I have been researching getting a BlackBerry, so I think I will wait for this one. Or at least see what carriers it will come out on. It would be either Cingular or T-Mobile I think (still need to do some more research!).

How thick is it?

Eric: You're right that it would be either Cingular or T-Mobile. That's because this article says it is a GSM phone and both of those carriers have GSM networks. Verizon and Sprint run what is called CDMA networks. RIM will probably make an 8000 series avaiable for both (and likely iDEN which is what Nextel has).

Not sure about the size, but I am liking the look so far. Would love to see this thing in person.

I've also been considering a black berry , I'm just hoping for some kind of media player 4 it as well

You most likely will not see a media player for Blackberry devices for a while. If you need something that plays movies, you should stick with a Windows Mobile 2003 device.

GSM sucks...especially for data. VZW have the largest EVDO network right now... and invests more annually into its expansion...

Justin:
Your right, for NOW;
but you should research the theoretical capability of UMTS, I have read that theoretically UMTS is capable of 14.4mbps, with only software upgrades, I think that is very exciting.
Besides GSM, and UMTS, are GLOBAL standards, whereas CDMA is Vrzn & Sprint, I think Korea too.
But literally 70%, at least, of the whole world, including almost 2Billion subscribers, are all GSM, it IS the worldwide standard.

I have a 7100 unlocked for sale. anybody interested?

I had the blackberry 7100t and I just purchased the Blackberry 8700g from www.ushopwireless.com. Very happy with this unit so far. I can zoom in & out on attachments, high speed internet and prob a whole lot more I do not know yet.

when will the 8700 blackberry be released for Verizon?

when will nextel get a blackberry8700

While ther's no official word from RIM or Verizon on a launch date for the VZW version of the 8700 and no news on phonescoop.com, Jim Cramer speculated that it should be sometime this summer. Has anyone else heard anything?

My firned works at sprint and the 8700 for Nextel/Sprint should be out around September 2006. Well at least I know that is when he can get him and I both one.

I'm awaiting my arrival back to the states and I'm really looking forward to buying a cell phone. The 8700 is at the top of my list along with the sidekick and older version blackberry. But when will the 8700 be released?