Sprint's BlackBerry 8703e with a stub antenna?

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 7th 2006 at 10:29AM

Last time we checked, RIM's 8700 series BlackBerrys were sleek little devices without an external antenna anywhere to be found. We're at a loss, then, to explain this little gem unearthed by a reader on a page detailing Sprint's BlackBerry 8703e and 7130e which clearly shows the former bearing a big, obtrusive, unappealing stub jutting from the top left. We smell a conspiracy -- what's the deal here? Are there two versions of the Sprint 8703e floating around? If so, is the antenna for GPS reception? If not, what prompted some graphics dude / dudette to graft the stub onto the press imagery? We have a sneaking suspicion some clowns at Sprint are snickering at us right now, watching us get all worked up over this. Can't breathe, hyperventilating... excuse us while we go grab a paper bag.

[Thanks, Jeremy]

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Sprint, 1xRTT, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: 8700, 8703e, antenna, blackberry, rim, sprint, sprint nextel, sprint-nextel, SprintNextel

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Scott @ Nov 7th 2006 10:37AM

I bet this one is going on the iDEN side of the house over at Sprint.

Neutral

A-Pow @ Nov 7th 2006 10:53AM

Photoshop
http://www.sprint.com/business/products/phones/bb8703e_allPcsPhones.html
That's the real one.

Neutral

Nick @ Nov 7th 2006 11:07AM

if you look at the 360 view it doesn't have the stub antenna

Neutral

Steve @ Nov 7th 2006 11:47AM

Yeah, you're getting tricked by photoshop. The normal link for Sprint business phones is sprint.com/business. I'd venture to guess that's a Palm Treo antenna.

Neutral

Rich @ Nov 7th 2006 12:38PM

If it's in any way real (which I doubt) it would have to be an iDEN device. Possibly hybrid CDMA / iDEN, but iDEN at least.

Neutral

Steve @ Nov 7th 2006 12:51PM

If you look close it is a Treo 700 antenna. I bet some just cut and pasted the picture in to a previous ad and did not notice the treo antenna.

Neutral

Otsego @ Nov 7th 2006 1:05PM

antenna. typical CDMA.

Neutral

brian @ Nov 7th 2006 1:43PM

such a dirty trick. i would have went back to nextel if it was real

Neutral

Steve @ Nov 7th 2006 2:01PM

"i would have went back to nextel if it was real"

Really? Surprising that's the only issue. Typically, coverage in general is a Nextel customer's frustration.

I wonder if Sprint and Nextel will ever merge. You know, before they get bought out by somone else... After seeing Sprint's abysmal 3Q, and subsequent per-text rate hike, I'm not sure what can be done. Not going to see Verizon buy them either.

Neutral

Eric Fetcho @ Nov 7th 2006 2:26PM

im hoping and praying for my sake and nextel's that this WILL be released and isnt a internal joke by somebody

Neutral

Ankur @ Nov 7th 2006 2:31PM

CDMA phones don't have to have antennas - it's just that Verizon probably wants all the handset to for optimal reception. Thus they can claim to have the best network.

Neutral

Steve @ Nov 7th 2006 3:11PM

straight from Sprint's media rep to my inbox
"This is evidently an accidental posting of an inaccurate image. Sprint's BlackBerry 8703e does not have an extended antenna. The image is being removed."

Neutral

Robb (RIMarkable) @ Nov 7th 2006 3:43PM

The pic of the 8703e with the antenna has been replaced by one without the antenna.

Neutral

Steve @ Nov 7th 2006 3:51PM

FYI, Verizon Wireless has several phones without antennas, especially the new models. See Chocolate, LG 8600, All new Samsung models, etc. etc.

Network reliability has to do with the technology, which spreads voice calls across multiple cell towers, thus less likely a call will drop during transition from one cell tower to the next, as is often the case.

Of course, an external antenna doesn't create better reception. that's just a fallacy the public has grabbed on to. Notice most data cards don't have antennas either.

Neutral

Chris K. @ Nov 7th 2006 5:26PM

"FYI, Verizon Wireless has several phones without antennas, especially the new models. See Chocolate, LG 8600, All new Samsung models, etc. etc."

Not to mention the RAZR, KRZR, Q, etc....

Neutral

RSO @ Nov 8th 2006 11:21AM

It's just an IMPLANT. Lots of phones are doing now adays. It apparently makes them feel better about themselves.

Neutral

branden @ Nov 8th 2006 10:53AM

The 8703e is available in Canada on Telus Mobility and I confirm there is no external antenna.

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.