A few weeks ago Canadian service provider Rogers announced via this press release that it would soon be offering the BlackBerry Bold 9700. @BRSDiddy let me know that Rogers has just updated their website and now has the Bold 9700 available for purchase!

Pricing:

• 3 year contract – $299.99
• 2 year contract – $499.99
• 1 year contract – $549.99
• Monthly contract – $549.99
• No contract – $599.99

If you absolutely can’t wait for your own service provider to get the Bold 9700 and don’t mind spending $600 to get it early then here’s your chance. Other than that if you’re a Rogers customer or plan on becoming one you can choose from a few contract options to get a certain amount off a new Bold 9700.

Check it out on Rogers and let me know if you pick one of these up in the comments!

While you wait for your new Bold 9700 (if you get one) you may want to read up on its features and specifications if you haven’t already.

UPDATE This contest has been extended till tomorrow night, November 1st at 11:59PM. *

The folks over at Carrier Unlock were nice enough to give me 5 BlackBerry unlock codes to give away as part of the BBRocks! birthday celebration.

Carrier Unlock offers BlackBerry unlocking services for the US and Canada with carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Rogers, Fido and a bunch of others. Unlocking your BlackBerry allows you to use it on any compatible network. If you decide you can’t wait to see if you won a free unlock code you can get one for $6.99 by contacting Carrier Unlock at brsdiddy@gmail.com.

CONTEST: For a chance to win 1 of 5 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 12AM EST on Sunday, November 1st. Comments left after this time will not be considered. *

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!

CONTINUE READING »

Yesterday I posted about the BlackBerry Bold 9700 becoming official with press releases from RIM, AT&T, Bell, Rogers and T-Mobile. The official worldwide launch will begin in November so you’ll want to know as much as you can about the 9700 if you don’t already.

Associated with the Bold 9700 press release was a features and specifications PDF which I’ve included as text after the jump, followed by a link to the PDF file in case you’d like to save it. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments!

CONTINUE READING »

RIM, along with AT&T, Bell, Rogers and T-Mobile, have made the BlackBerry Bold 9700 official with an expected worldwide launch in November!

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.

CONTINUE READING »

BlackBerry unlocking company CellfServices.com let me know that they are having a Twitter contest where you can win a free unlock code for your device in exchange for a Tweet.

Until 11:59PM EST tonight you can send a Tweet to @cellfservices in the following format, replacing the proper fields with your device’s info:

@cellfservices FREE BLACKBERRY UNLOCK CODES! IMEI: (15 digit imei no slashes no periods) Model: (ex. 8320) Carrier: (ex. Rogers)

Although this offer is only for BlackBerry users on AT&T, Rogers and T-Mobile networks, CellfServices also has discounted unlock codes for CDMA devices which you can read more about here, along with more info about this giveaway.

We’ve seen videos, pictures and even leaked press information about the BlackBerry Bold 9700 (aka Onyx), but up till now a specific release date was not available.

BGR has gotten a tip from one of their ninjas that T-Mobile will be releasing the Bold 9700 on November 11th, this being only a tentative launch date that could change. If it does change, hope for an earlier than later release.

Besides for T-Mobile, AT&T will possibly launch the Bold 9700 around the same time, with Rogers (also possibly) launching it before them some time in mid to late October.

Late October and early November is better than “before the end of the year” or even early 2010 right? Let’s hope these tentative dates don’t get pushed back…

CarrierUnlock.com let me know that they are currently having a promotion where you could get $4 off BlackBerry unlock codes, bringing most of them down to only $5.99!

CarrierUnlock offers BlackBerry unlocking services for the US and Canada with carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Rogers, Fido and a bunch of others.

Here’s the site’s description:

Welcome to CarrierUnlock, your one stop shop for all your carrier unlocking needs. This is the place you want to be if you want a remote unlocking code prompt and painless. If you have a device from another carrier other than your own that you purchased fro a friend, auction or a store. This is the place to be in order to get it carrier unlocked and running on your GSM network.

Those who want to get $4 off their BlackBerry unlock code can use the discount code BBRocks. This promotion will run through August 31st.

Head on over to CarrierUnlock.com to get your BlackBerry unlocked. They also have helpful unlocking instructions that can be viewed here.

CrackBerry Kevin was able to get his hands on the BlackBerry Storm 9550 and made a great preview video!

Here is what Kevin mentioned in the video about this Storm 9550:

• It has early software, will improve for final release
• The screen doesn’t really click when it is off, but when it is on it does seem to click
• Storm 9550 codename is the Odin
• It is running on the Rogers network with 3G and CDMA
• It is running OS v5.1.0.9
• 256MB of device memory, media card used in video is 16GB
• FINAL STORM 9550 WILL DEFINITELY HAVE WIFI
• Sleeker design with the battery door being much more integrated with the design
• Typing on the Storm 9550 seems to be better than typing on the Storm 9530
• New BlackBerry Messenger Included
• Nice hardware improvement, especially over the first Storm
• Mentions the Odin being released as the 9520/9550 which will hopefully launch sometime in October or November

That’s pretty much it but you can watch the video for yourself just in case I missed something. I have to say, the Odin definitely looks a lot better than the original Storm. I’ve always been a big fan of the physical BlackBerry QWERTY keypad but the Odin looks like it will work nicely without one.

If you already have a Storm 9530, will you drop it to get the Odin? Let me know what you think!

BGR found out that the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 2 is going to be the 9550 (CDMA) and that the 9520 version of the Storm 2 does exist.

The Storm 2 (9550) should be out later this year for Verizon and maybe Vodafone, along with the 9520 possibly releasing on AT&T and Rogers “relatively soon.”

Here are some features of the BlackBerry 9550:

• CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO Rev. A
• Quad-band GSM/EDGE
• Single-band UMTS/HSDPA (2100MHz only)
• Wi-Fi b,g
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• 360×480 resolution capacitive screen
• OS 5.0

That’s right! The BlackBerry Storm 2 will come complete with Wi-Fi capabilities, something the first generation Storm failed to ship with.

With the Tour being released, will you wait for the Storm 2 or just get the Tour?

Image via Engadget