Insider sources tell me the 8703e will launch on 09/25 with a list price of $699 or $499 with an upgrade discount.

I think I'll wait

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/107)

Sounds expensive. Meh ... Go to Rogers

Bell is corp policy <sigh>

Omkhar,

Do you know when BELL will advise public of this 8703e launch?

They better be paying your bill then if they are telling you where to be as far as carriers...

I found it on their website today 09/22/06

They pay for airtime, I pay for the h/w

fair enough...

here is the URL Alex was trying to post.

Bell.ca - Browser Support

There should be an additional discount for those users taking both voice and data services posted shortly after the official launch (likely during the first week or two of October).

Another Bell page with a little more info

Wireless Products

omkhar,

This is great news!! Thanks for the info re details on BELL Mobility website.

Now it's decision making time. Do I stay with 7130e with SureType or change to 8703e with qwerty keyboard.

CarBob

$649 is steep (one year term).

Although that's not much more than Rogers ($599 one year term); especially considering Rogers has had the 8700 for a lot longer....

I think I'm gonna hold off till after Christmas (my best guesstimate at it becoming remotely affordable). I also have an email out to my Bell rep to determine if/when we'll get corp pricing.

8703e vs 7130e? I'd go with the 8703e.... only because I hate SureType (tm).... sorry 71xx lovers, I just love the QWERTY.

When I talked to the VP Sales guy at RIM about 5 months ago, he said their sales volume is surprisingly almost 50/50 between the two types of keyboards. I think you will find the original Blackberry users like the QWERTY keyboard best (with a few exceptions).

Also, I made a surprising switch to Rogers from Bell about three months ago. I was with Bell for over 12 years. I have to admit, I like the way Rogers treats me better. The support is just a touch better and they are definitely are friendlier. With Bell, I felt as though I was an inconvenience. I also find reception in the USA better with Rogersxxx8217; selection of carriers (GSM vs. Bellxxx8217;s CDMA).

When will the devices be avaialble in the Bell World stores? I asked on Saturady the 23 and got a blank look from the Bell World clerk. He said: "No one tells us anything - the hardware just shows up!"

That is, unfortunatly, the way it goes ... the 8703e has been available for Bell stores to orders since around the 18th or so but, thus far, no product has arrived at our store. I'm hopefull that we'll see shipments for the official launch this Monday but there is no way to tell for sure until we see the boxes coming in the door.

Thanks Mark,

I guess I'll just trudge over to the nearest store tomorrow.

If you are having trouble locating them locally let me know and we can arrange to have one shipped to you (assuming, of course, that we get our stock).

Our internal price is $489... so much for a real discount