Sprint's BlackBerry 8350i, now with less camera

We knew it was coming, but the last time we checked, we had a big fat "TBD" in the launch date column -- now, the wait has finally ended and throngs of camera-free phone fanboys and girls can get their BlackBerry on (come on, you know who you are). The iDEN-only 8350i has been stripped of its cam, but not its dignity -- a good match for businessfolk working in higher-security facilities where covert imagery is still a concern. Unfortunately, the removed technology won't save you any dough; you'll pay the same $149.99 on contract after rebate as the "normal" 8350i buyers, but at least you won't get thrown out of a secret laboratory by ripped guards wielding AR-15s for bending the rules.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:23AM]

Why not just disable the Camera with an IT policy through the BES server? easy peasey.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:29AM]

Some places (think gov't buildings) won't inspect the phone to see if the camera is "disabled". If you come in with a camera phone, they either hold them for the day or make you leave it behind.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:31AM]

Or, just buy the battery cover to cover up the camera lens and fool them into thinking you don't have a camera

[carcomptoy Posted Apr 14th 2009 12:48AM]

That's exactly what I was thinking hehe.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 9:34AM]

I wouldn't want to risk my job just to have a crappy phone camera.

[rudolphe Posted Apr 14th 2009 10:05AM]

@mike agreed, it's not even worth it.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2009 9:15PM]

Please just sell the this battery cover? This looks so much better than the camera-equipped battery cover....

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2009 10:48PM]

"at least you won't get thrown out of a secret laboratory by ripped guards wielding AR-15s for bending the rules"

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 15th 2009 10:49PM]

love the excerpt, lol.

And yes, losing your job/clearance/reputation is not worth it whatsoever. Unfortunately disabling cameras is a no go at most facilities which ban camera phones. Why take the risk?

What Im really waiting for is a CDMA (Sprint) Windows Mobile camera-less phone. last one was a 600 series treo, talk about prehistoric.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 17th 2009 5:03PM]

Got mine in the mail yesterday and I LOVE it!