One knock on BlackBerry devices from the likes of competitors such as Microsoft and Palm has always been that BlackBerries are short on horsepower. When you compare the processor and memory of a Blackberry to a similarly priced Windows Mobile or Palm device, it is really hard to argue that point. This was the case until the Intel powered Blackberry 8700 line was introduced last week.
The new BlackBerry 8700c from Cingular is powered by the 312 MHz Intel PXA901 processor which is to say the least, significantly faster than processors found in older model BlackBerry devices. So much faster that RIM doesn’t even bother to mention the processor speeds of devices other than the BlackBerry 8700c on their website. Lets just say that the difference is profound.
So, the question that has to be asked is, “What can you do with all that new horsepower?” Existing apps should run at least as fast as they currently do, but for the most part, were developed for slower hardware. Will we start to see developers create new applications with the faster Intel processor in mind? It will be interesting to see where mobile applications go in the coming months.
In addition to the launch event, BlackBerry maker Research in motion and Cingular held a webcast where the new BlackBerry 8700c was the topic of discussion. You can listen to the webcast here.
Well, yesterday was the day that a lot of BlackBerry addicts awaited for quite some time. The BlackBerry 8700c from Cingular was finally released. I remember when I first heard of the BlackBerry 8700c, what was then called the Blackberry Electron almost 300 posts ago back at the end of May. It sure has come a long way since then.
BlackBerry 8700c features include:
- Dynamic, highly responsive experience when viewing attachments and graphics, browsing the web and running applications
- Access up to 10 supported business and/or personal email accounts
- Integrated attachment viewing for popular file formats
- MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows you to combine text and images on a single message
- Bright, high-resolution screen provides large viewable workspace and includes intelligent light sensing technology to automatically optimize screen lighting levels for ideal indoor and outdoor viewing
- Built-in speakerphone for hands-free dialog and convenient conference calls with excellent sound quality
- Bluetooth® hands-free headset and car kit support
- Polyphonic and MP3 ring tones can be assigned to your contacts
- Ergonomic, full QWERTY keyboard for a familiar typing and data entry experience
- Large, dedicated “Send”, “End” and “Mute” keys, plus user definable convenience keys.
- 64 MB of memory
- Intel® PXA901 processor at 312 MHz
- Quad-Band network support on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS and EDGE networks allows for international roaming between North America, Europe and Asia Pacific
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Does the BlackBerry 8700c support MP3? The short answer to this question is yes, but, before you go trading your iPod or Motorola Rokr for a new BlackBerry 8700c, which is rumored to be released tomorrow, MP3 support for the BlackBerry 8700c is only for ringtones.
If you really think about it, it wouldn’t make sense for the BlackBerry 8700c to have a fully integrated MP3 player. There isn’t enough internal memory to hold more than just a few MP3s and RIM still has yet to add removable memory to it’s BlackBerry devices. I do think, however, that MP3 capability will one day come to the BlackBerry because it is becoming standard on most PDA type devices.
Our friends over at Pinstack seem to have gotten the scoop on some advertising for the BlackBerry 8700c rumored to be released November 1st by Cingular. I dare say that this is not a bad looking device and I just hope that the Verizon BlackBerry 8700 model doesn’t take another 6 months to come out.
Howard Forums member Steve has posted pictures of “to be” announced mobile devices from Rogers Wireless and one of them just happens to be a BlackBerry 8700. Even though this picture, that looks like it was taken with a camera phone, is somewhat grainy, you can get an appreciation for just how clear and bright the screen will be.
Unlike very strong rumors that the BlackBerry 8700c from Cingular will be released November 1st, we don’t have an official announcement date of the 8700 model from Rogers.
Rumor has it that attendees of the BlackBerry 8700c launch events to be held this week in New York, Chicago, and San Fransisco may get a BlackBerry 8700c just for being in attendance. BBHub reader crisambo writes, “I was told by Cingular Sales Exec that each and every attendee will go home with one.
I am very careful not to say that attendees get a free BlackBerry 8700c because the service agreement that you would probably have to sign up with Cingular will undoubtedly not be free. Lets just say that the hardware costs for BlackBerry 8700c attendees will be relaxed.
It looks like BlackBerry 8700c launch events will be taking place all over the country next week. Thanks to one of Russell Shaw’s BBHub readers, we found out that the BlackBerry 8700c is going to be launched next week, November 1st, in New York at multimedia event space Tribute NYC.
Thanks to another BBHub reader, we now know that a launch event will not take place only in New York City, but in Chicago, and San Francisco as well.
Here is next weeks schedule of events:
Tuesday, November 1st, 2005 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Tribute NYC 24 Broadway New York
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2005 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Hotel Orrington 1710 Orrington Avenue Evanston, IL
Thursday, November 3rd, 2005 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Terra 511 Harrison Street (at First Street) San Francisco, CA
Thanks to BlackBerry Forums member jibi, we have a picture of what the theme for the BlackBerry 8700c from Cingular may look like. As you can see, the icons have a soft cartoonish look and feel to them.
One of the points of contention in the forums surrounds the phone icon. If you look closely, you will notice that the icon actually looks like an old school Treo. Several forum members point out that an icon that looks more like a BlackBerry or a desk phone could have been used in it’s stead.
Rumor has it that the BlackBerry 8700c will be released on November 1st in a launch event in New York. That BlackBerry 8700c from Cingular is one of the most anticipated releases from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion this year.