Since the launch of the RIM 8100 Pearl, anybody who’s anybody anxiously awaited the launch of the next BlackBerry. RIM followed up with the 8800 next and while nice, wasn’t really the bee’s knees. They dribbled out details here and there, but mostly said details have only caused confusion. Initial whispering pegged another new device as having the same features as it’s little brother the 8100, plus a wide screen, full keyboard and even WiFi! Next, GPS got into the mix. Soon rumors had the device shooting bear mace and cooking your breakfast. The internet was all a tizzy with the ultimate multimedia device ready to drop into their hot little hands.
Not long after rumors started, features began to drop of the mythical device like flies. First, reports popped up that the much anticipated WiFi and GPS functionality was lost. Next the 1.3 or even 2 mega pixel camera and micro SD card slot got the axe. Panic took hold of the population and small nerd riots popped up next to water coolers nation wide. Was this device to be just a mere upgrade to the no frills 8700? Well fear not fellow BlackBerry enthusiasts. In a strange twist, it turns out almost everything we’ve heard is true… except the bear mace part that is.
It turns out that maker of all things Berry, RIM, decided to drop three different versions of the 8300, all with different feature specs. All three versions appear to be GSM phones (start celebrating AT&T and T-Mobilites) and will all have EDGE capability.
The most basic device to drop will be the 8300. This unit, code named “Baby Bear,” by RIM, will offer a camera but no WiFi or GPS. Next up to bat will be the 8320. “Mama Bear” here does have a camera and WiFi, but no GPS. Last, but absolutely not least, is of course “Papa Bear.” The 83xx model, despite currently lacking it’s last two digits, does manage to cram in the whole package; camera, WiFi and GPS all included.
The last one on the list is absolutely the top of the food chain and will be the most sought after. While it may be speculated that everyone will want to get their paws on just “Papa Bear”, RIM’s decision to split one device into three makes sense on a business level. Many BlackBerry users out there work for places like the Department of Defense, and walking into the Pentagon with a camera phone is, let’s say, frowned upon. Devices like *ahem* “Baby Bear” will appeal to those users and will not alienate anyone from RIM’s rising legions of fans.
No solid launch dates or price points have been announced yet, but rumor has it the big T will be getting it before the launch of the iPhone.
One final note of interest is the speculation that any of the WiFi enabled models will work on T-Mobile’s experimental Hotspot @Home service. A new BlackBerry with all the bells and whistles that can also make free calls over any WiFi network? Sign me up, I’ll take twelve.
[Via The Boy Genius Report]
