I hear no Pearl on the board for VZW, just the 8830 that is now available. I would love to be wrong, though. Maybe VZW will get something in the new line (9xxx). Bummer that CDMA is usually last with the new models, but maybe the 8830 is a new trend.

I am hearing more and more bits about the pearl wrapping up testing on vzw and targets for June launch.

Both k40jeep and vzw e on Hofo have confirmed this as well. (both credible sources IMO.)

Not sure if the higher ups at vzw are not stressing the impending launch of the iPhone. I am hoping they will launch it a couple of weeks before the launch of the iPhone to re-secure a bunch of contracts.

But I digress - Froogle this - your mischievous comment leaves me curious - please shed some more light into the situation!

Regards,
dolo

Everything I have "heard" indicate Verizon is going to release something to compete with the iPhone in June. Most believe it to be a BB Pearl, but I have also heard some say it could be a media centric WM6 phone.

So...I wouldn't necessarily bank on a VZW Pearl, but I would bet there will be a new iPhone competitor in the next month or so.

All of you will want sources...yet I have none. This is merely "Wall Street" hearsay.

How so? 8800 was out on GSM months ago...

After reading one too many posts on one too many boards, I'm starting to think/hope VZW is going to shock us with the Pearl 2. Wishful thinking I know, but how sweet would that be?

I'd be skeptical for the pearl 2 - but a hybrid pearl would be great (although wishful thinking.)

By hybrid pearl I selfishly mean just a 3.5" headphone jack.

Ominx you may be referring to the ppc6800 which is delayed - assumption is that delay is due to wm6 and evdo rev.a

Regards,
dolo

I believe Kitmoni was referring to the fact that there was a significant reduction in the normal lag time between GSM and CDMA models with the introduction of the 8830.

Wirelessly posted (Thumpers 8700c: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Exactly! The 8830 was much quicker to the CDMA market than earlier models. I'm hopeful.

Jaxberry - hello from Ponte Vedra...

Yup

Has any BB device ever come out on CDMA first, before GSM? I don't think this is the case but wanted to verify.

Short answer, no

Would love for you to be wrong too, but you're probably not. Just might have to go with the 8830 to fill my gizmo fix.

Howdydoo Kitmoni...

I'm hopeful as well. Would love to get a cameraberry on VZW with a slimmer build than what we have offered to us now. Currently I use my 7130e for work, and I have a small Nokia as my slip-in-the-pocket-and-go-out-phone

I don't care that it has a camera but a new sure type model on cdma would be nice. I would love to see a 8130 in the next few months...

As I said earlier, Verizon is definitely planning to release a media centric phone this summer that will compete with the iPhone. At this point it could either be a WM6 device or a BB. It's anyone's guess really, but I fully expect a fair amount of new smartphones to be released in the next 2-3 months. If all of us here are lucky it will be the 8130e.

VZW has such an awful track record of getting new phones to market...they're terrible. Glad I dumped them years ago.

A good chunk of the delay is Qualcomm building the cdma radio and then vzw heavy testing program...

there are a lot of similarities between the verizon pearl and the bermuda triangle.....everyone has heard about it but, no one has seen it....i guess if you do see it, then you get lost in another dimension!!!

Man, I would just love some solid info on when VZW will offer the 8100/81XX! I don't like waiting but having some solid info would help take the edge off

Balloon bursts. Sorry but the iphone killer is not going to be a BB

iphone killer

I agree with ArgonNJ just based on what the Pearl is vs what the iPone will be. "Yes" it is true that you can play music and movies on your Pearl but thats a secondary feature, maybe even tertiary. Where the iPone's primary features will be music & phone.
I want VZN to get the Pearl ASAP as the current 7130 is, well..., ancient!!
We shall see what actually happens in June as its right around the corner now.
With baited breath.....
Regards,

Moose

I hope the CDMA versions of the 8100 are brown, we need a brown blackberry.



amirite?

Color is not a big deal (vzw seems to like silver), just release a cdma 81xx or better unit with suretype...
:holding breath:

so do the newer Pearl's handle memory better?

Mine's like 7 mos old (cingular) - maybe I will get a newer one??

Signs are now pointing to a fall Pearl 2.0 (8120) release on VZW.

A look at Verizon's busy summer - Engadget Mobile

Wirelessly posted (7130e: BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Wow. That's great. I just got my 8830 yesterday. I don't think I will be ready for anything more high tech than this.

Uh, wouldn't that be a brownberry?

...or a dingleberry.

(no offense all, just my brand of southern californian humor )

jax

GENIUS!! Get this to RIM's marketing department ASAP.

Sprint is working on a high speed push to talk replacement for DC from the old Nextel days. My sources are telling me they will put this technology through a long and extensive test since DC is such a reliable solution. They have told me that they will not release this technology until it is as reliable or better than the current iDEN DC. I am hearing a possible release of this solution sometime next calendar year...most likely Q3. After they release this solution and finds that it is accepted by the industry and customer base they will have about a year to year and a half overlap before you start seeing the iDEN towers disappear. Sprint will be a full CDMA shop in about 3 years or so. With all that said there can be alot of things change in the meantime since this is quite a bit off still.

I am getting confirmation that Sprint is also working on a consumer/prosume device (Pearl2) and it will be released sometime around the holiday shopping time (Thanksgiving). Not a device I am interested in but will be curious to see it at least

Interesting:

Upgrades: Blackberry Pearl 2 Details Revealed - Gizmodo

Rumor: Palm "Gandolf" Real, Blackberry Pearl 2 On the Way - Gizmodo

it's july...and still no movement on the Pearl going CDMA lol

Sprint is not shutting down iDEN towers for at least the next 7 years, they have in fact spent millions over the last year upgrading them and added additional sites to address the coverage problems and customer defections in 2005-2006. QChat has been tested and WILL be rolled out end of this year/begining of next year. It will be fully compatable with iDEN PPT so QChat users will be able to DC to iDEN users. Once QChat rolls out, Sprint wil start gently suggesting when iDen users upgrade handsets - they get CDMA/QChat device.

No one will see the original Pearl on Sprint, they passed on carrying it when RIM offered it.

Not sure your sources but my sources are saying as early as 3-4 years from now they will start shutting down the iDEN towers...but who knows.

I see the 8830 is now offered by Sprint. Are there any new rumors about the Blakckberry Pearl coming to Sprint? That is my ideal choice as I prefer a device with a camera.

I'm a long-time Sprint customer but I will likely leave after my contract because it seems like Sprint is always the last provider to offer the newest (coolest) phones.