BlackBerry 8820 comes to T-Mobile with HotSpot@Home

T-Mobile on Monday hoped to improve on AT&T's formula in carrying the BlackBerry 8820. Like the reference version, the 8820 adds Wi-Fi to the pro smartphone's normal EDGE access and gives it quicker access. In contrast to AT&T, however, the T-Mobile edition adds UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) support to let it place free calls on Wi-Fi and bridge those calls to the GSM phone network and back as the user leaves the range of a local hotspot.

The true GPS features and improved software translate through from the original BlackBerry 8820. Pricing and official ship dates are not yet available, though the phone may be a direct replacement for the existing 8800, which sells for $250 under a two-year contract and $500 on a month-to-month plan.