First BlackBerry Smartphone Debuting Next Month

[Ed Hardy]

RIM has just announced the BlackBerry 7100t, a device it hopes will interest the man on the street in getting a BlackBerry.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Bl...ite=SmartPhone


Update: The BlackBerry 7100t can now be ordered from T-Mobile USA.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Bl...ite=SmartPhone

[jimn367]

$200 seems like a good price point. Hopefully Palmone and the carriers will drop the Treo600 to match when the 650 comes on-line.

The device looks interesting, but I don't know about the hybrid keyboard.

[imported_Mark Rejhon]

FYI...

There are several other new BlackBerry models coming soon, including the BlueTooth-enabled 7290 with the full thumb keyboard.

There's a pictures of Vodafone Blackberry 7100v that looks very different from the 7100t.

Also there is some new information about upcoming Blackberries now being able to be used as an modem for a laptop computer.

I also posted a review of the new BlackberryOS 4.0.0.100 which solves a lot of older complaints about the BlackBerry platform;

There's also other very interesting information about BlackBerries about how to make them even better, including instant messaging, IRC chatting, telnet, SSH, etc, including these BlackBerry Internet apps

It is now also possible to install Nokia/Motorola/SonyEricsson javaphone midlets onto BlackBerry, which means BlackBerry now has over 1,000 software programs available (finally).

[imported_Mark Rejhon]

Also, the 7100T series may be called the 7190T by some carriers, since RIM uses the -30 for triband+900Mhz and also the -80 suffix for triband+850Mhz and the -90 suffix for quadband.

[gfunkmagic]

While RIM has been very successful selling BlackBerry wireless-handhelds to corporate users, its sales to consumers are virtually nil.

Won't consumers still need to have BB enterprise server to get push email? Or will the service be provided via Tmobile as an addon fee similar in price structure to other devices like the Sidekick II etc? Also, the fact that it is only offerred on one service provider will limit the full adoption amongst consumers...

Finally, I'm not sure if releasing its own smartphone is a very 'smart' move by RIM. They need to decide whether they want be a hardware company or a software company, especially if they want other to lisence their BB connect client software on other platforms. I personally don't think they can be successful being both in the same way Palm wasn't and had to split in two...

[imported_TMann]

I think that I read on another review that this phone won't be able to be used as a bluetooth modem. Is that true?

I currently use a SE T610 as a bluetooth/GPRS modem for my Palm and for my laptop for internet access. I'd love to replace the SE with this Blackberry if it would allow the same functionality.

Any info would be much appreciated!

TMann

[imported_Mark Rejhon]

>>"While RIM has been very successful selling BlackBerry wirless-handhelds to corporate users, its sales to consumers are virtually nil."

Actually, that's changing. It used to be true. Not anymore. Current sales to prosumers now is starting to exceed 50% of RIM sales today.


>>Won't consumers still need to have BB enterprise server to get push email?

Nope. There is a free push email address @blackberry.net (PUSH email) which is included for free to consumers/prosumers with the Blackberry Web Client, and their infrastructure pushes emails to you within a few seconds of somebody clicking SEND.


>>Also, the fact that it is only offerred on one service provider will limit the full adoption amongst consumers...

I know for a fact it will be offered to other consumers later. TMobile just has an "exclusivity window".


>>"Finally, I'm not sure if releasing its own smartphone is a very 'smart' move by RIM. They need to decide whether they want be a hardware company or a software company, especially if they want other to lisence their BB connect client software on other platforms. I personally don't think they can be successful being both in the same way Palm wasn't and had to split in two..."

Time will tell. You can be a successful hardware and software company sometimes; for example -- Sony Playstation and Sony makes games for it. The competitors to Sony videogames still make a profit even though Sony makes games for their own console. The important thing is that RIMM must carve out a successful niche that allows them to have their cake and eat it too; RIMM is currently VERY profitable, MUCH more so than Palm, see the stock chart: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=RIMM&t=2y ... They may be slow at adding features but they are profitable. (Note: I do not invest anything in RIM, nor I work with RIM, I am just a BlackBerry owner)


You really need to visit http://www.BlackberryClub.com to see how popular Blackberries are now with consumers/prosumers already. At well over one million BlackBerry units in currently ongoing paid subscriber use, it is more popular than SideKick and Treo, making it one of the most popular smartphone nowadays.

I saw three people using BlackBerries at a single airport gate recently at Chicago O'Hare (there were probably more of them; many of them concealed). They are not as popular as PDA's among some markets, but at some busy airports, BlackBerries are starting to become more popular "out in the open" (being held) than PDA's if you recognize all models of BlackBerries. There are over 12 different models, and some have different color casings.

