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Home»BlackBerry News»News & Rumors

4 or 5 New BlackBerrys to be Released in 2008!

by Kevin Michaluk on 20 Nov 2007 09:55 AM
20
 

2008 BlackBerrysGregory Wade, RIM's Vice President of Customer Accounts, had quite a bit to say in a recent interview with Business Standard. It's obvious that RIM is not only making a push into the consumer market, but is succeeding at it.

The Blackberry Pearl represented almost 55 per cent of RIM’s total shipments in the first quarter of 2007 and with Pearl 8120 (dubbed as Pearl 2) our commitment to have devices that are beautiful and rich in multimedia applications continues.

RIM recently shipped its 20 millionth Blackberry smart phone and the devices are ranked number one in the global PDA space with 18 per cent market share according to third party research.

Also, our software partners are developing support for 3D graphics to enable more powerful gaming, and rich-media content is on the cards too.

We will also announce another 4-5 models in 2008 and all of them would be packed with consumer-friendly applications and design.

Did you read that last sentence? 4 to 5 new models in 2008?! What do you think is coming? An 8330 (CDMA) Curve? Will the BlackBerry 9000 series show its face (remember that BlackBerry 9000 mock-up)? Maybe we will we see GPS & WiFi get somehow sandwiched into a Curve? What do you want to see from RIM in 2008? Use the comments to make your wish list!

[ Business Standard via RIMarkable ]

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20 Comments

Posted by blane64 Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 1546 days ago

I suspect my comments will not be well received, but I think BB needs to move even more into the consumer/prosumer arena with better support for 3rd party apps, with the ability to run apps off SD card, etc. (GPS maps, apps, etc) I would like to see them NOT require a dedicated BB data plan, but let the phones run of a regular data/text/SMS plan like a "regular" phone. (Maybe that is more of a carrier issue). I do not really use the bullet-proof, instant email aspect of the BB and would like to have more options that are aimed at the consumer, not necessarily the business market. 3G is not a big deal right now in my area, but it is coming at some point.

 
 
Posted by PMJ Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 1546 days ago

I don't want to make you feel like I am condescending, but why do you even have a BB if you aren't in to all those features? I like the phones...but lets admit they aren't pretty, we like these phones for functionality. Any sort of asthetic appeal is only a bonus. It seems to me that you have a wealth of other Hardware choices out there with all the things you want and more. I personally don't want to see RIM move too close to the everyday consumer side of things. I would predict it could lead to poorly made phones through not enough R&D. I feel they would just get the next best thing out there to follow market trends. We all know how that can affect quality (Are you listening Mr. Jobs?).

I think RIM keeps its edge by focusing still on the Business Market. If you piss off 1 or 2 customers you will be fine, but if you are ineffective to 1 or 2 companies you can easily go the way of the Dodo.

 
 
Posted by blane64 Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007 1545 days ago

I agree, there are prettier phones out there, but I don't have a cell phone for looks, but for function. I guess I want a good phone more than I want a BB, does that make sense? The BB is a very good phone, and it has some advanced functions that I don't use. I have tried other solutions but found them wanting (often in battery life).

I think you may have a point, though. If RIM moves to the main-stream, they will probably fall in quality.

 
 
Posted by Bla1ze Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007 1545 days ago

"I would like to see them NOT require a dedicated BB data plan"..the email services that you've come to expect from BlackBerry devices will always require a plan but the other functions such as browsing and MMS are all carrier options, for example on a Rogers Wireless curve you get the WAP browser and MMS capabilities WITHOUT having a data plan, put that in comparison to an AT&T Curve where you NEED a data plan to get the WAP browser and MMS functions.

 
 
Posted by blane64 Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007 1545 days ago

I guess I need to explain a little better.

I got a BB Curve because it was a solid, dependable QWERTY phone. I went out shopping for the above, not for an email machine. I had used other smartphone/PDA phones (8525 and Blackjack) and found them either too heavy, to have poor battery life, or too finicky. I wanted a full keyboard since I am evidently middle-aged and hate to text with a keypad. With my previous flip-phone, I had a text/sms/unlimited data package for around $20. When I got my BB I had to upgrade to a $30 plan then add $5 text package. What I am trying to say is that I want a smartphone/qwerty phone, it doesn't have to be a BB. I don't really use the BB functions. I would like to have the option of the form factor and quality of the BB but have the opportunity to pass on the functions I don't need. More of an a la carte approach. I don't need my data to run thru RIM's servers, I don't need encrypted email....I know, I know.."then don't buy a BB". I guess I am not explaining things very well. My other phones have worked fine with the generic AT&T data/text plan, why should my BB need something different, if I don't need all of the RIM specific services? ARggh, I'm not doing a very good job of this, sorry.

