The quad-band BlackBerry 8820 can seamlessly switch between GSM, GPRS and EDGE, and 802.11a/b/g WiFi networks, RIM said. It is slated to launch later this summer and will be available in the US through AT&T.
The BlackBerry 8820 complements our carrier partners’ cellular networks with the added ability to stay connected via WiFi at home, through hotspots and corporate campuses, RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said, in a statement.
The device works with BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which enables a corporate IT administrator to manage Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and other systems. It also works with BlackBerry Internet Service, which enables users to manage as many as 10 email accounts online.
For workers who must access Wi-Fi through a virtual private network, the device comes with IPSec-based software that supports VPN gateways from Cisco, Check Point and others. WiFi security includes WEP (Wireless Equivalency Protocol), WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2 protocols, as well as Cisco Compatible Extensions to connect to wireless Cisco products.
The smartphone is fully loaded with built-in GPS support, a media player, conference calling, speed-dialing, voice-activated dialing and other features. It also has an expandable memory slot for cards up to 32GB, RIM said.
