A feature notoriously missing from RIM's range, WiFi is one add-on we can pretty much all agree would make the average BlackBerry user's life noticeably better. We'd heard rumblings ahead of the
8800's release that Canada's newest handset would sport some manner of 802.11 out of the box, but alas -- the release came and went with no 2.4GHz (or 5GHz, for that matter) goodness in sight, allegedly due to technical glitches on RIM's side that the company was unwilling to delay the initial model for. No worries, though -- well, maybe a few worries if you're
AT&T and you're trying to push the 8800 out the door -- the
WiFi-enabled 8820 looks pretty official now thanks to a cameo in RIM's latest BlackBerry OS offering. Other changes should be minimal from its predecessor; a camera still isn't in the cards, leaving shutterbugs who like their BlackBerry served QWERTY style up the same creek they are now. No word on a release, but rumblings have the device launching mid-year.
posted Feb 21st 2007 1:02PM
I currently am using the 8800 in Canada, and was thinkin about switching to the 8820 unlocked version for Wifi access. Does anyone recommend that?..What would i gain or lose in terms of features and software problems in the future. Thanks
I currently am using the 8800 in Canada, and was thinkin about switching to the 8820 unlocked version for Wifi access. Does anyone recommend that?..What would i gain or lose in terms of features and software problems in the future. Thanks
"the release came and went with no 2.4GHz (or 5GHz, for that matter) goodness in sight"
Unless you count the integrated bluetooth, which runs at 2.4GHz. :)
Give me HSDPA support over WiFi anyday! WiFi is an addition for geeks. 3G is something that anyone can use, in most places and it's close to the real-world speed of WiFi.
I believe the WiFi option is for T-Mobile's UMA which hopefully will launch with their 8800 but I've heard they may wait till they release another 88** model.
dingboy, wifi is great for people from countries that charge fortunes for edge data plans and don't have hspda. Brazil for instance.
so wifi is a very cool addition.
Wifi is great because it allows for possible voice over wifi applications like skype clients. Good-bye landlines!!
Ah, good point! I hadn't thought of that.
WiFi on a PDA is awesome. Especially when you use Verizon .
$45 bucks for unlimited data capped at 5GB? Ha. I can't help but think that a heavy e-mail user would have no problem hitting that ceiling pretty quick. So the Wi-Fi on a Blackberry would be sweet.
I spoke with a RIM rep here in Canada about the WiFi on the 8800 and his response was two-fold. First, they hadn't yet gotten approvals from the necessary regulatory bodies but they still wanted to release it on schedule. Also, they are having battery issues with all of the radios that are in it plus WiFi. They battery life in the 802.11 equipped ones isn't yet up to what they would like it to be.
If you don't want to spend $40 per month on a PDA data contract with Cingular to get iffy HSDPA speeds, wifi is your only option. While I don't really use the wifi on my SDA, its because data is cheap for me and I rarely need to access the net with my phone when I'm at home, and unsecured wifi is rarely available nowadays.