One of the questions asked here on RIMarkable quite often is when is the next BlackBerry coming out for Nextel?
Let me first say that I don’t have any rumors to leak, however, my gut tells me that if you want a new BlackBerry and you’re still on Nextel’s network, you are SOL. I seriously doubt that we will see a new Nextel BlackBerry ever again and the only reason Sprint doesn’t just come out and tell Nextel users this is because they are hoping that you will switch over to the CDMA side of the house as compared to just leaving for another carrier.
It often takes a year or so for Sprint to get the CDMA version of BlackBerrys first released on AT&T or T-Mobile. If they can’t do better than that on the side of the network they are they are trying to keep, new BlackBerrys coming to the iDEN side of the house has an ice cubes chance in you know where.
I think the only hope BlackBerry users more addicted to PTT than they are to their BlackBerry is some type of Sprint BlackBerry that you can use the two-way walkie talkie feature with Nextel subscribers yet to make the switch.
I am a BES Admin of over 100 users.
My government rep HAS told me (numerous times) that there will be a Sprint Berry that will come out Q1, 08 that is CDMA but will have PTT that can talk to both Nextel iDEN customers and Sprint PTT customers. It will use a technology from a company they bought. The technlogy is called Q-Chat (or. Apparently it decreases the lag-time associated with most IP PTTs. This new device is considered to be the BlackBerry that will bridge customers over to CDMA. I imagine there will be phones that make use of this new technology too. The reason for all of this is the Feds are taking back most of the bandwidth that iDEN uses over for themselves. This is mandated to happen in 2012.
You’re right. In fact, I linked to a post I wrote a while ago talking about QChat. The point that I am making, however, is that in order to get this new BlackBerry, you will have to switch networks.
I’ve heard rumours about an 8702i, but that that was a while ago, and I guess it was just a prototype device that is not going to be produced.
I think I read something about it on BlackBerryForums.
If the USA Government is taking control of the iDEN bandwidth/network, then perhaps RIM is going to make a Government-Only Blackberry Device.
*puts on his tin hat*
iden is dead either move over to craptacular cdma, or upgrade to a GSM for a state of the art BB.
Nextel just released the ic902, does this mean that they will release a smart phone, pda, or perhaps a blackberry?
I have had nextel for years and might be dreaming about them releasing a blackberry, but if they don’t release one soon I think I will be switching carriers.
It seems like everyone but Nextel has launched a blackberry.
If Motorola came out with a hybrid phone, I don’t see why RIM can’t come out with a hybrid blackberry. They would only stand to sell millions.
A couple of questions:
1) Nextel Int’l has a large and growing IDEN subs base. Could we see a Blackberry for NIHD and Sprint? Does Qchat with NII subs?
2) What about Virtual Blackberry application…could say a PALM or Q9 put out a smartphone with VB?
This sucks Im stuck with a 7100 which is tech from 2003! I really need the push to talk does anyone know how cingulars is. Im hoping netel will drop me then I will be forced to have a new BB.
My company needs BB tech and walkie talkie!!!!!Im stuck with the 7100 and I hate it !!!! When will this new phone come out???
According the Blackberry rep we have for Sprint corporate she told me there is no new Blackberry for Nextel. They are focusing their efforts on the Sprint side and will not be releasing anymore models after the currently available 7100i.
i have a 7520 and i hate seeing all these new bbs and living in fear of losing my direct connect. i hope nextel/sprint comes up with something or Tmobile here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have a 7520 and cant stand it anymore. the ptt feature is not working well, fellow users with 7100i’s keep getting low and garbeled messages from my 7520. HELP NEXTEL!!!!!
Yes Sprint together with Nextel will introduce a BB capable of Q chat sometime during the 1st qtr of 08. It should be bill Direct Connect no walkie-talkie by the way. The coverage will be about the same as you can expect with IDEN however in building coverage will not be as robust.
Richard,
So what are you saying? there will be a new Blackberry ,with Direct connect but with no walkie Talkie? What does that mean?
Richard,
Please don’t get my hopes up.
