Working with Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM), Sprint Nextel
Corp. and Verizon Wireless introduced the first CDMA and GSM BlackBerry
Smartphone. Combining this technology to
use both the CDMA and GSM networks via one Smartphone gives BlackBerry users
voice service in more than 150 countries and data service to over 60 countries
worldwide.
The Blackberry 8830 World Edition Smartphone is part of the
8800 BlackBerry line, first introduced in February of this
year. The Smartphone will be available
through Verizon Wireless by May 28th; however, Sprint will not have
the unit available until sometime in July.
The new unit will be introduced at $400, but consumers who sign
a two-year voice and data agreement with Verizon will receive the unit for
$200. Verizon customers can expect a $20
monthly fee on top of their normal subscription charge for unlimited e-mail
access.
Not only will there be an
unlimited usage plan available, but pay-as-you-go will also be offered.
At this time, there is no word as to how much the pay-as-you-go option
will cost, but consumers can expect to be charged either $1.29 or $2.49 per minute -- price to be determined by roaming location for international voice use.
Verizon Wireless will be locking their devices, limiting one
to their network, and their network only.
Vodafone owns 45 percent of Verizon Wireless, so it is expected Vodafone will be the provider
for Verizon's overseas coverage. However, Sprint will leave its devices unlocked to allow their customers to
purchase service in other countries from other carriers so they are not
required to use Sprint’s international service. This will help reduce the steep international
roaming fees charged by the company.
Verizon claims they are locking devices to increase network coverage quality while outside of the U.S.
