Vodafone's 2008 roadmap gets outed, new BlackBerry included

Boy Genius Report has seemingly scooped up a healthy portion of Voda's '08 roadmap here, and with it a host of unannounced devices from various manufacturers. Here's one we kinda expected at this point: a new BlackBerry previously spotted via a shady eBay auction, once thought to be a member of the upcoming 9000 series but identified here as an "8XXX" -- in other words, either RIM or Voda hasn't quite decided yet how to shoehorn it into the 8000 series lineup. Projected launch (on Voda, anyway -- other carriers may vary) is May of this year, bringing quadband EDGE, triband 3.6Mbps HSDPA, a 480 x 320 display, 2 megapixel cam, GPS, WiFi, and a whoppin' 624MHz core to "senior executives" across the land (Vodafone's words, not ours). These guys are getting better at making slick looking devices with every iteration, are they not?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 28th 2008 1:46PM]

Nice. Glossy black-under-glass surface, chrome beveled edge, rounded corners... I've always wondered what the iPhone would look like with a smaller screen and a real keypad. I'd actually buy this thing because it is a rather well done design ripoff.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2008 12:11AM]

Wait, EDG, HSDPA, AND WiFi?
Ok, I'm in.

::leans over for Roger's::

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2008 5:49PM]

Yes but has the web browser been improved? If the browser was actually usable I would be all over this phone for its messaging and data capabilities, but the iPhone version of Safari has yet to be beat IMHO. Its good to see an improved UI that Blackberry needed bad and I hope a better browser follows. Would love to see a partnership with Firefox or Opera on the RIM systems. Seems like a deadly combination. And yes I mean a dedicated already installed firefox mobile specifically for the Blackberry. WinMO has IE and iPhone safari, this would be a nice fit.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 6th 2008 1:37AM]

Verizon, your network is great but your selection of phones is KILLING ME. AT&T is going to get this and we don't even have the curve! I'll never switch but it seems I'll always sulk...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 6th 2008 2:11PM]

Thank God I have at&t... :)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 7th 2008 2:59PM]

Please, step it up Verizon. I'd love to use this with WM7.. I'd even trade in my Voyager :)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 28th 2008 4:54PM]

You do realize that's a Blackberry, right? Blackberries do not run winmo, and it is highly unlikely they will be running winmo7 in the future. At best, you might get a hold of a winmo device that emulates BB software

http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/blackberry-running-on-windows-mobile-6/