Posted on February 10, 2009, at 11:27 am .
Press Release
LIME, the Caribbean’s only full service telecoms provider, and Research In Motion, a global leader in wireless innovation, today announced that the new BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone, the thinnest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone, is now available from LIME in Jamaica and other countries in the Caribbean region.
LIME anticipates that the new handset will be a hit with its customers just like the tremendously popular BlackBerry Bold smartphone, which has been a hot seller throughout the Caribbean. “There’s always a lot of excitement when we have a new BlackBerry product. The BlackBerry Bold flew off our shelves and I think the new BlackBerry Curve 8900 is going to be very popular as well,” said LIME’s Executive Vice President Commercial, Mariano Doble.
To launch the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone, LIME has unveiled a sweet deal for the month of February that offers any new prepaid or postpaid BlackBerry service subscriber, 30 days of free data service. Those interested in learning more can head to LIME’s BlackBerry page.
Continue reading ‘LIME Launches the BlackBerry Curve 8900 With Free Service Offer’
Posted on February 6, 2009, at 2:11 pm .
When you see Nan Palmero punching out the air like a BlackBerry-enhanced Adonis, it can only mean one thing: OS 4.5 is available for your BlackBerry. Today it’s the BlackBerry Curve 8330 and BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on the Sprint network. We have a quick rundown of new features in OS 4.5, as well as download instructions for your BlackBerry enjoyment.
OS 4.5 Features and Improvements:
OTASL (Over The Air Software Loading) This enables all future versions of handheld software to be downloaded and installed wirelessly
MMS (Audio, pictures, text, or all three in the same message)
Docs to Go (device-side Word, Excel, and Powerpoint document editing capabilities)
Sounds pretty great, right? Download instructions for BIS and BES users are after the jump. We’ve also heard that OS 4.5 will be released for the BlackBerry 8830 in a few weeks, with an 8703(!) release coming at the end of Q1.
Thanks for the tip, Rob!
OS 4.5 download instructions
Posted on February 2, 2009, at 1:16 pm .
Last week I had the pleasure of heading to Woodbridge, Ontario for Telus’ BlackBerry 8350i launch event at AIM Autosport. AIM is a customer on Telus’ Mike iDEN network, and they were kind enough to talk about how they use the push-to-talk Mike network and why they’re so juiced to be getting the BlackBerry 8350i. I was also able to sit in their wicked sweet race car, which was sadly without an engine, and thus unavailable for a test drive (next time!). You can see all the photos after the jump, and there’s video on the way.
As for impressions, it’s hard to get a sense for the value of the 8350i, because we haven’t done extensive testing of the Mike network to see how cool PTT really is. Telus is going to send us a bunch of 8350’s for everyone in the office, however, so we’ll be able to say more shortly (I expect a lot of PTT silliness will ensue). As for my impressions of the 8350i as a device, I think it’s a winner over the standard 8330. While the BlackBerry 8350i is a bit longer and thicker than its Curve counterpart, it has a much sturdier build quality. It honestly takes me back to the days of the BlackBery 8700: you could throw the 8350i through drywall and it would come out the other side unscathed (it’s a long story). Wi-Fi is also a major bonus, and something I miss on my BlackBerry Storm.
For an extended look at the 8350i, check out BBCool contributer Mike’s Sprint BlackBerry Curve 8350i impressions and unboxing photos.
Continue reading ‘Telus BlackBerry 8350i Launch Event Gallery and Quick Impressions’
Posted on January 30, 2009, at 11:51 am .
Press Release
Johannesburg, South Africa and Waterloo, ON – Vodacom South Africa and Research In Motion today announced the availability of the BlackBerry Storm smartphone in the South African market. The BlackBerry Storm will be available from Vodacom on January 28.
“The BlackBerry Storm is a next-generation smartphone designed to meet the communication and multimedia needs of the most demanding customers. With its renowned communications capabilities, rich multimedia features and stylish design, the BlackBerry Storm allows customers to make the most of their time on the go with a fashionable and lifestyle-friendly smartphone,” says Shameel Joosub, Managing Director, Vodacom South Africa.
The BlackBerry Storm will be available to both Vodacom’s Prepaid and Contract customers from participating Vodacom outlets, across South Africa. Customers can also call Vodacom Direct 0860 123 123 or go to www.vodacomdirect.co.za for the best deals and have the smartphone delivered to their door. Payments start as low as R59.00 per month for the BlackBerry Internet Service (Prepaid and Contract) and R98.00 for BlackBerry Enterprise Service (excluding device).
BlackBerry Storm Specifications and Preloaded Applications
Posted on January 30, 2009, at 11:29 am .
Press Release
Milan, Italy and Waterloo, Canada – Vodafone Italia and Research In Motion today announced the availability of the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone in Italy. The new BlackBerry Curve 8900 makes keeping in touch with the office, family, and friends easy thanks to the smartphone’s extensive set of features, including: built-in Wi-Fi, a fast processor (512Mhz), GPS, and an astounding high resolution display.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is available now from Vodafone Italia retail stores and online at www.vodafone.it for the price of 429€. Tariff information is available after the jump.
