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Weekly Contest: The Post-9000 Wishlist
With the potential of a front-facing video camera, and the confirmation of a 9100 model in the wings, you gotta wonder what iterations will follow the newest generation of BlackBerry. Wi-Fi, GPS and 3G defined the progression of the 8000 series across its three tracks (Pearl, Curve and 8800), but if the rumored features stick, all of those will be included in the base model. This leaves the question: what features will come after launch? Is a video camera going to be held out for the 9100, or will the old designations stick, resulting in a SureType device like the Pearl? Will CDMA get any more love with this series, perhaps with a few more dual-mode models? You might even want to check out one of our older contests for some inspiration… Let’s hear what you guys want to see in the coming months from the 9000 series, and win Bplay’s recently-launched Texas Hold’Em King 3, along with two other games of your choice, and three BlackBerry skins from DecalGirl.
Yeah, last week’s contest was a little short-lived, but we got a few good entries anyhow. Dave saved his daughter’s purse and avoided some hazardous driving conditions thanks to his BlackBerry, and Brian owes a vacation to his, but I think Ricky will take the cake on this one. Not only did he get a timely medical diagnosis, but his scholastic fate for a whole semester was determined with some speedy BlackBerrying. We’ll get you an OtterBox so your device will be able to handle the rigors of the rugby field, and we’ll also throw in a copy of StudentBerry to keep your classes all in order. Thanks for your tales, guys! Hearing ‘em definitely makes me feel good about carrying the BlackBerry around everywhere.
Posted by Simon Sage in Features, WeeklyContest
Comments [12 Responses]
April 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I work in a burn intensive care unit at a major hospital. My BlackBerry 8700g saved a life. A patient was crashing and we needed drug calculations fast. I used a third party medication application and had the info within seconds. Thank goodness for BlackBerry.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
[...] few months ago we featured a post about a BlackBerry wish list. BlackBerry history has proven to advance over the years and continues. However, there are [...]
April 18th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Who cares what they pack into the phone, Verizon will disable all of the good stuff and make you pay extra to use it, like they do now with GPS. Rediculous! I am stuck with Verizon for reasons beyond my control for now, but I will dump them ASAP!
April 19th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
With the new 9100, I have high hopes. As an Alltel wireless consultant, and a proud owner of the Blackberry Pearl, I have to say I am totally impressed and addicted. I think the front video camera is a definite feature they may hold out for, but also the sure type is something impressive and I think that’s possible too. The dual mode is something definite I’m sure, because the 8830 is something I see popular amongst our traveling customers, but it’s only that one phone we’re able to offer from my company. So I am pretty sure that it will have all those features along with the dual mode because they keep adding features that the public demands, along with satisfaction and the great Blackberry experience we have all come to love.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Short term:
OLED Display
2Gb internal memory
video camera
Long term:
LTE
NFC
April 21st, 2008 at 10:23 am
Both GSM and CDMA at device launch.
MORE RAM (at LEAST 512M).
Higher capacity “standard” battery.
Improve processor speed.
Prohibit carriers from disabling device hardware features.
Offer non-camera versions of every camera device, rather than specific camera and non-camera product lines.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:03 am
All I want is for Sprint to carry this phone and I dont think that the folks at RIM has fixed the most simple problem with Blackberry phones, If I want to call 1800-SPRINT1 I have to look at my house phone or even worst I have to go to a pay phone and look to see what the letters are, they should have something in the phone that you can type in the letters instead of the number, and I hope I dont already have that feature on my phone or I would look very stupid, lol
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 am
Well I am sure AT&T will probably get the exclusive on this for a few months after launch as usual so I don’t expect to see CDMA that soon 
I would love to see the device have GPS, WiFi and Camera all in one at launch. A camera that can shoot video would be slick too. If video does make the cut, more internal memory would be a must. Both for storage and processing. I think they will issue a 9100 SureType device as well. The Pearl seems too popular to deviate from that model. At this stage of the game, since it is probably going to be the most media-centric of the Blackberrys so far, I think 3G at launch would also be a must.
Hopefully they will also improve the browser to support more intense web sites. Very soon after this device the touch screen has got to be coming as well. I don’t think RIM can sit back and watch the iPhone take up the spotlight much longer.
I also really hope they move the microSD slot out from under the covers and make it more easily accessible! A top slot loader would be perfect 
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I think that Wi-Fi, GPS, and 3G will all be included in the first 9000. This is because Blackberry is already offering these services, so why would they remove them from this model, only to add them in 9010s or 9020s or such.
Some people have suggested the CDMA and GSM launch together. I can’t see this happening. It would be nice if they could be launched closer together than in the past (ie 8300 and 8330), but i fully expect a 6 month + gap.
With the popularity of the Pearl, I think the 9100 will definitely be SureType. However, i don’t see the front-facing camera being on this model. This is because the 9100 will probably be more consumer-targeted, like the pearl, and the purpose of the front-facing camera seems to be video conferencing. For the 9100, consumers are more likely to use the camera in a digital camera manner, so they would need it on the other side, in order to see the display of what they are shooting.
I have a feeling a CDMA 9000 (9030, i guess) will be dual mode. When i first heard of the 9000, it was described as the ultimate executive blackberry, or something along those lines. If this is to be true, it needs dual mode, so that traveling business-people can use it at all times. It is already clear that they can do this (8330 world edition), so i don’t see any reason not to. Also, leaving this feature out may steal sales from the 9030, as people opt for the 8830’s dual abilities. Maybe even in the 9130.
With so many people having problems with “memory leaks,” i think the new devices will have larger RAM, and will probably have the externally accessible micro SD slot, like in the 8130.
The 9100 will definitely have video recording, as there is no reason to drop this feature. An upgraded camera would be nice, but i don’t think RIM will go to the trouble of that unless they feel there is a solid demand for it.
One of my hopes, which may just be wishful thinking, is that RIM launches a new type of theme. Like they did with the Verizon 8130’s “L” theme. I’m sure they are not strangers to the popularity of themes, and 3rd party apps on their devices, and know that a new theme layout would cause some positive buzz within the community.
To wrap-up this long post, the new devices will have HTML e-mail capabilities. A new browser and the ability to edit spreadsheets wouldn’t hurt either, haha.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
[...] 9000, and some of the more interesting demands for new features include a Pearlesque form factor, more security over features, but out of all the entries, Ricky wrapped up all the expectations for the 9000 nicely, especially [...]