Ok any new news on this maybe a sprint cell with nextel push to talk has anyone heard anything. That new iphone killer would be great with a ptt version. Nextel blows!
i keep getting told no new bb’s for nextel. i call several retail locations each day. help!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont Understand!!There is such a demand!Why are they screwing us?!?!?!?!?!?!?I need these
My company has been using nextel since they purchased the PTT from Motorola and I personally have been using RIM since 957 model and working my way up. I currently have the Blackberry 7100i and could not image working without the fusion of the the 2-technoloogies (Blackberry & Nextel) and this is what I mean:
1. The Blackberry features (Emails, Outlook, GPS, large contact database, too many to mention) are unmatched to date.
2. My current nextel subscription is a dinosaur ($99 per month plan for UNLIMITED incoming and outgoing) read that again! The comfort of knowing no matter how much time you have spent on the phone and not having to check your monthly bills is priceless.
So, to the powers that be, please come out with a new Blackberry-Nextel unit we can appreciate.
Novica, you are I are in the same boat. I also have the $99 plan and have a bb7520. I am not leaving Nextel until they drag me away. I am hoping for a newer bb on the nxtl side so i can keep my great plan and also keep better service than sprint.
kennethX, any update from your government rep on when we are getting this new bb?
Ok, guys I have had it. Seeing these other phones and looking at the dated tech my 7100 I switched to the htc touch and boy am happy. You really do not understand how old these nextel phones are until you look at what else is out there. I stayed with sprint and maybe in two years they will have a ptt version and I can upgrade to that. I just can not justifiy spending the extra 30 bucks a month for a data package for a phone with old tech!
As I too have the unlimited 99.00 plan I think they are aware of this and want to get us to switch out to drop the unlimited plan. I signed a 2 yr contract in Jan 07, cause they are giving me 20 dollars off a month so i’m stuck. I will switch if no new BB’s arive after Jan 2009.
PS. I like the new curve series, I have a 7520
the sprint equivalent of the nextel $99 is $199 per month. there is no way i’m switching over to pay double the price for worse service. when nextel folds, i’ll leave but i’m not jumping ship!!!
Guys,
I am a Sprint/Nextel National Dealer and can give you some scoop on your questions.
1) Nextel will not come out with another Blackberry because RIM will not build another one for them. I heard that the main reason was due to the fact that Nextel could not commit to purchasing an amount that was worth RIM’s time developing a new BB for the iDen network.
2) There will be a new BB coming out that is QChat enabled. QChat is a radio system that is VoIP, but ten times faster. I have seen a QChat enabled handset work, and it is just as fast as Direct Connect is. And, it will talk to Direct Connect devices.
Although I say that there is a BB coming out that is QChat capable, I am being told that there is no info on it, and most think that it will come out sometime in the latter part of 08.
TLS,
I will not switch to sprint unless i can get my same rate plan with them. is there anything that can be done about this? also, i have heard this story of this mythical bb that is coming out in 2008. i need more than that.
After the Sprint National dealers convention in Feb. 2008, there have been rumors of a new Nextel iden Blackberry coming out by the end of the year to have both PTT and WI-FI. Sprint made some suggestions about the handset, but the RIM guys at the convention knew nothing about it…
i don’t think anything new is coming out period on the nextel side. i am ready to buy the new bb from sprint with q-chat. i hear it is the same as the 8830. i’ll hold off until fall. if nothing comes out by then, tmobile here i come!!!!!!!
Like everybody else I’m another Nextel user with a 7100i waiting for Nextel to offer new BB models.
I just heard about the BB 9000 that it will be available later this year for Nextel.
Does anybody now anything about it?
I have heard about the bb 9000 and seen photos online. Doesn’t matter to me. I pay 160/mo for my nextel bb with data. Sprint has a 99 unlimited everything plan that includes data. I’m tired of waiting for nextel to come out and I can’t pass on sprints very sweet deal. Next week I’m buying the 8830 and leaving nextel side for sprint. Take care.
Marc, Nextel have the same plan for $99, “The Simple Everything Plan”
renzo, i know they do. i’ve had the nextel plan for years but no new blackberry. now i can switch and update.
Well You are wrong…New blackberry for Nextel will be out September of 2008….Yes finally!!!!
I have been with Nextel since 2000. I have the bb 7520, I just switched over to the simply everything plan for $99 and I love it. However, I hate this BIG old phone!!! If bb or rim doesn’t come out with a new ptt phone, I’m leaving Nextel for Sprint. I really want the bb pearl 8130 in Red. Sprint has it, I don’t use my ptt much any more, but it’s nice to know it’s there. I’m tired of seeing all of these new sleek phones and being stuck with this stone age phone. Sprint says DC on Nextel is here to stay, so they need to get new phones to prove it!!
