RIM promises HSDPA BlackBerry, hints at touchscreen models

While rumors of a touchscreen BlackBerry are nothing new -- and hey, we've even got ourselves a patent to go on nowadays -- it's still encouraging to hear promising hints from the likes of RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie. When asked if RIM would release a touchscreen version of the BlackBerry, Balsillie sounded optimistic. "For sure we're looking at all kinds of different device packaging and presentation," he said. "I think getting religious on packaging is not the way to go, it's really user preference-oriented." Whether that means we'll be seeing an iPhone look-alike, or something completely different in the near future is yet to be seen, but at least we do have word that HSDPA is showing up in a BlackBerry near you before long: "Certainly going to HSDPA is something that's very important to us in the near term," said Balsillie.

[striggity @ Feb 12th 2008 9:27AM]

just please keep the more traditional 8800 style form factors around. I'm not too keen on touch screens.

[ppcmd @ Feb 12th 2008 10:01AM]

just bump the 8800 series up to HSDPA, update the keyboard and move on.

[akatsuki @ Feb 12th 2008 9:53AM]

I would rather have a iPhone like form factor with a slide out keyboard on the bottom. I don't want to flip it to the side and have a bigger thumbboard which is harder to type fast on, but one that just drops down with a traditional BB board will be just fine. Add some media playback, 3G, WiFi, and real GPS, and I will definitely buy it.

[Jwalant Natvarlal Soneji @ Feb 13th 2008 8:55AM]

I really think that the robustness comes with Blackberry!
Also, do really wish that more and more anti-nokia phones comes to India, as early as possible.
Neways, waiting for a good touchscreen smart phone in India.

[Binsz @ Feb 12th 2008 2:40PM]

I saw this concept before >> http://www.egystudio.eu/wg_balance/index.htm

[Octothorpe @ Feb 12th 2008 5:54PM]

RIM:

Just update the 8820 to HSDPA and we will be happy.
(as well as adding flash, java, and real HTML to the browser)

[MadMike @ Feb 13th 2008 12:02PM]

HSDPA was so last year! They should have BOTH HSDPA and HSUPA!!!!! Like full theoretical 14MBps UTMS. Lazy Bastards!

[OPii @ Mar 5th 2008 1:30AM]

err.. did you mean UMTS?

[MadMike @ Mar 5th 2008 2:08PM]

Yeah... Keyboard Dyslexia... ;-) Thanks.