Back in mid-October T-Mobile Germany listed the BlackBerry Bold 9700 as being available in November but no pricing info was available at the time. T-Mobile Germany has updated their site (translated) with pricing and contract info for the Bold 9700.

Pricing for the Bold 9700 with T-Mobile Germany starts at 159,95€ ($240.18) on a new “Relax 120″ plan, up to 499,95€ ($750.23) with no contract. Since T-Mobile USA already has dummy units in stores hopefully they will follow with a site update of their own.

For more info visit the T-Mobile Germany Bold 9700 page.

Earlier this morning Vodafone and RIM announced the availability of the BlackBerry Storm2. Vodafone UK has updated their site to allow pre-ordering of the Storm2. Those who pre-order the Storm can expect to receive theirs on October 26th.

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.

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 .

Thanks keine!

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 earlier rumors, 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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Just got some fresh photos of a Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 dummy unit thanks to @Ackee_!

A few days ago I posted some promo flyers showing the Storm2 as being part of a buy-one-get-one free deal. At that time I said “I wouldn’t be surprised if it launched within a few days,” and it looks like I may have been onto something because, according to an article by the New York Times, Verizon and RIM might be launching the Storm2 this week!

This week, Verizon and R.I.M. are trying again with a Storm do-over, the Storm 2. Among its many improvements, the new phone gives the user the sensation of pushing a physical button when pressing a number on the glass touch screen.

Lowell C. McAdam, the chief executive of Verizon Wireless, has been carrying the revamped device for a few weeks, looking for any evidence that this time it will catch on. Mr. McAdam said that while he was recently visiting the Verizon store in New York’s SoHo district, he started talking to a couple of students from New York University who were shopping for cellphones.

“I let them play with the second-generation Storm device,” he said. “They came back and said ‘Oh, my gosh.’ They were very excited. This is what they hoped the original Storm should be.”

Vodafone Germany has the Storm 9520 listed as coming soon and Vodafone UK might also be launching the Storm2 this week, and since  Best Buy is already getting accessories for it, a launch some time this week is definitely a possibility! Let’s not hold our breath though…

I’ve included a shot of the Storm2 dummy unit from behind after the jump. Let me know what you think in the comments!

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@acnst pointed out that the Vodafone Germany OnlineShop has the BlackBerry Storm 9520 listed as coming soon!

Here is a rough translation (courtesy of Google) of the text next to the Storm 9520:

The BlackBerry Storm 9520 is a phone as you want it to. The smartphone is equipped with the latest generation of a new type of touch screen (about 8 cm diagonal) to make easy text entry. For entertainment on the go is also provided. Photos come out with the 3.2 MP camera, you can surf the Internet via WiFi and you can navigate with the A-GPS receiver.

Earlier today I mentioned that Vodafone UK might be launching the Storm 2 this week. The Storm 9520 being listed as coming soon on the Vodafone Germany site could mean a network-wide launch.

If you find the Storm 2 listed on any other carrier sites let me know in the comments!

• Download: OS 4.7.0.181 for the Storm 9500 from Vodafone D2 GmbH (Google Translated)
• 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. *

RIM has updated the BlackBerry App World to v1.1.0.11 with some nice new features:

• Enhanced Performance
  BlackBerry App World 1.1 features faster image and icon loading, giving you the information you want – faster.
• Sort Your Searches
  Search and find exactly the apps you want. Look for “free” or “paid” apps, or search by category: music, games, weather and other apps. Sort your results by most popular, newest, highest rated and more.
• Archive Your Apps
  Load even more of your favorite apps onto your microSD card – ensuring that no matter where you go, or even if you change BlackBerry smartphones, all your applications come with you.
• Memory Indicator
  Always know exactly how much memory you have with the new memory status bar. When you’ve exceeded your memory, a message will appear guiding you on how to free up more space.
• More Language Support
  Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and the Channel Islands

Inside BlackBerry has posted a helpful tutorial on how to properly archive applications onto your microSD card,  just in case you have any problems or want to set it up the right way from the get go.

You can find more information and download the new version of the BlackBerry App World at blackberry.com/appworld.

Poynt let me know that their free BlackBerry application is now available to the United Kingdom.

Poynt is available for users in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales with the following features:

• GPS – the GPS functionality has been optimized to provide faster accurate locates.
• Cell-site locates – Cell-site locates allow Poynt to quickly access a user’s general location while awaiting a GPS lock.
• Enhanced User Interface – Poynt’s UI was developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones to provide users with an immersive, easy-to-use and visually appealing experience.
• Mapping Integration – Poynt is fully integrated with both BlackBerry® Maps and Google Maps.
• Map Route – Poynt integrates with Gokivo™ Navigator to provide turn-by-turn voice navigation.
• Address Book Integration – Users can add frequently accessed listings to their BlackBerry® Contact List, providing convenience for future lookups.
• Share Search Results – Integration with BlackBerry® Email allows users to easily share listings with friends and colleagues.
• Movie Module – Users can plan their night at the movies by seeing what is playing near them, watching trailers, viewing showtimes and reading reviews, cast and synopsis details.
• Movie Theater Details – Users can get information on seating layouts, wheelchair accessibility and number of screens.
• Add to Calendar Option – Users have the ability to add movie search results to their BlackBerry® Calendar by date and showtime, as well as invite friends to join them.

Poynt is compatible with the BlackBerry Pearl series, Curve series, Bold and Storm series.

You can download it OTA by visiting m.mypoynt.com from your BlackBerry Browser, or check out the full press release after the jump for more info.

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It looks like mobile carriers aren’t pleased with Skype for the iPhone and the upcoming version for BlackBerry, which would allow free skype-to-skype calls.

By David Flynn:

iPhone users are taking up arms against some of the world’s largest telcos in an effort to use Skype over the 3G airwaves. With the support of Apple, mobile carriers in the US, Canada and Germany have blocked Skype from their networks so that the popular VoIP service can be run only over a local Wi-Fi connection.

Since its release last Tuesday, Skype has become the most popular download at Apple’s iPhone software store. But AT&T in the US, Canada’s Rogers and T-Mobile in Germany are all on the front line to defend what they see as their right to determine how their networks are used.

Read more @ apcmag.com

I realize the article concentrates on the Apple iPhone, but since it’s about “mobile carriers,” that means they aren’t happy with Skype altogether. This would most likely affect BlackBerry users just the same once Skype gets released for BlackBerrys.

I know plenty of people have been waiting for a Skype client for BlackBerry. Revolt anyone?

Remember: Without customers a network is nothing!