“Mr. T” RIM BlackBerry Slider Launching Next Month? [Rumor]

By Mauricio

RIM’s rumored BlackBerry slider seems to be popping up across the web often lately. The latest rumor to hit the web comes from Engadget where they offer a translation of the “Mr. T” device being mentioned by a CEO of a RIM parts supplier, Woojeon & Handan:

“The Canadian company RIM famous for BlackBerry smartphones is releasing a new model next month. Known as the “T,” The new model is an ambitious product aimed at competing against iPhone’s storm of success. Rim will present it (“T”) as its flagship model to compete in global markets such as the U.S. and Europe.”

While this may excite many of you (including myself), my buddy Al over at CIO points out that the launch of the BlackBerry slider is unlikely in favor of the new Tour2/Bold 9650 or Pearl/Striker 9100:

First of all, the BlackBerry Slider launch is going to be very important for RIM, and it can’t afford another mishap similar to its BlackBerry Storm launch in late 2008. That means the company will (hopefully) take its time prepping the device, which has been in the works for a while…but probably not as long as a few other BlackBerry devices we know about, yet RIM has not announced.

Also, RIM will likely launch the device at/around a major wireless trade show, and even though both CTIA and RIM’s own Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES) are right around the corner, I think the BlackBerry-maker is more likely to announce its new BlackBerry Pearl 9100 and/or the BlackBerry Bold 9650, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 successor, before the new BlackBerry slider.

I would have to agree with Al on this one. If RIM is hoping to make this new BlackBerry slider their flagship device, they need to take their time and not rush it like the first generation Storm. With CTIA, WES and April already around the corner, we don’t have long to wait and find out. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Sidenote: I found the CEO of Woojeon & Handan’s word play “iPhone’s storm of success” a bit amusing .