FCC Approves BlackBerry with Wi-Fi

The first BlackBerry smartphone with Wi-Fi is getting closer to release. The Federal Communications Commission has given its approval to what will apparently be the initial device from RIM that will offer both this short-range wireless networking standard and the ability to connect to cellular-wireless networks.

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As it has not yet announced this device, RIM has filed a confidentiality request with the FCC, so the information available on this government agency's web site is extremely limited.

However, one image shows a drawing of the back of this upcoming model, and the placement of its microSD card slot is a strong indication that this model will be part of the BlackBerry 8800 series.

In addition, the FCC filing shows that it will offer 802.11 b, g, and a.

No Surprise

Although it has declined to give any details, RIM executives have said in the past that their company is developing a smartphone with Wi-Fi.

RIM Senior Vice President David Yach told eWEEK in May of this year, "Our goal with Wi-Fi then is that Wi-Fi will just work. When you have coverage Wi-Fi will work, and when you don't you'll use something else,"

The company is working with wireless carriers to make the hand-off between an Internet connection via Wi-Fi and a connection via a cellular-wireless network as seamless as possible.

Yach said the plan is to have the first BlackBerry smartphone with Wi-Fi on the market before the end of this year.

Update: Despite what this article said earlier, this won't be the first BlackBerry with Wi-Fi. That honor belongs to the 7270. However, unlike the upcoming BlackBerry model, it can't connect to cellular-wireless networks. The 7270 is a device designed for VoIP telephony via Wi-Fi, and as such doesn't qualify as a smartphone.

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Via TG Daily