There are rumors flying around that Rogers could get the 8800 right in time for Christmas.

Anyone wish to speculate on this? Any thoughts? Is it possible for RIM to release another new product this quarter? (ie. assuming Pearl was Oct release not Sept.).

If Rogers did release the 8800 for Christmas, Would it be the Crimson? Indigo? Gamma Ray?

According to my Corporate Rogers Reps there won't be another BlackBerry launched on Rogers until 2007.

Probably not till Q1 next year. It is called the Arrow.

The Arrow? What about Indigo and Crimson? Is Arrow a name given to a Rogers specific device?

Yes, it is the Rogers specific device.

There was talk.. but nothing. RIM has tightened the ship since the Pearl leaks.. we'll just have to wait and see..

"Rogers Specific" -- yeah... minor cosmetic change.. a theme or two... everythign else the same. "Specific" it is not. "Specific" "exclusive" are words that should be seen right through.. The only 'specific' is the fact Rogers has the GSM monopoly in Canada. You can bet a 95% similar device will be sold via a US carrier or two, (or three?)

Either way, this device, regardless of it's codename, is still worth looking forward to =)

I wonder if the Arrow will have UMTS/UMA

February will be the release month for the Rogers Arrow. I stated this before in another thread and got blasted for my low post count. So take it as you will.

my source at rim said the same thing, february

Your post count is twice as high now so I think you are OK!

I'll be looking forward to the Arrow, as I just became eligible for an upgrade (just missed the 8700 the last time).

So is the Arrow the one that looks like the Pearl except it's QWERTY? (polished black/chrome look?) That's the nicest looking one, isn't it? that other 'silver' one with the rounded edges...kinda looks....well, cheap.

I have heard the same thing everyone else is hearnig Jan or Feb 2007

Hope it's doesn't have the same fate as the avro arrow...

Any presentations I have been in showed "canuck" as the code name for the 8800.

@Cujo,

Do you know if Rogers will be purging the WiFi functionality or even possibly using UMA? I ask this because of the multiple carrier WiFi infrastructure partnership with Starbucks coffee shops across the Toronto and rest of Canadian major cities. BTW, this partnership involves Fido (still Rogers), Telus & Bell.

Lastly, if WiFi is there would it ONLY be effective for UMA/VoIP or will its ability to surf the internet & use IM over WiFi be possible?

Thanks.

A very reliable source (RIM Developer partner) has also confirmed Feb release for Rogers. He also mentioned that they were having issues with wifi and RIM was releasing new firmware to resolve wifi issues.

Have seen and tried both versions, actually prefer the black

I have been looking at these 8800 Forum, and can't wait to see the 8800 on Rogers. Talked to my Rogers Rep, and he stated that 8800 (Canuck) will be out the first quarter in the new year. He said that the new blackberry will be similar to the Pearl, but with a QWERT keyboard like the 8700 (which I use now).

My question is: is there a slot for a SD Card like the Pearl in the 8800? if so, will it hold a 2GB card or larger?

I see on some forums there will will be a 8800 without a Camera released in the start of the year, then a second model with a camera released in the Spring, not sure if this was wishful thinking on the members part or not...

rogers doesnt have UMTS.. they have launched HSDPA which is Faster then Umts

This forum would be a lot better if a select few had a lower post count

and I don't mean me!

HSPDA isnt offically launched everywhere in cananda. Western Canada is still going through testing stages.

As far as me asking my people at headoffice (rogers) they are now quoting start of Q2. Which really stinks it up.

Thats a good question, one I don't have the answer to. Something I can try to find out.

Edit: From what I'm told, Rogers will not be removing WiFi.

Getting HSPDA up in the Golden Horseshoe looks to be the next step.

i hear rogers has the 8800 and they are inputting them into the system...only a matter of a couple of weeks.

i hope they do an advanced promo to valued customers like the 8700.

For what Rogers charges for service, they should give all of the users a deal!

yup

were getting bent over!

You have NO idea how much I agree to this statement > and I dare say all smartphone users/enthusiasts will also agree.

Rogers has to stop giving lower data deals to employees - and give more fair prices. However I know thats not going to happen when the total subscribers across the country that only 8% of revenues comes from Data Connecitivity.

@Cujo, some facts on the Golden Horseshoe....

Taking from Rogers Wireless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

With Posted 2005 ARPU of $63.56 for monthly accounts
(most likely more in 2006) the major question is if Rogers offered a TRUE unlimited data (no limits in monthly data traffic or overages from a limit) for a reasonable price ($100/mth) will it increase or reduce their ARPU over an entire year and WILL it increase contractual users?!