Rich, i know they said a new nextel bb will be out this year, but September is the official month?? I have the 7100i and am pleased with it for the most part other than a few sms discrepancies…i was told it wasn’t “made'” to text but it can…but other than that, like the guy said above, nextel’s dc is unmatched by another other carriers’ carbon copy walkie talkie, so i’m pumped about the new bb.
I have 4 nextel phones under my belt, and currently using the smart phone windows mobile i930 that replaced my BB 7100i.
I totaly understand everyones questions and i recently heard from several sprint associates (June ’08) that theres a new BB coming out this fall for NEXTEL iDEN Network.
From what i ‘ ve heard it will be the BlackBerry Curve with PTT, they currently have this phone on sprint, but if this is true… it will be worth the wait…
Curve…here we come !!!
I’ll believe it when i see it but i am not switching back to nextel. happy with sprint.
Seeing is believing. I was in the Sprint store last week and the sales people were clueless as to when a new PTT phone would be released.
Speaking of Sprint/Nextel:
New Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse appears to have inherited a company bleeding subscribers by the thousands, and will now officially be dropping the ax on 4,000 employees and 125 retail locations. Amid the loss of 639,000 postpaid customers in the fourth quarter, Sprint will be cutting a total of 6.7% of its work force (following the 5,000 layoffs last year) and 8% of company-owned brick-and-mortar stores, while remaining mute on other rumors that it will consolidate its headquarters in Kansas. Sprint Nextel shares are down $2.89, or nearly 25%, at the time of this writing.
i have a i870 and im tired of the fact that thee is no new nextel phonees coming out im wating till december to see if they come out with something new and if they dont im switching to verison
i recently switched from nextel to at&t and restored my new bb curve with all the info from my nextel 7100. the restore must have transferred the settings from my vm from nextel. after setting up my voicemail, if i call my voicemail from my phone, i get a pausing for 3 seconds message and 2-3 numbers dialed automatically. i know my nextel voicemail did this, but it did not affect me hearing my messages. with at&t, it sends me to a recording message or just hangs up when i press * to back up. at&t customer service has reset my voicemail twice and they are saying it is bb device issue. has anyone ever seen this and can anyone help me change my vm settings on my curve?
On September 30, 2008 I got the new BB Curve 8830 in Red, it’s very nice. I had a BB RIM 7520, after waiting months, going into a new year, Nextel/Sprint has NOT come out with a new BB. I hear they will not. Sprint/Nextel is trying to get away from Direct Connect. I had my DC since the beginning of it’s time, for the last 3 to 4 years I hardly ever use it. With all of the new carriers; T-Mobile, AT&T, Metro PCS, not many people have DC. Most people as you see every where, talk on the phone or text. I am now completely with Sprint, no more Nextel for me. I am very please with the new BB Curve, it has great features. Over all, Sprint has the best plan – Simply Everything for $99 a month. I checked out Verizon’s BB Curve, while Verizon offers an UnLimited Plan, you still have to pay for the Data Plan and for Text Messages. The monthly plan with everything on Verizon is at least $155, you get more for your money with Sprint.
All of those that still believe a new PTT – DC Blackberry is coming……… Don’t believe the hype!!
It is a fact, Sprint/Nextel is coming out with a new BlackBerry with Push to Talk, it will be the BB8350i (iDen Network)replacing the aging BB7100i,
It is a Curve but slightly thicker, the highlights include an updated software version and built in WiFi, It will be available on the 4th quarter this year (2008), with no official release date.
Sprint.com has a sneak peak of 8 new phones for fall ’08 including the BB8350i
Check this review from the guys at cnet.com
Im the 1st in line for this phone…how about you…!!! ???
i am considering buying this new nextel bb. if it works worldwide i’m there. i have the 8830 and take it all over with me.
My rep at Nextel says that the 8350i was originally slated for mid-late November… but now it’s looking like the beginning of 2009. The sad thing is that if they were to release it today, it would sell like crazy since it would be the only official full QWERTY keyboard iDEN Blackberry available from Sprint-Nextel. I have been buying overstocked 7520’s for $260/ea from random websites and would much rather purchase current technology.
It’s too bad RIM and Sprint couldn’t see fit to release an EVDO Rev A. Blackberry with Q-Chat support since iDEN data rates are really poor and most of my field users aren’t near open WiFi hotspots. Ah well
it sucks they keep pushing the date back. i have plenty of friends that want this bb.
Well, I guess you can say “I told you so”. I got a flyer in the mail today, the new phone is on its way. No date, but the blackberry curve 8350i is coming. It’s kind of thick. I’m happy with my bb curve 8830.