Rumor: Leaked BlackBerry London Launching in Q3?

by the BerryReview Team on November 14th, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Posted in News

We just saw the first picture of the BBX (QNX) BlackBerry London phone today. The thing is when The Verge leaked it they had no way to confirm it was real and still don’t. Now the BoyGenius is reporting that their source has confirmed that the dummy device we saw today is actually a “real BlackBerry” and should launch as RIM’s first BBX smartphone. According to their source this device is supposed to launch in Q3 of 2012 possibly late Q3 since RIM has not been able to get BES or BBM working on BBX yet. It would be a real shame if RIM’s first BBX phone was only coming in Q3 especially considering the competition is not sitting still.

Who knows how much of this is rumor, fantasy, or speculation but isn’t this fun?

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Verizon BlackBerry Curve 9370 World Phone Launching Nov 17th?

A new leaked roadmap points to Verizon releasing the BlackBerry Curve 9370 on November 17th. We previously saw this device in a Verizon rebate form and now we actually have a rumored launch date. The Curve 9370 differs from the 9350/9360 models by having 1GB of storage instead of the 9350/9360’s 512MB of storage. The 9370 is also a world phone which is a first for the Curve packing a Dual-Band: 800/1900 MHz CDMA/EVDO Rev A antenna with a Quad-Band: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE antenna.

Who knows if Verizon will follow through on this November 17th but I am thinking this could be a big device for them. They do really well with these low end devices when companies are equipping fleets of their employees with new practical devices. via DroidLife via CrackBerry

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Blurry Pic of BlackBerry Bold 9790 Shows off New Buttons – Late November Release?

The latest out of the rumor mill is news on the BlackBerry Bold 9790. The BoyGenius scored a picture of the device along with an interesting choice of buttons when compared to the current 9700 series since the buttons look like the new Torch 9850/9860. The device is said to have a 2.45 inch 640×480 screen like the 9900. It will also include a full QWERTY keyboard. The same rumor also confirms that RIM will be following up with OS 7.1 (their last OS before BBX) later this year even though this device will probably ship with OS 7.0.

So what do you think of the blur-tastic picture? Any reason you would chose this over a 9900? I have been using the Curve 9350 for the last two days after using the Bold 9930 and I am sort of digging the smaller form factor.

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Rumor: RIM to Rebrand QNX as “BlackBerry X” (BBX) at DevCon?

RIM obviously needs a way to easily differentiate between legacy BlackBerry OS and new QNX based BlackBerry devices especially with QNX phones starting to confuse things. The latest rumor to hit the mill comes from Kevin over @CrackBerry with a new name for RIM’s QNX based BlackBerry OS. It has been pretty painful to hear RIM call the PlayBook OS their “BlackBerry Tablet OS” for the last 6 months though I have always dug the QNX name. We already heard that RIM was planning on merging QNX and the current BlackBerry smartphone OS into a a Highlander “There can only be one” OS. Now it looks like we might have a name for it that may possibly be announced this month at BlackBerry DevCon.

The name is supposedly BlackBerry X or BBX for short. Its sort of simply grabbing the X from QNX and merging it with the BlackBerry brand. I was really hoping they would simply go with BlackBerry QNX or better yet BBNX but that doesn’t look to be in the cards. BBX is a little close to Apples OSX but hey nobody owns the letter X though Apple thinks they own the prefix “i”.

So what do you think of a possible branding of BBX? It sort of rolls off the tongue. Let us know what you think and if you have any other names you have been playing with!

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BlackBerry Curve 9360 Pamphlet Shows Up in T-Mobile Stores

The BlackBerry Curve 9360 was rumored to launch on T-Mobile on September 14th but that obviously has not happened. Now we have a picture of a T-Mobile flyer scored by TmoNews from a T-Mobile store for the BlackBerry Curve 9360. That should be a pretty good sign that these devices should be coming very soon. Anybody want to hazard a guess? Sadly there is still no word on UMA calling…

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Possible BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Screenshots Leak – Email, Social, & Android

Some purported screenshots of a BlackBerry PlayBook running OS 2.0 have surfaced from MaxPDA showing some interesting things. First of all it seems to show that you can use Exchange ActiveSync, IMAP, POP, CalDAV, & CardDAV for mail, calendar, and contacts which is a huge change for RIM. It also shows deep connections with Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The screenshots also show off an icon for the Android player. Take this all with a grain of salt but this could be very cool. It does make you wonder if the BBM icon shown is native BBM and if it will also include BES integration or it will use a different kind of BES like is rumored for the BlackBerry Colt QNX phone.

Thanks to everyone that sent this in!

