The BlackBerry Pearl in stores September 12th

Well, if the word of the Boy Genius wasn't golden enough, we now have video to back up the man's claim that internal communications indicate that the svelte new BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is set for launch on Tuesday, September 12th. Expect this device to start popping up in stores this upcoming week of August 28th (even though you won't be able to buy them), with some stores reportely getting the device as early as today. T-Mobile is apparently enforcing strict communication limitations on employees to prevent them from discussing anything regarding the 8100; looks like our anonymous tipster who sent us in the video below wasn't looking too closely at what kind of behavior that very memo was mandating!

Watch [MPEG-4]

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 28th 2006 2:49AM]

My store got this phone nearly 4 days ago...I got to play with it before anyone! Haha!

And it was fucking glorious...huge congrats to BB on this one.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 28th 2006 3:40AM]

mobilecontrol: in that case, do you know if it can be unlocked to work with other networks? i'm in australia and can't wait to get one of these. i'm going to buy an unlocked one from american ebay and hook it up with my service provider here.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 28th 2006 9:14AM]

yeah i just started using t9 after all these years last night and know im ready and willing to use suretype as soon as i can for that precious cameraberry. I have cingular.....

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 28th 2006 11:42AM]

Suretype is awful, much prefer t9. I suppose if you have the phone and use it every day you get used to having 2-keys per button, but when you go back to a regular phone it screws with your brain...anyways, long story made short, I wouldn't give up my QWERTY keyboard for anything.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 28th 2006 4:32PM]

i got to play with one today at a retail store in pasadena, ca. it's so sleek. i can't wait to buy one. i have been using a 7100t for 2 years, so i am used to the suretype. it's pretty easy to use, once you get accustomed to it. this is going to be hottest phone this year!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 29th 2006 11:00AM]

Any idea on price yet?

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 30th 2006 9:44PM]

You gotta be retarded if you can't type in suretype and then go to a T9 phone. It's not that hard, it doesn't "screw with your brain", maybe if your brain can't handle the challenge, you should go back to using pagers and payphones.