Antenna makes appearance on BlackBerry 8703e – updated

Posted
by
Steve St. Pierre
on November 7, 2006, at 10:54 AM
in News
.
Comments: 8 responses
8 Comments

sprint-8703e-external-antenna.jpg

The BlackBerry 8703e may have been spending too much time with Ms. Ashlee Simpson (second pop star reference of the day – oh dear) and got a little work done. Engadget points us to Sprint’s site where the formerly sleek and stylish 8703e has apparently adopted an obtrusive stub antenna. What exactly is all this about? The source speculates about the need for GPS reception or the possibility of a new model surfacing or simply just playful photoshopping. I don’t care what it’s for – just get it off! GET IT OFF!

UPDATE

Just received word from Sprint’s media rep:

“This is evidently an accidental posting of an inaccurate image. Sprint’s BlackBerry 8703e does not have an extended antenna. The image is being removed.”

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  • Andrew

    Maybe we are looking at the new Hybrid, CDMA, IDEN blackberry

  • Andrew

    Maybe we are looking at the new Hybrid, CDMA, IDEN blackberry

  • Jay

    I am guessing it is a photoshop prank. It is obviously a Treo 700p antenna stuck on there. I am in the process of trying to give up my Treo for the 8703e and I think it is going to stick….

  • Jay

    I am guessing it is a photoshop prank. It is obviously a Treo 700p antenna stuck on there. I am in the process of trying to give up my Treo for the 8703e and I think it is going to stick….

  • http://www.livingscrapbooks.com/ Bill Andrews

    I am sure that is going to be an upcoming IDEN NEXTEL model!!! Too bad I left and went to T-Mobile already!!!

  • http://www.livingscrapbooks.com Bill Andrews

    I am sure that is going to be an upcoming IDEN NEXTEL model!!! Too bad I left and went to T-Mobile already!!!

  • http://www.blackberryinsight.com/ k

    To be clear: The built-in GPS receiver does not need an external antenna. E.g. the 7520 and 7100i only have external antennas because they are IDEN phones. As iden is working on a lower frequency using less power (compared to cdma and gsm) the handset needs an external antenna to provide high quality calls. You can see this on all Motorola iden phones (i615, i860, i870, i880, etc.) too.

  • http://www.blackberryinsight.com k

    To be clear: The built-in GPS receiver does not need an external antenna. E.g. the 7520 and 7100i only have external antennas because they are IDEN phones. As iden is working on a lower frequency using less power (compared to cdma and gsm) the handset needs an external antenna to provide high quality calls. You can see this on all Motorola iden phones (i615, i860, i870, i880, etc.) too.