BlackBerry 3G Phone on AT&T Faces Delay?

By Geoff Duncan April 25, 2008

BlackBerry 3G Phone on AT&T Faces Delay? — Image used with permission by copyright holder

A report in Fortune is confirming industry scuttlebutt that Canada’s Research In Motion will be delaying the introduction of its much-anticipated 3G Blackberry phone on AT&T’s wireless network. The phone—commonly dubbed “Meteor”—was tentatively scheduled to reach buyers in June. Fortune says August is a more likely date, apparently because AT&T has concerns over call quality with the phone.

Neither company would comment on the reports.

RIM is widely known to be developing a 3G phone using HSDPA 3G mobile technology, deployed both on AT&T’s U.S. network as well widely throughout Europe. AT&T CFO Rick Lindner referred to the phone earlier this week while discussing the company’s quarterly financial results, indicating the company was “just starting” to see a 3G BlackBerry.

A delay introducing a 3G BlackBerry could be a bad short-term development for RIM, since demand for current BlackBerry models (including consumer-friendly units like the Pearl and Curve) is beginning to slack. A delay introducing a new 3G BlackBerry could lead to fewer hardware sales an an impact on expected earnings for the next quarter.

Industry reports also have RIM developing a touch-screen, 3G-capable BlackBerry designed to compete directly with Apple’s iPhone, slated for launch before the end of 2008.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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