AT&T Ready to Reveal BlackBerry 9800?

Gizmodo reveals a huge structure in an AT&T store…what is it going to reveal? NOT seen in the picture are the words “innovation comes to life” and “Rethink Possible,” AT&T’s new slogan. Even the store employees are being kept in the dark on this one! We will most likely find out at the AT&T and RIM Event scheduled for August 3rd in NYC. If we were to guess, it would most likely be the revealing of the new BlackBerry 9800 touch screen/slider sporting the new OS 6. The colors of the mysterious box makes us think of something…BlackBerry related.

Or, it could be the unveiling of the new Dell Streak, a 5 inch tablet that can also be used as an android smartphone although it, too, has been picked apart already. So there would not be much of a surprise there. Dell hasn’t announced a launch date as of yet, but could this be the time?

Perhaps it will not be a device at all but some exciting new phone and data plans to compliment all the new smartphones coming out. No matter what we try to imagine up, the only thing we can do is wait…until it is revealed. Or better yet, someone blows its cover!

What do YOU think is inside that big black box? Come on, venture a guess!

4G BlackBerry Rolling Out in December?

There may be no image yet of the rumored 4G BlackBerry, but all you die hard BlackBerry fans may soon be drooling over a cool smart phone slash super computer! The mystery BlackBerry is “unofficially” called Triton. With such a “godlike” name, (if your into Greek mythology) I would expect to be a power house!

What will we see on this new 4G BlackBerry? What will it look like? Will it have a larger screen? Will it have a slider keyboard? Will it have a 5 mega-pixel HD camera, perhaps both front and back cameras? Will it take HD videos? Will it take the place of your home computer? (Mmmm…maybe not) These are just some of the rumored specs floating around right now, some coming from an analyst from Frost &Sullivan, a business research & consulting firm.

Just what is 4G? The average 3G network, such as Verizon, has a typical downstream speeds of 600 Kbps up to 1.4 Mbps. Typical upload speed is between 500 to 800 Kbps. When you consider 4G…you are looking at 4-8 times faster than 3G. If you were to do the math, that’s quite impressive for a portable mini device! Verizon, for instance, claims “4G has a different type of energy with unique wave characteristics that are stronger, can pass through walls more easily, and enhance your life with higher data capability and speed.” If this were true, we would surely have a more stress free experience using our smartphones.

On who’s network will this “mighty” phone make its first appearance? While Sprint already boasts 4G speeds on their network and T-Mobile is making progress, both AT&T and Verizon have been hard at it upgrading their systems to the new 4G standards. If this BlackBerry should have CDMA and GSM capabilities, then it will be up to RIM as to who, if not all, will have the opportunity.

Is this RIM’s way of competing with the iPhone 4G? If so it may be a good fight come December if the rumor is, in fact, true.

RIM opens first BlackBerry retail store in China with Digital China!

Research In Motion has opened their doors to the first BlackBerry retail store in China this Wednesday, making for a better user experience in purchases and with hopes to expand its mark on the world. Company spokeswoman Natalie Wang noted that RIM plans to open more retail stores in the coming years but did not provide details on that statement.

So far though, the Curve 8910 and Curve 8310 are the only devices available with no word as of yet if newer devices will be available in the future. I would seriously hope so being that those devices are basically BlackBerry ghosts of RIM’s past, I also think this could be a big stepping ground for the anticipated OS 6 ready to be released later this year along with new (and improved) devices ready to blow more competition out of the water.

Another RIM spokesperson has confirmed that the store is in-fact not run by RIM but by Digital China. While this is the first retail store to open in China; other BlackBerry retail store exist here in the US, including one in Farmington Hills, MI that opened a few years ago. I would like to see a BlackBerry retail store here in Minnesota, we need it and deserve it, we have the Mall of America and the Gallery in Philadelphia! We have room in there for you RIM.

