[akosnitzky]

Any new devices for Verizon in 2007?

[Jack T. Chance]

Originally Posted by akosnitzky

Any new devices for Verizon in 2007?

Geez! The 8703e only JUST came out, back in October, and you already want to know about new devices?

Man, some people are never happy!

But seriously, I don't know how long you've been with Verizon. Maybe you've been with 'em for years, maybe you just signed up yesterday. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Verizon Wireless and Sprint both use CDMA network technology. CDMA's biggest downfall is that the main chipsets in the phones are manufactured by only 1 company: Qualcomm. That's why you usually see a label along the lines of "CDMA by Qualcomm" on Verizon's phones. The reason this is a problem is that Qualcomm makes the phone manufacturers go through all kinds of red tape BS just to license the chipsets necessary to make their new phones. The process takes so long that Verizon and Sprint generally get the "latest & greatest" BlackBerry model anywhere from 6 months to a full YEAR after the GSM carriers get it, usually closer to the year side of that.

Let's use the 8700 as an example. Here's the dates it was released on the various US carriers:

1. Cingular: 8700c launched November '05.
2. T-Mobile: 8700g launched Spring '06 (I think in March or April)
3. Verizon: 8703e launched September '06 for online purchase, October '06 in brick & mortar stores.
4. Sprint: 8703e launched October '06.

This type of timetable is pretty standard, with the 2 GSM carriers getting first crack & CDMA versions coming along much later.

The model that's being rolled out to carriers now is the BB 8100 "Pearl". The 2 GSM carriers have it available now. Realistically speaking, the CDMA carriers will most likely get it in '07, but not until the second half of the year. And the 8800's a long ways off for Verizon. Again, this is all an educated guess based on the usual timetable we've seen time and again.

[akosnitzky]

Thank you for explaining the timetable. My contract with the company expires in the summer which will probably mean that I wait with my 7250 or move to the 8700 series.

[Jack T. Chance]

Originally Posted by akosnitzky

Thank you for explaining the timetable. My contract with the company expires in the summer which will probably mean that I wait with my 7250 or move to the 8700 series.

No problem. The 8703e is a great device, but then again, so is the 7250. The 7250 is the pinnacle of the 7200 series, with a CPU nearly as fast as the 8700's, and with EV-DO high-speed data (if you've installed the OS that enables it)!

Of course, the 8700s have the best PDA phone screen around; a smaller form factor; the best speaker of any , a speaker that allows you to actually HEAR your ringtones; dedicated "send" and "end" keys; MP3 compatibility (for better ringtones) and more!

So, either way, you'll have a great device.

And on that note... Happy New Year!

[Raven]

I have a conf call with vzw tomorrow about there road map for blackberry.
If they will tell me anything i will post it...

[cwakulik]

Verizon is supposed to have the 8800 out around April/May

[backbeat]

Originally Posted by cwakulik

Verizon is supposed to have the 8800 out around April/May

According to whom? Another anonymous source? Sounds like a rumor to me.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by backbeat

According to whom? Another anonymous source? Sounds like a rumor to me.

What i have heard from vzw is that the next bb maybe a dual cdma/gsm (world bb) unit, but i don't believe to much from vzw till it public...