I had been in touch with our Cingular B2B Rep about it, who didn't have good info but guessed based on my description of the Launch Event that a Field Rep would be contacting me and to be sure for me to tell him that we already were in program and direct him back to the B2B Rep. I dunned the B2B guy yesterday and he e-mailed back: "We do not have a set release date on that yet. It's in a COMING SOON status, but quite honestly that could last for a couple months yet." Now as I read that reply, I think the "couple months" refers to the internal COMING SOON status, rather than an actual assessment of when the 8700C might be forthcoming.

I suppose RIM and Cingular could be playing cutesy and building buzz and demand, but there is a disconnect between a "Launch" and being subject to the normal grindings of a product roll out. Where it gets positively strange, is the way on the one hand that they are orchestrating customer and press perception of a new product, and simultaneously keeping their sales people in the dark (unless that is a complete pose).

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7100/4.0.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I don't think they would make us wait to build hype that would just be wrong.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry7100/4.0.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

I don't think they would make us wait to build hype that would just be wrong.

EDIT: Sorry, I dont know why I posted twice, I think something to do with the esc button.

I haven't received one from the event but our contact at Cingular was able to give me a new 8700c he had. It was much appreciated. I'd tried one a few weeks ago and was very impressed, so it's great to have one to use until I get my "real" one. The company I work at has just started supporting "phone-enabled PDAs" and a quick test of the 8700c was enough to convince me to switch all our existing 7290 orders to the 8700c.

Feel free to ask me any questions about the 8700c.

P.S. Hi, Ig :smile:

///

This week should be when we receive some sort of contact about this device...

Let's hope there are no delays boys....the sooner we get it - the sooner we can all be $1600 richer! :P

i still can't believe that.

PC

I am starting to wonder as I was told last week it would be this week and now they are saying next week? I wonder what is going on.

Unless the Cingular launch of the 21st is delayed we will have ours after the launch most likely. So much for the "new kid on the block" he said at the rollout party.

barjohn,

Yes, there is an increased chance that the launch on the 21st will be delayed, if only by a few days.

I just received information that the delay is due to some last minute code changes they needed to make. Presumably, either bugs that were found and fixed or added features that weren't ready before and they decided to add. Just a guess on my part.

Actually I don't mind, as I rather they fixed things before they shipped, or added new goodies before they shipped - John, any idea how much the delay will be? I am afraid that they may have had thousands ready to go into the channel which they will have to reburn.....

All I was told when I said that I thought your COO had said we would have them before the general public was that they needed to make the changes and that it would be next week before we would see them. Maybe someone with better insight into RIM can provide us with better data. I know I am disappointed.

Wirelessly posted (7280: BlackBerry7280/4.0.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/5.1.2.9)

Finally some progress! Got a thank you email from "The Blackberry Team.". The most important thing it says is "As a token of our appreciation, your Cingular Sales Representative will soon deliver a BlackBerry 8700c right to your door." Looks like jnelson's and dolo's date predictions were accurate.

:smile: Just when is "soon"? :smile:

We were thinking the same, no telling how relitive "soon" is. Could be Christmas.

Anyone else receive this email? I didn't..grrr

Dude - can you confirm that you received this to the email address you registered at the event with?

Regards,
dolo

Just got my email today myself.

My rep said they're pushed back 3-4 days (would put release that Friday after thanksgiving if that's true) due to OS/Software upgrade.

The people who went to the launch should get them before that then?

Wirelessly posted (7280: BlackBerry7280/4.0.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/5.1.2.9)

Dolo,

Confirmed, the email went to the registration address.

-Dude

P.S. I love this wireless posting, jus gotta watch out for ESC :)

Just contacted the registration number and they said my rep will be contacting me. My rep says Rim will be contacting me. Who knows.