The BlackBerry Bold will arrive first on AT&T in July and will run you $300. Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile customers will have to wait until September. T-Mobile subscribers will be unhappy to note that they will have to pay an extra $50. Too bad, so sad this phone’s rad.
[Via Engadget]
The BlackBerry has always been a really unsatisfying device in terms of media. Getting a movie on your BlackBerry involves downloading 3rd party software and although music is a simple drag-and-drop, there aren’t any dedicated keys. To make up for this, RIM is working on a new application for the BlackBerry that will “transfer your desktop iTunes music files” to your BlackBerry. Now they just have to work on the video side of things.
Microsoft has announced that it has struck a deal with RIM to provide Microsoft Windows Live services on the BlackBerry. The new services will provide greater integration between Hotmail and the BlackBerry which is known for its superior push email system. BlackBerry users can now access their Hotmail and Messenger accounts through said system and synchronize their accounts instantly. Expect these services to take off this summer.
Well, we expected it, but it’s still exciting to get a press release for a new BlackBerry device right after the stroke of midnight. Yep, RIM has officially announced the release of the BlackBerry 9000 Bold. Expect the newest addition to the RIM family to appear sometime this ’summer’ on AT&T, then T-Mobile. We’ve got a quick hit of details below and the full press release after the jump. Also, make sure to check out www.blackberrybold.com, which has now gone live.
**Tri-band HSDPA
**Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g)
**Half-VGA (480×320 resolution) color LCD
**128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on-board storage memory
**2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, built-in flash and 5x digital zoom
**16GB microSD/SDHC card support
**Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 support
**iTunes support via BlackBerry Media Sync
**5 hour talk time, 13 days stand-by
CrackBerry has a great review posted about the new BlackBerry 9000. The 9000 was purchased off of eBay for about $800 even though many of the items were quickly taken off the auction site before they could be purchased. The new 9000 is much heavier than the 8330, but it also comes with a lot of great improvements. Smartphonecool readers will be pleased to know that the 9000 has a bigger and better screen resolution, 3G, and improved media capabilities.
Verizon is right on target by delivering the BlackBerry Curve in May. The BlackBerry Curve will be available under a 2 year contract for $219 and a $50 rebate. The specifications have not changed so nothing to rave about there.
[Image via Engadget Mobile]
UPDATE: Two versions, one coming to Verizon in May
Some concepts of a BlackBerry modeled after the 9000 dubbed “Niagara” have surfaced, supposedly minus 3G capabilities. The form factor is a little off from the BlackBerry 9000 shots we’ve already seen, so it’s possible this new model will be the next iteration in the 9000 line. The 9100 is already looking like it won’t be packing 3G, pointing to an ongoing trend of stripping features for the sake of battery life. Cutting features has the added benefit of lowering costs, which could do the rumored pricetag of $800 a considerable favour.
[Image via Engadget]
Continue reading ‘3G-less BlackBerry 9000?’
Three major carriers have released the BlackBerry Curve 8330 or are gearing up to do so shortly, in addition to those that have had them out for a while. As promised, Alltell is now offering the badboy in their online store for $299 after online discount and mail-in rebate. Sprint ads for it are appearing in American newspapers, offering a red or titanium Curve with a price of $179 after rebate, and with a two contract. Finally, Verizon’s will be available online and over the phone on May 9th, and over other channels on the 12th. It’s reported to be going for $270 after a $50 rebate and a 2 year contract.
RIM is going to be launching the BlackBerry 9000 sans 3G. The new BlackBerry looks virtually the same except that the new design has a larger bezel and a different back case altogether. Other than having no 3G, the specs are going to likely be the same.
[Image courtesy of BGR]
Yet another item from the fanciful land of patent filings: the “Hybrid Portrait-Landscape Handheld Device With Trackball Navigation and Qwerty Hideaway Keyboard”. It might be thought that the whole hideaway keypad and orientation detection thing has been done, but obviously not with a trackball, otherwise this filing wouldn’t have gone through. Considering another patent of this variety has been released recently, it’s easy to get enthusiastic about the idea of a BlackBerry with significant form factor changes. For the bookish, you can check out the whole patent filing here.