And I have more RIM related news today. Are they trying to get in the news as fast and as often as the iPhone does these weeks? They have just released the BlackBerry Bold which we summarized earlier and they have started the $150 million developers fund or however they’re calling it. They are moving fast and I am personally glad they are doing so. Competition will lead to better improvement and we, as customers, should benefit from it.


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RIM has announced today, as expected, the new BlackBerry model, the BlackBerry 9000 which they called the Bold. I guess this one is as Bold as the other one was Curve. But what’s in a name?

I’ll tell you what’s inside this BlackBerry Bold piece:


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BlackBerry isn’t going to give up the fight and it’s fighting strong the competition both in terms of hardware and software. We have seen the last BlackBerries and they are really smart smart phones. The BlackBerry 8330 Curve and the new BlackBerry 9000 are going to have their share of the market.


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RIM, makers of BlackBerry devices and operator of BlackBerry push e-mail service is announcing virtual BlackBerry software for Windows Mobile! Why would you like to buy BlackBerry device that can only run very limited Java-based applications if you can have Windows Mobile powered phone with full BlackBerry functionality and full power of Windows Mobile, including ability to run native 3rd party applications? Choice is simple i think...

RIM plans to begin offering the new software application suite later this year for select devices based on Windows Mobile 6. Once installed, the software will provide users with a virtual BlackBerry application experience, including support for BlackBerry email, phone, calendar, address book, tasks, memos, browser, instant messaging and other applications developed for the BlackBerry platform. Devices running the BlackBerry application suite will be able to connect to BlackBerry services via BlackBerry Enterprise Server as well as BlackBerry Internet Service.

"Extending BlackBerry applications to a broader range of devices is an important element of RIM's strategy to provide an open platform that supports industry standards and addresses the various needs of our customers and partners," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "This new software will provide a range of important benefits, including easier support of Windows Mobile-based devices within BlackBerry Enterprise Server environments, a consistent user interface for BlackBerry applications across various devices, and the ability to run third-party applications developed for the BlackBerry platform."

The new BlackBerry application suite will complement existing Windows Mobile 6 functionality and will appear as an icon on the screen in the same manner as other third-party applications. Upon clicking the BlackBerry icon, a suite of BlackBerry applications will load and will feature the familiar user interface of a BlackBerry smartphone. The device's existing Windows Mobile applications are preserved, allowing the user to easily and quickly switch between the Windows Mobile applications and the BlackBerry application suite.

"RIM's decision to expand its support for Windows Mobile will resonate well with customers, developers and carriers alike," said Carrie MacGillivray, Senior Analyst, Mobile Enterprise Network Services, IDC. "Security, manageability, usability, international coverage, network efficiency, mobile application support, back-end integration and device selection are all important considerations for a wireless platform and RIM continues to invest in the BlackBerry platform on all fronts."

"AT&T and RIM have enjoyed a long and successful history providing customers with innovative products and services. AT&T is a world leader in providing BlackBerry-based wireless solutions and we look forward to building on that momentum with RIM," said Michael Woodward, Executive Director, Mobile Professional Solutions, for AT&T. "The market for wireless email and other wireless applications is growing rapidly and we view RIM's broadening support for Windows Mobile, with new feature-rich and IT-friendly BlackBerry software, as another positive catalyst that will further expand the appeal of the BlackBerry platform with customers."

Key benefits of running the new BlackBerry application suite on a Windows Mobile-based device will include:

* The added benefit of BlackBerry applications, such as email, phone, text messaging, browser, instant messaging and organizer with a consistent user interface and messaging experience.
* BlackBerry “push” technology – messages and information updates can be delivered automatically to the Windows Mobile-based device, enabling users to be more responsive to colleagues, clients, friends and family.
* Support for BlackBerry Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) allowing organizations to develop their own BlackBerry applications or deploy third-party BlackBerry applications that can run on Windows Mobile-based devices as well as BlackBerry smartphones.
* Support for various input methods, including QWERTY keyboards, 5-way navigation, touch screen and stylus operation so users can continue to use the unique hardware features of their Windows Mobile-based device.
* Support on BlackBerry Internet Service, which provides push-based email from up to 10 supported email accounts (including most popular ISP accounts), attachment viewing and web browsing with optimized wireless efficiency.
* Support on BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which tightly integrates with Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino or Novell GroupWise to provide synchronized, push-based wireless access to email and other corporate data with the industry's most advanced security features, over-the-air IT policy enforcement capabilities and optimized wireless efficiency.

