I have been thinking a lot lately about the BlackBerry 8800. It is kind of hard not to with the official announcement of the BlackBerry 8800 and the fact that the BlackBerry 8800 could hit Cingular store shelves in less than a week.
Now that we’ve had time to look at the features and specifications of the BlackBerry I wonder just how well it will sell? It’s not that the BlackBerry 8800 isn’t a good device and all, but, does it really offer enough over the BlackBerry 8700 or 7130 to warrant upgrading to it.
I know that many business users say they don’t need a digital camera, however, no camera, combined with no Wi-Fi, make me see the BlackBerry 8800 as the device that I pass up on waiting for the next new model BlackBerry to come out.
This is just my opinion, however, unlike the BlackBerry Pearl, the BlackBerry 8800 doesn’t really do anything groundbreakingly different than older model BlackBerrys like take pictures. Sure, the 8800 has a MP3 player. If the BlackBerry Media Player that comes on the BlackBerry 8800 is anything like the one on the Pearl, people really into listening to music on the go will continue to carry their Ipods.
Other than that, you can continue to send and receive email like you can on any other BlackBerry. The 8800 is much thinner than any other full QWERTY keyboard BlackBerry but I don’t imagine too many BlackBerry 8700 users saying that they are going to switch because the 8800 is so thin. I admit that the removable memory is kind of cool, but, once again, not enough to make me move to the 8800 now when all rumors indicate that a newer version is just a few months away.
Maybe this isn’t a good analogy but, to me, the BlackBerry 8800 is to the BlackBerry 8700 what the BlackBerry 7105t is to the BlackBerry 7100t. If I were on Cingular and about to get a new BlackBerry with a full QWERTY keyboard I would get the BlackBerry 8800. I wouldn’t, however, upgrade from a BlackBerry 8700 and I definitely wouldn’t switch carriers to get it.
Agreed. As a VZW customer, it would take an 8800 with a camera to get me to even consider switching to Cingular. And being used to EVDO speeds (and VZW’s network), I think EDGE would be a tough transition. If I was a Cingular customer already, I think I’d probably just wait for a 3G version with a camera. Unfortunately, I think I’ve probably got at least a year before my dream camera’d VZW Blackberry becomes a reality. Oh well…
Hopefully it won’t be that long…
I played with a 8800 in Barcelona and it’s übercool. It combines the sexiness of the Pearl with the usability of a 8700. Having full GPS functionality is a great feature. The screen is big and bright enough to watch a DVD while traveling. I’m convinced that this will be a hit for RIM.
So Vincent, would you upgrade from the 8700 to the 8800, or, would you just wait until the 8900 comes out?
If this were on Verizon, I would upgrade from my 7130 immediately. I do not need a camera or WiFi (EVDO baby). But I do want a full keyboard in a thin case.
There is no way I would switch from VZW to Cingular, regardless of device.. Too many holes in the coverage.
I think you are selling the 8800 short. You did not even communicate the usefulness of the GPS feature, push to talk, and voice activated dialing which do not come with the 8700. For us “I gotta have it now” people, I think the 8800 is going to be a large seller. Even RIM said that the reason for the 8800 without a camera being a priority is due to corporations not wanting cameras in their workplace. The so-called 8810 will be more of a consumer toy than a business device. It will also take away sales of the pearl. I don’t think it will hurt the 8800 without camera market too much. Remember that the Blackberry was designed to be a highly secure device and people who depend on that, are most likely the ones who will be most worried about security in their workplace.
No matter what, I am getting one next month. =)
Robb, I couldn’t agree more. Honestly, I don’t see this particular model doing well either.
Everything from the “A Stylish Way To Get Things Done”, to the built-in media player, it seems the 8800 is aiming to grab a larger slice of the consumer market. Knowing that, how could they leave out the camera and wifi on a brand new series release?
This model won’t cause any ripples, but the 8820 has a good chance to. Hopefully they’ll have an upgraded music & video player by then too(though if they don’t, eventually 3rd party software will pop up with a small price tag).
Great question, as usual, Robb. I think you are the master of coming up with the good questions…maybe we should call you the “question-meister!”
My two cents: I do believe the 88xx series in all of its variations will be a huge it. The initial 8800 release, without camera, I do believe will be a big hit in the enterprise market. As others have remarked, it is good that RIM released this model first, to reassure its core enterprise market that it had not abandoned them. When the 88xx model comes out with camera, I think that will also do very well.
I also believe that when people see the 88xx unit in the store, then they will be even more impressed.
As to those fans of the Verizon network: I too am one of them, and I personally cannot wait until VZW releases its own variation of the 88xx, dubbed “cyclone.” Is it worth it? I say, goodbye 8703, hello Cyclone.
Fortunately, rumors have the VZW 88xx being released in the second quarter of this year, maybe May or June.
p.s. any word if the camera version will be able to take video clips?
In my opinion there is no reason to be pessimistic about the BB 8800.
Since last year the new standard with RIM was the BB Pearl with it’s new design and a series of new functions. The 8800 is a logical step to bring the “normal” BB device (with the full QWERTY keyboard) to the same design and getting (more or less) the same standard of features and functions.
For me the question is not how many users of a BB 8700 will upgrade but how competetive RIM can stay in a fast moving market. The 8800 seems to be the right step at the right time – but of course more innovative models have to follow, in order not fall back (think of nokias N95 or the much discussed iPhone from Apple).
