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Email And Cell Phone In One From RIM

Posted by timothy on from the everything-that-rises dept.

ericmc42 writes: "Research in Motion anounced a new Blackberry this morning, and it has a GSM cell phone in it! It looks great! Email, PIM, Phone all in one. The best part about it is that the email still uses the same packet switched network that all other Blackberrys use. This means the email connection is 'always on' and the battery life should be good. Also interesting is that it runs Java 2 as its operating system."

10 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. Handspring Treo? by Stigmata669 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Maybe I am wrong, but dosn't the Treo provide all of these features, and the benifit of a widly adopted OS with programs and a computer sync feature? It seems to me to miss alot of the features of the Treo, and not provide a whole lot in return. Save money, maybe, but you still have to cary your palm around.

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    Yawn.
  2. Looks great? by nakhla · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hmmm...Maybe it's just me, but I don't think it looks that great. I think it looks like crap. As far as PDA/phone combos go, I think that this model from Samsung looks great. Plus, it's got the useable size and shape necessary for both PDA and phone use, unlike the new blackberry.

  3. Better off with an PDA and a GSM card by hoofie · · Score: 2, Interesting

    You'd be better off long-term with a PDA and a GSM card of some kind, or one of the newer phones marketed with built-in PDA functionality.

    The way development is moving, the VERY near future should see ALL PDA's (Palm, Pocket PC) GSM equippable - why bother then with an expsensive and proprietary coporate solution ?

  4. RIM misses the target [again] by psyconaut · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why someone would develop a product with GSM/GPRS that doesn't have a tri-band (900/1800/1900Mhz) radio chipset is beyond me. For sure, it costs a little more but mean less hardware localization. And when carriers actually get their shit, together...it gives you potenitally global roaming.

    I'm sorry, but the Treo just seems to make the Blackberry range look pretty lame.

    Just my $0.2.

  5. Java on BlackBerry :( by dmorin · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I have a Blackberry. I let work give me one primarily because I wanted to write Java apps for it. They have a Java environment (which is beta or prerelease or some such), and they have documentation which says "And in order to move your java apps to the blackberry you need such-n-such version of the application loader." To date I cannot determine if this app loader exists. Every attempt I've made to look into it results in the same -- "Run it in the simulator." But until I can actually put a Java app on the device, the fact that it's built on Java or not is useless.

    Somebody tell me I've missed something obvious!

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    www.HearMySoulSpeak.com
    1. Re:Java on BlackBerry :( by Nile · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Ive done some BlackBerry development myself (about 3 months ago) and after tracking down a bunch of FAQs and mailing list entries I found that RIM discontinued support of Java on their current devices. They still planned on using a Java-only environment on their next-gen devices (like the one just announced) but for now you have to stick with C++.

      With that said, there is a hack someone put together that let's you pull some strings and trick the regular instlaller into install Java apps. You can find it on the developer mailing list archives on the RIM dev site.

  6. GPRS and always-on by g.a.g · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Yes, the thingy uses GPRS, but have you seen what it costs to get the service? At least here in DK, it's a subscription of 300 DKr/quarter (ca €40), plus a not-so-nominal fee per kb. It racks up quite fast.

    I just got myself an Ericsson T68, but without getting the GPRS service - I'm just not out of reach of a real internet connection often enough for it to be viable. Keep in mind that you always can use the normal internet my phone company offers: you can get the odd email on the phone even with 9.6kbps!

    Just my 0.02kB...

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    Hurricane Application Group, Dept of Meteorology Control, Ministry of Proactive Defense
  7. 386 based! by Gaewyn+L+Knight · · Score: 2, Interesting

    From their press release it says that the new unit is based on an Intel 386 processor. Now from that point of view how long until someone gets linux/bsd/your favorite opensource OS running directly on it.

    I know that myself I would love a wireless handheld with a keyboard that is running linux.

    --
    Telcos have alot of dark fibre in the States. Most people assume that's optical fibre...but it's actually moral fibre.
  8. Motorola V101 by DickPhallus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How does this compare to the Motorola V101? Has anyone used this phone yet? Supposedly a GSM phone, can do email, sms and all that... and it's only $99.00 CDN with subscription

    As an aside, it's funny how a replacement battery is 99 bucks too, in light of the battery discusion posted earlier.

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    Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch.
  9. Danger's Hiptop? by mshomphe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think Danger's new product, the hiptop, is much cooler.

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    She sat at the window watching the evening invade the avenue.