The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given a thumbs up to the first BlackBerry with a Wi-Fi component. It is widely thought that this RIM handheld is destined for T-Mobile, the American carrier with a Wi-Fi footprint in the U.S. and the first to offer a widespread dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular fixed-mobile convergence service, called Hotspot@Home, in this country.
It was only a few days ago that the FCC approved what is likely the first mobile phone, the Samsung T639, destined for T-Mobile’s upcoming 3G network.
The FCC site does not reveal much about the new BlackBerry, other than that it will work on 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi networks, include a microSD slot and support Bluetooth.
It isn’t clear whether this device will be BlackBerry Curve-like or will feature a more traditional BlackBerry form factor, as with other BlackBerry 8800 series models.
RIM co-CEO Jim Basille announced RIM would release a Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry before the end of the year. Rumor has it that this could happen as soon as this fall.
Here are some rumored specs for the Wi-Fi BlackBerry not mentioned on the FCC site:
Story courtesy of SmartPhoneToday.