FCC approves WiFi-equipped BlackBerry

by Chris Ziegler, posted Jul 9th 2007 at 8:50AM

We're not sure whether this is the 8820 we played with a while back, but the ID label documentation for this newcomer to the FCC's ranks shows a crappy rendering of a quadband GSM device that certainly looks in line with the 8800 series. For end users, that means we can expect a WiFi-equipped 'Berry that lacks the Curve's sex appeal, but may very well be the average business user's dream come true -- especially considering the inclusion of 802.11a alongside b and g (or so the SAR report alleges, anyway) and the probable lack of an integrated cam. No word on a release, but business focus aside, this would look pretty nice in T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home lineup, would it not?

[Via TG Daily]

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, GSM, GPRS, EDGE

Tags: 8820, blackberry, fcc, rim, wifi

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

TIm Meyer @ Jul 9th 2007 9:30AM

Having WiFi and being able to run hotspot@home are two different things. hotspot@home requires a protocol stack in the phone to tunnel a GSM connection over WiFi.

Neutral

JC @ Jul 9th 2007 10:59AM

A Blackberry with Wi-fi? Looks like Apple may have another hurdle to overcome in the smartphone market.
www.iphailure.com

Neutral

Steve @ Jul 9th 2007 11:06AM

Why? The iphone has wifi. 802.11 X is already there

Neutral

JC @ Jul 9th 2007 11:28AM

Because the blackberry has added a feature that the iPhone also has. Anytime a company matches another competitor,they are making a move at taking business from that competitor. Think about it. When Microsoft introduced the Zune, what did Apple do? Lowered the price of an iPod to $250...just like the Zune. Hmmm...interesting

Neutral

Eric Fetcho @ Jul 9th 2007 11:33AM

blackberry8820.com is registered by RIM... i tried a few others like 8840,8850, 8810, etc and they are NOT registered. It seems as blackberry8820.com is the only 88** series website that they own. This seems like a high possibility that this is the 8820

Neutral

doyouflip @ Jul 9th 2007 12:31PM

I'm holding out for T-Mobile (USA) to release the Curve w/Wifi. I'd pass on the 8800.

If they're successful at unlocking the iPhone and have a steady stream of OS enhancements via software updates (e,g, copy/paste, push-mail, video, etc) I might consider that as well. I've used the keyboard and am as fast on it as on my 8700. There's no way I'd switch to AT&T for it though.

Neutral