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 1546 days ago

I like my BlackBerry, but that's almost entirely because of the hardware. I'd really like to see an attractive user interface that was designed by a interface designer rather than the current UI which seems like it was built by an engineer.

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 1546 days ago

Blackberry needs to jump on board the 3G train. That would be the kicker in which pda people are going to want. I feel that 3G is the only feature that bb lacks that is holding them back from being considered to only pda anyone should go with.

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 1546 days ago

My company's AT&T rep said the AT&T 3G Curve would be release at WES 08 in May.

 
 
Posted by Auspatto Tuesday, Nov 20, 2007 1546 days ago

I hope one of the new models is for the Australian Next G network (HSPDA).
It was mentioned early this year by the technical account manager for RIM Asia Pacific, that they are working on a phone for the Next G network that will have GPS, Wi-Fi and all the bells and whistles.
Our CDMA network is shutting down because its become obsolete, most of the world is 3G so I would like to see most of the new models become 3G and Next G.

 
 
Posted by Stern Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007 1545 days ago

The device with the codename 'Indie' will be one of them, like the mock up of the 9000 but with a keyboard.

with consumerism on the menu the look and feel of the devices will take a jump, as big as when they first introduced the full colour screen and suretype system

8110 will be out soon but it could possibly spill over to next year I suspect

RIM have tried to fit GPS and WIFI into the one device but there just insn't physical space with the hardware they use to fit them both in unless they sacrifice on the thickness of the device or new smaller components are designed

I suspect that some of the planned 4 or 5 devices are not even off the drawing board yet.

In terms of applications I would expect to see more GPS related apps, SIP and other VOIP applications.

 
 
Posted by lhuff Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007 1545 days ago

I believe one of the Blackberrys will be some Sprint model with QChat will talk cross platform to Nextel iDEN "Direct Connect". I don't know what it'll be, but I hope it's at least a Curve or Pearl.

 
 
Posted by corando gallegos Monday, Nov 26, 2007 1540 days ago

Possibly a newer model that takes more advantage of the Sprint/Nextel merger (i.e. the current phones offered that have cellular service on sprint but also takes advantage of the direct connect from nextel). I can only hope!!

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 2007 1539 days ago

I just hope that RIM keeps smartphones with full qwerty keyboards, it really makes texting and E-mail nice.

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 2007 1539 days ago

I would like to see BB with a touch screen and be able to use software applications from the sd card like the ipaq, or have more internal memory. I down load a lot of references and it is limited.

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 2007 1539 days ago

I would like to see the curve with touch screen functions and video shooting capabilities.
thxs

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 1539 days ago

Of Course a touch screen BB!

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 1539 days ago

I am sure 1 of these models is gonna be sort of what I found on this site which would be made available for Blackberry user's to access networking sites without internet connection along with curve as a special attraction...... Looks like & sure makes sense !
www.modazzle.com?channel=crackberry

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Monday, Dec 03, 2007 1533 days ago

I'd like to see BB come up with a 8830 size BB with:
1). 2.0 Mega Pixl Camera
2). Video Capabilities
3). Touch Screen

The Curve is only for AT&T, and the Pearl is too small for those of us with poor vision (getting older).

That's my wish list for '08.

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Friday, Aug 22, 2008 1270 days ago

I currently work for a National Wireless Carrier as a Tier III PDA tech who does offer a Data plan that is free produced by RIM to people who choose to go the 'regular' route can still get WAP capabilities such as MMS, IM, and things such as Openwave, Media Net, and T-Zones. You must understand tho that working behind the Lines and seeing how the BB infrastructure works some BB will always need a data Plan. Unfourtunaly if you are going to buy a BB you are better served buying it for the REAL need of a BB. Seriously who would buy a $400 Razr? No one. Thats why BB are more expensive than regular phones. It boils down to wanting to have the BB for status sake and not for the real means of why BB was created.
Back to the basics tho, it is up to the particular Wireless Company that decides if they offer that free package to customers. Beware tho it only works for some BB like the 8100. Upper models like the 8120,8330,8320,8810, need to have a full fledged data pkg. So if you don't want to pay for the Plan do not buy a BB

 
 
Posted by terrie1980 Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 1248 days ago

I would like to see a new blackberry without that damn trackball i have the pearl 8130 and that track ball is the most annoying thing to have to use also my pearl is freezing on me and wont let me dial out can someone help????