EXCLUSIVE: The iDEN Curveball, Introducing the BlackBerry 8350 | BlackBerryNews.com

hmmmm is nextel trying to keep up with the jones's now?

Wirelessly posted

I carry a bb and a nextel. I would be all over this. My only gripe is why not a newer model? Qchat?

Is this an actual model photo?

FTA:
"Please note the image used in this article was made in Photoshop and should not be considered the real artifact."

Thanks -- need to put on my reading glasses... !

LOL!

As Kenneth mentioned in the comments on the article, it won't have an external antenna, which I'm sure is welcoming news to whomever still uses iDEN. As I didn't have a real picture and only information from official RIM sources, I made a device mockup

...you gotta admit, it looks pretty good for a Photoshop novelist

novelist or novice?

What a novel idea!

If it is like the previous IDEN models I wonder if it's name will be The Blackberry "Brick"

I hope this is sooner then later like 09. I use nextel for work and would love to have both. I can't deal with the 7100 like my buddies.

Woohoo! This makes me want to switch to Sprint Nextel, so I can switch back to AT&T.

is that a real shot? looking pretty sweet for a blackberry curve

As mentioned a little above ya, nope

I was just on the BB website and they are not listing a new phone for the iDen/Nextel Network. I also spoke with a Sprint representative and he had no knowledge of this phone either.

Does anyone have any hard facts on this model?

There is no "hard" information on this device yet.
The best you're gonna get right now is the information jibi posted at the top of this thread.

Read the press releases from Sprint during CTIA. Dan Hesse commented on the upcoming iDEN BB.

bout time....., i just hope they use the BB bold or thunder, the curve will be outdated bout time this thing comes out, oh well imma go play wit my dinosaur BB 7100i n iphone

Where is this press release at? I looked for it yesterday and was unable to find it. Can you post a link of the source?

I would like it as that photoshop setup but with maybe a bit of rubber around the edge, and a charge port seal to give it the Nextel toughness.

pink

Never heard of iDen. Must be an east coast thing. Sprint is bad news in Arizona anyway. Real bad news. I remember the contractors going nuts over the PTT thing back in the day. Do they still have that? The little chirp was classic. They liked bagphones too so they could spread it out on the front seat of the pickup.

It's a wireless network topology.

Nextel uses an iDen network.
AT&T and T-Mobile use a GSM network.
Sprint and Verizon Wireless use a CDMA network.

Oh, thanks. Does that let them have the ptt feature loved by general contractors around here? The chirp thing is actually obnoxious now.

Yes.

The really regrettable part about iDen's PTT (the "chirp thing" you refer to is actually called Push-To-Talk) ability is that people tend to stereotype those that appreciate its connectivity. Way more people than just contractors use the iDen network... and by the way, when people don't understand "Nextel-ettiquette" and are just blabbing about whatever with their phone on speakerphone, it is obnoxious!
We are a small company of about 50people w/an even mix of professional and delivery personnel and couldn't live without the PTT function. I would be all over a new technology Blackberry with the "chirp thing." I would be happy as heck with even a curve on the iDen network. And we all know AT&T's and Verizon's attempt at PTT was feeble at best.
And my humble opinion is the reason Nextel is dying (or dead, depends who you ask) on the vine, is their phone selection blows. It has nothing to do with Sprint buying them, iDen technology going away, blah-blah. If there were still enough subscribers, Sprint would be able to keep iDen alive and well for years.
Again, just my two cents...

Around where Im from, the only people you saw (past tense) using these were people like chad and construction workers. Unfortunately, the Chads of SE WI definately promoted that stereotype.

BTW... is that the real picture???? ;)

This is going to be my first post and I felt I HAD to post it.

NO THAT IS NOT THE REAL PICTURE.

It even says on that posting it is a photoshop mock up of what they THINK it will look like.

I bought my gf an 8830 and switched over from Nextel to Sprint, I was told at the time (May) by the guy who set me up over the phone that the Nextel side was getting a new Blackberry sometime in September or later, possibly even 2009. No one has officially made any kind of announcement on it though, and the only reason I still have my Nextel phone instead of an 8830 or Curve is that they bring a PTT BB to the iDen network.

Spoke with a Nextel Tech today at a repair center. He confirmed that the new Blackberry will be out this year. Nextel is shooting for November/December time. It is definately going to be the Curve. It is going to look just like the Curve. It will not have an antenna on it and it will be on the iDen netowkr only. It will not be a Hybrid. No word on the price at this time.

Heard from my sources that 2+billion being put back into iden network to bring up capacity & re-activate old capacity. Also, sprint/nextel hybrids discontinued. Also, ex Nextel CEO re-emerging to possibly take Nextel back from Sprint. Seems like Netxtel is getting ready to go it alone again. Good riddens. Sprint has brought nothing to Nextel users as far as improvements in service.

New 8350 makes total sense as to why it is an iDen. I waited for a year for q-chat but now it seems iDen is preparing for a re-birth. As far as I'm concerned if they manage the network properly (not like the summer of 06) and keep new technology coming along (handsets), then no problem with iDen living on for years and years.

It's all just speculation at this point.......

IDEN can't live on for years. The FCC has forced the issue by taking the needed frequencies away from the market for emergency services use only. Qchat sucks. It is more in line with the verizon attempt than the old Nextel standard. I've tried several of the Qchat enabled handsets, and they are all slow, and it sounds like you are under water to the person you are talking with.

I am hopeful that this unit will arrive with the old Direct Connect. It is coming in Q4.

Here from a website I just found, the BB iDen is coming in Q4 2008. Someone said it will be straight iDen and use Wi-Fi for the internet, so no hybrid or Qchat, this is a straight iDen phone, until someone can dig up an official press release on it with specs.

Credit to boygeniusreport.com a website I found while using Stumbleupon.

that is so cool! i will get it when it comes out.

What what what......Blackberry's shouldn't have antennas! Thats what I really like about my curve...no antenna.

read much?

That picture in the first dozen or so posts is a PHOTOSHOP MOCK UP as it clearly states, however, the pic in my last post is from Sprint, and as you can see, no antenna

or maybe just that neat yellow trackball ring

I still don't get why this is a straight IDEN phone.... It seems silly to have dual mode and not use it in this phone

My Rep just sent me an email stating "BB 8350 Scheduled to Launch 12-1-08. Presently I DO NOT have any pricing available."

hmmm....
I was told October.

lol I figured as much.......Iv never been a fan of sprint but I must say this looks pretty solid.