BlackBerryUK
23rd May 2006, 12:42
After a lot of rumours over the past few months, stock of the RIM BlackBerry 8707v (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/BlackBerry/Enterprise/BlackBerry-8707v.aspx) is finally starting to filter through.
We first got our hands on an [url=http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/BlackBerry/Enterprise/BlackBerry-8707v.aspx]8707v BlackBerry (][/url) at the beginning of the year at a private event hosted by BlackBerry creators Research In Motion. Although the hardware and operating system had been finalised, the plastics were still rough and due to NDA imposed by RIM we were not allowed to even disclose the existence of the first 3G enabled BlackBerry. Since that snowy winter morning in the Oxfordshire countryside the 8707v has evolved in to a ‘launch ready’ device with finalised plastics and has now passed Vodafone testing – Vodafone will be the first network to release the BlackBerry 8707 model.
airtime manager (www.airtimemanager.co.uk) are happy to confirm the 8707v is the start in an evolution of the BlackBerry device from the ground breaking mobile email platform to a more feature rich device with embedded 3G IP modem. The IP modem will provide 3G capable speeds up to around 300 kbps. Modem drivers for the RIM BlackBerry 8707v (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Phones/BlackBerry/8707v.aspx)are to be included in the latest revisions of Desktop Manager and it’s also likely that you will be able to use Vodafone’s Mobile Connect software (currently used to control its 3G data cards (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Datacard/3G_CostEffective.aspx)) to manage your mobile connectivity with laptops.
The 8707v runs on an updated version of RIM’s 4.1 code (first launched with the Intel based BlackBerry 8700 range) which has already proved successful with BlackBerry users. The 8707v also includes a ‘today’ screen, providing an overview of calendar appointments for the day, newly received emails, voicemails and missed calls.
Design-wise it is of course a full QWERTY device with ‘send’ and ‘end’ keys, and also has the extra programmable convenience key on the left of the device – another port from the 8700 series. Physically it’s slightly larger than an 8700 device, and a little thicker, but this is to be expected given the additional functionality.
Some may think the 8707v is a replacement device for the (only recently released) 8700 series BlackBerry handhelds (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry_Range.aspx), but you would be wrong to think so. RIM’s research showed that although the SureType keyboard on the 7100 series devices proved a success, many still preferred the full QWERTY design. To keep their users happy, RIM knew they would need to release a couple of full QWERTY devices, but make the phone functionality of their new BlackBerry handhelds more like the 7100. The result of this was the 8700 with the full keyboard and ‘send’ and ‘end’ keys, which of course has migrated to the BlackBerry 8707v .
Although physically both devices are similar to look at and use, they will cater for different users. The BlackBerry 8700v (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Phones/BlackBerry/8707v.aspx) has an Intel chipset which, if you’ve ever used another BlackBerry, you notice instantly is much quicker to switch on, and runs applications much more smoothly and efficiently. The 8707v however has a Qualcomm chipset, which caters better for a 3G enabled device than an Intel chipset. The result is a trade off – do you want faster use of applications, if so then an 8700 is the device for you; do you want your voice, email data and 3G capabilities bundled in to a single device, if so then an 8707v is the device you’re more likely to go for.
There had been rumours circulating that the BlackBerry 8707v would include a built in GPS system. We gather this was on the drawing board initially, but has not made the initial launch. We believe it’s unlikely RIM will update the 8707v at any point to incorporate this, and the most likely outcome is the possibility of an additional GPS module (similar to those already available for existing BlackBerry devices ).
Over the next few days we will be performing more in-depth testing of the BlackBerry 8707v , and a comprehensive review will be posted as soon as possible, so check back with us for more!
We first got our hands on an [url=http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/BlackBerry/Enterprise/BlackBerry-8707v.aspx]8707v BlackBerry (][/url) at the beginning of the year at a private event hosted by BlackBerry creators Research In Motion. Although the hardware and operating system had been finalised, the plastics were still rough and due to NDA imposed by RIM we were not allowed to even disclose the existence of the first 3G enabled BlackBerry. Since that snowy winter morning in the Oxfordshire countryside the 8707v has evolved in to a ‘launch ready’ device with finalised plastics and has now passed Vodafone testing – Vodafone will be the first network to release the BlackBerry 8707 model.
airtime manager (www.airtimemanager.co.uk) are happy to confirm the 8707v is the start in an evolution of the BlackBerry device from the ground breaking mobile email platform to a more feature rich device with embedded 3G IP modem. The IP modem will provide 3G capable speeds up to around 300 kbps. Modem drivers for the RIM BlackBerry 8707v (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Phones/BlackBerry/8707v.aspx)are to be included in the latest revisions of Desktop Manager and it’s also likely that you will be able to use Vodafone’s Mobile Connect software (currently used to control its 3G data cards (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Datacard/3G_CostEffective.aspx)) to manage your mobile connectivity with laptops.
The 8707v runs on an updated version of RIM’s 4.1 code (first launched with the Intel based BlackBerry 8700 range) which has already proved successful with BlackBerry users. The 8707v also includes a ‘today’ screen, providing an overview of calendar appointments for the day, newly received emails, voicemails and missed calls.
Design-wise it is of course a full QWERTY device with ‘send’ and ‘end’ keys, and also has the extra programmable convenience key on the left of the device – another port from the 8700 series. Physically it’s slightly larger than an 8700 device, and a little thicker, but this is to be expected given the additional functionality.
Some may think the 8707v is a replacement device for the (only recently released) 8700 series BlackBerry handhelds (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry_Range.aspx), but you would be wrong to think so. RIM’s research showed that although the SureType keyboard on the 7100 series devices proved a success, many still preferred the full QWERTY design. To keep their users happy, RIM knew they would need to release a couple of full QWERTY devices, but make the phone functionality of their new BlackBerry handhelds more like the 7100. The result of this was the 8700 with the full keyboard and ‘send’ and ‘end’ keys, which of course has migrated to the BlackBerry 8707v .
Although physically both devices are similar to look at and use, they will cater for different users. The BlackBerry 8700v (http://www.airtimemanager.co.uk/Phones/BlackBerry/8707v.aspx) has an Intel chipset which, if you’ve ever used another BlackBerry, you notice instantly is much quicker to switch on, and runs applications much more smoothly and efficiently. The 8707v however has a Qualcomm chipset, which caters better for a 3G enabled device than an Intel chipset. The result is a trade off – do you want faster use of applications, if so then an 8700 is the device for you; do you want your voice, email data and 3G capabilities bundled in to a single device, if so then an 8707v is the device you’re more likely to go for.
There had been rumours circulating that the BlackBerry 8707v would include a built in GPS system. We gather this was on the drawing board initially, but has not made the initial launch. We believe it’s unlikely RIM will update the 8707v at any point to incorporate this, and the most likely outcome is the possibility of an additional GPS module (similar to those already available for existing BlackBerry devices ).
Over the next few days we will be performing more in-depth testing of the BlackBerry 8707v , and a comprehensive review will be posted as soon as possible, so check back with us for more!