Posted on April 14, 2009, at 9:50 am .
Many government and enterprise individuals don’t want cameras on their mobile devices for security concerns. In response to a small yet existent demand for a BlackBerry sans camera, Sprint is releasing the 8350i, a BlackBerry Curve without the 2mp camera. The pricing on the 8350i sans-camera is lined up exactly with the older version that includes a camera, at $149.99 after $100 mail-in rebate and a 2-year contract.
Other unique features for this BlackBerry include Nextel Direct Connect service which lets Curve 8350i users instantly connect with other Sprint customers with PPT devices using its iDEN network. The device is also significantly more bulky than its other Curve 83xx siblings, due in part to its additional internal components; the 8350i packs both GPS and Wi-Fi, something that can’t be said about any of the other 83xx series devices. This Curve does include WiFi so they haven’t stripped anything but the camera which is great.
[Al Sacco Via]
Posted on February 27, 2009, at 3:35 pm .
Sometimes you need to post a poorly researched rumor in order to get the real details. Recently, an engineer at Sprint confirmed the following details about the Sprint BlackBerry Niagara:
The BlackBerry Niagara is slated to launch in Q3 and will have the following specs:
EVDOrA
GSM 850, 900,1800,1900and UMTS 2100 (japan)
International Data will support GPRS, EDGE, UMTS & HSPA
3MP Camera
1400 MA Battery
Verizon will launch the device before Sprint because they are basically just paying for the Broadcom patent infringement to use the chipset in its existing form. Sprint wants the re-engineering effort to happen so they don’t have to pay the Broadcom fee so their launch will be a little later.
Thanks for the tip. Remember, send any rumors and tips to kyle (at) blackberrycool (dot) com.
UPDATE: Niagara closely follows the Javelin ID and styling. Most unique characteristic will be the battery cover with a gray/black dot matrixed print scheme with chrome accent “flying bb’s”. JavelinNiagara will simply be a CDMA version of the 8900.
Posted on February 20, 2009, at 1:36 pm .
I like to read the Sales by 5 blog every now and then because power user Nan Palmero works at the company and it’s good inspirational reading. A recent post on their blog is talking about “Using Great Technology” which of course involves a BlackBerry.
About two months ago, some things in my life changed, and I decided to move away from San Antonio. Rather than fearing for my job, I went straight to Erik and told him about my situation. We chose to put our state of the art technology to the test! With the use of our BlackBerry devices, Dell laptops equipped with shared calendars and contacts by Microsoft Outlook, google talk, a Sprint Air Card during the move, and Foonz conference call service, I have managed to stay an important part of the team. What we do and how well we do it have not changed. Among other responsibilities, Erik and Nan rely on me for all of their scheduling from nearly 1,000 miles away. Great technology is one thing that our team could not afford to sacrifice. This is the future of the work environment. Are you investing in great technology? And if so, are you using it to better your team?
[Via]
Posted on February 12, 2009, at 10:56 am .
Great news for recent BlackBerry Curve 8350i users having problems enjoying some iDEN PTT goodness. Sprint has officially released OS 4.6.1.128 for the Curve 8350i, which should fix many known issues (minus the ‘echo effect’ issue, which I’m told will be taken care of in a future release). To download the OS update, hit the either the Sprint or direct BlackBerry link below. To figure out what to do after that, read our OS upgrade how-to (Telus 8350i users may find this particularly interesting, as it contains instructions on how to use an OS build other than your carriers for upgrade goodness).
Direct BlackBerry.com OS 4.6.1.128 Download
Sprint OS 4.6.1.128 Download
HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR BLACKBERRY OS
Posted on February 6, 2009, at 2:11 pm .
When you see Nan Palmero punching out the air like a BlackBerry-enhanced Adonis, it can only mean one thing: OS 4.5 is available for your BlackBerry. Today it’s the BlackBerry Curve 8330 and BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on the Sprint network. We have a quick rundown of new features in OS 4.5, as well as download instructions for your BlackBerry enjoyment.
OS 4.5 Features and Improvements:
OTASL (Over The Air Software Loading) This enables all future versions of handheld software to be downloaded and installed wirelessly
MMS (Audio, pictures, text, or all three in the same message)
Docs to Go (device-side Word, Excel, and Powerpoint document editing capabilities)
Sounds pretty great, right? Download instructions for BIS and BES users are after the jump. We’ve also heard that OS 4.5 will be released for the BlackBerry 8830 in a few weeks, with an 8703(!) release coming at the end of Q1.
