We’re really getting amped up for the BlackBerry 8820 — which is to be released in a month, give or take. It’s like the 8800 on steroids, and the anabolic in question is the built-in WiFi. However, a recent development ensures that we will not be getting it through AT&T. It appears that the company plans to extort money from its BlackBerry subscribers by forcing them to pay another $6 to $10 per month on top of the data plan, lest they have no GPS functionality.
This, you see, is not the way to push phones out the door. You can’t offer this remarkable new device with these neat new functions, and then charge extra for one of the services. Seriously, who on AT&T is going to buy one now that they know they’ll be out an extra $120 per year? We know we wouldn’t.
Speculation abound is that Apple has meddled in this decision. After all, they do have their iPhone interests to protect. We find some validity in this, though we don’t have anything resembling proof. Why in the world would AT&T willfully do this? It makes no sense to offer the same product as the other BlackBerry providers and have it cost an extra $10 per month.
If you do have AT&T, consider switching if you want the 8820. Yes, the company may have certain advantages, and you may be used to them. But why support a company that actively supports extortion?
