I always love when carriers just shoot themselves in the foot. Verizon announced today that they will release the 8330 in… wait for it… May. Talk about seriously dangling the proverbial carrot. All the other carriers have had the Curve for months! Oh an by the way WES is in… May.
The only two features that look interesting at all are the:
– MicroSD(TM)/SDHC memory card slot, providing plenty of additional storage (up to 8 GB)
– HTML web browser delivers a fast, rich browsing experience and supports streaming video from sites like m.youtube.com (3GPP RTSP streaming protocol over EV-DO)
That has to be the first direct mention of YouTube support I have seen from a RIM press release. Also the MicroSDHC capacity is topped out in this device at 8GB? Why?
Just to pour salt on this May release you will get a kick out of all of the legal language they had to add because of the future release announcement. They even warn that potential acts of terrorism may cause the Curve to be delayed further…
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM’s products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM’s periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
You can read the full press release at this link. RIM also has some more 8330 pictures on their website at this link.
Simon Not Registered
Posted: March 31, 2008 at 11:21 AM EST
First mention of YouTube, but not streaming video on EV-DO. Sprint’s 8130 was pimping out their TV service when it came out.
DavidB Not Registered
Posted: March 31, 2008 at 12:57 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8830
I thought the streaming video would be supported on any BB capable of 4.3.x and up? IF we ever see the light of 4.5.x on 8×30’s from VZW that is. Hmmm, I bet just like GPS is locked out without paying more, VZW will want an extra monthly fee to have streaming video enabled and it will only work with some yet to be announced Vcast for Blackberry. Grrrrr….