Although this article doesn' mention SPRINT.

I'd bet that RIM reports a better than expected quarter. That should rouse the stock from its decline; it'll prime the market for the release of the Blackberry 8700 in Verizon stores and the new sales that'll generate.

A Trade Ripens in Blackberry Maker

I ask...
How important is for SPRINT to get at least a share of the BB 87xx series launch?

How much "negative impact" will this have for SPRINT/NEXTEL wireless-business division if VERIZON gets a FULL (6 months or whatever time) exclusive as when the 7130e?

I think that if this happens.. A lot of customer will jump ship to T-Mo & CINGULAR (because of BB STEALTH ... media, memory expansion, camera etc.) and of course to Verizon because they will have the only full qwerty upgrade xclusive for those long time BB 7250 users.

What do you guys think?

i think verizion will get at least 3 months of the exclusive period in the US.

I just hope that the 8700 series comes out this year for Sprint, been waiting and I am holding out jumping ship to Cingular (company Discount)....I hope according to PCSIntel that the BB does come out in Oct for sale that would make me happy VERY happy.....almost as much as getting a thin slider from sprint

I met with my Sprint rep yesterday. He gave me a handout showing the Sprint 8700 in Q3 this year, and a GSM capable 8700 Q4/2007.

That's very interesting... and very disappointing. I can't believe that Sprint is going to wait until the end of NEXT year to release a GSM-capable Blackberry. I will hold out for as long as I can, but if I have to travel abroad (outside of Canada and Mexico) before that unit comes out, I'll have no choice but to jump ship to Cingular (or at&t, by then).

ok.. i got an email from rim yesterday saying that sprint was offering free BES and licenses when you order 10 BB's. the offere expires sept 30th, and the models were the 7520, 7250, 7100 and 7150. inventory purge for the new models in october?

speculate away!