I commented on a thread over on BlackBerry Forums earlier and it really got me to thinking about the addition of Wi-Fi capabilities to upcoming BlackBerry models. The more and more I think about Wi-Fi on a BlackBerry, the more I realize that Wi-Fi on BlackBerrys, as we know them right now, just doesn’t make sense.

All the cool things Wi-Fi is good for would be crippled by the high security standards implemented on the Blackberry. On a BlackBerry you cannot:

  • Transfer files less sending and receiving attachments
  • Connect your device to other devices
  • Stream Video or Audio


To make a long story short, the only cool value add of Wi-Fi on BlackBerrys as we know them would be faster Internet browsing.

My guess is that if RIM were to stick Wi-Fi into a BlackBerry, security measures would prevent you from connecting to unsecured networks. This means that you would probably only be able to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots at your place of employment or your house. If you are at work or at home, why you you browse the web from your BlackBerry when you could just do it from your desktop or laptop?

Today’s highspeed Broadband connections that most BlackBerrys are starting to run on are pretty darn quick and comparable to what you would get with a Wi-Fi connection in the first place. The difference in browsing via a Wi-Fi connection as compared to Verizon’s EvDO network are probably barely noticeable. If the difference is barely noticeable, what is the point?