BlackBerry Curve 8900 Tariff Information and Specifications
Posted on January 28, 2009, at 2:35 pm .
Verizon has done an amazing job of selling the BlackBerry Storm with over 1 million units sold between the November 21st launch and the end of January. This should be an example of how an effective Internet marketing hype campaign can really help boost sales when a device launches. During the days before the Storm, we were privy to countless “leaks” which really helped remind everyone that a cool device was on its way so save your pennies. Perhaps there were other factors at work here too.
[Via]
Posted on January 28, 2009, at 10:08 am .
Big news for Canadians on the Mike network. Telus yesterday launched the BlackBerry Curve 8350i, the newest iDEN BlackBerry with Push to Talk service. Telus is selling the BlackBerry Curve 8350i for $249.99 on a three-year contract or $599.99 without a contract.
“The BlackBerry Curve 8350i combines the convenience of our Mike Direct Connect Push To Talk technology and the trusted BlackBerry solution,” said Jim Senko, vice-president of Mobility Solutions at TELUS. “It’s a fantastic new addition to our extensive selection of business-ready smartphones operating on our Mike or PCS networks.”
You can find the press release after the jump, or head to www.noordinaryphone.com for more info, but we’ll be at a Telus event today, so expect some hands-on goodness.
Continue reading ‘Telus launches the BlackBerry Curve 8350i’
Posted on January 28, 2009, at 9:05 am .
Press Release
Paris, France and Waterloo, Canada – SFR and Research In Motion today announced that SFR will offer the new BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone. Customers will be able to purchase the BlackBerry Curve 8900 from the SFR online store starting January 31st 2009 and in SFR retail outlets in February 2009.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone yet, and sports a sleek, refined design that is extremely comfortable in the hand. In addition, it has a dazzling high-resolution display (480 x 360) and a fast processor for snappy performance. The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone is supported on BlackBerry Internet Service and BlackBerry Enterprise Server and will be available from €99 including taxes in conjunction with SFR’s Illimythics service plans and €109 excluding taxes with SFR Business Team Pro service plans.
Users will also be able to benefit from the Business Mail Illimité service plan and SFR Find & Go navigation services:
Business Mail special offer from SFR – available from January 21st to March 24 2009:
* Business Mail Illimité is available for €1/month for a 2-month period with the ‘Illimythics 3G+’ and ‘Pro’ service plans (then €4,90/month with the ‘Illimythics Pro 3 hours’ and ‘Illimythics Pro 4 hours’ service plans and €9 with ‘Illimythics 3G+’ service plan).
* Business Mail Illimité is also still available for free with the ‘Illimythics Pro 5 hours and more’ service plans
SFR Find & Go special offer:
* SFR Find & Go available at €1/month* for a 2-month period with the ‘Illimythics 3G+’ and ‘Pro’ service plans for 5€/month**
Business Mail and SFR Find & Go special offers are available from 21/01/09 to 24/03/09 for new subscribers of an Illimythics 3G+ or Pro service plan (on a 12 month minimum contract) with compatible mobile phones. More details are available at www.sfr.fr.
Continue reading ‘SFR and RIM Launch the BlackBerry Curve 8900 in France’
Posted on January 22, 2009, at 8:56 am .
Press Release
Orange Romania and Research In Motion today launched the BlackBerry Curve 8900. In addition to exceptional phone, email, messaging, organizer, web browser and multimedia applications, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone features global connectivity support, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, a next generation 512Mhz processor and a stunning hi-resolution display.
”We believe that in 2009 this new BlackBerry smartphone will play a significant role in the smartphone market in Romania. Customers will easily recognize the optimal combination of price, design, functionality and services. Orange smartphone sales have grown by 20% in 2008 comparing to 2007 and we are positive that launching smarpthones such as the BlackBerry Curve 8900, which combines industry leading email and Internet access services with rich multimedia capabilities, will greatly appeal to our customers,” stated Razvan Sturza, Product Manager Orange Romania.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is available in all Orange shops and partners’ stores in Romania. Prices range from 229 EUR to 329 EUR depending on the BlackBerry tariff plan chosen.
BlackBerry Curve 8900 features
Posted on January 21, 2009, at 12:47 pm .
Good friend Ronen over at BerryReview is reporting that Fido will be launching its much rumored BlackBerry service on February 4th. Apparently Fido will offer only BIS and no BES service, with their first BlackBerry being the BlackBerry Pearl 8100. Here’s the rumored price points:
BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Pricing
* $400 MTM / No Contract
* $350 on a 2 Year
* $25 on a 3 year w/ Voice + Data (no minimum monthly total cost required).
Fido BIS Data Plans
* $15 – Unlimited Personal Email + IM (BBM, WM, Yahoo, AIM etc…).
* $25 – 500MB BIS Data
* $30 – 1GB BIS Data
* $60 – 3GB BIS Data
Two more important items of note: BlackBerry data will be available to Fido customers without contract and tethering will be allowed. It will be interesting to see what kind of numbers and demographic Fido will attract with their offering. I’m thinking university students that want a cheap BlackBerry Pearl but no contract.
