The Boy Genius Report: BlackBerry 8705 / 8800
Field report tidbits from Engadget's mobile insider, the Boy Genius.
So the Boy Genius has been digging deeper into all these rumors floating around about the supposed BlackBerry 8705 and 8800, and here's what we got: the BlackBerry 8705 will be a normal BlackBerry 8700 except with HAC (Hearing Aid Compatibility) and minor GSM Radio and component changes. No WiFi, nothing to email home about. We also got info on the next BlackBerry unit; the 8800 is code-named Gamma Ray (not 8200 as previously reported). The 8800 is basically the 8100 with a full QWERTY keyboard, and surprise, surprise as far as we can tell it will not have the pearl's camera. This can and might change, but as of now it will be thin, have a trackball, WiFi, microSD, and will not be released before the end of this year. The reason RIM has done away with the trackwheel on the side is because it was preventing them from making the devices thinner; they sure made 'em thinner now, but we're still not sure if that was the right move. We'll leave you with a quote from our man.
"RIM, I know you love how The Boy Genius has your stock above $80 per share for the first time since April. This is viral marketing at its best. Please look for all my scoops, and reviews here exclusively at Engadget."
So the Boy Genius has been digging deeper into all these rumors floating around about the supposed BlackBerry 8705 and 8800, and here's what we got: the BlackBerry 8705 will be a normal BlackBerry 8700 except with HAC (Hearing Aid Compatibility) and minor GSM Radio and component changes. No WiFi, nothing to email home about. We also got info on the next BlackBerry unit; the 8800 is code-named Gamma Ray (not 8200 as previously reported). The 8800 is basically the 8100 with a full QWERTY keyboard, and surprise, surprise as far as we can tell it will not have the pearl's camera. This can and might change, but as of now it will be thin, have a trackball, WiFi, microSD, and will not be released before the end of this year. The reason RIM has done away with the trackwheel on the side is because it was preventing them from making the devices thinner; they sure made 'em thinner now, but we're still not sure if that was the right move. We'll leave you with a quote from our man.
"RIM, I know you love how The Boy Genius has your stock above $80 per share for the first time since April. This is viral marketing at its best. Please look for all my scoops, and reviews here exclusively at Engadget."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mrogers @ Aug 29th 2006 2:50PM
"it will not have the pearl's camera"
Does that mean it doesn't have a camera at all? Or that it will have a better one?
Either way this should be cool. Thanks Boy Genius! Now get us some pics!
FM @ Aug 29th 2006 2:57PM
It probably will not have a camera at all.. they would have mentioned if they had a better camera......
they are most likely leaving it off due to security concerns at some companies, that do not allow camera phones in the building.
foner @ Aug 29th 2006 5:40PM
Blackberry lest not forget its bread and butter - enterprise and especially goverment clients for whom a camera is completely off limits. Especially because of employees like boy genius. Said camera will certainly not be appearing on the 8800.
hosting4beer @ Aug 29th 2006 5:50PM
Now please please please release a QWERTY Blackberry with a camera. A camera would make work so much easier, but I don't know if I can handle SureType/T9
Marc @ Aug 29th 2006 6:08PM
If Motorola can make the Q thin enough with a trackwheel RIM can surely do that too...
Uh Huh @ Aug 30th 2006 11:38AM
Wow, RIM is planning to relase the Nokia E61...
Cody @ Sep 7th 2006 10:18AM
I thought the SD card was as big of a security risk as the camera, yet it has been left in...
???
Jay-Dub @ Sep 8th 2006 2:54AM
Their needs to be a camera if the device aims for the tech-savy consumer crowd who crave multimedia features, and if it was designed for competition of the Moto-Q, it needs one or it will immediately fail....regardless of thickness or thinness. If your business restricts these sort of media-devices....you know what would be the best decision for you? DON'T FREAKIN BUY ONE, idiots... Keep up the good-hard work Boy-Genius! We appreciate it.
Greg Gebhardt @ Sep 23rd 2006 9:06AM
The 8800 looks like a nice phone. Who will get it first! Maybe Cingular? Tired of T-Mo who has horrible reception in my area getting the new stuff. Anyway, glad I kept my RIM stock, it is 3 times what I paid for it!
CJ @ Sep 23rd 2006 5:13PM
I can understand the rationale for removing the camera. The camera can be disabled by BES policy if the corporation does not want them, but that's not the issue. The problem with cameras is, like for me in field service, if my phone has a camera, I can't bring it into a customer site. It's a bit annoying. This allows me to keep my BB with me in places where cameras are restricted, not at my own company's site.
Gene Herts @ Oct 22nd 2006 10:44AM
Does Treo or Blackberry going to put WI FI on their new models in the forseeable future? It would make a great feature as the whole future is going that way.