Thanks for the tip, Rob!
OS 4.5 download instructions
Posted on January 5, 2009, at 9:39 am .
While pretty much any GSM subscriber in the world that wants a BlackBerry Bold can now easily get one from their carrier, things have not been so easy for those CDMA subscribers. Our poor friends on Sprint and Verizon (and Telus and Bell) have been waiting patiently for world on release dates of the BlackBerry Niagara (the CDMA Bold/8830 successor), but news has been slim since early October.
Thankfully, Engadget Mobile is reporting that Sprint is looking to release the BlackBerry Niagara sometime this quarter. The CDMA Bold variant would feature a 3.2 MPx camera, aGPS, Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev. A, a gorgeous HVGA screen and possibly an updated design to make it similar in style to the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Storm. Obviously, ‘this quarter’ is fairly vague, but I know it will make at least one person happy. We’ll post more as it comes!
|via Engadget Mobile|
Posted on December 16, 2008, at 10:24 am .
Considering how much iDEN BlackBerry subscribers have been frothing at the mouth over news of the just-launched BlackBerry Curve 8350i, I would assume most of you bought the device without waiting for a hands on impression post. However, there are probably just as many of you that have been burned by Sprint in the past and are wondering if the Curve is a worthy iDEN successor. Heck, I just had to explain to a BlackBerry Cool reader what Nextel is, so I’m not taking anything for granted.
After hooking up the ‘Cool with some unboxing shots, we tasked our main man Mike with playing with all the Curves shown above for some worthwhile impressions. He’s going to keep giving updates, so make sure to post any questions you want to have answered. You can find everything after the jump.
BlackBerry Curve 8350i hands on impressions
Posted on December 15, 2008, at 12:47 pm .
From the amount of comments I’ve seen on BlackBerry Cool recently, it’s clear that many members of the BlackBerry Nation are eager to get their hands on the BlackBerry Curve 8350i. Even though it’s been officially released just this morning, BlackBerry Cool reader Mike has already hooked us up with some nice unboxing shots of the new iDEN BlackBerry. He’s going to be sending along some hands on impressions soon, but here’s what he’s had to say so far:
OS 4.6 looks good and runs smooth.
Merry Christmas, Sprint/Nextel customers! You can see the rest of the photos after the jump.
BlackBerry Curve 8350i unboxing screenshots
Posted on December 15, 2008, at 9:00 am .
Christmas came just a little bit early for Sprint/Nextel subscribers, who finally have a new iDEN BlackBerry. Sprint and RIM officially announced the push-to-talk enabled BlackBerry Curve 8350i this morning, while Sprint’s online ordering page has been up since late last night (thanks to everyone who sent this in).
“The BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone is the most recent example of our solid commitment to iDEN technology and our Nextel Direct Connect customers,” said Danny Bowman, president of Nextel Direct Connect. “The BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone is designed for customers who require instant convenient push-to-talk services to communicate with friends and family as well as with employees, customers and suppliers. The BlackBerry Curve 8350i is a premium smartphone that strikes a perfect balance between performance and usability.”
Confirming the pricing information we broke earlier this year, the BlackBerry Curve 8350i is being sold for $149.99 with a two-year contract. If you want the iDEN BlackBerry now, you must order online, as the device won’t be available in stores nationwide until January 11th.
Head to Sprint.com to order yours now.
Posted on November 26, 2008, at 6:21 pm .
For those of you that have been suffering through the indignity of OS 4.3 on your BlackBerry Curve and Pearl when your friends are rockin’ their BlackBerry Bolds, Pearl Flips and Storms, struggle no more! You’ve patiently waited for the “official version” of the OS and your wait is no more. Unlike what we believed in September, www.blackberry.com/upgrades, allows for an official OS 4.5 update. So far, we have confirmed this on Sprint and Verizon.
Let us know in the comments if your carrier is allowing an upgrade to 4.5 as well. Note that using this upgrade requires Internet Explorer. HTML email, geotagging photos and streaming video, here we come (don’t forget in-line spell check, ed.)!
Download OS 4.5 for your BlackBerry
