What I learned today (no flame, please)

[chefnilla]

I stopped in to a USCC store to check on my 10 month late rebate. Asked about 9650 and any other berry's in the works, expressed my disappointment @ no Torch. The rep I spoke with said that USCC is expecting a slider sometime between Black Friday and mid December. Can only mean a CDMA 98xx, right? I sure hope so and not that he was mixing it up with the clamshell disaster. He was a bit of a crackberry nut, even knowing the build diff between 9630 and 9650 is the charging port, so this is why I trust him more than most sales ppl. Not getting my hopes too high, but starting to save to pay retail for the slider and felt I should share. Cheers.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Evil_Jeff]

First I've heard of this. This only other Blackberry I am aware of them getting this year is the flip-whatever. As you said, I wouldn't get your hopes up.

[pistolpetefan23]

I would highly doubt this, for a number of reasons:

1) it's been my experience that salespeople know very little about upcoming devices or changes. I'm guessing he confused "slider" with "clamshell".

2) USCC has announced all their upcoming phones I believe, and have not mentioned anything about a slider.

3) The Torch is an ATT exclusive currently, with no CDMA version confirmed to my knowledge. I'm sure it will come to CDMA carriers at some point, but USCC would per usual be one of the last to get it. The timetable makes no sense.

4) I doubt USCC will be releasing both a slider and a clamshell around the same time; it'd make more sense to spread them out a bit to get more pub and sales for each.

[gjcavana]

I agree with the above comment about sales people. You never know about what they are telling you.

I read an interesting article yesterday though. The article started off talking about Apple making a CDMA version of the iPhone and how manufacturers are starting to give more attention to CDMA carriers. A very good point was made; if apple releases a CDMA version of the iPhone to carriers other than Verizon (US cellular was mentioned) that could have a huge impact on DROID and Blackberry sales. The point was made that RIM would probably see this coming and work on releasing more of it's own CDMA phones to compete. The Torch was mentions as a good candidate. It all made sense but is also all hearsay. However, if RIM was working on a counter to the above scenario we wouldn't know about it and if USCC knew anything they would be mum also. I would never want an iPhone but if it was given a wider release, that could work out to the advantage of those of us who want more BB devices.

[chefnilla]

I know it is unlikely, but damn wouldn't it be nice...

[kwineon]

oh and the bs about the charging port was shoved at a lot of sales people to sell new cases. Doesn't me that they are actually educated on the matter.

They are told: Double memory, WIFI, OS6 compatible, and charging port moved.

Double memory, wifi, and os6 to sell it over the tour. Charging port to sell a ton of unnecessary new cases.

[Xopher]

I would say it is more than likely the clamshell. My wife is actually looking forward to the clamshell. No more purse dialing. I know most people don't like the look of it, but my daughter loves her Pearl Flip 8220, and my wife likes the idea of a flip with full qwerty. At least when she goes to update her Curve, they won't be sold out.