NOW above data is for 2005 - just cannot find the link for 2006.
(6.2 million subscribers - wonder how much is "end" user or "corporate contracts".)

Oh wait ... http://www.shoprogers.com/investorre...Fact_Sheet.pdf

Shows Revenue up by just under $200K Million.
Operating Profit went up by $120 Million (somebody's getting ripped off, lol); with 86% of those figures from PostPaid Voice & Data.

I'm still hunting for data percentages & Usuages.

Sorry more updated data for 2006

Rogers Wireless Revenues Up for 2nd quarter 2006

What is Canada's problem. Is there no competition for Rogers. We had the same here but our goverment deregulated and allowed free competition between the carriers. It sounds like Rogers has got so big that no one dares to compete with them.

Sounds like your area is ripe for someone else to come in and give Rogers a run for their money!

yes

rogers has it locked down pretty good up here. There is competition but i think because the mkt is so small that the rates seem to always work out the same....hmmmm coincidence?

some of the plans in the US are bargains compaired to up here.

i pay rogers every month for : 2 blackberrys (voice +data), home hi speed and digital cable....i dont know why i havent bought the stock! it has doubled in the last year or so and they are adding users and services but the Cust Ser. is pretty lame sometimes. The best part is when you have a dispute and try to threaten them that you will close your account they dont even put up a fight....pure monopoly!

i dont want to tell u what i pay them every month its sickening!!!

The only true competition in the GSM space in Canada for Rogers was Fido - and Rogers bought them!

Bell and Telus are the only other true competitors but they are CDMA based.

I also have Rogers for:
- my Berry
- wife's cell
- digital cable
- high speed internet
- home phone service

Just got word from my Rogers rep that he has a meeting with RIM on Monday. Maybe we'll hear more then.

Well all i can say is that the US carriers deals are much better becuase one of your companies has more subscribers than all of Canadian carriers combined, so of course it seems to be more expensive over in Canada. If you compare apples to apples (rogers to telus to bell) there isnt much of a difference.

As well how was 8800 having wifi been confirmed? The details seem still fairly sketchy to me.

Wirelessly posted (Mandizzle's Pearl: BlackBerry8100/4.2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/107)

Looking forward to the 8800 being released. Can anybody confirm whether or not the Rogers version will have wifi?

asked that a few hours ago. Im still waiting for an answer.... I asked our head office, they are being not so helpful.

Got confirmation that NO it is not have wifi in the Rogers version, anyone who posted it would (after the annoucement of the US version not having wifi built in) double dog shame on you for maknig this big kids heart skip a beat.

Sad to say that no it doesnt, this is coming first hand from someone who has played with it. Other bad news is that the 9XXX series version will not be in canada in 07 (coming from rogers road map).

With all that said though I still will be buying the 8800 just becuase im a nut for blackberry devices.

Well, crap on a stick... So is any model of the 8800 going to have wi-fi? It sounds like US carriers aren't going to have it, either.

What if it's a total lie, and the 8800 doesn't have WiFi at all, but the 9xxx series BlackBerry?

Oooo.

As i stated above, there is no wifi at all. None, zip, nada, ziltch no wifi on Rogers 8800 and as i suspect on 8800s ever.

UPDATE: The Rogers 8800 will not have any wifi but models after the 8800 prob will be packin something special under the hood. Or so BG says.

This is bullsh!t!!! when will rim figure out ppl want wifi! I know for sure rogers wont have wifi because rogers have the E62 which is the non wifi version of the E61...I love rim products but they need to bring out products that have features to keep up with the competition...If blackberry doesnt have wifi within this year, im pretty sure im going to get the iphone or whatever else is cool on the market by the summer...

PLEASE RIM, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!!

i got quoted on Blackberrycool.com... Good times. (my girlfriend doesnt listen to me ever, its nice to be appreciated sometimes...)

But now every person in Canada is going to ring my neck becuase I am the bringer of bad news. The only positive thing to say is that Rogers can be fickle when launching new items, the 9XXX is not planed to be launched in 07 but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible.

Typically they are slower to bring out new products but IF Rim is going to be ready with 9XXX with the Rogers branding before the end 07 they will not be sitting on their hands and holding off on launching it. They will need to have 3g data devices out on the network ASAP, the Q is scheduled to be one of the 1st Smartphone (or arguable less smart than any blackberry according to most gadget fanboys) but they will not hold off on launch most devices that come Rogers way.

Hopefully my superiors are wrong and they are just holding their cards close to their chest but as of now I am not holding my breath to see the 9XXX in my canadian hands for a while.