PDAStreet: News: Rumor Mill Indicates BlackBerry Pearl 2 Coming Soon

With the release of the BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry 8830 World Phone, as well as the introduction of the first Wi-Fi BlackBerry, the 8820, much of the world's attention has been focused on RIM's latest full-size, QWERTY keyboard based mobile-device models.

But we shouldn't forget that one of the most successful smartphones of the past year has been the BlackBerry Pearl, RIM's sleekest and smallest smartphone yet. That's why recent rumblings of a Pearl 2 has set the Internet rumor mill abuzz with anticipation.

The latest uconfirmed reports indicate the Pearl line will see a refresh this September—with Vodafone possibly rolling the Pearl 2 out in Europe and AT&T in the U.S.

Still now word on how much this smartphone will go for, however.

Rumored specifications of the Pearl 2 include a bump up to a 3.2 megapixel camera from the original Pearl's 1.3 megapixel shooter and, like with the BlackBerry 8820, the addition of Wi-Fi wireless networking.

Also, instead of the Pearl's internal microSD slot, the Pearl 2's is supposed to be external for easier access.

Some reports say the Pearl 2 will be thinner, lighter and - perhaps - even smaller overall than its predecessor as well.

Below are a list of possible additional features and enhancements to the Pearl 2:

Flash improvement and 6x digital zoom

3.5 mm Headset Jack

SureType device

New keypad technology

240�260 LCD display

64MB of memory

Streaming media support

4.5 hours of talk time/15 days of standby

Stereo Bluetooth

Windows Media DRM & MTP

New metallic colors

Top and rear loudspeaker port"

Voice Notes enhancements

A new battery door latch

Improved Front Receiver Porting"

Improved Lanyard design

Improved Mic with wind protection

Motion Lock

Improved SIM card holder

High speed USB

Improved mechanical design, and build quality

T-Mobile on Deck
In addition to AT&T, the Pearl 2 - like the original model - should make its way to T-Mobile, America's second largest GSM carrier and the first to launch a dual-mode Wi-Fi service, called HotSpot @Home Web site, which went nationwide in June. Both the BlackBerry 8820 and Pearl 2 are supposed to be dual-mode enabled.

Since T-Mobile HotSpot @Home is based on Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology, it can seamlessly switch calls between a Wi-Fi and cellular connection, depending on which is available and most cost effective at a particular moment.

So a user can be on a cellular voice call, using up minutes from their mobile plan, but when they walk into their home or in range of a T-Mobile hotspot, the call is automatically moved over to Wi-Fi without interruption, saving those minutes and possibly improving reception. The same would happen while streaming audio or accessing the Web over T-Mobile's EDGE network from the Pearl on the data side, for instance.

T-Mobile HotSpot @Home costs $20 a month on top of your regular cell phone plan. It delivers unlimited voice over Wi-Fi calls from T-Mobile's more than 8,000 hotspots and your home through a Wi-Fi access point. You pay $5 more per month for each additional family member. And you may also choose to have the service deduct minutes from your regular bucket of minutes in your cell phone plan.

The operator offers a router for $50 that is free after a mail-in rebate. The service will work with any router, however.

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