TORONTO — Reuters with Globe and Mail files Last updated on Friday, Apr. 03, 2009 10:07AM EDT
— BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. announced a new model of its ubiquitous smartphone on Tuesday, this one able to operate on both cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
The dual-mode BlackBerry 8820, as the device is known, will be launched by AT&T in the United States later this summer, the company said, but did not mention which Canadian service will carry it.
"The BlackBerry 8820 complements our carrier partners' cellular networks with the added ability to stay connected via Wi-Fi at home, through hotspots and corporate campuses," RIM co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis said in a statement.
RIM shares rose $4.19 to $240.29, on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The 8820 is described as being RIM's thinnest smartphone design. It comes with a full keyboard, 320-by-240 display, a trackball navigation system, built-in Global Positioning System, an upgraded version of its media player, and a microSD / microSDHC expandable memory slot that can support current and future generations of microSD memory cards up to 32GB.
The BlackBerry 8820, the first dual-mode BlackBerry handset, works with both the EDGE/GPRS/GSM cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity for data access and voice support.
The BlackBerry 8820 supports the 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi standards to enable data access over Wi-Fi connections, as well as through public hotspots and wireless home networks. Its Internet Service can switch between cellular networks and a Wi-Fi network to allow users to access e-mail, Instant Messaging, organizer, Web browsing and other mobile data applications.
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