Click to View

Since late last year, if you wanted a RIM device that supported high-speed cellular technology on Verizon's network, then you've been stuck with the BlackBerry 7130e (see our review). Not a bad smartphone by any means, but its still a BlackBerry, like all 7100 series models, that nixes the traditional QWERTY thumb-keyboard for a keyboard/keypad combo that's not to everyone's taste.

For a little less than year, RIM has been rolling out variations on its newest QWERTY model, the 8700 series around the world. If the Internet rumor mill is correct, however, the first version of that ubiqtious handheld may soon find its way to Verizon for the carrier's CDMA network.

Better late than never. True. But the story doesn't end there.

The BlackBerry 8703e - as it is said to be called - is going to be 3G EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized network) enabled like the 7130e. This means you'll be able to use the new BlackBerry to transfer content - video, e-mail, pictures, etc. - at average rates of between 400 to 700 kilobits per second.

While the BlackBerry 8703e will be the first high-speed 8700 BlackBerry for EV-DO networks, it won't the first 3G 8700 model launched. That honor goes to the GSM/UTMS Vodafone BlackBerry 8707v in Europe.

Speaking of GSM, early reports placed the world's most popular cellular-wireless standard into the 8703e, as sitting right alongside Verizon's native CDMA technology. This would have been a real boon for roaming purposes, especially for those who travel overseas, where GSM networks dominate.

Although around 2 billion of the world's 2.3 billion wireless subscribers use GSM networks, and service using it is offered by about 200 carriers in 100 countries, about half the of the U.S. leverage the CDMA standard (as exemplified by Verizon and Sprint).

Unfortunately, recent screen shots appear to shoot those hopes down. While not definative, see the second line in the image below.


from Blackberry Forums

The BlackBerry 8703e may be available as soon as next week, on August 28th. We'll report more details about its specifications then. It isn't expected to deviate too much from other 8700 models in that way, however.