BlackBerry Essex now the 9650, surfaces on eBay
updated 08:55 pm EST, Mon December 7, 2009
Device brings Wi-Fi, optical trackpad to the Tour
The upcoming BlackBerry Tour revision, recently referred to as the Tour2 or Essex, has received its official labeling as the 9650. One of the devices has already surfaced on eBay, as an unlocked pre-release model loaded with BlackBerry OS v5.0. Bidding on the 9650 eventually escalated to nearly $1,400, although the retail price remains unknown.
The smartphone retains many of the same features as the Tour, but adds Wi-Fi connectivity and an optical trackpad. The newer trackpad is expected to alleviate many of the reliability issues reported with the Tour's trackball.
Official launch details for the 9650 remain unknown, although the eBay seller claims it is scheduled for release sometime in the spring or summer of 2010.
[via Phone Arena and Salomondrin]
