Hey guys, I have been waiting for this for a long time, as I am sure many of us who still use the iden network and need the tools of a PDA in this case of a BlackBerry, I have been surfing the net for some time now looking for real information on the new Blackberry, but it was until Friday October the 10th that a Press Release from BlackBerry really made my day, on Saturday even the Nextel Sprint Page was already announcing the new BlackBerry 8350i for the iDen Nextel Network, among the key features included in this new device are:

Integrated GPS
Wi-Fi
2 Megapixel Digital Camera
Documents to Go (preloaded)
Internal Antenna
Speakerphone
Advanced Media Player
Expandable Memory (microSD)
Bluetooth
Additional Messaging Capabilities SMS and MMS

What I could not found is the exact release date for it, I hope is soon because I am tired of the 7100i (A good overall device but very old). Here are some pics of the device.

Chuy, are you from México???

I spoke with a friend that works at Nextel, he said that yes, its already approved for the iDEN network, however, it wouldnt be on the market until mid-2009....so, i wouldnt hold my breath... i just got my 7100, and yes...i cant wait to upgrade!...

mid-2009? I think earlier:

Sprint Publishes A Signup For More Info Page For The 8350i | BlackBerryNews.com
Sprint/Nextel 8350i makes live appearance | BlackBerryNews.com

Rumors now around December 1-ish.

I live in México, so it could be possible that it takes longer for us to get it...dont you think so?

Hmmmmm, Mexico got the Bold 9000 already and the US has not.

So, I don't follow your logic.

You made me call Nextel again haha...
The BOLD 9000 isnt available through Nextel México (only from TELCEL which isnt as big as nextel with PTT communication) thats the info that i got from them. And the Curve its suppose to be launched at the end of the year....

Well, at least theres hope for us 7100i users...

hello, gusBB, yes I am from Mexico and live in Monterrey, I bought my 7100i on eBay and had a friend of mine make me an invoice and register it with Nextel, the 7100i has no carrier or sim lock, I only hope it would be the same thing with the new BB, I have a 8320 and had no problem unlocking it for me to use it in the Movistar network, my brother set me up with internet access and I can check my email and more less surf the web, I spoke with a friend that works for Nextel Mexico and they don’t even know that a new BlackBerry is on its way. Does any of you have any kind of Instant messenger on your BB, I would like to add a Windows Live Messenger to my 7100i but can’t seem to find one that works!!!

Good to hear, im from Guadalajara!, we are definitely getting a new blackberry model for Nextel at the end of the year, so stay tuned...

For the MSN, i got mine from blackberry.com/livemessenger ( OTA ), really cool feature.

That figures I just upgraded to the 8330 from Sprint and dropped my old 7100i on Nextel. I guess I just got tired of waiting for the new Nextel version that and the water damage of the 7100 might have had something to do with it.

Bettery choice, IMO. The 8330 will still be faster than the 8350i. 1XEV vs iDEN.

Good point. iDen was a very slow network.

Hey GusBB, is it true that each time you send an instant message thru the BlackBerry Windows Live application nextel charges you as if you had sent an SMS? or what type of charges are linked to the BlackBerry Windows Live application? thanks

I dont think they charge you as an SMS, because well, its not actually an SMS, you are sending messages through the internet, so the only thing that would be charged it will be your data plan, but as far as i know, with nextel, the only data plan is the unlimited one...so...no extra fees that i know of!.....

Well, sure hope I dont get a huge bill at the end of the month!!

Hahaha me too...let me know how that goes for you!

the 8350i has WiFi, which is available pretty much everywhere you go these days... so is the network really that big of deal? Additionally, there is really no argument to the fact that no one can even come close to the direct connect functionality... verizon has tried, at&t tried... they all suck.
This phone is going to rock...

Will this phone have 2 line capability like most of the other Nextel phones?
Except the 7100i of course. Must I carry two phones? With todays technology, I still have to carry 2 phones, personal and work

You are correct in sayint that Nextel's Direct Connect feature is the better of all walkie talkie phones. That is when it works.....

LOOKING GOOD!!!

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FOR: CTIA 2008 : RIM BlackBerry Curve 8350i (Sprint) Review

I only hope we can get it here in Mexico ASAP!!!

I can only speak to my coverage area... I'm in Northern Illinois and it works absolutely great everywhere I am. And then when I travel to larger MCA's, it works even better!
Try the AT&T walkie-talkie service (through a cell call conection!) and you'll see what i mean!