New Blackberry to mimic iPhone

Caught this on New Blackberry to mimic iPhone

A Vodafone Group PLC document that details the carrier’s 2008 handset lineup has been posted on several websites and includes, among other things, a photo of a yet-to-be released BlackBerry wireless email device.

The leaked RIM offering, which comes as some analysts say the so-called smartphone category has finally reached a critical threshold, retains the BlackBerry’s traditional look of a full-sized keyboard and smaller screen, but adopts the iPhone’s sleek black and steel motif. Smartphones generally combine traditional cellphone functions with data applications such as email Web browsing.

The Wi-Fi and GPS-enabled device will be “BlackBerry’s new flagship device targeted at senior execs,” when it goes on sale in May, according to the Vodafone document.

Vodafone spokesperson Ben Taylor confirmed that the leaked document came from the British-based carrier, which owns part of Verizon Wireless in the United States. “It was an early draft of a road map for 2008,” Taylor said.

“So some of the details will have changed.”

Hmmm….