Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I was told today by my B2B rep that the VZW 8830 will launch 5/14 for less than $300 in Silver only and that a "consumer model" will come later in the year. I think the analysts confused the 8830 with a pearl.

As posted on Hofo:

"Pearl Update- I have been having a ton of issues with my 8703e reception wise and made an agreement with my corp rep that I would go to a phone only device until the next new PDA device is out, at which point they agreed and told me that the next PDA device will be the Pearl. She said that she will have pricing sometime next month and then it will be available beginning in June. I'm excited! I'm getting a free LG 8600 which got great reception at my home until the Pearl released and then I'll get my 2 yr contract price minus the corp discount. The other thing that she confirmed from the VZW specs is that it will be a Rev A device and will have the sure type keyboard and will be grey in color, not black or white."

URL: BlackBerry Pearl Coming to Verizon May 7th - - HowardForums: Your Mobile Phone Community & Resource

ill never sacrifice my real keyboard for multimedia capabilities

What exactly is a "Rev A" device (referencing dolo's last post)?

Is the under $300 price for new contract pricing?

of course! full price on blackberrys are typically at least 450 bucks and up.

Rev A refers to the revision of EVDO that VZW recently rolled out. I believe the previous version was Rev 0.

Rev A provides an (potential) increase in data connection speeds (or something like that). Good for those folks that tether their laptop to their Berry.

Sprint also has Rev A and was first to roll it out and also has a larger footprint.

The last two points are correct. Sprint was first to roll out Rev A EVDO. Additionally, Rev A is the next gen EVDO - by standards it should be noticeably faster then standard EVDO.

Regards,
dolo

downloads speeds are similar, but upload is much better...comparing rev a to 0.

ok, maybe ill eat my own words, i played with a suretype device today for the hell of it...wasnt all that bad. i was able to type out cursewords and the like with ease lol

so i may consider the pearl for vzw

I went into a T-mobile store a few days ago and picked up a pearl, I almost brought one right then and there, the form factor is amazing. But then I came down to earth when I realized I'd have some explaining to do with the misses if I walked into the house with a t-mobile bag, especially since t-mobile doesn't even have any reception in my home...lol

Wonder how long it will take for it to make it's way to Canada after the release south of the border

When it comes to data, Sprint is definitely ahead of the curve as compared with Verizon. Verizon may have better coverage, but Sprint has them beat on deployment and price.

lol not a good thing...
BTW, my deepest sympathies...you owned a Q lol

I am a VZW 8703 user and have been so excited to get a VZW Pearl. I couldn't take it any longer and went down to Cingy and got one to use for the trial period. I returned it over the weekend after my test drive. Boy am i glad i did this. My two biggest take aways: 1) the build quality feels VERY plastic and breakable. I am not abnormally hard on cellphones but I was constantly worried about the slightest bump somehow damaging the phone. This might not be reality but it sure feels that way in your hand.(and this is not just because it is smaller, I understand the Pearl will feel lighter then an 8700, but we all know that feeling when you pick up a phone. It either feels "solid" or "cheap". I felt it was certainly on the cheap feeling side) 2) This was the bigger issue for me, the OS? seems slow. The frequency of the spinning hour glass was surprising. Night and day difference from the 8703e.

Everyone has their own opinions and many will not agree with mine. But I am thankful I took this test drive. I think now the 8830 has my attention, at least until I can get my hands on it

I don't see vzw releasing the 8100 till late in Q4, like always vzw release blackberry that is almost a year old...

whoscalling,

Stop justifying the fact that the pearl isn't coming out for us in awhile ;). You and I are in the same boat - 8703 users itchin for something new and also something more multimedia oriented.

While the pearl may feel like a lesser build quality, it's sturdy as has been reckoned by many users. You got smaller form factor, lighter weight, same OS and more features. As for me personally, the verdict is still out on suretype.

