BlackBerry Pearl official

Right, like you needed RIM to tell you about the Pearl at this point. Ok, well, here it goes: RIM officially announced the BlackBerry Pearl tonight for T-Mobile USA launch on... wait for it... September 12th, and on Rogers in Canada in October. The price wasn't disclosed, but c'mon, don't you trust us? (Psst, it's $199 with service agreement.) Oh, here's the final spec list, just in case you weren't paying attention previously:

• 240 x 260 65k color display
• 1.3 megapixel camera with flash
• 64MB flash and microSD
• Media playback with MP3, AAC, MPEG-4 (h.263)
• Trackball (i.e. the pearl in Pearl)
• Bluetooth 2.0
• SureType keyboard
• quad-band GSM / EDGE
• 4.2 x 2.0 x 0.57 inches (107 x 50 x 14.5mm)
• 3.1 ounces

Click on for some more shots! Like you need 'em!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Carlos @ Sep 7th 2006 1:55AM]

Now how about someone tell me when I can get this unlocked for use on Cingular to replace my camera-less 8700c? There won't be any T-Mobile branding on the casing of the 8100, will there? Pictures say no, but will the actual T-Mobile version have it?

[Audi R8 @ Sep 7th 2006 2:11AM]

Couple of questions.

1. Is there an SSH application for Blackberry (there is for palm, on my treo 650)

2. How is the SMS interface compared to the Treo? (ie, similar to a chat interface).

3. Would this work with Verizon?

[FM @ Sep 7th 2006 2:20AM]

Audi R8:

1) Yes, i don't have the name offhand, but you can search google for terms SSH Blackberry, or check the site http://www.handango.com for software. Although the 8100 probably will not be on there for a while, just use a 8700g to look for software, should work the same.

2) No, SMS is not like a "CHAT PROGRAM" .. although, i'm not sure how the Treo looks like. You have a "MESSAGES" icon, and your SMS and EMAIL get sent into there, and you can view them in there.

3) No, this is a GSM product. As of now, it is locked to T-Mobile, Eventually it can/will be unlocked, but that would only work with other GSM providers like Rogers, Cingular, Fido, etc.. Verizon is a CDMA technology and would not be compatible for this phone.

[Audi R8 @ Sep 7th 2006 2:21AM]

What does the Quad-Band part in the description represent?

[Dakota @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:57PM]

How do I upload pictures from my BlackBerry Pearl to my computer? I insert the USB cord but I dont know hot to do it!

[Carlos @ Sep 7th 2006 2:29AM]

No it will not work for Verizon. This is a quad-band GSM phone, not a CDMA device.

[FM @ Sep 7th 2006 2:29AM]

Quad Band means it has 4 GSM Frequencies, so it can be used all over the world (if unlocked)

850mhz
900mhz
1800mhz
1900mhz

[Brett @ Sep 7th 2006 4:17AM]

Idokorro have a range of Remote admin utils that can interact with Active Directory, Live SSH Sessions, FTP and Remote Desktop via VNC.

Mobile SSH:
http://www.idokorro.com/products/ssh-features.shtml

There are many other alternatives that support SSH. Just check out handago like AudiR8 said.

Think I will have to upgrade my 8707v when this comes out.

[Lukasz @ Sep 7th 2006 4:27AM]

Hey. Anyone knows where can I get that wallpaper shown on photo? It's cool .... and I want it on my cell.

[coffeepot64 @ Sep 9th 2007 5:49PM]

It is specific to T-mobile. I have it as my wallpaper. lol

[David @ Sep 7th 2006 9:06AM]

Will the Pearl have rSap>

[eric Davis @ Sep 7th 2006 10:45AM]

A little un-stoked about the lack of jog wwheel. Hmmmm

[ben @ Sep 7th 2006 11:39AM]

whoa, I like that background picture on the pearl.. Don't know why but it makes me feel happy.. I'm odd I know

[Rubbermaid @ Sep 7th 2006 11:50AM]

David Pogue has a review in today's NYT. He is glowing about it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/07/technology/07pogue.html?_r=1&ref=technology&oref=slogin

[koss @ Sep 9th 2006 10:04AM]

Will this blackberry be able to connect to my notebook via bluetooth and allow my notebook to access the internet?

[bbking @ Sep 9th 2006 12:28PM]

It does have a jog wheel though not the traditional kind. Its more like press and hold.

[jason @ Sep 11th 2006 2:06AM]

very nice looking device
would definitely put in
in the top decile
ive seen

[bryan Winters @ Sep 12th 2006 6:28PM]

great phone.........but i am in my car allot for work........if this phone has bluetooth, can it work with the sony ericcson HCB-300 handsfree unit. does it also work with MAC OS X?
thanks

[Mark Sullivan @ Nov 17th 2006 7:21AM]

Hi Bryan

I am looking for the same answer as you did anyone reply to your question?

[James Rowley @ Sep 12th 2006 7:21PM]

Well I purchased and returned one today. After assuring me it would work with all my internet email accounts 4 to be exact. T-mobile does not support them. No MAPI (meaning hotmail) only pop3 and Corporate so all you can do is use the web interface on the EDGE network which is very slow. Before everyone gets all over me I know there are better emails to have but I have had my hotmail account for 15 years!

[richd @ Sep 20th 2006 2:48PM]

you need hotmail plus if no one replied - i think subscription is 19.95/yr

[Rob @ Sep 13th 2006 11:38PM]

Does any know about the web browser? Is it the same as the sidekicks? Can I view pages as I would on my home computer?

[srshea @ Sep 18th 2006 10:22PM]

Got mine today, set up was a breeze, but I am having a very hard time getting the voice recognition to recognize simple names, like mine and my wife's. Has any one else experienced this problem.

