OR!!!
There is one more theory floating through BBCool HQ, and while all the staffers are not completely on board, it is still a possibility. Some here believe that RIM’s third surprise of 2007 could be a cameraless SureType device with Wi-Fi and possibly GPS. This would presumably be to satisfy enterprise SureType lovers who can’t use the Pearl due to its camera, despite the ability to disable functionality from the BES (anyone who has tried to walk into a government building recently will know what we mean).
The argument for the existence of this device lies in RIM’s product tree. Right now there are three main divisions: consumer (Pearl), prosumer (Curve) and enterprise (8800). Until the existence of the Pearl, SureType devices like the BlackBerry 7130 were division agnostic, and could be used by enterprise users and consumers alike. However, with the unveiling of the BlackBerry Pearl, a gap in the product line was created: an enterprise SureType device that featured the slim stylings of the Pearl, without any of the functionality that would be a hassle for the tie-wearers of the world. RIM would then have a four division product tree: enterprise QWERTY, enterprise Suretype, prosumer (i.e., QWERTY consumer) and consumer (SureType consumer).
However, there are a couple of reasons why such a device may be a stretch. Firstly, as we explained above, it’s unlikely that RIM would release two new devices this fall, although the fact that this would be a minor release, as well as similar in design to whatever Pearl we’ll be receiving, could mitigate that. More likely reasons lie in the demand and/or success of an enterprise-only SureType device. While the predictive-text functionality of SureType devices is much improved since the old BlackBerry 7100 first made an appearance, anyone who has to enter a password (like oh, say, any government employee) knows that they’re still a nuisance. Also, while the desire for a gap-bridging device like the Curve is palpable, we’re not so sure the same feelings exist for what is essentially a crippled Pearl.
Regardless of what happens in the coming months, you can rest assured that BlackBerry Cool will provide full coverage. Until we break the news, however, we’d love you to post a comment and speculate along with us.
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