Phinger,

I also used a Q. It had awesome phone quality but it was just plain sluggish and battery life was putrid. A few heads I know have been patient with it and updated the software and they all seem pretty pleased with it. I miss the phone quality, form factor and my NES Emulator + ROMs :D

Holdem will have to hold me over for now. Still can't crack the 150K pot.

Regards,
dolo

Too bad VZW specifically forbids tethering to any other devices with regards to internet connection, and if i remember correctly they even reserve the right to take legal action against anyone that does so. F that. It's going to be a shame to see a crippled pearl from Verizon.

That's why you go with sprint.

what are you talking about? you can tether with at least 75% of verizons devices.
right now the only PDA that verizon sells that is current that does not tether is the 6700. (the 700W is phased out, and does not tether, but the 700WX does tether)

anyways, today i was speaking with a manager about the new BB's coming out, he did hear about the pearl, but for verizon its not a pearl its going to be an equivelant derivitive in regards to its form factor and features. its being held quiet, and its not being called a pearl. it is expected to be released soon...very soon probably in may no later than june.
as for the 8830, he didnt know much about that one at all.

The more I read about this rumor, the more I discount it. I think many confused the 8830 with the Pearl. The manager's statement seems to prove it since the 8830 has been announced and is coming while there has been absolutely nothing about a CDMA Pearl.

true, im thinking the 8830 must be the potentially similar device to the pearl. thats all i can think of. there would have been more hype about a pearl or similar device available for verizon/sprint like there is for the 8830. just my 2 cents.

I agree. According to my sources (a Verizon manager and a RIM account manager) it is the 8830 in the May\June time frame and the Pearl around August.

Both Cingular and Verizon were at our company today to show us the latest phones. The Verizon rep told me that the 8830 would be released May 15th, pending the results of testing.

BTW - the Cingular rep told me that the 8800 with a camera is due out soon. I forget the model number that he called it.

Yea we all know that the 8830 will be out mid next month, but no one has gotten any info about the 81xx or the next suretype bb for vzw...

forget about the 81XX for verizon. it dont exist for now. until we get some good leads, this discussion is lame.
as for the fact that the 8830 is confirmed, i doubt we will see another BB coming out at nearly the same time as this 8830 is being shipped out.

i think sprint might be getting it. lately they have been up to par with everyone else... imho

I can assure you all that as of right now there are no plans to bring the Pearl r 8800 to Sprint, at least until July/August. The phone Launch/EOL list goes out that far and does not mention any new Blackberry devices. Also the only Blackberry that is EOL is the 7250, the newer devices are still going strong so I wouldn't expect the 8800 or Pearl from Sprint any time soon.

Wirelessly posted (7130e: BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I hope Verizon gets the pearl pretty soon. I have a 8703e and I don't see myself upgrading unless it has a camera.

i stand corrected :p

Sorry, I think you are wrong. 8830 is coming to Sprint this summer. The Pearl is a different matter.

No camera on the 8830 seen the pixs from vzw

I was told by a national account manger with vzw that the 7130e will reach eol this summer or fall...

I don't know what "eol" stands for. But I don't see a pearl in the near future. I haven't heard anything about it. (Wouldn't Boygenius have shared that with us if it were going to happen?)

But I KNOW that if VZW doesn't get the 83XX with GPS enabled this year, I will not be happy!

Am I right?

I'll get the 88XX in the meantime, like an appetizer.

dude verizon isnt going to get the 83XX. it is either going to t-mobile/cingular or sprint...

Its a GSM phone, its not going to Sprint this year. I think T mobile is once again slated to get this phone first. Weird how a carrier with no high speed network and one that is not known for business, gets all the coolest blackberrys first.

them not being known for business is exactly why they might be getting it. think about it. they got the pearl first, and that was the first berry with a camera. now they might get the 83XX and that will be the first full qwerty with a camera. where cingular was the first with the 8700 and 8800, and they are both camera-less. sprint and verizon just pick up on the phones later. there is a pattern here...

eol = end of life