As you have probably heard the rumors by now, Research in Motion will soon come out with it’s next-generation, full QWERTY keyboard, MP3 playing, Wi-Fi enabled, Razr thin smartphone called the BlackBerry 8800. There will actually be two versions (at least two) of the 8800, one without a digital camera code named “Indigo” rumored to come out late this year, and one with a digital camera code named “Crimson” rumored to come out Q2 of 07.
The question of the day is will the BlackBerry 8800 be even more popular than the BlackBerry Pearl? As you can see from a poll over on BlackBerry Forums, almost 60% of the poll takers say that they are 100% sure that they will get a BlackBerry 8800. Based on this I would have to say that the 8800, at least with existing BlackBerry users, could be more popular than the Pearl.
Research in Motion’s stock price is sitting above $110 per share at the time of this posting and one of the main factors for this is the BlackBerry Pearl. The Pearl is selling like crazy right now even though one of the biggest reasons for not buying a Pearl is it’s lack of a full QWERTY keyboard. Another big reason not to buy a Pearl is it’s lack of Wi-Fi support. The BlackBerry 8800, depending on which version you buy, will have both.
Will the BlackBerry 8800 sell better than the Pearl? Only time will tell. One thing we no for sure, however, is that the BlackBerry 8800 will be popular with BlackBerry Forums members.
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I agree with you Robb. Many CDMA BlackBerry users may have switched to another device simply becasue it took so long for 8703e to come out on Sprint and Verizon and for a BlackBerry with a camera to come out period.
Sorry for the double posting but I put this comment on the wrong thread. It should actually go here.
https://www.rimarkable.com/archives/947
With integrated GPS the 8800 is a no brainer.
The Pearl is probably the worse Blackberry to date, that’s why the 8800 will outsell it.
Most consumers are rushing to get the pearl because of it’s slim form factor and multimedia capabilities, without even knowing about the 8800. I just picked up a used 8703e from Sprint, but when the 8800 I may switch and upgrade or just have 2 lines.
Let people who are thinking about the pearl know about the 8800 and tell them to be patient.
Does anyone know if the 8800 will have voice activated dialing. Lets face it this is a phone.
Randy,
I cannot say for sure but I believe that it will. It wouldn’t really make sense for it not to seeing how this was one of the big hit features on the BlackBerry Pearl.
I don’t think it will make much of a difference because they are two differant divices. Some want a small phone that has a lot of features. I have a pearl I recive a lot of e-mail but don’t send as much. I works better for me. The 8800 is better for some people because of the full keyboard. I have unlimited internet so I don’t need wifi some pepole want or need wifi. They are both great phones for different markets. If you don’t like the track ball they make ones with the track wheel. All the blackberry phones are great divices but for different needs.if none of them there’s many other phones to choose from.
I think pearl is better looking but 8800 might have more tidbits that are fun to play with