Google Maps Getting Update to v4.4 Soon, Will Include Places Page and New Search Results

 

Android handsets have seen an update today that adds Places pages, in addition to new search results. Luckily, BlackBerry users shouldn’t be left behind for too long, as a blog post on the Google Mobile Blog states the new features will be coming to BlackBerry soon.

The new Places feature will allow users to search for specific types of businesses in your area, much like Poynt has been doing for some time now. You can search for restaurants, theaters, retail stores, and even more using the upcoming feature, and can even enter your search term using nothing but your voice. Along with the Names and Locations in the search results, users will also be able to check out reviews, photos, pricing, parking information, and even menu links for some restaurants.

No word on exactly when the update will be made available, though the blog does advise BlackBerry users to expect it sometime soon.

[via Google Mobile Blog]

Bell Launching BlackBerry Curve 9300 On August 12th?

Thanks to leaked screenshots from Bell’s internal systems, we know they intend to launch the BlackBerry Curve 9300 on August 12th, only a couple short weeks away. The 9300, which many know as the “Kepler”, is a slight upgrade from the existing CDMA Curve models, offering up 3G connectivity on Bell’s HSPA network. The form factor and software all remain the same, posing no real benefit to upgrading the handset over the existing 8530.

If you’re still looking to grab a 9300, expect it to hit Bell August 12th. Unfortunately no pricing information is available as of yet, but considering the lack of substantial upgrades, it shouldn’t be too expensive.

What do you think? Are you going to be picking up a Curve 9300, or holding out for something a little more fresh like the 9800? Let us know in the comments!

Leaked Screenshots Show BlackBerry 6 Running on a Bold 9650

Lately there has been an abundance of speculation as to which devices will get BlackBerry 6, with no solid information being released from RIM to satisfy our questions. Speculation has pointed to the Bold 9650 getting the update, since it has 512MB of RAM, which has been confirmed thanks to screenshots of the device running the new OS.

Unfortunately, this still doesn’t answer the undying question – will the 9700 get the update? Considering it only has 256MB of RAM, it’s looking less and less likely, as 512MB seems to be the minimum requirement.

[via BBLeaks]

RIM Registers BlackPad.com Domain, Tablet Coming Soon? [from a Alliance member http://www.berryreporter.com]

Throughout the last few months, speculation has been circulating the internet regarding an upcoming BlackBerry tablet. While this doesn’t confirm the existence or development of the “BlackPad”, it’s always fun to take a look at rumors and consider what new gadgets might come out to further occupy our already busy lives.

The reason this doesn’t provide any certainty that this device will, in fact, be created, is that RIM already own over 4000 registered domain names, snapping up anything even remotely related to their products, code names, etc. With all of the rumors circulating, it isn’t out of the question that RIM purchased the domain just to keep it from others.

Skepticism aside, what do you think about a potential tablet device from RIM? BlackBerry 6 is definitely a step in the right direction, but is it enough to justify the need for a full sized tablet? Other rumors circulating point to the device being a companion device to BlackBerry handsets, but that leaves some wondering what else a tablet could offer besides a larger display.

Check out the WHOIS entry: http://whois.domaintools.com/blackpad.com

[via Nerdberry]

BlackBerry App World 2.0 Hits BlackBerry Beta Zone! (Updated with Screenshots)[from a Alliance member http://www.berryreporter.com]

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A while back, we let you know what you could expect in BlackBerry App World 2.0, though there wasn’t much solid information available as to when we could expect it. As of this morning, App World 2.0 has officially been made available in the BlackBerry Beta Zone.

Among the changes is a new Top 25 list, sorting into multiple categories including Newest, Recently Updated, and Themes, in addition to the new BlackBerry ID which makes it easy to manage purchased applications from any BlackBerry handset. It looks like carrier billing hasn’t been implemented as of yet, but it isn’t surprising considering this is the first beta release of v2.0.

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NEW Blackberry Desktop Manager 6 (LEAKED)

They New leaked out the NEW Blackberry Desktop Manager 6.

Click the Picture to download the program….