Just when we're all geared up to get crazy corporate with a bunch of
Bold purchases, RIM has to go and make our lives difficult by reminding us that the
Javelin / Curve 8900 is out there -- lurking -- just waiting to make a grand entrance sometime in the next few months. A new video posted to CrackBerry goes through the 8900's finer points, noting that the handset clocks in just a bit more compact than its big brother, features a slightly smaller, higher dot pitch display, and carries over an original Curve-style keyboard with spaced keys rather than the flowing design employed on the Bold (for what it's worth, the narrator seems to like both styles equally). Interestingly, it's noted that this prototype employs an older trackball design that'll allegedly be replaced with a more bulletproof design by the time it launches. The lack of 3G is going to be a dream killer for many, but we could see this one getting some retail legs underneath it if the price is right -- it's got WiFi, after all.
In fact, T-Mobile Germany is saying that it'll have the 8900 next month -- a claim we actually believe, since Germany is from the future. The trackball shown on its version of the handset is distinctly different than CrackBerry's, so it's looking like the claim of a redesign might hold water.
[Thanks, Alex]
Read - CrackBerry's Curve 8900 hands-on video
Read - T-Mobile Germany's Curve 8900 product page
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeff Stoelker @ Oct 10th 2008 3:05AM
Ja!
Michael @ Oct 10th 2008 3:16AM
CALL ME WHEN ITS THE BOLD AND ITS AVAILABLE IN THE US!
by time the bold releases a 3g network will be slow to most people, and ill be old and AT&T will change back to cingular for the 434545th time
Benson @ Oct 10th 2008 4:05AM
"A claim we actually believe, since Germany is from the future."
Benson @ Oct 10th 2008 4:08AM
^^^^^
WIN
(Initially there was a left-arrow formed with a less-than in the preceding comment, but engadget's comment system doesn't entitify those, so it vanished.)
wurstkopp @ Oct 10th 2008 4:52AM
it´s funny you say that germany is from the future. as a matter of fact, we are. not only are we timezones ahead, but this is also the motherland of T-Mobile, so the 8900 showing up over here first wouldn´t surprise me too much...
walk @ Oct 10th 2008 5:52AM
wrong link to hands on preview
Ty @ Oct 10th 2008 8:14AM
No 3g = DOA!
noyp @ Oct 10th 2008 11:23AM
But, it has almost everything else over the bold.
Spacial @ Oct 10th 2008 8:28AM
Timezones behind
lolwecsan @ Oct 10th 2008 1:24PM
why would they not include 3g? That's one of the biggest improvements they could possibly make. I don't see why RIM chose to give the storm and the bold 3g, but not on the new curve?
J-2 @ Nov 3rd 2008 2:23AM
I've always seen the Curve line as the more "consumer friendly" version of their business phone. Sure, the Pearl line is fine for most consumers -- if they can deal with that letter-sharing keyboard thing -- but there are plenty of people who want a full on Qwerty keyboard for texting and IM'ing sans data plan. For that subset of the market (*most* consumers don't have an ultd. data plan), RIM has created the Curve. It delivers all the wonderful usability of the business phone in a softer, more rounded (read: easier to put in a pocket) package that also includes a camera for good measure.
If the Bold is the business version, the Curve is designed to provide the same amenities of the BlackBerry OS to the "average" consumer who will not purchase a data plan, and therefore will get no use out of the additional-cost 3G chip. It's all about offering choice... (to consumers, to restrictive carriers, et cetera)
Mark @ Oct 14th 2008 11:25AM
I'm currently on T-Mobile with an 8800. Went with it rather than a Curve because I wanted GPS more than a camera. Currently, T-Mobile's nearest 3g to me is about 100 miles away but they say we should have it around here by January. As I understand, T-Mobile will not get the Bold, so what are my choices? If this thing doesn't have 3g, I guess I'll stick with my 8800. There's not enough wifi around here to bother with. Not sure I would want to give up a real keyboard, either.
kevin @ Nov 15th 2008 8:33AM
3G isn't a must. 4G should be next!
Hopefully this comes to Canada as a mainstream, reasonable budget BB with more affordable email plan.