Here comes the new BlackBerry 8800 in action. Successor to the BlackBerry 8700, the upcoming handset is expected to enhance the traditional business functions portfolio with a number of multimedia features, introduced in the BlackBerry 8100 (Pearl).

The BlackBerry 8800 is rumored to offer quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE cellular connectivity backed up with WLAN (802.11b/g) short-range wireless networking. It is also likely to be equipped with a color QVGA screen, full QWERTY thumb keypad and a trackball, 64 MB of internal storage expandable through a mini-SD card slot, Bluetooth 2.0, and a 1.3-megapixel camera with flash and motion capture. Just like the Pearl, the new device should come with a media player capable of playing back both audio and video content. The BlackBerry 8800 is expected to measure 106 x 60 x 15.5 mm.

RIM BlackBerry 8700 Features:

* New narrow QWERTY design - the ultimate balance of form and function
* Ultra slim form factor with full keypad and large 320 x 240 screen for optimized data input.
* Dimensions: 106 x 60 x 15.5 mm
* Bridges voice and data centric users looking for a sleek, slimmed down design optimized for exceptional data entry yet small enough to be used as a phone.
* Camera - 1.3 mp, 5x digital zoom, flash and video recording
* Media Player - audio and video playback/streaming, stereo headset compatible.
* 64 MB Flash, expandable memory (Micro SD)
* Expanded feature set complements core productivity, functionality and strengthens appeal to a broader segment of users - particularly retail prosumers.
* Great phone experience
* Advanced noise and echo cancellation
* Voice activated dialing, speakerphone, Bluetooth 2.0
* Quadband EDGE + 802.11bg
* Extend data and voice coverage at home, work, hotspots.

More pictures you can find here.

The Wireless Fabric Keyboard provides a 63 key Qwerty layout and measures 306mm x 114mm and operates on two AAA batteries that should last 10 hours. It rolls up and stores in a small, drawstring bag.

It is priced around 40 pounds in the UK, but there is no information whether it will be released in the rest of the world.


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The note actually only says "Treo 700", not 700p, but we can only assume that it will be the palm OS version, and no Windows Mobile version. After so long wating Sprint customers can be happy with the launch of these new devices.

As it is said in the PDF file posted at Treocentral, Sprint has now officially announced the release date of the Palm Treo 700p to be on May 28th. This coincides with a lot of the speculation of the release date that I've seen. Also launching that day in Sprint retail stores is the Blackberry 7130i and the LX550 by LG.

Each of the GSM devices should have quad-band EDGE as per the filing, as well as Bluetooth 2.0, 64MB flash and 16MB RAM, and the usual mini USB port. The 7130c/g has a new more-rectangular form factor featuring the hybrid SureType keyboard and quad-band GSM/GPRS.

We will let you know more as these BlackBerry devices get prices and launch dates.

More info you can find here.

The BlackBerry 7100i since its introduction is performing quite well and have all the popular features associated with traditional Blackberry devices like email, web browsing, organizer applications, access to corporate data applications, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and Bluetooth.

"The BlackBerry 7100i is an ideal tool for mobile professionals who want a mobile phone, the power of Mike's Direct Connect(R) Push to Talk(TM) technology and the full functionality of BlackBerry, all in a compact and stylish device," said Robert Blumenthal, TELUS' Senior Vice President of Products and Services. "The BlackBerry 7100i is a unique addition to our already extensive selection of BlackBerry devices operating on our Mike and PCS networks."

TELUS has also announced its plan to launch an exclusive BlackBerry Enterprise Server v4.1 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server - Small Business Edition v4.1.This would result in better functionality and service and would also integrate support for the new BlackBerry Mobile Data System.

BlackBerry 7100i features:

* Phone
* Email
* Push-to-talk
* BlackBerry Internet Service Instant Messaging
* MMS
* SMS
* Wireless Data Access
* Address book
* Internet Browser
* Calendar
* Memo Pad
* Tasks
* Access up to 10 supported business and/or personal email accounts
* SureType, the new keyboard technology from Research In Motion
* MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows you to combine text and images in a single message.
* Bluetooth hands-free headset and car kit support
* GPS-enabled for location-based services
* Large, bright, high resolution color LCD screen optimized for both indoor and outdoor use
* Polyphonic ring tones to give your handset a distinctive personality.
* Integrated attachment viewing for popular file formats
* 64 MB of memory
* Dedicated send and end keys