In January, a number of images of a never-before-seen and unannounced BlackBerry smartphone hit the Web, showing what was reportedly an upgraded version of Research In Motion’s (RIM) popular BlackBerry Curve 8900 handset, codenamed “Atlas” and dubbed the BlackBerry “Curve 8910.”
At the time, it was thought that the device, which looks a lot like RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone but with a “Curve-style” keyboard instead of RIM’s “Bold keyboard”—think: no silver keyboard frets, space between keys—was meant for overseas markets, since the GSM/GPRS/EDGE device appeared to lack U.S. 3G frequencies.
Shortly thereafter, both Bluetooth SIG and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certifications for the Curve 8910 were spotted online, suggesting the handset could become available in the United States after all.
Since then, it’s been quiet on the Curve-8910-front. Until last week, that is.
On Friday, a BlackBerry device simulator for the Curve 8910 was posted to RIM’s Developer Blog resource page…even though RIM has not yet announced such a device. Along with that tool, which developers use to test software and services for RIM handhelds, comes the news that the device will be coming to Chinese wireless carrier China Mobile.
It’s still unclear whether or not the Curve 8910 will ever make it to U.S. carriers, or additional carriers, but the China Mobile news seems to suggest that those early rumors about the device being an overseas-exclusive may have been right on target. In other words, definitely don’t hold your breath waiting for the Curve 8910 to come to a U.S. carrier near you.
The Curve 8910 device simulator also raises the question of whether or not those leaked images thought to be the Curve 8910 are actually of another unknown BlackBerry device. That’s due to the fact that the device simulator says the Curve 8910 has a “trackball” and not a “trackpad,” according to reports. (The device pictured clearly sports a trackpad.)
The pictured BlackBerry also looks much more like a Bold 9700 than a Curve 8900, so it’s certainly possible that the device thought to be the Curve 8910 is actually some other version of RIM’s Bold 9700, with a different style keyboard. The device could also simply be a prototype that will never make it to market.
That’s a lot of uncertainly, but what seems to be sure is the fact that China Mobile will get the Curve 8910, some time after RIM decides to officially acknowledge it.
AS
Via @Muerl
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Author: asacco, Managing Editor
Al Sacco was a journalist, blogger and editor who covers the fast-paced mobile beat for CIO.com and IDG Enterprise, with a focus on wearable tech, smartphones and tablet PCs. Al managed CIO.com writers and contributors, covered news, and shared insightful expert analysis of key industry happenings. He also wrote a wide variety of tutorials and how-tos to help readers get the most out of their gadgets, and regularly offered up recommendations on software for a number of mobile platforms. Al resides in Boston and is a passionate reader, traveler, beer lover, film buff and Red Sox fan.
