Phone Review: BlackBerry Tour

The BlackBerry Tour is a global 3G device that will allow customers to call or access e-mail and the Internet from over 175 countries. Other key features included in this SmartPhone are push-based e-mail, IM, SMS, MMS, GPS, and a 3.2MP camera. Stay tuned as we find the rest of the specs!

Short Review
Specs:

• Data: 3G,EVDO,1xEVDO
• Features: Video capture, auto-focus, geo-tagging
• Bluetooth: v2.0 + EDR Supported Profiles: HSP 1.1, HFP 1.5, DUN, PBA, A2DP, AVRC, (OPP)
• Operating System: Blackberry OS
• Keyboard/Buttons: Full QWERTY
• Phone Design: Bar
• Phone Type: Smartphone
• Talk Time: 5 hours (300 minutes)

Network

• Data: 3G,EVDO,1xEVDO
• Technology: CDMA
• Frequencies/Bands: 850, 1900

Size/Design

• Headset Jack: 3.5 mm
• Keyboard/Buttons: Full QWERTY
• Phone Design: Bar
• Antenna: Internal
• Dimensions: 4.4" x 2.4" 0.6" (112 x 62 x 14.2 mm)
• Phone Type: Smartphone
• Side Keys
• Weight: 4.58 oz. (130 g)

Battery

• Talk Time: 5 hours (300 minutes)
• Type: 1400 mAh
• Standby Time: 336 hours (14 days)

Display

• Resolution: 480 x 360 pixels 2.4"
• Type: TFT,TFD,LCD (Color)
• Colors: 65K

Camera and Video

• Megapixels:3.2
• Streaming Video
• Features: Video capture, auto-focus, geo-tagging
• Flash: LED

Data Messaging

• Text Messaging: MMS,SMS
• Instant Messaging

Music and Multimedia

• Music Player: MP3,AAC,AAC+,WMA,eAAC+
• Speaker Phone
• GPS Navigation

Connectivity

• Java Applications
• Memory Card Slot: TransFlash,MicroSD
• Operating System: Blackberry OS
• Bluetooth: v2.0 + EDR Supported Profiles: HSP 1.1, HFP 1.5, DUN, PBA, A2DP, AVRC, (OPP)
• Data/Fax Capability
• E-Mail Client :push email
• PC Sync
• USB Port
• Web Browser: Full,HTML

Organizer

• Calendar
• To-Do List
• Voice Recorder
• Alarm
• Calculator

Phone Book

• Photo Caller ID
• Ringer ID
• Ringer Profiles
• Voice Dialing
• Capacity: Shared memory
• Multi Numbers per Name

Other Features

• Multiple Languages
• Polyphonic Ringer
• Vibrate Alert
• Adjustable Text Size
• Flight Mode
• Hearing Aid Compatible: M3

Phone Review: BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 Silver

Short Review
Specs:

• Data: EVDO,1xEVDO
• Phone Design: Clamshell
• Phone TypeL Basic
• Talk Time: 3.5 hours (210 minutes)
• Features: Video capture
• Bluetooth: Yes, v2.0 Supported Profiles: HSP, HFP 1.5, (DUN, OPP, PBA, A2DP, AVRC)
  

Network

• Technology: CDMA
• Frequencies/Bands: 850, 1900
• Data: EVDO,1xEVDO
  

Size/Design

• Antenna: Internal
• Dimensions: 3.98" x 1.97" x 0.69" (101 x 50 x 17.5 mm)
• Headset Jack: 3.5 mm
• Phone Design: Clamshell
• Phone Type: Basic
• Side Keys: Yes
• Weight: 3.6 oz (102 g)
  

Battery

• Standby Time: 216 hours (9 days)
• Talk Time: 3.5 hours (210 minutes)
• Type: Lithium Ion
  

Display

• 2nd Display: 65, 000-color TFT LCD/ 128 x 160 pixels
• Colors: 65,536 (16-bit)
• Resolution: 240 x 320 pixels (QVGA)
• Touch Screen
• Type: TFT,TFD,LCD (Color)
  

Camera and Video

• Features: Video capture
• Flash: LED
• Megapixels: 2.0
• Streaming Video
• Video Sharing
  

