T-Mobile BlackBerry event talks Wi-Fi PlayBook, Storm3
updated 11:40 am EST, Thu February 17, 2011
T-Mobile hints Bold Touch, Storm3 on roadmap
A slate of leaks from a T-Mobile "See BlackBerry Different" event may have confirmed that it will have much of the 2011 BlackBerry roadmap on its schedule. The BlackBerry PlayBook would come to the carrier, but would unusually be the Wi-Fi only version. While not explained by PocketBerry's insider, it may be sold as a companion for those who already have a BlackBerry phone to tether with the tablet.
The Storm3 was the only other device explicitly named in the presentation and would reach the carrier sometime in the late spring. RIM's device should be its first with a truly high resolution screen and should get a 480x800 display along with a much faster 1.2GHz processor and 720p video recording.
Other devices weren't mentioned by name but were given strong clues as to their nature. A QWERTY device with a touchscreen was said to likely to be the Bold Touch, also known as the 2011-era Curve. Neither had a definite release schedule.
The Bold Touch should have a 2.8-inch, 640x480 screen and the same HD video as the Storm3. Curve users wouldn't get touch and would have a smaller (likely 2.4-inch) 480x360 screen, but they would see a five-megapixel camera and get a flash for the first time.
Timelines for the two QWERTY phones weren't given out, but the PlayBook in Wi-Fi trim comes as early as March. A leaked roadmap had put the Bold Touch and Storm3 in summer, and the non-touch Curve coming in at the very start of the fall.
