image courtesy Crackberry.com

The much awaited Blackberry 8520 (a.k.a Gemini), has successfully passed the FCC in the US. This BB model is a very special one as RIM is revolutionizing the optical track pad navigation (something you just touch instead of the roll in trackball ).

In general the phone looks like a modified version of the BB Javelin in terms of the curvatures and the keyboard.  It is completely a GSM/ EDGE and a WIFI 802.11 a/b/g phone and lacks 3G. The pricing and release details have not been confirmed yet.

Here is a snapshot of various navigation mechanisms that RIM used in the history of their phones..

Trackwheel Phones :

1. 6230
2. 6720
3. 7230
4. 7730
5. 7290
6. 7100
7. 8700
8. 7130

Trackball Phones :

1. 8100 series
2. 8800 series
3. 8300 series
4. Bold 9000
5. Pearl Flip
6. Curve 8900

SureTouch Phones :

1. Storm 9500/9530

All three types of navigation were efficient and beneficial in their own ways. The trackball navigation really is very efficient and addictive, lets see how the optical trackpad navigation rules us.

Welcome aboard Optical  TrackPad.. join the team.