Data Messaging

• Instant Messaging
• Predictive Text Entry
• Text Messaging: MMS,SMS
  

Music and Multimedia

• FM Radio
• GPS Navigation
• Music Player: P3,AAC,AAC+,WMA,eAAC+
• Speaker Phone
  

Connectivity

• Bluetooth: v2.0 Supported Profiles: HSP, HFP 1.5, (DUN, OPP, PBA, A2DP, AVRC)
• Data/Fax Capability
• E-Mail Client: POP3,IMAP4,Microsoft Exchange,Lotus Domino,push email
• Java Applications
• Memory Card Slot
• TransFlash,MicroSD
• PC Sync
• USB Port
• Web Browser
  

Organizer

• Alarm
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Voice Recorder

Phone Book

• Capacity: Shared Memory
• Multi Numbers per Name
• Photo Caller ID
• Ringer ID
• Ringer Profiles
• Voice Dialing

Other Features

• Adjustable Text Size
• Flight Mode
• Hearing Aid Compatible: M4,T4
• Multiple Languages
• Polyphonic Ringer
• Vibrate Alert

Phone Review: BlackBerry Curve 8350i

Keyboard/Buttons: Full Qwerty
Data: EVDO,1xEVDO
Phone Design: Bar
Smartphone: Yes
Features: Video capture; Max. Length: available memory up to 240 x 180 pixels / 15 fps, 5x zoom
Talk Time: 4 hours (240 minutes)
Operating System: Blackberry OS
Wi-Fi: Yes
Technology: iDen
Bluetooth: Yes v2.0 Supported Profiles: HSP, HFP 1.5, PBA, A2DP, AVRC
Frequencies/Bands: 850, 900


Antenna: Internal
Dimensions: 4.37" x 2.44" x 0.71" (111 x 62 18 mm)
Headset Jack: 2.5 mm
Phone Design: Bar
Side Keys: Yes
Keyboard/Buttons: Full Qwerty
Smartphone: Yes
Weight: 4.76 oz (135 g)

Battery
Type: 1400 mAh
Standby Time: 168 hours (7 days)
Talk Time: 4 hours (240 minutes)

Display
Colors: 65,536 (16-bit)
Type: TFT,TFD,LCD (Color)
Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA)

Camera and Video
Megapixels: 2.0
Features: Video capture; Max. Length: available memory up to 240 x 180 pixels / 15 fps, 5x zoom
Flash: LED
Streaming Video: Yes

Data Messaging:
Instant Messaging: Yes
Text Messaging: MMS,SMS


Music and Multimedia:
Music Player: Yes,MP3,AAC,AAC+,WMA,eAAC+,AMR
GPS Navigation: Yes
Speaker Phone: Yes

Connectivity
Data/Fax Capability: Yes
E-Mail Client: Yes,POP3,IMAP4,SSL,OWA,Microsoft Exchange,Lotus Domino,GroupWise,AOL Mail,Yahoo! Mail,MSN Hotmail,push email
Bluetooth: Yes v2.0 Supported Profiles: HSP, HFP 1.5, PBA, A2DP, AVRC
Java Applications: Yes
Memory Card Slot: TransFlash,MicroSD
Operating System: Blackberry OS
Web Browser: Yes,WAP2.0,XHTML,HTML
PC Sync: Yes
USB Port: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes

Organizer
Calendar: Yes
Voice Recorder: Yes
Alarm: Yes
Calculator: Yes
To-Do List: Yes

Phone Book
Multi Numbers per Name: Yes
Capacity:Shared memory
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Ringer Profiles: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Voice Dialing: Yes

Other Features
Flight Mode: Yes
Adjustable Text Size: Yes
Hearing Aid Compatible: Yes,M3
Polyphonic Ringer: Yes
Push-to-Talk: Yes
Multiple Languages: Yes
Vibrate Alert: Yes

Phone Review: BlackBerry Curve 8900

Short Review
Specs:

• Wi-Fi® Support
• Built-in GPS
• Camera (3.2 MP)
• Wireless Email
• Organizer
• Browser
• Enhanced Media Player
• Video Recording
• BlackBerry® Maps
• Phone
• Corporate Data Access
• SMS/MMS

Size and Weight

• Width: 2.36 inches (60 mm)
• Height: 4.29 inches (109 mm)
  
• Weight: 3.87 ounces (109.9 grams)
• Depth: 0.53 inches (13.5 mm)

Data Input & Navigation

• Trackball located on front face of device, ESC key to the right, Menu to the left
• 35 key backlit QWERTY keyboard
• Dedicated Keys: Send, End, Mute, Lock, VAD (user customizable), 2-stage camera (user customizable), 2x volume/zoom
• User Interface: Intuitive icons and menus

Voice Input & Output

• Integrated speaker and microphone, Hands-free headset capable, Bluetooth® headset capable, Integrated Hands-Free Speakerphone
• Rating for hearing aids (PDF): M3 (in cellular bands only)

Battery & Battery Life

• Battery: 1400 mAHr removable/rechargeable cryptographic lithium cell
• Talk Time: 5.5 hours
• Standby Time: 356 hours

Display

• Transmissive TFT LCD
• Screen Size: 2.44 inches (diagonally measured)
• High resolution 480x360 pixel color display
• Supports over 65,000 colors

Media Player

• Audio Format Support: .3gp, WAV, MIDI, AMR-NB, G711u/A, GSM610, PCM, MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA9/10 Standard/Pro
• Video Format Support: DivX, XviD (MPEG4 Advance Simple Profile), H.263, WMV3

Ringtones & Notifications

• Ringtones: .3gp, WAV, MIDI, AMR-NB, G711u/A, GSM610, PCM, MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA9/10 Standard/Pro
• Notifications: Tone, vibrate, on-screen or LED indicator; notification options are user configurable

Camera & Video Recording

• Video Camera: Normal Mode: 240x180 pixel, MMS Mode: 176x144 pixel
• Camera: 3.2 MP camera (JPEG Encoding) with Auto focus, Image stabilization, Flash and 2X Digital Zoom

Bluetooth

• Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR; Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port Profile, Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVCRP), SIM Access Profile and Dial-up Networking supported

GPS & BlackBerry Maps

• Assisted and autonomous GPS enabled

Keyboard security

• Keyboard lock
• Password protection
• Sleep (standby) mode

Wireless Networks

• North America: 850 MHz GSM®/GPRS networks
• North America: 1900MHz GSM/GPRS networks
• Europe/Asia Pacific: 1800MHz GSM/GPRS networks
• Europe/Asia Pacific: 900MHz GSM/GPRS networks
• EDGE networks

Wi-Fi

• Wi-Fi Alliance Certifications: WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise, WMM, WMM Power Save, Wi-Fi Protected Setup
• 802.11b/g enabled
• Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
• Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Server
• Cisco CCX certification planned
• Direct IP web browsing over Wi-Fi
• Support for UMA/GAN

Unify4Life: Remote assistance from BlackBerry

Think of a situation where you forgot your garage keys and the porter fails to respond to your honking and open the garage door. So what do you do? Bang your head on the steering? Well, no more! Thanks to Unify4Life for thinking up the Garage/Shadow application in collaboration with BlackBerry. BlackBerry users can now open their garage doors with their phones. Isn’t it so cool? And the best part? It’s all set to make its appearance on April 6, hopefully at CES ‘09.

[via: Uberphones]

Free Musical theme for the Blackberry Bold, Flip

If you have BlackBerry Bold or Pearl Flip with you, you might be interesting in trying this theme. Akakios from BlackLightThemes offers his newest theme designs for the Blackberry Bold and Pearl Flip called ‘Musical’.

Since I just have a Curve, so I can’t test this theme, but I think this theme is awesome. You can download thw Musical theme for free here: Bold and Pearl Flip.

BlackBerry Bold From Sprint Coming in First Quarter of 2009

All of you fans of the yellow and black (or is it gold and black?) will be pleased to know some new BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Bold info on Sprint (NYSE: S). One of Engadget Mobile’s trusted sources has let them now that Sprint will be replacing the BlackBerry 8830 with a CDMA version of the BlackBerry Bold. All of the 8800-lovers out there grasp on to your device tight… Or maybe go pick a new one up at Sprint while you can, because you might not be able to in the near future.

The new Sprint BlackBerry Bold will apparently feature EV-DO Rev. A, lots of memory, and of course a camera (which will be a feature many 8800 users might not want?).

It’s still early days with this one, but look for more news to drop on it soon. All reports seem to lead to the Sprint BlackBerry Bold dropping in the first quarter of 2009.

[Via: EngadgetMobile]

Phone Review: BlackBerry Bold 9000

Short Review
Specs:

• Memory - 1GB on-board (storage) and 128 MB Flash (applications)
• Est. Battery Life - Standby: 13 days, Talk Time: 5 hours
• Size - Length: 114mm, Width: 66mm, Thickness: 14mm
• Weight (with battery) - 133g (same as the 88xx series. I can attest to it!)
• Battery - 1500mAhr lithium cell0
• Network Support - UMTS: 2100 / 1900 / 850MHz, GSM: 1900 / 1800 / 900 / 850 MHz, GPRS, EDGE and HDSPA networks
• Display - HVGA, 480 x 320 pixels, Transmissive TFT LCD, supports over 65k colors
• Wi-Fi - 803.11a/b/g enabled
• Media Player, Video Support - DivX 4, Div X 5 & 6 are partially supported, XviD is partially supported, H.263, H.264 and WMV3
• Media Player, Audio Support - .3gp, MP3, WMA9 (.wma/.asf), WMA9 Pro/WMA 10, MIDI, AMR-NB, Professional AAC/AAC+/eAAC+
• Camera - 2.0MP, 5 x digital zoom (with flash of course)
• Media Player, Audio - BlackBerry Media Sync allows you to transfer your desktop iTunes music to your BlackBerry!!!
• GPS - internal GPS with extended ephemeris, BB Maps is standard
• USB Port - Enables charging and high-speed data synchronizations via USB "A" to mini-USB "B" cable (I can personally say moving files back and forth is now lightning quick!)
• Bluetooth - Bluetooth v2.0, all the normal stuff and Bluetooth Stereo Audio via A2DP and AVCRP
• Browser - HTML browsing, View Movies/Clips from websites built for mobile streaming, RSS feed support
  

Review: BlackBerry Storm

Verizon Wireless, Vodafone Group and Research In Motion announced that the BlackBerry Storm mobile phone will be available later this fall, exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in the United States and Vodafone customers in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand. Designed to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone combines the powerful communications features, global connectivity and personal productivity advantages of the BlackBerry platform with a revolutionary touch-screen technology that dramatically enhances the touch interface and enables easy and precise typing.

BlackBerry Storm smartphone
The world's first ‘clickable' touch-screen responds much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient application navigation. In the U.S., Verizon Wireless customers will benefit from the nation's most reliable wireless voice network and the pervasiveness of Verizon Wireless' reliable high-speed 3G Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network for rich Internet browsing and multimedia applications. In Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand, Vodafone will support customers with its high speed 3G mobile broadband networks and the power and reach of the world's leading international mobile communications group.

Revolutionary touchscreen smartphone
"We are proud to introduce the first touch-screen based BlackBerry smartphone together with Verizon Wireless and Vodafone," said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-chief executive officer at RIM. "The BlackBerry Storm is a revolutionary touch-screen smartphone that meets both the communications and multimedia needs of customers and solves the longstanding problem associated with typing on traditional touch-screens. Consumers and business customers alike will appreciate this unique combination of a large and vibrant screen with a truly tactile touch interface."

3G BlackBerry Smartphone
"The BlackBerry Storm mobile phone offers our customers more ways to stay connected to both their personal and professional lives - whether in their community or around the globe," said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless. "The BlackBerry Storm combines the reliability of our 3G network with the dependability and network efficiency of the BlackBerry platform to deliver our customers the ultimate wireless experience - all in one of the coolest smartphones available on the market today."

BlackBerry handsets
"We are delighted to bring the power of the purpose built BlackBerry Storm, directly into the hands of consumer and business customers," says Frank H Rovekamp, global chief marketing officer, Vodafone Group. "With its unique clickable touch-screen, giving access to all the desirable multi-media features and services such as browsing, music and video, turn by turn satellite navigation, messaging and social networking, and BlackBerry's mobile heritage and strong business reputation, the BlackBerry Storm is being brought by Vodafone into the consumer world. With Vodafone's ultra high speed, reliable mobile network and this exclusive and exciting new smartphone, there has never been a better time to be with Vodafone."

Innovative touchscreen phone
The BlackBerry Storm smartphone comes with an innovative touch-screen that actually depresses ever so slightly when the screen is pressed. The user distinctly feels the screen being pressed and released with a gentle 'click', similar to the feeling of a key on a physical keyboard or a button on a mouse. The ‘clickable' touch-screen gives the user positive confirmation that they have made a selection and the result is a dramatically enhanced touch interface and a highly intuitive typing experience.

BlackBerry navigation keys
In addition to the familiar navigation keys (‘phone', ‘menu' and ‘escape') that are common to other BlackBerry smartphones, the new BlackBerry Storm adds support for multi-touches, taps, slides, and other touch-screen gestures, so customers can easily highlight, scroll, pan, and zoom for smooth navigation. The BlackBerry Storm smartphone also features a built-in accelerometer, allowing its touch-screen to automatically switch between landscape mode and portrait mode as the user rotates the handset - RIM's SureType keyboard layout is available in portrait and a full QWERTY keyboard layout is available in landscape mode. Other relevant features, such as cut and paste, are only a touch away for the ultimate smartphone experience.

World Class BlackBerry Smartphone
The BlackBerry Storm handset is a top of the line 3G mobile phone with premium features and global connectivity. In the U.S., the BlackBerry Storm 9530 gives Verizon Wireless customers 3G EV-DO Rev. A/CDMA - technology - and (2100Mhz) UMTS/HSPA and quad-band EDGE / GPRS / GSM for global use. The BlackBerry Storm 9500 from Vodafone supports (2100Mhz) UMTS/HSPA and quad-band EDGE / GPRS / GSM networks.

Black Berry Storm internet features
Customers will enjoy a full HTML high performance browser that works in either portrait or landscape orientation. Navigating Web sites is fast and easy with the touch-screen interface that lets users double tap to zoom in and slide their finger to scroll and pan. Icons along the bottom of the display allow for quickly accessing web sites, switching between "Page View" and "Column View" as well as the ability to toggle between "Pan" mode and "Cursor" mode. The enhanced browser supports file downloading, streaming audio and video (RTSP), and with its built-in RSS support, new content from supported Web sites can be automatically pushed to the user.

BlackBerry Storm price & availability
The BlackBerry Storm smartphone brings the full power of the industry's leading mobile e-mail and messaging solution without compromise. It supports personal and corporate e-mail, text (SMS) and picture messaging (MMS), instant messaging on the most prevalent consumer and enterprise platforms, as well as easy access to popular social networking sites.

[Source]

Phone Review: BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220

Short Review
Specs:

• Make/Model: Blackberry Pearl Flip 8220
  
• Data: EDGE, Wi-Fi
• Network: GSM 850/1900 (There are European/Asian versions)
  
• Size: 3.98” x 1.97” x 0.69”
• Carrier: T-Mobile
• Weight: 3.6 oz
  
• Display: Internal is 240 x 320 TFT, external is 128 x 160 TFT (262k colors)
• Form Factor: Clamshell flip with external display
• Memory: 128 flash; The hot-swappable microUSB comes w/ 256 MB, and accepts 16GB
• Notable Features: smooth external display with email/message previews; myFaves; voice notes; voice dialing; push email; stereo bluetooth; 2 MP cam with LED flash and 5X digital zoom, which can be controlled with the trackball. It also captures video.

Plus:
surprisingly music-friendly; external play/pause button; stereo bluetooth, standard headphone jack; UMA capable; unique form factor; slick new BB interface; more compact than other BlackBerries; still has the BB office apps that keep executives aboard, but feels like a fun phone.

Minus:
no GPS; weak web browsing; some lag here and there.

If you're looking for a strong messaging device that works with a variety of communications platforms, the cap does not disappoint. Make calls over Wi-Fi, and provides excellent call quality in adverse environments. Almost any type of text communications platform available today is accessible on the lid. However, without 3G and a real browser, do not expect to be navigating at night.

BlackBerry flip revealed, say hello to the Kickstart

Looks like the folks up in Waterloo have been busy finding new designs lately. This is what they have come up with. It is a BlackBerry flip. I never thought I would see the day. This new device, called the Kickstart, is the first BlackBerry flip phone, ever. For a first attempt, this is not looking to shabby either. The device could be released as early as the end of the year.

Well, lets see what we can learn from this image. First, it is very clearly a BlackBerry, as in not too much departure from BlackBerry designs we know today. We see the familiar and distinct RIM SureType keyboard. A good choice for a flip, where space is limited. Also, we see a trackball. A trackball makes even more sense on a flip, as it will be protected from pockets and such. From the screen, we can tell it is not running any special user interface. Definitely not the one we saw on the BlackBerry 9000 at least.

Interestingly, no model number was outed with it. It is not clear what series this BlackBerry belongs to. While the interface clues that it could be part of the 8000 series, there is no reason to believe that just because the interface is familiar it is not part of the 9000 series. While there is no evidence this is the BlackBerry 9100, there a few reasons it could be. The BlackBerry 7100 and 8100 series, were compact, SureType sporting BlackBerries. Clearly, this is a compact, SureType sporting BlackBerry. There have been no SureType BlackBerries that were not part of a *100 series. While RIM could introduce it as a new member to the 8100 series, it seems unlikely they would put this device in a candy bar family of phones.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Telus goes live with Motorola Q9c and BlackBerry Curve 8330

Our friends to the North will be happy to hear that Telus has followed through on rumors that they'll be launching a Canadian-flavored BlackBerry Curve 8330. The sleek, yet full-featured BlackBerry Curve 8330 offers BlackBerry fans a good dose of EVDO data, GPS, Bluetooth, and 2 megapixel camera. That is, when it finally launches on Telus's network - no word on exactly when that will be.

And, in a more solid launch, Telus has announced that the Motorola Q9c is ready to pull duty as the CDMA carrier's slim Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard handset.

Moto Q9c fans in Canada can expect a 1.3 megapixel camera, EVDO data, and Bluetooth - all powered by Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard. The Motorola Q9c is available on Telus for about $150 CDN after 3-year contract(!).

Head on over to Telus for more details.
Telus

Video: How to install and use six free BlackBerry apps

CIO.com prepared an excellent how-to video for first-time or let's say not-that-tech-savvy BlackBerry owners. In a roughly 10-minute long video, you'll learn how to install and use 6 free apps, including:

• Viigo mobile RSS reader
• Beyond411 local search
• WorldMate Live travel companion
• Google Maps
• Facebook for BlackBerry, and
• TwitterBerry

It's a must watch. Enjoy!

RIM testing new 3.5G BlackBerry device - BlackBerry 9000 on the way?

What, you're using 3G? That was, like, soo last year (at least for Americans). The truly hip folks at RIM have decided to get with the times and have announced that they are testing a new BlackBerry with 3.5G data capabilities. The Financial Times is reporting that Research In Motion President Mike Lazaridis has confirmed the near-term release of a 3.5G-enabled BlackBerry smartphone.

Apparently, it pays to be the President of RIM. Lazaridis said that he is toting around a prototype of the new BlackBerry that can hop along the internet superhighway at HSDPA speeds (where available, of course). The new BlackBerry could very well be the BlackBerry 9000 that we've been talking about for some time now. If so, we can expect a large 480×320 screen, GPS, and Wi-Fi - all features that have been confirmed for the new BlackBerry device.

We're keeping our fingers crossed for an announcement at CTIA in a little over a week from now. With AT&T's announcement of HSDPA network upgrades nationwide, the BlackBerry 9000's timing could indicate a release later this year, following a May European launch - 3Q in the US, perhaps?

[Via: Electronista]

BlackBerry 8820 with GPS and Wi-Fi Confirmed by T-Mobile

Here's some good news for all the T-Mobile subscribers in the audience, because the pink-themed mobile operator has confirmed that it will indeed be getting the BlackBerry 8820. As you recall, this is the lovely QWERTY-packing device that comes equipped with both Wi-Fi and GPS.

The good thing about having Wi-Fi built into this latest version of the BlackBerry Curve is the fact that it can then take advantage of T-Mobile's Hotspot@Home service, helping you reduce the minutes racked up on the cellular network. The GPS side of things is taken care of with the preloaded TeleNav navigation software. The major feature missing from this handset is a camera, no doubt because of demands from enterprise users.

The BlackBerry 8820 will sell through T-Mobile for a price of $350, assuming you're willing to lock 'er down for a two-year contract.

[via MobileMag]

BlackBerry Curve 8330 CDMA has GPS

Verizon Wireless customer who’ve been waiting anxiously for the CDMA version of the BlackBerry Curve can breathe a sigh of relief: BBGeeks have photos of the 8330 that show it is physically almost identical to the 8310 GSM version currently on sale, keeping the same lauded QWERTY keyboard.

The photo below also confirms that the CDMA Curve will have GPS functionality, although it is unclear as to what use different carriers might make of that. Speculation is that an announcement regarding the handset may come next month.

[via PhoneMag]

Alltel Wireless BlackBerry Pearl 8130 for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate

Alltel Wireless today announced that the new BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is now available on www.shopalltel.com and in Alltel retail stores. This smartphone makes the perfect holiday gift and includes email, Web browser, text messaging, instant messaging and organizer applications.

The phone also features GPS capabilities and mapping applications such as TeleNav and BlackBerry Maps; a 2 MP camera with flash, zoom and video capture; an advanced media player with 3.5mm jack, Bluetooth® stereo support and dedicated volume controls; 64 MB of built-in memory with an expandable microSD/SDHC memory card slot; and much more.

Alltel Wireless is offering the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 for $149.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate.

[via MobileWhack]

RIM to bring the BlackBerry to Russia in 2008

Welcome to the age of the CrackBerry, Russia. We’re glad to hear that you’re finally getting with the times and letting RIM bring their heralded BlackBerry lineup within your borders, starting in 2008. Hey, you’ve caught up to Communist China!

With the Russian security agency’s (FSB) approval to let Russian wireless operators MTS and Vimpelcom carry the BlackBerry phones from RIM, carrier-branded BlackBerry handsets should be making their way into email-addicted Russian hands in Q1 2008.
BlackBerries have been in use on MTS’s Ukraine network since October, but those handsets used foreign SIM cards as roaming handsets. This announcement marks the first legitimate entry of the BlackBerry into Russian wireless networks. Vimpelcom has been greenlighted to sell 1,050 BlackBerry 8700 smartphones as soon as the handsets pass certification tests.

MTS and Vimpelcom have a one-year sales window, so Russian could go back to the pre-BlackBerry dark ages in 2009 - although, we’re going to put our money on a long-lived Russian BlackBerry market.

[Via: Reuters]

BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.3

We will start this article off by stating this is subject to change prior to public release, however, here’s your first look at BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.3! We’ve not yet fully uncovered what it’s capable of, although we from first impressions, it doesn’t look like much more than a visual upgrade of the initial application view, as well as an updated version of Intellisync. Also bundled with this version of BlackBerry Desktop Manager is an update to Roxio Media Manager, now sporting some advanced encoding options and enhanced support for other video formats.

No word on a release date, but with the BlackBerry 8120 being recently launched with OS 4.3.0, we’d have to think that BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.3 will follow at some point soon thereafter. Then again, we have yet to hear about the BlackBerry 8120 actually being available from any of the pre-launch and launch carriers in Europe (Telefonica/Spain, TIM/Italy and O2/UK), so who knows.

Rest of the shots, after the break

Source: BGR

RIM prepping 3G, iPhone-fighting BlackBerry 9000/9xxx?

RIM is really on a roll recently. They’ve been pumping out handsets faster than ever, and it looks like RIM’s next big handset will aim at Apple’s iPhone. It makes sense, since every phone manufacturer out there is gunning to, well, out-gun the iPhone with touchscreen offerings of their own. Research In Motion (RIM), makers of the unfortunately touchscreen-less lineup of BlackBerry smartphones, is reportedly working on a new BlackBerry 9xxx/9000 that takes aim squarely at the iPhone.


We’re hearing through the grapevine that RIM’s BlackBerry 9xxx/9000 will be sporting a full-fledged 3G radio with HSDPA (on US-friendly frequencies), 600Mhz processor, and an undeniably iPhone-esque design. As you can see from Boy Genius’s questionable mockup/blurry spy pic, the BlackBerry 9000 is looking pretty damn slick. We can only guess that the full-body screen will be a touchscreen (if not as the sole means of input, then perhaps with a slide-out keyboard). Oh, and we’re also hearing that the BlackBerry 9xxx will have a backup feature that will move all data on the phone to a removable memory card.

With a release date slated for early 2008, we’re sure recent BlackBerry 8800 buyers aren’t none too pleased. But, being firmly planted in speculative soil, BlackBerry 8800 owners can hope that this rumor turns out to be nothing more than that - a rumor. We’re thinking that this BlackBerry 9xxx could indeed be in the works - it makes sense for RIM to go after Apple’s iPhone. Stay tuned!

[Via: Boy Genius Report]