BlackBerry 7290, first Blackberry with Bluetooth

Don't ask us why it took them so long to get around to it in the first place (especially considering their target market of go go go business people), but Research In Motion just rolled out the first BlackBerry with Bluetooth. So the good news is that you'll be able to use the BlackBerry 7290 with a wireless Bluetooth headset, the bad news (at least for anyone here in the States) is that the only carrier who'll have it for now is O2, which'll offer it in Britain, Ireland, and Germany starting in November. They've also made a few other small improvements, like a brighter backlight and upping the amount of memory to 32MB.

UPDATE: Bad news become good news. Cingular will have this here in the US starting next month. [Thanks, Chris]

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Agreed, about damm time.
Bluetooth is THE only connection medium for a device as (otherwise) practical as the Blueberry.

Now if only the local US guys would cop on.
T-Mobile ... please.

[Chris Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Hey Pete, your article is a bit inaccurate. This very same phone is available via Cingular in early October, my friend.

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2004/Sep/1077611.htm

[drg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

there first bt enabled phone to come out will be the 7100v for vodaphone (uk) and 7100t (for us) these are avilable in 4 days time :)
http://www.techworld.com/mobility/news/index.cfm?NewsID=2256

[Neil T. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

If it's a Blackberry with Bluetooth, doesn't that make it a Blueberry?

[Marc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I have been trying to pry this our of my sales rep, anybody have any word on the release date?

[dp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

My T-Mobile rep told me that they've got them and they are flying out the door faster than they can handle.

[Matthew Kosoy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

does anyone know if i can by the 7290 and then use it with att and t wireless. some cingular stores sell unlocked phones and blackberrys

[bk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

it was on the cingular website for a day, now it is gone? anyone have a clue what happened to the 7290

[Joseph Kinnebrew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

After many hours with Cingular/apple and RIM I finally find out this won't sync with a MacIntosh!

But the salesmen (plural) said it would!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[-=Zipakna=- @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

dude, theres software at handango.com that will sync it to a mac

[BlackBerry @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

The 7290 has been released for T-Mobile users. Much improved over the 7280 with more memory and better display and backlight.

[Lizzier @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Isn't the 7290 an earlier version of a Blackberry? I have a 7750, which has a significantly larger screen even though it has less memory than the 7290. What gives? I've heard that RIM is about to come out with new instrument now that its agreement with T-Mobile (they had a 1 year agreement with RIM to come out with the first and only bluetooth enabled Blackberry, which is why no Verizon bluetooth blackberry's were available for so long).

[Frances Keefe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I have a 7230 through T-Mobile that I believe is a "lemon". T-Mobile has finally agreed to replace it, but I would much rather upgrade to the 7290 (wasn't available when I got the 7230 a year ago). The "upgrade" charge, I'm told, is $349.99 -- haha, it's just the charge for the new BB, so I'll have 2 devices. Does anyone know where I might find the 7290 for less, without having to switch providers? I moved from AT&T to T-mobile because the AT&T coverage was awful/non-existent where I live. Thanks!

[connie bowers @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

BB 7290 is Free with $50 purchase of 'Dockers' through Robinson's May.

[Ramon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Any word of the 7290 being available for T-Mobile USA customers?

[jamie moode @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

does anyone know if i can ket a keyboard and attach it to the 7290 by wire or wireless

thanks