A little late in the game but better late than never, US Cellular now has the BlackBerry Tour 9630 available for purchase.

Pricing with 2 year service agreement:

• Price Before Mail-In Rebate:
  • $499.95 – Original Price
  • $269.95 – Best Price (With $230.00 discount for 2 year agreement)
• Price After Mail-In Rebate:
  • $269.95 – Before Rebate
  • $199,95 – After $70 Mail-in Rebate

The Tour 9630 from US Cellular is not available on prepaid plans. The $70 rebate is only available if you sign up for a 2-year service agreement on a calling plan at $39.99 or higher with a BlackBerry E-Mail & Web plan at $24.95.

For more info visit US Cellular.

Thanks to CellUnlock.net I have 100 BlackBerry unlock codes to give away!

Benefits of unlocking your BlackBerry include:

• No need to roam with your current sim when you travel. Purchase pre-paid sim cards when traveling. Many operators allow free incoming calls.
• Switch freely between service providers.
• Increase the resale value of your phone.
• 100% safe unlocking that does not interfere with the operation of your phone or warranty
• Absolutely no technical knowledge is required.

BlackBerry models this contest applies to: Pearl (8100/8110/8120), Pearl Flip (8220), Curve (8300/8310/8320/8520/8900), 8800, 8810, 8820, Bold (9000/9700), Storm (9500/9530/9550), Tour (9630). For more info visit CellUnlock.net.

CONTEST: For a chance to win 1 of 100 free BlackBerry unlock codes leave a comment on this post using a valid email address. Only leave one comment, duplicates will be ignored and will not increase your chances of winning. This contest will end at 11:59PM EST on Saturday, November 7th. Comments left after this time will not be considered. *

Software For BlackBerry® Tour (TM) 9630 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.7.1.117 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 4.7.1.117
Consisting of:

• Applications: 4.7.1.61
• Software Platform: 4.1.0.75
• File name: 9630AMEA_PBr4.7.1_rel117_PL4.1.0.75_A4.7.1.61_Bluegrass_Cellular.exe
• File size: 102.16MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

• Download: OS 4.7.1.61 for the Tour 9630 from Bluegrass Cellular
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

Yesterday I mentioned that the Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 might be getting OS 5.0.0.328 tomorrow. Since that post I’ve received a bunch of emails asking whether a certain BlackBerry model will get OS 5.0.

Up till now I could only base my answers on leaked information, but  thanks to a new knowledge base article posted by RIM we now know exactly which BlackBerry devices will get it!

List of the supported devices:

• BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8200 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8350i smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Storm™ 9500 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphones

Your BlackBerry must have at least 64MB of available memory in order to upgrade to OS 5.0 once it’s available.

According to the knowledge base article not all wireless service providers will support BlackBerry OS 5.0 for the devices listed above, meaning you might have to get it from another service provider. This isn’t a problem for those that don’t mind using an OS not issued by their carrier.

Here’s to hoping an OS 5.0 launch for all devices is just around the corner!

via KB17984

My buddy @Ackee_, the same tipper who sent me pics of the Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 dummy unit and promo flyers, sent over another picture that he was able to get of a Verizon “merchandising call agenda”.

The picture of the merchandising call agenda shows the Tour 9630 and the Storm2 with a 10/28 date at the top.  Although a rumor until Verizon announces it themselves, @Ackee_ has informed me that October 28th is so far the scheduled launch date for the Verizon BlackBerry Storm2!

A 360 demo of the Storm2 was already found on Verizon’s website and an interactive guide for the Storm2 9550 was also found on the BlackBerry website, so there is definitely some prep happening behind closed curtains.

I was given no guarantees, but I might be getting some better material tomorrow about Verizon’s launch of the Storm2 so keep an eye on BBRocks!

• Download via MegaUpload: OS 5.0.0.273 for the Tour 9630
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

DISCLAIMER: Install at your own risk. This is Leaked/Beta software that is not guaranteed to be stable, and therefore will not be supported by RIM or your wireless carrier should you run into some problems. As a precaution, if you decide to upgrade, it is highly recommended that you make a backup before using this software. If you are not comfortable using Leaked/Beta software you should probably wait for the next official release. *

These software versions contain a fix for the BlackBerry Browser bug I mentioned a few weeks ago. For more info about this bug click here.