[imported_Mark Rejhon]

>>"I think that I read on another review that this phone won't be able to be used as a bluetooth modem. Is that true?"

Not initially at first. But with the upcoming 4.0 deployment of BWC and the new BlackberryOS 4.0 (or 4.1 early next year), you should be able to use it as a tethered modem. My Version 4.0.0.16 of Blackberry Desktop Beta includes a virtual serial driver for tethered modem connection, but this will require me to have a software module on my handheld which might not be available till BlackberryOS 4.0 or 4.1. I posted some information about BlackberryModem on the BlackberryClub site.

[cecina]

BlackBerry Wireless Handheld Research In Motion Limited
BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Bluetooth identifier : B01719
Created Date : 2004-09-08
Spec version : 1.1
PRD version : 1.0
Product ID : RAQ40GW
Software Version : 1.8.0.83/3.8.0.112/b3.8.0.127
Hardware Version : ASY-07200-001 rev.1C_ASY-07220-001 rev.1G
Qualified Product Notice : QPN_175-CTCMrev1.pdf
Compliant Portion : CPD_175-CTCMrev1.pdf
Qualified profile :
- GAP
- HandsFree-AG
- Headset-AG
- SDP
- Serial-DevA
- Serial-DevB

Interop Devices : - -

Product Type : PROD
List Date : 2004-09-08
Product Contact Person : Masud Attayi
Email : mattayi@rim.com
Phone : (519) 888-7465 x2442
Company URL : http://www.rim.com
BQB : Eriksson, Lars

The Qualified Product Notice PDF info File tells us.....

Pre qualified components
-CSR BC2-Audio version EK-E4, Bluetooth ID B00746
-CSR HCI Stack version 17.3.4, Bluetooth ID B00169
-Extended Systems XTNDAccess Blue SDK version 1.4.1, Bluetooth ID B00150

http://qualweb.bluetooth.org/Templat...ProductID=1946

It seems that, besides the usual Palm Models, both Treo and RIM Models going to use Extended Systems Bluetooth Software.....
http://www.newmobilecomputing.com/st...p?news_id=4101

[gfunkmagic]

Originally posted by Mark Rejhon

Actually, that's changing. It used to be true. Not anymore. Current sales to prosumers now is starting to exceed 50% of RIM sales today.

Interesting... however is there any public data to verify this?

Nope. There is a free push email address @blackberry.net (PUSH email) which is included for free to consumers/prosumers with the Blackberry Web Client, and their infrastructure pushes emails to you within a few seconds of somebody clicking SEND.

With these free push email addresses also be available for those who will use the Blackberry Connect client on other platforms like PalmOS, Series 80 and WM2003 etc?... Also what is the pricing scheme for this?

Time will tell. You can be a successful hardware and software company sometimes; for example -- Sony Playstation and Sony makes games for it. The competitors to Sony videogames still make a profit even though Sony makes games for their own console. The important thing is that RIMM must carve out a successful niche that allows them to have their cake and eat it too; RIMM is currently VERY profitable, MUCH more so than Palm, see the stock chart: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=RIMM&t=2y ... They may be slow at adding features but they are profitable. (Note: I do not invest anything in RIM, nor I work with RIM, I am just a BlackBerry owner)

It may be profitable right now but that can easily and quickly change in this market space. The fact is, the Rim success in enterprise has been leveraged upon it's large base of installed BB enterprise servers and thus has had a virtual monopoly in that area combined with it's valuable brand image. However, Rim's handset/hardware has never been impressive and 7100t still does not go far enough imo (e.g, no touch screen, expansion, camera, paucity or 3rd party apps, etc). To be blunt, 7100t is a nice email device, but still is not sufficient enough convergence device to replace the full pda functionality as available from other options out there. I bet alot of those BB users still carry a pda around with them too...why not just get one smartphone device if the BB Connect Client is available? You'll get better hardware and the same BB functionality, not to mention the flexibilty of an OS like PalmOS or WM2003? Besides, you also won't be locked into Rim if for example you conpany chooses to go with Goodlink for example....

You really need to visit http://www.BlackberryClub.com to see how popular Blackberries are now with consumers/prosumers already. At well over one million BlackBerry units in currently ongoing paid subscriber use, it is more popular than SideKick and Treo, making it one of the most popular smartphone nowadays.

I'm sorry, but is a BB really a smartphone?!? AFAIK, a smartphone should run complete operating system like Symbian UIQ/Series 60/80, PalmOS, MS Smartphone/WM2003 PE, linux, etc that provides a standardized interface and platform for application developers. BB's have standardized interfaces, but there are virtually no 3rd party applications save for a few Brew/Java enabled handsets. Yes, it has rudimentary PIM and great email software, but that doesn't make it an OS...just my .02 cents...