Sprint to launch CDMA/GSM Blackberry worldphone?
 

Story from Engadgetmobile.com

Looks like a blackberry counterpart to their ip-i830w pocket pc worldphone. Hopefully it will be unlocked like the i830w.

BlackBerry worldphone coming to Sprint - Engadget Mobile

http://www.superbowlxli.org/document...EBP_121506.pdf (page 14)

I can't wait for this to be released. Sprint and Verizon need this in order to compete with AT&T and T-Mobile for international business travelers.

WOW!!!!!

That is great....

This device will also be available on Bell Mobility's network. We've been given a (very) tentative release expectation of July '07.

Any word on if its EDGE or HSDPA? Will it look like the 87xx ? God please god let it be a QWERTYberry

I have no inside info. But based on what I've been reading about it on the blogs for months, I believe it will be a full QWERTY device. Also, it's my understanding that it'll only be GPRS (which is all you really need on a BB).

And all anyone would ever need is 640KB of memory right ;-) ?

I have to disagree with you - I frequently use my 8703e as a modem and would hate to have to use it at GPRS speeds. Oh well - time will tell I suppose.

Remember that you'll only be able to use the GSM capabilities of this device OUTSIDE of the U.S. As long as you're in the U.S., you'd still have your EVDO high speeds (or nothing at all, if you have no CDMA coverage).

All the other CDMA/GSM devices (sph-a790, i830 pocket pc, moto i930 iden/gsm phone) have been GPRS only.

Yes I realized that. I'm actually Canadian but same diff I suppose. My concern is I travel abroad alot and my company has an "older than dust" preferred vendor agreement with Bell Canada (CDMA).

More details on this hybrid device:

New BlackBerry appears on Verizon's radar - Engadget Mobile

It looks like Verizon will be releasing it on 2Q2007.

Note: It will have GPRS, not EDGE.

International Blackberry Coming Soon to Sprint
 

word from our Sprint Corporate Account Manager is that this will be available in July 2007 . . .


Here's some teaser info . . .


BlackBerry 8830 Worldphone


Design & Specs Subject to Change


Dual-Network Capability for Int’l Travel
CDMA/1xRTT/EvDO (North America)
GSM/GPRS (Europe & Asia)
Thinner Design
High-Capacity Battery (33% more than 8703)
Trackball Navigation
Removable Memory (microSD)
Charging Contacts
Voice Activated Dialing
Stereo Headset
Media Player – Music & Video Playback
GPS (assisted, autonomous & simultaneous)


Qualcomm 6550 Processor
Bright, Energy-Efficient 320 x 240 (QVGA) Color Display
Auto Backlight Sensor
Full QWERTY Keypad
64MB on Board Flash Memory
Speakerphone
USB Tethered Modem
Bluetooth v2.0


Service will be on the Sprint Network stateside and the GSM international

That all sounds about right. If you can shoot him a follow up email Id be interested to know if it is still launching with EVDO Rev A support.

also an explanation of: "GPS (assisted, autonomous & simultaneous) "

- A-GPS is what the 8703e has now.
- Autonomous GPS is used in the new sanyo 7050 and allows navigation in areas with no network coverage.
-no idea what simultaneous GPS is.

Perhapse he could expand on his description of the GPS feature?

Mark,

WOW!! This is GREAT news. 8-) Not bad for Canada, eh?

Is this the BB 8830e? Do you know if and when BELL will be notifying their subscribers? Thanks.

CarBob

No camera????

^^ Is no problem! :)

I started to carry two phones, a great camera/music phone and a blackberry for web and email/text. It is the best solution. No camera on any BB in the forseeable future will match my k800i or N95 (on its way finally!). Likewise Sony Ericson and Nokia have music and video support that is far superior then the first attempts RIM is making with their current BBs. BB offers geat email and text, a rock solid reliable phone with excellent battery life and pretty good web browsing. I am ok with them trying to move beyond that, but it will be long time until they catch the market leaders.

I addition, if I am going to an area that prohibits camera phones I can just leave one home, it is really the best solution until the mythical BB10000 with a great autofocus camera and a giant harddrive combined with flawless email and productivity features appears.