[hayden]

For some of us BlackBerry users, news of a WiFi 88xx BlackBerry is always more than welcome. Although, the 8800 stacked against the 8700 features a ton of new features even without Wifi. However, for me it willl take WiFi to pull me away from my 8700g. This will GREATLY enhance my away-from-desk but within office building productivity. Especially when using Remote Desktop, VNC, Telnet and SSH applications that I currently use over GPRS. Also here in Antigua we have island wide WiFi service where I can pull over and log on to the WiFi service with 75% island coverage. When using Idokorro's Remote Desktop for servers and Telneting to routers that I maintain it will be a dream. Not to mention when traveling; being able to work via WiFi Hotspots will be a huge plus for Network Engineers and IT Techs. Most 8700 users won't need WiFi and so you can pick up the 8800 next week and it will be a GREAT upgrade.

For the record, the 8800 originally should have launched WITH WiFi but RIM ran into issues with this feature and so there will be two launches. The first 8800 (w/o WiFi) and the 8820 (w/ WiFi). The expected dates for the 8820 release being August/September 07' hopefully sooner and esp before the launch of Apple's iPhone. Although, in fact they shouldn't be compared but in actuality the iPhone does affect RIM's stock. Possibly less in future as the corporate world begins to learn the different Market targets of both devices.

Attached is a comparison chart of the 8820 against the 8700. So far, the only additional feature over the 8800 is WiFi.

[ljbyar]

Very nice Hayden. Thanks. I sure do hope the 8820 comes out before May/June. I guess we'll have to keep our fingers crossed.

[MWPatterson]

That would be nice but, the issue is when will it be out for CDMA?

[jerrycrabb]

You forgot "updated software" it looks like the 8700 will never recieve it.

[McQueen]

Verizon will have the 8800 out in the April/May timeframe

Thanks, Hayden

[jerrycrabb]

When will TMO have it?

[sn1p3r]

Thanks for the info Hayden and I can't wait to see it on CDMA platform but I will really trust the april/may realease data when I'll see it

[winste]

Originally Posted by mistadobolin

When will TMO have it?

And will Tmo launch the 8800 or just wait for the wi-fi?

[boomboom]

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~tmo will have it when cingular has it just not in the US

[Crewdawg257]

Originally Posted by mistadobolin

When will TMO have it?

I just got off the phone with my TMO Corporate Account Executive. She was informed that the 8800 (she did not differntiate between an 8800 and an 8820) will be released by T-MO in April. She was a little less certain on a feature set, but was almost certain Wifi and Camera would be included on that model.

I can wait till April I think. Much longer and I'm going to have to break down and buy a Pearl.

[melerant]

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~thanks Hayden. I agree I'm a sprint customer, but it would take me wifi to trade in my 8703. The extra features that the 8800 is offering isn't enough for me to switch just yet.

[bricoleur]

I love my pearl I would get another BB but only if it had wi-fi and at least 3 other changes to the 8100 ~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

[wildeagle]

I just got an invite from my Rogers sale rep to a Rim/Rogers release party of the 8800 on March 2nd. When I asked about the WiFi he said the model they are releasing does have it.
Looks like I will have to wait 2 weeks to get my hands on this bad boy and see if I prefer the mouse or the wheel

[moses2628]

WIFI and video capture is what the next BB I purchase must have!