06/08/2008, 6:05pm, EDT
Sunday, June 8thBlackBerry Thunder seen before 3G iPhone
Research in Motion's BlackBerry Thunder has been spotted in an official product shot obtained Sunday by BGR. The image confirms reports of the device being the first touchscreen smartphone from RIM but suggests the device will keep the distinctive BlackBerry keys: aside from the calling and menu buttons, it will also have left- and right-side shortcuts. RIM has dropped the trackball and expects users to scroll with their fingers, but includes a new lock button and a completely new play/pause button, suggesting the phone will have a full-sized headphone jack for playing music and videos.
The shot also purportedly validates beliefs that the Thunder will launch as a Verizon exclusive and by extension implies that other features will be accurate. In past leaks, the new touch BlackBerry has been rumored as launching solely on Verizon and Vodafone and coming with a hybrid CDMA/GSM connection that includes not only 280Mbps Ultra Mobile Broadband for EVDO networks but also HSPA for Vodafone and when roaming on many international carriers.
If accurate, those same reports would have the Thunder launch as soon as the summer and immediately put the phone in competition with the expected 3G iPhone. RIM is already planning to officially launch the BlackBerry Bold in the next few weeks, though the device is more conventional with a QWERTY keyboard and more limited HSDPA-based 3G cellular data.
Filed under: iPhone, gadgets
Other story tags: BlackBerry, Verizon, Research in Motion, Vodafone, Bold, Thunder
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For the life of me
I cannot count how many different versions of BB phones are out there. How is a consumer supposed to navigate through all these different hardware versions?
Good for Apple though: one product to choose from, no tricks.
No tricks!
Are you serious? You think having multiple models is a new phenomenon? Distinguished phone companies have offered many models for years because there is not one product that appeals to everyone. For example the iphone will never appeal to anyone that requires a real qwerty keyboard. So by offering multiple models they can potentially sell to any consumer. However, this is only my opinion based on the new and controversial theory of supply and demand... ;)
No tricks! hahaha. What a riot.
What you are really saying is "apple users can't make decisions." Which makes sense considering there's really no such thing is customization with a mac. Ohhhhh and that's why its the computer of choice for anyone over 60.
Convenience?!
"Right Convenience Key: Open the Camera. Take A Picture"
Ummm... "Camera Button" was too complicated?
Correction:
"Distinguished"phone companies that, for some unknown reason, could never quite bring a game-changing product like the iPhone to market have offered many models for years because there is not one product that appeals to everyone.
re: no trucks
you know what's another "new and controversial" theory? it's called the paradox of choice. read up on it. you might learn a thing or two.
Oh yeah
Looks like an iPhone with too many buttons on it.
here we go
"Are you serious? You think having multiple models is a new phenomenon?"
you have got to be testudo. you take a post and read your own take into it then blast it, followed by general mac and mac user bashing.
"Distinguished phone companies have offered many models for years because there is not one product that appeals to everyone."
uh, how many first iterations of phones did these most distinguished companies come out with? dozens? hundreds?
"What you are really saying is "apple users can't make decisions."
all of that from his confusion over the bb lineup? this has testudo written all over it.
"...over 60." rich, just top stuff. you really are the cream.
been to any college campus's recently? come on over here to washington dc and go to the starbucks near georgetown or au or gwu, these people are looking remarkable for being over 60.
Dear Nat
I am not testudo. I know your ignorant mind believes that there cannot be more than one microsoft supporter out there, but I assure you we are different people.
I am not quite sure what your second point means. Might want to explain it.
He didnt only say he was confused. He also said only having one phone is good for apple, and that having more than one were "tricks"
Now to your hypocritical statement. I did't say young college students didnt use macs. I only said it was the computer of choice for people over 60. So maybe I am not the only one reading my "own take into it".
Convenience
It is called "right convenience key" and not the camera button because it can be changed by the user.
"game-changing product"
"game-changing product like the iPhone"??
Ya let's discredit the companies that have paved the way for apple. You are right, they've done nothing at all that is game-changing. You are brilliant.