RIM prepping 3G, iPhone-fighting BlackBerry 9000/9xxx?
By Will Park on Thursday, October 4th, 2007 at 2:43 PM PST In Devices, RIM (Research in Motion), Rumors
RIM is really on a roll recently. They’ve been pumping out handsets faster than ever, and it looks like RIM’s next big handset will aim at Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s iPhone. It makes sense, since every phone manufacturer out there is gunning to, well, out-gun the iPhone with touchscreen offerings of their own. Research In Motion (RIM), makers of the unfortunately touchscreen-less lineup of BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) smartphones, is reportedly working on a new BlackBerry 9xxx/9000 that takes aim squarely at the iPhone.
We’re hearing through the grapevine that RIM’s BlackBerry 9xxx/9000 will be sporting a full-fledged 3G radio with HSDPA (on US-friendly frequencies), 600Mhz processor, and an undeniably iPhone-esque design. As you can see from Boy Genius’s questionable mockup/blurry spy pic, the BlackBerry 9000 is looking pretty damn slick. We can only guess that the full-body screen will be a touchscreen (if not as the sole means of input, then perhaps with a slide-out keyboard). Oh, and we’re also hearing that the BlackBerry 9xxx will have a backup feature that will move all data on the phone to a removable memory card.
With a release date slated for early 2008, we’re sure recent BlackBerry 8800 buyers aren’t none too pleased. But, being firmly planted in speculative soil, BlackBerry 8800 owners can hope that this rumor turns out to be nothing more than that – a rumor. We’re thinking that this BlackBerry 9xxx could indeed be in the works – it makes sense for RIM to go after Apple’s iPhone. Stay tuned!
[Via: Boy Genius Report]
I actually work in tech support for one of the major wireless carriers. Whenthe iphone came out people went crazy. i mean not only to buy the thing but actually trying to activate it using the i tunes website. Activations were a nightmare for the first week. Now the phone is cheaper than most of it competing pda, smartphones, and blackberry devices. When this phone comes out peopel are going to go absolutely insane. If Blackberry is smart they will produce this phone before the 3 g model I phone hits the marlet and flood the market with this phone. If not the rumored iphone 3 g model is going to horribly hurt the market. I personally think that if the consumer is smart they will wait untill both phones hit the stores and see which one has the best gadgets and is more friendly to the pocket book. Also hopefully this phone will be able to be used on an employee rate plan where the iphone is not.