BlackBerry 8220 / 8210 KickStart outed, but not by RIM

Okay, pretend you had absolutely no inclination that this so-called KickStart was real. Surprise! E-tailer expansys has spoiled RIM's thunder (no silly, not that Thunder) by posting up detailed product pages for both the BlackBerry 8220 (WiFi) and BlackBerry 8210 (GPS). The current specs list points out a 2.6-inch 320 x 240 primary display, 160 x 128 pixel secondary display, 2-megapixel camera (with LED flash), video recording and a microSDHC slot. There's no price or release date listed for either, but at least you can shelve those worries of this thing never making it to market.

[Via Cellpassion]

Read - BlackBerry 8220
Read - BlackBerry 8210

[From My Cube @ Aug 19th 2008 9:29AM]

Ill be interested to see how well this is adopted or if this will be shunned for its non-conformist BB appeal.

[Rejhuraman @ Aug 19th 2008 9:35AM]

The design of the phone is the downfall of it all!!

[MBN @ Aug 19th 2008 4:21PM]

I disagree. I think this phone will sell like crazy. Many people prefer a clamshell form factor for many reasons: comfort, natural answer/end action, protects keys/screen, large screen and buttons that folds up small when not in use, and more.

It's about time we got a modern smart-phone in this form factor.

[nDee @ Aug 19th 2008 11:43PM]

I don't see E90 all around, do you?

[CAHLITO @ Aug 19th 2008 9:39AM]

RIM's doing big things

[Cirian75 @ Aug 19th 2008 9:41AM]

Whoops.


But it was a poorly kept secret.

[kjb434 @ Aug 19th 2008 9:43AM]

This looks like a great phone for those that need or love Blackberry but don't like there large form factor.

[y3k.nik @ Aug 19th 2008 9:45AM]

So, I can either have GPS of Wifi, but not both? Why make consumers make that choice? I like to surf the internet when I am lost!

[Phoenix @ Aug 19th 2008 9:57AM]

Ah, but if you're lost somewhere you REALLY need GPS (i.e. you can't ask for directions or whatever) then what are the chances of being in a WiFi network?

I do know you could need both at different times, but your argument sucks

[Phoenix @ Aug 19th 2008 9:57AM]

Sorry, your EXAMPLE sucks >.

[JAG @ Aug 19th 2008 10:13AM]

The bigger question is why GPS but no 3G support? They could at least throw WIFI on it to make up for that slow edge connection. I don't think anyone is going to complain about GPS and Wifi on their phone. RIM seems confused about how it wants to market this phone.

[dtomilson @ Aug 19th 2008 12:50PM]

If you guys actually went and looked at the specifications you would have realized that the 8220 has BOTH WIFI and GPRS.. pay attention.

[MBN @ Aug 20th 2008 2:32PM]

Milson, it has GPRS, not GPS. They're two entirely different things. Pay attention!

[MBN @ Aug 19th 2008 4:22PM]

Milson, it has GPRS not GPS. They're two entirely different things. Pay attention!

[y3k.nik @ Aug 19th 2008 6:52PM]

@Milton

it was a sarcastic comment.

And yes, there are times when I am at home, with my iPod, too lazy to start up my laptop, when I sign on my messengers and surf for a couple of minutes.

And then, there are other times, when I am lost in the middle of nowhere, hoping I had a GPS. Having both in one device would be good, instead of choosing either. I dont really understand what the RIM designers thought when they made that move.

If they were worried about form factor, the failed anyways, because that isnt the smallest, or the thinnest phone in the market by a long shot!

[ahdok @ Aug 19th 2008 9:52AM]

Looks pretty, but how thick is it?

[jefffaucher @ Aug 19th 2008 10:05AM]

That's what she said.

[Adam @ Aug 19th 2008 10:07AM]

Coffee. All over. Thanks Jeff, you made my day!

[jason ehrentreu @ Aug 19th 2008 9:56AM]

This has got to be one of the ugliest blackberries ever, how can a company create something as sexy as the bold and then crank out this?

[THJ @ Aug 19th 2008 10:20AM]

It looks pretty standard - like a 49$ w/ new plan Samsung on Sprint - but the external screen is elegant (at least in the pic here), and it's a form factor that does not lend itself well to full email capabilities (also part of the appeal, from a non technerd POV). I think it will appeal to those that need a BB for work, but don't want a full size device or don't need to write huge walls of text on a regular basis.

[reno6 @ Aug 19th 2008 10:07AM]

Actually I like clamshell form factor. Never need to lock/unlock the keyboard. And yes, GPS is more useful than Wifi.

[whoopn @ Aug 19th 2008 10:11AM]

Grammar Alert!

Saying something has been "outed" does not mean that it was "brought out into the open for all to see" / "is now available" / "is now out." Instead it means something entirely different. What you are saying is "they got rid of it" / "they threw it out...as in, to the trash."

Please stop saying something has been "outed" when it has been released. Honestly, I really like Engadget but I can't sit around and read something that reads like an 8th grader wrote it. Please write well!

Thank you, and thank you for the post!

[JAG @ Aug 19th 2008 10:24AM]

Are you confusing outed and ousted? I have never heard outed used in the way you describe it.

Outed is commonly used when describing disclosure of information one does not want revealed (sexual preference, political dirty laundry, electronics specs), which in this case seems appropriate. Ousted implies removal, expulsion, discarding of something. Perhaps you should read more carefully?

[Matt @ Aug 19th 2008 10:56AM]

out
–verb (used with object)
67. to intentionally expose (a secret homosexual, a spy, etc.).

From dictionary.com.

[G @ Aug 19th 2008 10:48AM]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outed

outed
One entry found.

out[2,verb]




Main Entry: 2out
Function: verb
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1: eject, oust
2: to identify publicly as being such secretly ; especially : to identify as being a closet homosexual
intransitive verb
: to become publicly known

[devil24 @ Aug 19th 2008 10:41AM]

@whoopn:

v. out·ed, out·ing, outs
To be disclosed or revealed; come out: Truth will out.

So, Engadget's usage of the term "outed" was correct.

[Andy @ Aug 19th 2008 11:32AM]

Mobilefun have had these on their site for about a week now too

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/17338.htm

[Christian Walters @ Aug 19th 2008 11:44AM]

But I ask you all BB-o'philes, will you put up with a large and thick folder, rather than the nice and comfortable candy bar? I mean come on! The thing is huge, even compared to the regular run of the mill BB!

[duh @ Aug 19th 2008 11:48AM]

whoopn just got whooped!

[whoopn @ Aug 19th 2008 12:21PM]

Alright I can see how its being used. It still seems like an odd way to say a phone has been "revealed"

[rick @ Aug 19th 2008 1:05PM]

not digging it :-(

patiently waiting for the blackberry bold!

[J @ Aug 19th 2008 1:21PM]

Another product launched screwed up by RIM. Why can't these guys get a marketing department?

[j @ Aug 20th 2008 12:14AM]

kickstart = motorazr + qwerty keypad