I 1000% agree with you, they are targeting the consumer market with this device and they would get a LOT more people to dump the sidekick if they had the RIM branded AIM client. I know of 100's of people personally that would switch from sidekick, hell I still carry an SK3 just for AIM. Listening RIM??????

Funny...I had always assumed that you worked for RIM ...

If he did work for RIM, he doesn't anymore!!!!!!!!!!

Boy Genious - how does one become as well placed in the professional world of mobile technology as yourself? Do we have to whack somebody or is it based the outcome of a Hold'em hand?

Come on Cingular!!!!

my guess is Boy Genious works for a telco and does device testing. I am guessing Cingular. Either that or he knows someone who does this job.

BG,

I think you posted some Cingular Treo 750 pictures on the Treocentral site. Any idea when that phone will be available in the US? You seem to have a good handle on all things Cingular!

LOL @ the Treo query.
The BB world is about to totally blow the Treo's out of the water with the introduction of the Pearl.

This is the setup at the moment, and it can't really be beat, IMHO:

Primary Phone/BB: Cingular 7130c (GSM for true nationwide coverage & international service)

Work BB/PDA: Nextel 7520 (I work for...somebody that issues these)

PDA & everything else: Palm Life Drive with its 4GB HD & (2) 2GB SD Cards


Notice, no cameras in the whole ensemble, but the 7130 can do MMS, and the LifeDrive is absolutely packed with media - ~3GB worth.

That things is awesome!
I can't believe the size comparison to the 7130c.
I think the 7130 is great....
This 8100 should be awesome!

Thanks for all the pics, and the info BG!

It looks super cool! way to go BG!

very sexy!!

Nice photos. However the attribution was so subtle, I am confused as to who they are from.

BG,

You are out of control. Way to keep it going and as always - thanks for sharing.

If there's a BBF NYC gathering, I'll be in and out - but the first rounds on me.

dolo

man this what I'm talking about a blackberry that does all the things the other phones can do tske pictures and mp3's RIM finally ya'll caught on BB's were falling behind on the times

I have officially decided that I am switching to CINGULAR the first chance that I can. I really love the option of switching devices on the fly. Plus this BB looks to be sweet, more like a phone than a PDA. Perfect for me.

I can't wait to get my hands on this phone. Still no word yet as to weather it is a 1.3 MP Camera? That's is going to be the feature that will make or break this deal for me.

I don't know how solid this source is but hear is some info, including camera specs:
RIMarkable | The official, unofficial BlackBerry Weblog

Can. Not. Wait.

I'm obsessed with my 7130c. I'm a phone-in-pocket guy, so smaller is always better for me. Multimedia too? Sign me up!

(Oh, and before someone comes along and says it for the umpteenth time...

"blah blah blah why would they do this blah blah blah i work in a secure facility, no cameras allowed, wah wah wah, this is such a dumb move by RIM"

Get over it.)

I agree. There is a market for phones with cameras and multi-media, and RIM is wise to go after it. Folks will just have to choose their BB based on what they can and can't have where they work. I don't have these kind of restrictions, so I have the freedom to choose. Besides, show me a real estate agent that wouldn't kill to have the ability to go to a house, take a photo or two, attach it to an email, and send it to a prospective buyer while still on the property. I am willing to bet real estate agents will swarm to the 8100 and the full QWERTY version when it comes out. Freedom of choice, it is a beautiful thing.

NO! If yours doesnt have a single scratch, never been dropped, and no dust in the screen/keys; PLEASE for the love of god, unlock it and make arrangements to sell it to me here in Toronto! I'll have more than enough cash. I feel embarrased that I do low level support for where I work and yet I've never owned a BB unit.

I'll also get an 8100 as well :D

Have you checked the BST section yet?


The Gecko

Yeah ... his name is Jimmy Neutron! lol ... ok so its a bad joke.

@coreyg510; thanks I had no clue this site had a Martetplace section. ppl are asking a pretty penny for the 8700g ... and most sellers are in the US, while I'm in Canada ... currency exchange on top of shipping cross border charges isnt in my best favor at the moment. But I'll consider it.

I think i'm stickin with my 8700g for a lil bit longer... I just got it :D

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/2.0 (compatible; MSIE 3.02; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I'm thinking of waiting too. UMTS is knocking the doors and EDGE will be so outdated soon. I don't want to buy this and then see that they bring out a UMTS version 3 months down the line.

That slanted keyboard looks exactly like every other TMob BB...i'm betting the keyboard on the Cingular version will look exactly like the 7130c, and the 7100g, etc.

That's a great look, but also the space between the keys just helps for typing. I like how RIM's products have a very good user interface implementation (like the scroll wheel, the homescreen keyboard shortcuts, etc.) and this product looks slick...going to be a killer!

It looks to me as though the size of the 8100 is very close to the size of the grey part of the Cingular's 7130c and perhaps slightly thinner. That will be a perfect sized device. time for RIM to step into the best form factor fight...

A jump from EDGE to UMTS would be a great addition, but I doubt this generation will have that - i am hoping I am wrong though. I'm sure the 2nd generation will be bumped up though.

Hopefully, the trackball really has an innovative and easy way to control the device, similar to the scroll wheel. Well, we'll see...

BG, can you confirm any of this??

...

"suretype" phones are meant for non-business BB users. one can get used to using suretype, but its hella lot slower than a full qwerty keypad like the 8700. You can be a fast hunt-and-peck typer, but will never reach full potential as a two handed typer. If you use BB primarily as a portable email tool, full qwerty is the way to go.

I have to hand it to BB. the 8100 is TIGHT looking.

I am certainly a business user and I am happy with Suretype. My contact and calendar functions are crucial, but not ALL business users need to respond to 10-20 or more emails instantaneously. For me, receiving my emails during the day is important so when I go home at night, I am not at the computer for a couple of hours looking through the emails of the day.
To some emails, I reply during the day, some I respond with a phone call, and some I answer later at my computer.

I point this out to correct this "business", "non-business" concept, that unless we are responding to 100 emails a day from our BB, we are not a business user. I choose BB because I need a really good phone (it has so far failed me here, but I have hopes with the 8100), PIM, and email functions with a little internet usage. I don't want to carry a phone and a PDA. BB gives me what I need in one unit. But I am still a business user.

I am excited the 8100 has MP3 capabilities, voice dialing, and voice recorder (will be huge for me) and some other great functions. The camera does not matter to me one way or the other; if I had a choice I would probably go without, but not at the expense of the other new utilties the 8100 offers. Even business users like to have fun!

I'm using one right now. Unlocked!!! Shoot me some offers. Mint Condition. 416-356-6025

Show real photo and some of us here will definitely make you an offer.
*bang* *bang*

Hmmmm
416-356-6025 - Google

I'm with you...only thing is this Qwerty keyboard...why, why, why!!!???

my bad...i meant suretype...so when is the qwerty coming out...i'm drooling...

how did you get it? seriously...?

Boy Genius, is there someway to do some benchmarking on battery power of the 7100 vs the 8100? I dunno if there's some sort of spamming of instant messaging you could do or idle time benchmark or something.

Also is it true it will retail for $199? That sure does seem cheap.

It will be $199 with a contract.

will the new Blackberry 8100 have a wheel on the side?

yes, 21inch dubz, limited edition.

LOL!