[Derrick McLeod @ Sep 27th 2006 6:54AM]

I have had this same problem. Names like "Erin" have returnes "Pizza", "Dad", and even "Chinese". Don't get me wrong, I love the phone, the voice recognition could use some major help though.

Oh, and when the voice says the name back to you, it is somewhat hard to understand (fast and jumbled).

[@ Sep 19th 2006 3:46PM]

this is off topic, but to the guy who had hotmail for 15 years...how is that possible? were you one of the original developers for that system? as far as i know, hotmail came out in 1996. i think the only email people were using back in the 1991 was something either with their local isp, prodigy or compuserve.

[MattyD @ Sep 25th 2006 12:50AM]

Considering the Hotmail came out on July 4th 1996 I would say 15 years is a wee bit off. My Sk3 won't even support http based email services like Hotmail and be aware that services to read your Hotmail account as a pop3 account like pop3hot.com are third parties and not free so I ask u do u trust someone else u never met with your password and user name? Try Gmail, pop3 access, free and problem solved.

[flashback06 @ Sep 27th 2006 3:10PM]

This has to be the best blackberry to ever come out. I have had a million phones in the past year and this one is the best of all.

I can check my email, listen to music, browse the net, watch t'v, and catch all the espn highlights. With this phone I am able to fing out where to go if I am lost. Instead of using mapquest and getting confused I can just program the locataion in my phone and it will tell me where to go.

If you are really looking for a device that will do everything for you, you should consider purchasing the all-new Blackberry Pearl.

[flashback06 @ Sep 27th 2006 3:24PM]

This has to be the best blackberry to ever come out. I have had a million phones in the past year and this one is the best of all.

I can check my email, listen to music, browse the net, watch t'v, and catch all the espn highlights. With this phone I am able to fing out where to go if I am lost. Instead of using mapquest and getting confused I can just program the locataion in my phone and it will tell me where to go.

If you are really looking for a device that will do everything for you, you should consider purchasing the all-new Blackberry Pearl.

[AO @ Oct 7th 2006 9:21PM]

How do you watch espn and other Tv that you mentioned? i'm trying to get the phone but a little skeptical about its features and other minor problems regarding the voice recognition feature

[Willow123 @ Sep 29th 2006 10:42AM]

Any clue when and if they will release the CDMA version for Verizon? Verizon is usually very slow, it took 18 months for them to get the Razr. I hope this is faster, does anyone have a clue?

[migraine28 @ Oct 12th 2006 5:11PM]

I just purchased this phone one week ago and must say that I absolutely adore this thing. It's my first BlackBerry, but I am sold. I was initially worried about buying it because of some of the comments I read about SureType and also issues with trackball sensitivity, but there have been no problems so far. SureType only took a couple of days to really get used to and the trackball sensitivity can be adjusted. The voice dialing has also worked extremely well. I only wish that the internet was a bit faster. EDGE is okay, but there is room for improvement.

This is one phone that really can do it all. Now I just have to figure out how to watch video.....

[Philthy @ Oct 13th 2006 7:42PM]

A buddy of mine just picked up a pearl.
Video looks good.
For being as thin as it is the speakerphone actually sounds pretty good.
Love the pearl trackball feature vs. the track wheel, I'm a lefty so it feels a little better then the right handed track wheel.

Does anyone know anything about battery life on this thing, I know it will vary depending on much it's new features are utilized but I am wondering about basic phone use, talk/standby time.

Thanks

[Migraine28 @ Oct 15th 2006 10:53PM]

It's rated to have approx. 3 1/2 hours of talk time. From my experience, that seems about right....

[shycolombiano @ Feb 20th 2007 11:00AM]

I don't have a media player on my blckberry, can anybody help me and let me know what i can do to get it.
Thanks

[James @ Aug 21st 2007 6:42PM]

Hey
i work in the tv industy and we are contantly emailing videos to boss's for aproval. does anyone know of a way to ether download videos from a web site or ftp, or be able to email them...

all my attempts have failed so far

[Wes Johnson @ Sep 9th 2007 12:26PM]

My phone has no outside screen. The ringer has now suddenly stopped working. The red charging light randomly comes on and i have to take out the battery repeatedly until that goes away so i can make a call. My mic barely works, I have to hold my phone at an awkward angle so people can hear me. All this from a Razr V3xx. It's like a brand new phone! Please Engadget! Pimp my phone!

[piyopiyo @ Sep 9th 2007 12:40PM]

kurekurekun

[shot @ Sep 9th 2007 12:41PM]

Please give me this one!
I've wanted it since it's released.

[Josh @ Sep 9th 2007 12:57PM]

hoop me up,=.

[Shane @ Sep 9th 2007 1:17PM]

Yeah I'd like one of those

[Dragnipurake @ Sep 9th 2007 1:26PM]

Would love the phone, but anything will do.

[Mr. B @ Sep 9th 2007 1:35PM]

Trackball FTW!

[Jay84Virgo @ Sep 9th 2007 1:39PM]

Ill take it.

[chicker @ Sep 9th 2007 1:42PM]

love gadgets

[nshan @ Sep 9th 2007 2:30PM]

great phone and great website to get info on allmost anything involving mobile phones

[David Humphries @ Sep 9th 2007 3:34PM]

I would love the blackberry Pearl. I read Engadget every day

[coffeepot64 @ Sep 9th 2007 5:50PM]

Yes. If you have bluetooth software for your computer.

[Mario M @ Sep 10th 2007 1:04AM]

I hope i win!

[panigrahi303 @ Sep 17th 2007 11:56AM]

I love Engadget.