“If I were on Cingular and about to get a new BlackBerry with a full QWERTY keyboard I would get the BlackBerry 8800. I wouldn’t, however, upgrade from a BlackBerry 8700 and I definitely wouldn’t switch carriers to get it.”
UNLESS you are a Verizon Wireless customer. Then you will take anything you could get that isn’t one inch thick! What can I say, their current models are 1-3 years old right now. Still not switching to Cingular/AT&T, but would rather stew over VZW neglecting b’berry addicts.
Granted, the 8700 isn’t razr thin, but, it isn’t that bad. If you are still on a 7250, however, I see your point.
I think the trackball will be a hurdle for guys currently running a push wheel. Don’t think a lot of legacy BB users are currently using Pearls
I definitely will not switch from my 8700 to the 8800, there just isn’t enough substence there. Hopefully sales will not be as expected and Rim will wake up.
I seriously need a camera!!
I was hyped about the 8800 until I found out it was not going to be on Cingulars 3g network. I really don’t see any reason to switch right now. The GPS feature is awesome but how will it function over the edge network. I want a BB on cingulars 3g network – lol
As I said in my post linked above, I just don’t think the BlackBerry 8800 does anything new, it’s a stalling device, until RIM is able to come up with the next big thing.
OK Need help about to sign a 2 year contract and want to make the right move. I am a current Sprint Customer about to upgrade to a Blackberry. Our company has a Blackberry server. Should I stay with Sprint or switch to Cingular? Which network is better/reliable? Our company uses Lotus notes if that helps the decsion process. I am torn between the Sprint Blackberry 7130e and the Cingular Blackberry Pearl or Cingular Blackberry 8800?
The first problem you have is Lotus Notes. Lotus Notes will indiscriminately change fields in your contacts, delete random contacts, erase random emails, take random meetings off your calendar, and more. This is a Lotus Notes issue, not a Blackberry issue. This is not a rant but a statement of fact after dealing with these issues for years, and having supported both outlook and Notes environments.
In my area, both the Sprint and Cingular networks are unreliable. Nextel used to be rock-bottom for reliability but they have begun to dig even deeper. I don’t know much about the TMO network. Only Verizon has a reliable network. If I were forced to chooses between Cingular and Sprint in my area, then Cingular would get the nod because their network is marginally better.
Once you decide on your network, then and only then can you start thinking about the phone. If you decide on Sprint its the 8703e. If Cingular has the better network, then you choose small form factor/camera (8100) or full keyboard/no camera (8800).
As far as Lotus Notes goes, I have never experienced, or heard of weird things happening when BES is brought into the mix. I cannot say that WoeIsMe hasn’t experienced issues with Lotus Notes, however, I can say that this is not the norm.
I would contact your Lotus Notes and or BlackBerry Enterprise Server Administrator to find out how the system runs in your organization.
Sprint uses EVDo which is much faster than Edge. If your Sprint coverage is good, you may want to look at the 7130e or the 8703e. If you just have to have a camera, switch to Cingular and get a Pearl. The 8800, IMO, doesn’t offer enough over the 8703e for me to switch so I would probably stick with Sprint.
Robb,
I appreciate your insights. My organization is several thousand people, several hundred Blackberries, and a half dozen Domino servers. We have verified the issues I briefly mentioned in several public forums that they are happening around the world to many organizations. We have also called some 10,000+ person organizations and verified that they too experience these and other issues. As I stated, these are Lotus Notes issues, not Blackberry issues. The addition of the Blackberry does not increase or decrease the number of issues or the frequency. My purpose for mentioning the issues was that when people change their working environment they tend to look much more closely at it. If people notice these things happening after they add Blackberries/BES they may tend to attribute the issue to the BB/BES when in fact those issues were there all along.
By the way we have a rate of approximately 1% of our user population experiencing issues like those above every day.
Again I’m not ranting, but if you’d like I could give you a simple representative test to show that you too experience LN issues. Peace.
Oops. Changed my nickname for a different post elsewhere. BlackberryBeard is WoeIsMe.
Point taken. I won’t argue that there are more BlackBerry related support calls for organizations standardized on Notes than there are for those on Exchange. 1% is on the high side of numbers I’ve seen, but I digrees.
Are you, however, suggesting that no one on Lotus Notes buy a BlackBerry? I wouldn’t want to scare Rudy out of getting a BlackBerry alltogether.
I didn’t think I was making a point on whether or not he should or shouldn’t get a Blackberry but I will now.
Run as fast as you can to get a Blackberry. It’s phenomenal! Seriously.
I have over 80 applications installed on mine and they range from silly stuff for the kids to RSS feeds to PowerPoint video presentation tools to webcams to IM (Jivetalk) to maps to dictionaries to real-time stock tracking to national and company phonebooks to maps of a subway system to internal company info to word processing. At one time I had a spreadsheet application too. I have over a thousand people in my Address Book. I even use my Blackberry for email — a half dozen accounts.
I am fully functional with my Blackberry and have worked for over a week straight in the field without requiring any other tool.
I got a 8810 since last week. The camera is pretty nice but can’t shoot films.
The video player is ok, but doesn’t support the usual formats ( i don’t have the time 2 convert a movie before a 3-4h flight ).
Overall it’s a smart phone in many ways.