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Rumor: QNX Smartphones Will Run Android Player – PlayBook Native Email Coming in September

Bloomberg has been fanning the rumor mill today with some tidbits from “three people familiar with the plan” for RIM’s QNX OS. These “three people” requested to not be identified because the effort is obviously not public but they are confirming that QNX BlackBerry smartphones will also run the Android Player in “early” 2012. According to one of these “people” the Android app player is the same one as RIM is working on for the PlayBook and it is being “tweaked to fit the different screen size and resolution of various BlackBerry models.” They also said that RIM plans on having this Android player installed on the QNX phones at launch and not as an upgrade like they are doing for the PlayBook.

One of the people also confirmed that RIM is planning on issuing a PlayBook OS update in September that “adds a dedicated email program and BlackBerry Messenger.” Two of the people stated that the PlayBook Android Player “may come later on in the year.”

In other words these rumors don’t really confirm or deny anything we didn’t already know or assume. Still aren’t rumors fun?

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T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9900 Still Coming August 31st?

 

Many T-Mobile customers are wondering what the story is with no BlackBerry 7 announcements for their carrier. We heard rumors before that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 is coming on August 31st to T-Mobile but nothing concrete. This is weird because when the Bold 9900 was announced at BlackBerry World in May T-Mobile was the first and only US carrier to confirm they would carry it. Now they are oddly mum.

To counter any concerns that T-Mobile will not be getting the 9900 is some confirmation from TmoNews showing internal docs confirming the device is listed as "Coming Soon." Also worth noting is that it does not have WiFi UMA calling or Wi-Fi hotspot features listed but hopefully both of those are coming. Hopefully the August 31st date pans out!

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Leaked Documentation Shows New Sprint Release Dates for 9930 9850 & 9350

We know practically everything we want to know about the upcoming device portfolio from RIM except for one thing: Release dates. We have some more insight into Sprint’s release dates for some of these upcoming devices thanks to BriefMobile (spotted by CrackBerry) that show the BlackBerry Bold 9930, BlackBerry Torch 9850, and BlackBerry Curve 9350 launching on August 21st. We have seen rumored release dates from Sprint in the past but hopefully these ones pan out.

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RIM Stopping Wi-Fi Playbook Production Rumor – Anybody Else Confused?

I am running into a bit of circular logic with the latest rumor about the Wi-Fi BlackBerry PlayBook. The Financial Post which supposedly broke the story starts by saying that RIM shares fell about 3.5% today. They then go on to quote RBC Capital Markets financial analyst Mike Abramsky saying that the "stock slide was due to media reports claiming RIM is considering stopping production of the WiFi-only PlayBook."

The thing is the only media reports that claim RIM is stopping production of the Wi-Fi only BlackBerry PlayBook (BoyGenius Report) credit Mike Abramsky, the same analyst mentioned above who covers RIM regularly, for saying that RIM is considering possibly maybe reducing BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi only production. They then go on to quote Mike Abramsky for possible reasons why the rumor, which according to all accounts he started, is possibly true because:

In our view WiFi PlayBook build reductions may: 1) reflect a pullback in production following global channel fill to 16 countries; 2) align channel inventory with slower than expected forecast sell-through; 3) accommodate a shift in production to the 3G/4G PlayBook (launches expected in 2-3 months); and 4) reflect expectations that 3G/4G PlayBook may outsell/cannibalize WiFi-only models (considering carrier alignment and customer/enterprise feedback). RIM also appears to be re-prioritizing its R&D from PlayBook to its QNX-based ‘superphones’ expected early 2012, considering its importance to stemming US share losses.

In our view WiFi PlayBook build reductions may: 1) reflect a pullback in production following global channel fill to 16 countries; 2) align channel inventory with slower than expected forecast sell-through; 3) accommodate a shift in production to the 3G/4G PlayBook (launches expected in 2-3 months); and 4) reflect expectations that 3G/4G PlayBook may outsell/cannibalize WiFi-only models (considering carrier alignment and customer/enterprise feedback). RIM also appears to be re-prioritizing its R&D from PlayBook to its QNX-based ‘superphones’ expected early 2012, considering its importance to stemming US share losses.

So now I am still confused as to if RIM is stopping production or simply building less of them now that they have fully stocked their sales channels. The Financial Post then makes a fantastical jump to RIM planning on ceasing production of the Wi-Fi only model. At least I follow Mikes reasoning that RIM may be focusing on their 3G/4G PlayBook along with their 7 new phones and upcoming QNX superphones. On the other hand who knows what is actually going on but RIM is pushing the PlayBook hard. It could be they simply are moving everything over to 4G models in the future but that seems to be a monumental waste.

Anybody else seeing something a bit off about this rumor?

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RIM Confirms Wi-Fi PlayBook Rumors Are False – Not Discontinued

Well we had our own issues with the circular logic of the rumor but now we have RIM confirming the rumor is false. JD let us know that RIM responded on Twitter to the BGR confirming that the BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi model is not discontinued and their rumor was “Pure Fiction.” You can see their exact response above.

