A BBHub reader who has a proven business relationship with his SprintNextel rep has just forwarded me an email from this rep:

"It (the BlackBerry 8100) won't be this fall, but we always have all the available models of BlackBerry as soon as we can," the SprintNextel guy tells my correspondent.

I hear this and I think two things:

Not every single tech issue has been worked out yet. Hmm, maybe a role for that BlackBerry lab person that just got hired, and which I wrote about earlier today?

In the language I speak, "not this fall" sounds probably like January or February, 2007.

But this time frame doesn't portend a lack of BlackBerry rollouts for SprintNextel customers.

"This fall look for our 8703," SprintNextel guy to BBHub reader guy. "I am working with the beta now, its a fantastic device. Full qwerty keyboard EVDO device, but with all the features of the 7130. Fantastic screen, improved UI, polyphonic
ringtones, phone keys, shortcut keys, etc."

That's the 8703 over there. Visualize the Sprint logo instead of the Verizon, and you've got the form factor etched in your brain.

Fall? I'd bet sooner than that. Maybe August 28, as HowardForums Member and highly credible poster rock a fella attests?