BlackBerry Essex spotted, ready to add WiFi to Tour?

This looks an awful lot like an Onyx to us, but Salomondrin -- who has posted several blurry shots of this puppy -- claims it's the mythical Essex, a Tour refresh that should make CDMA BlackBerry fans very happy. Why? Well, first, there's the apparent addition of WiFi, something that we've heard was bound to happen sooner or later; secondly, the Tour's infamously finicky trackball has been tossed to the wayside in favor of a trackpad, yet another signal that RIM's looking to ditch trackballs altogether. It's also said to have a better camera, though the definition of "better" in this context remains unclear; also unclear is a release date, but considering that the Tour's still minty fresh on store shelves, we wouldn't realistically expect it until mid-2010.

[Via CrackBerry]

[codemaker Posted Oct 5th 2009 8:36AM]

To the discerning eye, this is clearly not an onyx. If you look closely at the side and bottom bezels you can see that the side bezel's are wider than those found on the onyx and the bottom one is thiner and rounder. Of course basically everything else about the phone (the keyboard, screen, and trackpad) looks like the onyx :)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 7:18PM]

You can also tell it's the Essex by the numbers on the keyboard being in the color 'red' as compared to the Onyx Bold 9700.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 11:06AM]

mid 2010? what

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 11:44AM]

This is everything the Tour should have been. No crappy trackball + WiFi + all of the Tour's current features = win.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 12:27PM]

lmao bb makes ten versions of the same phone like they are doing somthin.. keep it up, pump out another half dozen psuedo-curves and we all will understand why the os seems dated

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 12:41PM]

Ugh, this better not come out till late-2010, I just bought the damn Tour for $150 and I'll be pissed if I'm stuck in this contract while a better ph... wait, wifi? trackpad? No, thank you. I'll pass :)

Also, never had a problem with the trackball. I made sure to get a green sticker Tour.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2009 2:05PM]

Green sticker?

[hey Posted Oct 5th 2009 2:38PM]

The Tours from Verizon that have a green sticker on the box are the latest hardware. These, supposedly, are void of any trackball issues.