I just recently purchased a Blackberry 8830 WE. When I was charging this thing at work, I set it on top of my desktop pc, and everytime I picked it up I got a shock from the unit. At first I thought it was just a static shock, but after it happened a couple times I realized that it was a little stronger than a static shock. I also realized that it seemed to come from the pill-shaped copper pieces on the left side of the phone underneath the convenience button.

I looked in the manual, but due to the almost 300 pages and my not being that curious, I was unable to find any explanation. I tried searching the web to no avail, and while on the phone with a Verizon tech for another issue, I asked him and he couldn't find any info on it.

My current theory is that it is somehow related to the battery, which wouldexplain the copper plates and the shock. I also am thinkig that it may be a feature that was abandoned prior to the devices official release, but not physically removed from the device, which would explain my inability to find any documentation on it's purpose.

Does anyone here know what this thing is?

They're charging points for a desktop charger.

As stated by the previous poster, they are contacts for a charger to charge your battery. No way you could be getting a shock from this unless your charger was really bad. Still sounds like static charge to me so touch soemthing else before you grab your Blackberry to discharge.

yes do as gregg suggested or you may find yourself having to get a new BB

That's what I was thinking, but I didn't find a cradle for sale that looked like it connected in that way. With regards to the shocking, the reasons that I thought it was not a static shock was because it happened only when it was resting on something metal, the shock did seem stronger than a normal static shock, and that I inadvertantly touched the connectors each time it happened. Either way, I have been careful not to touch those connectors when it is charging since then. Static or not, I agree with you that it could ruin my device.

Thanks for the help guys!

8830 Cradles for charging:


BlackBerry® 8800 Series Power Station with Extra Battery Charger -ASY-12733-004

Blackberry Source.com - BlackBerry 8800 Series Power Station

And my favorite
Blackberry 8800 Accessories - Comfort Cradle Car Kit
I have this one in my service truck and love it!