The honest truth is less than 1% of the professional world requires international data service. If I need an international BB I simply call Sprint-Nextel and rent one for the trip.
Packing a CDMA and GSMish chipset in one device isn't realistic either.

CDMA Sprint BB 8700 Q2 of 2006...

Done

You're saying it won't have nextel 2-way?

NO.

aren't we in Q2 of 2006?

Done

yes we are.....so be patient

DONE....lol

at just reading this, to the people who have EVP accounts (Government) if its IL and the phone is under your name with a government discount you have an early term fee...the USPS wass one of the few that didnt and now thats gone....FYI

Not so Big and badass now are ya? Wasting our tax money

No 8700 for CDMA side of Sprint this Q.

you forgot to say DONE

Any idea of if/when there will a 8700 CDMA on Sprint?

If you look at the bb release trends in the past by the major carriers in the past, it will reveal to you that Verizon and Sprint/Nextel eventually release the larger form factor devices. It would be foolish for these carriers not to carry the 8700 eventually. That is the hottest product in the market. I imagine it is only a matter of time. Noting that Cingular has always carried first carried the new releases and then followed by the other US carriers, it would be safe to assume that 8700 is on the way...the carriers obviously are probably aware by that the demand for 8700 on a CDMA network is growing. My best guess is that there would be CDMA 8700 release by Verizon and then by Sprint in late Q2 or early Q3. RIM is currently in Q1...their 4th quarter ended in March some time.

Sorry about all the verbal barf!

With all the talk about a hybrid 8700 for Sprint/Nextel or just an IDEN and A CDMA version...I am wondering what the biggest differences are in the 7520 and the 8700? I looked at the "technical info", but that means very little to me. What are your perceptions of the greatest benefits of an upgrade? I love my 7520...was not thrilled about the 7100i and don't want to make a bad investment...thanks!

It looks better. Probably thinner. Has the send and end and soft key buttons. Screen. Processor.

I think that one thing to keep in mind is that until Sprint/Nextel fully implements their next generation network based on the EV-DO rev A protocol, they are committed to supporting two networks and product lines. Therefore, keep in mind the CDMA 8700 being released is the replacement for the 7250 Sprint device, not the 7520. Contrary to the recent posts about the 8702, I have not been able to get any tangible evidence that there is a replacement for the 7520 in the near future. According to a senior Sprint/Nextel rep I spoke to, there is nothing on the iDen BlackBerry slate for 2006, but that doesn't mean there won't be something ever. Until Sprint/Nextel can employ the EV-DO PTT that is compatible with the iDen PTT I can guarantee you that they will not be moving away from that cash cow which as previously stated will be viable through 2010.

never will see this device, rim will not make any more iden devices.

what about this from Nextel.com?

Rumors (and I stress that) of a November drop date for the 87xx on Nextel.

There dont have to be any plans yet the dual technology isnt there yet. when the dual phones come out plans will be unveiled with them. Cingular did the same when they switched from tdma to gsm. They released th nokia 6340i and had dual plans so people could benefit from both networks. Sprint will do the same. They will still bring out lots of new phones for the iden network til its gone because they want to keep the customer base. thats the reason for buying them in the firts place. the 8700 will be either iden or dual. but there will be an 8700 for iden.

It WILL happen. Sprint is committed to the iden customer base they will not risk losing it by not releasing new devices for it. rim is a huge with nextel and will continue as well. Now whether the 8700 is totally iden or dual iden/cdma im not sure. But there will be more rim iden devices. count on that.

DONE..

How do you know? I am extremely interested in this model. Love my 7520, but am dying for the 8700

Ive been selling phones for multiple carriers for quite a while and know the industry well enough to know how each carrier works. Granted im not currently selling phnes but I do still research the carriers. I know that sprint wont just dump iden even though it legally can in 2010. they wont make anyone switch til almost evryone has switched on their own. then once theres only a few left they'll force them to either switch or let them out of their contract. similar to the way amps and tdma were phased out at cingular And trust me ready link will be going away. it stinks and is no where near the quality of direct connect. They will develop something new once they upgrade there technology. they know the only way to keep the nextel customer base happy is to support it with new technology and most people will be enticed to switch over by getting a dual iden/cdma blackberry device this will give sprint what it wants. people will keep the features theyve come to love from both carriers while people will be dropping off the iden network so to speak. Im dying to get my hands on an 8700 too. I love everything about them.

Wow, that's a really bold statement, with absolutely NO information provided to back it up!

So, mike_187, why don't you tell us who you are and what exactly your job is at RIM?

What's that? You say you DON'T work for RIM?

Well then, in the immortal words of The Rock...
"KNOW YOUR ROLE AND SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"

Any Nextelian has heard all the Moto won't make another iDEN device, RIM won'tm ake another iDEN device, Sprint Nextel is taking down cell sites for Nextel, etc., and knows it's bunk.