Software For BlackBerry® Tour (TM) 9630 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.7.1.110 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 4.7.1.110
Consisting of:

• Applications: 4.7.1.57
• Software Platform: 4.1.0.70
• File name: 9630AMEA_PBr4.7.1_rel110_PL4.1.0.70_A4.7.1.57_Sprint_L.P.exe
• File size: 102.16MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

• Download: OS 4.7.1.57 for the Tour 9630 from Sprint
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments. See a changelog after the jump.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

CONTINUE READING »

UPDATE Added a full-size image (packaging and all) after the jump. *

If there was any doubt, here is some more confirmation that the BlackBerry Storm 2 will be launching on Verizon very soon. @Ackee_ sent me a picture of a Verizon buy-one-get-one (BOGO) free flyer showing the “New Storm2″ next to its older siblings!

Earlier today I mentioned that Vodafone might be launching the Storm2 this week. If true, Verizon will probably launch either next week or the following week. Since Best Buy is already getting accessories for the Storm2 I wouldn’t be surprised if it launched within a few days, but let’s not push it .

Anyone else hear or see anything about the Storm2’s launch? Let me know in the comments or send me a message!

CONTINUE READING »

Morrison (aka @moestepp) let me know that he has put together a video guide with instructions on how to install hybrid or beta OS versions using BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac.

I’ve transcribed the steps (below) for those that prefer text, but the video is better since it offers visual aide. The BlackBerry used for this tutorial is a Curve 8310 on AT&T. Do this at your own risk and only if you are comfortable with using beta/leaked software.

Morrison has also provided links to beta OS files in DMG format for use with a Mac computer. This method is mainly used for a hybrid OS upgrade. If you are using a beta “you would typically include the radio file in the same folder” (according to Morrison).

• 8330 5.0.0.230 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G4VGQBM9
  
• 8900 5.0.0.238 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V0IQRULX
  
• 9000 5.0.0.238 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=S3CMOBM2
  
• 9530 5.0.0.230 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PL31VO1W
  
• 9630 5.0.0.230 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G1PURKUJ

Here are the steps for use with a hybrid:

1. Plug your BlackBerry into your MacBook with BlackBerry Desktop Manager running
2. Install the carrier recommended OS (in this case AT&T OS 4.5.0.110)
3. Reload the OS that the carrier recommended for the phone. This will download all the appropriate files that are required.
4. Have the hybrid OS handy (in this case 8330 OS 5.0.0.238)
5. Go to Hard Drive > Username > Library > Application Support > BlackBerry Desktop Manager > Device Applications > Folder with numbers and letters
6. Open the Java file containing the hybrid OS files
7. Select all the files in the hybrid OS folder
8. Drag and drop these files into the folder with numbers and letters found in step 5
9. When prompted to replace files, click on apply to all and then replace
10. Go to BlackBerry Desktop Manager (should be running in background) and click on Applications and click Check for Updates
11. It will say there are no new updates in the next screen. Click on Show Other Versions in this screen.
12. You will now find the carrier recommended OS that was installed in steps 2 and 3. Click on the radio button to the left so it is “selected” and then click on Select.
13. Click on Reload
14. You’re done!

The Desktop Manager for Mac will think it’s just reloading the current OS to the BlackBerry but since you copied over the files from the hybrid OS it will actually be loading a different OS. As always please make backups before attempting to install or upgrade anything.

If you decide to try this out let me know how it works for you in the comments!

My buddy Marian (aka Temas BlackBerry) has released a new BlackBerry theme called BerryWin.

Features:

• 7 icons with big view
• 6 mini icons
• Hide window with 6 icons configurable

BerryWin will work on the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold and Tour and is available in the store for $5.

GIVEAWAY: The first 20 people to use the coupon code WINROCKS will get this theme for free! *