 is going to replace the 8900 for TMO?
@ IAMGOD:
The 8520 and the 8900 are in different calibers.
It’s meant as an alternative not a replacement to the 8900
So if those ‘were’ the low cost curves, what are now?