RIM Releases Wi-Fi Blackberry 8820

Yesterday, RIM unveiled the Blackberry 8820 Smartphone, to be available sometime this summer. This one offers several upgrades over its predecessor. For example:

• It is Wi-Fi capable – no more reliance on AT&T’s clunky EDGE network if you locate a wi-fi hotspot
• It includes an 802.11a/b/g radio
• Built in GPS – perfect for getting directions while on the way
• Improved multi-media player – plus, unlike iPhone users, you aren’t forced to subscribe to iTunes before you can activate the phone
• Bluetooth 2.0 and stereo Bluetooth – listen to music wirelessly in stereo
• microSD High Capacity capable – 32 Gigabytes of storage

I’m not sure what the battery life will be if you are playing music and watching videos, so hopefully that information will surface. However, personally I still think I would go for the Blackberry 8820 before I would go for an iPhone. I like the tactile feeling of actually pressing actual buttons and I don’t want to be forced by Apple to subscribe to iTunes before I can activate their iPhone.