This makes me wonder if we will actually get a rumor saying that RIM’s co-CEO’s are aliens… Maybe even another anonymous letter from a former employee to confirm their extra terrestrial origins.

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BlackBerry Torch 2 9810 AT&T September & T-Mobile November Launch?

The rumors keep coming for the upcoming BlackBerry device lineup. The latest news coming from NerdBerry is that the BlackBerry Torch 2 9810 is coming to AT&T in September and T-Mobile in November. The full touch Torch 9850 and 9860 will be hitting CDMA carriers first with a Sprint and Verizon launch in November. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is on a different schedule with Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile getting it in August and AT&T scheduled for November. Last but not least the BlackBerry Curve 9360 is scheduled for September with a rollout to all carriers in November.

All in all this is still in rumorville but anybody else as excited as I am?

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Rumor: 10” PlayBook Canceled to Focus on QNX Superphones (SuperBerrys)

You should take this with a huge grain of salt but if true I am all for RIM making this decision. N4BB is reporting that one of their sources told them the vaguely rumored 10 inch BlackBerry PlayBook prototype project was scrapped for now. That same source said the reasoning for it was to focus on the upcoming BlackBerry QNX powered superphones which will include specs like:

I think the single core processor for these super phones is a possibility but QNX truly shines with multiple cores due to its messaging subsystem for multitasking but who knows. We do know that the current TI 4430 processor in the PlayBook would never work on a phone which is why no other manufacturer has tried. Also the source said the LTE 4G PlayBook is scheduled for October 2011 which is about the same time we are hearing the WiMax Sprint version is scheduled for. While this is a rumor about a rumor I still think RIM should be doing all they can to get these next generation QNX powered phones out the door. They are making great strides with the PlayBook but they have tens of millions of customers waiting to be wowed by the next phone from Waterloo.

RIM’s strategy for the upcoming next generation SuperBerrys is starting to all come together with a Java Player to allow for all core BlackBerry Java apps to run on QNX. The native SDK is also coming and RIM is fleshing out the API’s for the AIR/Flash and WebWorks SDKs. I can’t say much more but obviously QNX has a limited time to spend and as such they should be focusing on getting these SuperBerrys out this year if possible. There was no huge demand for a 10” PlayBook especially since RIM has more critical areas to focus on. I don’t recommend they cancel the project but rather wait until the next generation to add more sizes.

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Rumored Sprint Q3 Roadmap Has Bold Touch, Monaco, & PTT BlackBerry

Usually leaked roadmaps have a bit more in terms of details or visual aids but ThisIsMyNext managed to get some loose details about Sprint’s Q3 roadmap. According to this rumor Sprint is gearing up to launch both the BlackBerry Bold Touch 9930 and the BlackBerry Monaco 9860 (full touch device to replace Storm line). Not much detail beyond that though its nice to know it is confirmed for Q3.

On top of that their source has an iDEN BlackBerry with Push to Talk coming to update the Curve 8350i that was the last BlackBerry with that feature. I guess they have a big demand for PTT…

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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RIM Pushes Devices Through Carrier Acceptance – What’s New?

The latest rumor on the net started by the BGR is that RIM is pushing carriers to pass their upcoming devices through carrier acceptance. According to the BGR source RIM is telling carriers that they must approve these devices even though they normally would not pass the carriers Technical Acceptance process. This source says that RIM is telling carriers that the devices must be approved “no matter what – with bugs and problems.”

The irony is that the source then goes on to say how this is exactly how RIM first got the BlackBerry Bold 9000 with OS 5.0 and 3G through technical acceptance. So the question is what exactly is new? RIM has strong armed carriers all the time to get their devices accepted. They practically always offer a last minute update or an update right after launch that addresses many of the bugs. Then carriers proceed to put those updates through carrier acceptance so we can actually get the updates. Shouldn’t we be cheering RIM on?

This is exactly what RIM’s co-CEO’s said on their last earnings call. The thing holding up their devices is this main hurdle of technical acceptance on the radio stack for BlackBerry 7.0 on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Once that is approved it will only have to been slightly tweaked for different devices.

The true question users should be asking is why RIM shouldn’t be pushing carriers to approve the devices? Isn’t that exactly what users have been asking for? Don’t get me wrong. Users don’t like buggy devices but as a previous owner of a Rogers BlackBerry Bold 9000 months before it passed AT&T technical acceptance I can easily say the 9000 was worth it. So if RIM has been doing this for years what exactly is the big deal? That they might get away with it? It seems like everybody is complaining about RIM not getting devices out the door and then turning around and not liking how they are working to get them out the door faster…

I am not advocating for buggy new BlackBerrys but it has become pretty common that bugs are a fact of life in a fast moving development process. Why should RIM be different? Just take the Android bug that sent your SMS to the wrong contact… Or the iOS alarm clock bug… Sounds a bit one sided.

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