Next G for Blackberry

Gavin1 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 08:51 PM

Does anyone know when Telstra will have the next g BB

GaryCutri · #2 (**permalink**) 13-02-2008, 12:14 AM

I wouldn't expect to see a NextG BlackBerry until next year. I personally don't believe Telstra has made any commitment to RIM regarding a NextG device. As an interim solution you can use a Nokia E51 with BlackBerry Connect, there may also be a Motorola device having BlackBerry support added shortly.

CybaCowboy · #3 (**permalink**) 19-02-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryCutri

I wouldn't expect to see a NextG BlackBerry until next year. I personally don't believe Telstra has made any commitment to RIM regarding a NextG device.

You're wrong here, quite wrong - whilst there's nothing officially confirmed, there are rumors floating around all over the place about a NextG-compatible BlackBerry, including from within Telstra...

Rumor has it that something will be on the scene about (key word being "about") March, and that Telstra have given RIM quite a big list of features they expect to see in the device, which includes (among other things) a built-in GPS receiver.

Many of you are probably aware of the 3G "BlackBerry 9000" rumors that have been floating around for the last few weeks and a lot of people, myself included, suspect that this may just be the NextG-compatible BlackBerry that is supposed to be just around the corner...

Like I said, these are just rumors, but as more and more official information starts to appear about the "BlackBerry 9000", the rumor of a NextG-compatible BlackBerry is starting to look quite fesible.

Don't forget that Telstra has a large percentage of the corporate and Government customers here (particular the latter), and in many cases secure e-mail is critical to the work, so it actually makes a lot of sense for Telstra to be pushing RIM for a NextG-compatible device...

GaryCutri · #4 (**permalink**) 19-02-2008, 11:00 PM

Would you like to bet on it?

This year I believe Telstra will have an 8320 and an 8110 or 8120. And to cover the NextG issue they will look at adding BlackBerry Connect to more non BlackBerry mobiles as they have with the Nokia E51 (e.g. Motorola Q, Treo 750). I am also taking the assumption that RIM wouldn't even have a production line to cater for NextG devices.

CybaCowboy · #5 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 12:40 AM

You talk of NextG like it's some alien technology, but you forget that the only thing different about Telstra's NextG network is the frequency... It's the same old WCDMA technology, just at a different frequency (850MHz) that happens to offer a range of benefits over the 2100MHz that others are using.

Also keep in mind that a growing number of manufacturers (including most majors) are now offering dual-band WCDMA handsets - handsets that support not only the usual 2100MHz, but also the 850MHz that is used on Telstra's NextG network and certain others overseas.

Financially, it would be cheaper for RIM to manufacturer a single, dual-band WCDMA handset, than to manufacture two seperate, single-band WCDMA handsets (and that's not even counting the high-speed CDMA networks that still operate overseas!)...

And to answer your question, yes, I would bet on a NextG BlackBerry becoming available in the "near future"!

GaryCutri · #6 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 01:47 AM

There is no doubt that Telstra will eventually have a NextG BlackBerry but unfortunately I can't elaborate on the "exact" details that I know. I personally believe that it will be "very" late this year and/or defiantly next year.

yoyoboy · #7 (**permalink**) 20-02-2008, 07:23 PM

correct me if i am wrong (it has happened) but isnt next G technology and signal band very similar to ATT's 3g network?

RIM and ATT have a very close relationship. I think this will be the driving force for next G handsets. I mean if we were the only ones using the band then no manufacture worth his salt would make handsets for telstra, there just isnt a big enough market. You have to remeber that phones are sold in the millions not hundreds of thousands.

CybaCowboy · #8 (**permalink**) 21-02-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CybaCowboy

Many of you are probably aware of the 3G "BlackBerry 9000" rumors that have been floating around for the last few weeks and a lot of people, myself included, suspect that this may just be the NextG-compatible BlackBerry that is supposed to be just around the corner...

Like I said, these are just rumors, but as more and more official information starts to appear about the "BlackBerry 9000", the rumor of a NextG-compatible BlackBerry is starting to look quite fesible.

By the way, it was actually the rumored-but-sorta-unofficially-confirmed-"BlackBerry 8000" I was thinking of, not the rumored "BlackBerry 9000"...

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoyoboy

correct me if i am wrong (it has happened) but isnt next G technology and signal band very similar to ATT's 3g network?

Not sure, but I know for certain that one of the Canadian carriers operates a 3G/3.5G/UMTS network on the same frequency, and Canada is the home of BlackBerry, so...

muck · #9 (**permalink**) 27-02-2008, 06:35 PM

wasnt there an article posted on the net a few months ago, regarding telstra and rim working together to bring a 3.5g blackberry to australia.

the most obvious would be the next so called 9000, which is rumored to have 3g support. from what i have read rim are struggling with getting battery life to the standards we all used too.
so the wait could be a while yet on the 9000.
which is good. i dont feel like buying another berry outright so soon

its like waiting for os 4.5 .slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow.