Those who pre-order the Bold 9700 can expect to receive it on October 28th (two days after the Storm2) for free on monthly pay plans from £35. For more info and to pre-order check out the Bold 9700 Vodafone UK page.
@ConorfromOrange, an Orange UK employee who works in the comms team, sent out the following tweet basically confirming that the Bold 9700 will also be available to Orange UK customers soon.
If you’re with Orange UK and know more details about the Bold 9700 let me know in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 22, 2009 at 12:32 PM | Comments
Yesterday RIM officially announced the BlackBerry Bold 9700 along with a bunch of carriers issuing their own press releases, some containing info on pricing and availability. Keep in mind that these press releases are similar with their announcement except for carrier-specific differences.
Check out the roundup after the jump. If you found an announcement from a carrier I haven’t mentioned yet let me know in the comments!
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 21, 2009 at 10:53 AM | Comments
Back in August when RIM acquired Torch Mobile it was assumed that a WebKit-based browser was going to be developed for BlackBerry smartphones. Thanks to MobileCrunch, the development of a WebKit-based browser is further confirmed by a job notice posted on LinkedIn where RIM is looking to hire a “WebKit Developer at Research In Motion”.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are currently looking for a talented and passionate individual to join a growing team within the BlackBerry Platform organization. Utilizing their expert knowledge in C++ programming, the successful candidate will be working in a fast-paced, dynamic development environment to develop a WebKit-based browser for the BlackBerry Platform.
I could only hope that RIM hiring another developer means they are looking to speed things up a bit. I already think my BlackBerry rocks, but objectively speaking, I definitely wouldn’t mind a better browser.
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone offers top-of-the-line performance, functionality and features with support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world, a next-generation (624 MHz) processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi®, a 3.2MP camera and a sharp, dazzling display. Cutting edge engineering and premium finishes extend to the exterior of the handset as well, with a smoothly integrated touch-sensitive trackpad and a highly tactile, distinctive, fretted keyboard. The dark chrome frame and leatherette back add to the new smartphone’s sleek and elegant look, while the narrow profile, balanced weight and soft-touch sides allow it to feel incredibly comfortable in one hand.
“The BlackBerry Bold 9700 builds on the success of the original BlackBerry Bold with new, state-of-the-art features and a smaller, lighter and highly optimized design that looks, feels and performs great,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.
I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to get my hands on this awesome BlackBerry. For more info head over to blackberry.com/bold9700 or check out RIM’s press release after the jump.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 20, 2009 at 8:40 AM | Comments
Last week Vodafone and RIM made the BlackBerry Storm2 official and the BlackBerry website was also updated to include the Storm2, but Verizon has yet to make an official announcement about it although there have been plenty of signs proving that the Verizon Storm2 9550 does exist.
If previously posted items weren’t proof enough for you, a 360 demo of the Storm2 has been found on the Verizon website! So far we know that a launch some time between October 25th and November 27th is a possibility and the appearance of this 360 demo on Verizon’s own website could mean an official launch (or at least an announcement) is right around the corner.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 19, 2009 at 10:59 PM | Comments
Originally, PocketMac for BlackBerry users received free and unlimited email support from RIM. Today RIM has issued an end of support notice for PocketMac via this knowledge base article. Here are the details:
Please be advised that as of October 2, 2009 PocketMac is no longer supported by Research In Motion.
Please contact PocketMac at www.pocketmac.com if you require support for PocketMac for BlackBerry smartphones.
Please note that related references and troubleshooting steps have been removed from www.blackberry.com.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise since RIM recently released Desktop Manager for Mac. If you plan to continue using PocketMac and need support be sure to send the PocketMac developers a message directly.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 19, 2009 at 3:40 PM | Comments
For a while now there have been rumors about a “BlackBerry watch” being developed by RIM. Back in May BGR was able to sit down and talk to Antoine Boucher, Vice President of Accessories Integration, about some upcoming BlackBerry accessories. During this chat Boucher indirectly mentioned the possibility of a BlackBerry Bluetooth watch being in the works.
Today CrackBerry Kevin broke the news that yes, RIM is working on a Bluetooth watch and it will be announced soon! Along with this news Kevin has provided renderings of the actual watch and some key features:
it has been designed specifically for BlackBerry from the ground up – developed by a new BlackBerry-dedicated accessory company
it features an OLED screen that we hear is “big, bright and beautiful” and optimized for displaying text clearly, and thanks to OLED has solid battery life
it’s designed to show you notifications and previews of messages arriving on your BlackBerry
judging by the filename of the photos as they were sent in to us, we’re thinking it’s going to branded the inPulse smartwatch
These renderings look a lot better than a possible early prototype found by a commenter over at CB. As always with leaked info you can consider this a rumor until RIM officially announces it which, according to Kevin, should be soon.
According to an article by guardian.co.uk, the Storm2 will be exclusively available through Vodafone for only a few weeks.
Vodafone will have the handset as an exclusive in the UK, but only for a few weeks. RIM is understood to have demanded that the device be available to other operators after Vodafone joined Orange in successfully ending O2’s exclusive two-year deal with Apple for the iPhone in the UK.
It is unclear whether any of the other UK operators will be stocking the Storm 2 in time for Christmas, but by the start of next year – when Vodafone will finally be able to start shipping the iPhone – it is expected to be available on at least one other network, most probably Orange, which will also start selling the iPhone within the next few weeks.
The Storm 2 will be launched by Vodafone in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, France, Italy and South Africa, and Canadian handset maker RIM is hoping that it will get a more positive critical reaction than the first version, which went on sale last November.
If you’d like to pre-order the Storm2 you can find it on Vodafone UK’s site, or for more info check out the press release that was posted earlier today. The Storm2 features and specifications can also be found here.
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 15, 2009 at 9:34 AM | Comments
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 has popped up on the T-Mobile Germany (translated) site and is being shown as coming in November.
So much is happening this week with all the unreleased devices (although the Storm2 is now official). Yesterday BlackBerry Operating Systems were leaked for the Bold 9700 and Storm2, the complete Bold 9700 User Guide was leaked, and now T-Mobile Germany has it up with features and accessories.
T-Mobile USA is already sending out invites for a launch party on November 5th, so maybe the November 11th launch date holds true? We’ll find out soon enough .
Posted by Mauricio on Oct 15, 2009 at 9:03 AM | Comments
Vodafone and RIM have made the BlackBerry Storm2 official!
The second generation of RIM’s innovative and award-winning touch-screen smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 significantly improves the BlackBerry® touch-screen platform with new technology and new features to let customers stay easily connected to the people, places and things that matter most.
In the busy holiday gift buying period, customers in the UK and Ireland will be able to get the new smartphone first through Vodafone, and it will be offered exclusively by Vodafone in Germany, Netherlands and Spain. It will also be made available in France, Italy and South Africa in time for Christmas.
The BlackBerry Storm2 with BlackBerry OS 5 evolves the BlackBerry touch-screen platform with hundreds of hardware and software enhancements.
Pricing will be announced by the individual in-country operating companies and so far Vodafone UK will be offering the Storm2 free from £35 per month on a 24-month contract. Since Vodafone has officially announced the Storm2, according to earlierrumors, Verizon should be announcing it within the next week or so.
For more info (including hardware and software features) check out the press release after the jump or head to blackberry.com/storm!
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