Word on the street is that the Wi-Fi enabled BlackBerry Pearl 8120 will be available from T-Mobile on Feb. 18th. The Pearl 2, as the 8120 has often been referred too, will sport an improved trackball, redesigned keyboard, and external memory card slot, like it’s CDMA cousin, the BlackBerry Pearl 8130.
The first T-Mobile BlackBerry Pearl 8120 will be gray and there is no indication as to when T-Mobile will offer the device in all of the colors you can currently get the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 in.
If they only had 3G…
WiFi is both cheaper, faster, and requires less power than any 3G. Current edge, wcdma and evdo each vary greatly in connection speeds. Reality has been proven at times EDGE at 2.75G has beaten wcdma and evdo. Cmda and evdo is soon to be upgraded to GSM LTE.
“WiFi is far faster than any mobile networks now in place, including EVDO and HSUPA (2.5 – 5.76 Mb/sec). Typical 802.11b and g offer 6.5 Mb/sec and 20 Mb/sec transfers. WiFi is so much faster because it is designed to serve a much smaller range of local service.”
“Further, while EVDO and HSUPA are commonly referred to as “3G” mobile networks, some classes of EDGE can also fit that description, according to Wikipedia. It states:
“EDGE can carry data speeds up to 236.8 kbit/s for 4 timeslots (theoretical maximum is 473.6 kbit/s for 8 timeslots) in packet mode and will therefore meet the International Telecommunications Union’s requirement for a 3G network, and has been accepted by the ITU as part of the IMT-2000 family of 3G standards. It also enhances the circuit data mode called HSCSD, increasing the data rate of this service.”
In most contexts, EDGE is referred to as “2.75G,” but since EDGE describes a family of service classes, there is some overlap in the definitions. Anyone too bent out of shape about EDGE officially “being or not being” 3G is also likely to be parroting marketing information rather than speaking from actual experience.
Branding or conventional naming of service standards is not nearly as interesting as the real world performance of a specific application in actual conditions. People who argue about numbers or bullet points are probably unaware of the bigger picture and what difference customers will actually see.”
aka GRANDSTANDING…..
Apple PROVED the naysayers wrong with the iPhone supporting WiFi and EDGE over “3G”. RIM will do the same, and has made a smart choice in supporting WiFi and EDGE.
@ retard, I mean hellno
First off, TMO hasn’t even released its 3G yet…just a bit behind the times. Secondly, what good is wifi on a highway where you don’t have reception to a wifi network? Yeah, throw all your stupid facts together, but common sense still evades you and your uneducated mind.
You knock companies like Verizon and their ‘locking’ down the phones, yet iPhone is no better. No battery swap, no ability to install 3rd party applications, and can only be locked into one service provider here in the states. You bitch, whine and complain about the terrible things Verizon does to their phones…and then rave about a phone that is locked down more so than any other out there.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of Apple and it’s produts. I buy based on need and service. I do quite well with my MacBook Pro and VZW 8130. Biotch! Now go set your locked down phone to that Exchange server!
bluehorseshoe,
Please conduct yourself properly here at RIMarkable. Name calling and implied making fun of disadvantaged people is NOT at all cool. Bottom line, the FACTS speak for themselves, your attacking of the truth, and the people posting the truth just further proves how out of wack your posts and thoughts are. Also speaks clear about the type of person you really are, it’s not at all a good thing.
“Anyone too bent out of shape about EDGE officially “being or not being” 3G is also likely to be parroting marketing information rather than speaking from actual experience.”
“People who argue about numbers or bullet points are probably unaware of the bigger picture and what difference customers will actually see.”
Anyone too bent out of shape about GSM/EDGE is someone who made a foolish choice in cellular providers, and doesn’t understand the importance of standard, open, global GSM technology and all that comes along with it.
Anyone too bent out of shape using the excuse of no Wifi “on a highway where you don’t have reception to a wifi network” and that anyone too bent out of shape grandstanding that EDGE is not fast enough while in motion on a highway” Just doesn’t get it when it comes to Apple and RIM device design, how consumers use those devices, and what consumer use those devices for.
Why EDGE versus 3G matters less than YOU think
http://www.blackfriarsinc.com/blog/2007/10/why-edge-versus-3g-less-than-you-think
BTW the iPhone is NOT “locked down more so than any other out there.” It has a carrier lock, just like many other wireless devices out there, however it can be unlocked, like any other device out there. When “locked” to a carrier, or “unlocked” all features and functions of the iPhone are included and functioning which is MUCH different than what verizon does to it’s customers devices. “Verizon is famous for disabling Bluetooth and blocking WiFi service so that its users have no choice but to use its overpriced and underwhelming evdo network.”
As many corporate types with iPhones have found there is middleware out there as a stop-gap till Apple and M$ adjust for native compatibility with Exchange server. As one example: http://www.synchronica.com/news/070711-synchronica-syncs-apple-iphone-to-microsoft-exchange.shtml
Official 3rd party app’s for the iPhone are available, to say nothing about the thousands of 3rd party app’s which have been available since the iPhone’s release.
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/devcenter/third_party_apps.php
Once Again the FUD and grandstanding is DEBUNKED.
@ retard (hellno)
So…are you really? You must be because you’re also technically challenged. Oh, and all of the above is a FACT. Ha.
PS – Love the ‘War & Peace’ size comments. Amazingly funny.
Already available in the UK ont he O2
Already available in the UK on the O2 network:
http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/blackberry/enterprise/BlackBerry_business_offer.aspx