Verizon's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 now available for pre-order

We've had plenty of face time with this little guy already, but Verizon Wireless has finally fessed up to a precise release date and price point for its EV-DO BlackBerry Pearl 8130. The phone is available for pre-order at $200 with a 2 year contract and an automatic $100 online discount, and will ship out on November 8th. Let's see if that's good enough to beat Sprint's version to market.

[bsimmons @ Nov 1st 2007 10:45AM]

Man, Verizon really knows how to Ugly up a phone.

[Anton @ Nov 1st 2007 1:22PM]

It is....silver...

[jd @ Nov 1st 2007 11:06AM]

Wasn't this out more than a year ago? Oh yeah, this is Verizon, selling you last years hardware with a less usable interface and the worst customer service imaginable.

AT&T customer service sucks for sure, but their network coverage has finally caught up to the point that it's not much of an issue, while they continue to have the better phones much much sooner, not to mention the ability to easily swap out SIMs for hassle free upgrades without permission or fees from the mothership.

[aalqadaffi @ Nov 1st 2007 11:36AM]

Actually this wasn't out more than a year ago. This is the 8130. If you look at the device it's different than current pearls. Also it uses the same BlackBerry interface that all other BlackBerry's use.

Verizon let's you do an early upgrade on rate plans $59.99 or higher after a year. And I'm pretty sure most other providers also charge an upgrade fee, I know T-Mobile does, as does AT&T. Soo yeah.

[Maestro @ Nov 1st 2007 12:39PM]

There was an EVDO Pearl out a year ago?

FWIW Consumer Reports has consitantly rated VZW customer service #1 or #2.

[prokanda @ Nov 19th 2007 12:54AM]

actually.. the worst customer service available award goes to helio... I've NEVER had an issues with Verizon. 3 lines, upgrades on my line every month, not a single issue. Always fast service and always knowledgeable.

Also, ATT has the worst signal (followed by T-mo) in my area. GSM phones simply NEVER get signal in my house. Sprint, Verizon, and Alltel get it fine. So not everyone has your signal experience.

Also, the SIM card swapping... as long as you're near a computer that has internet access, you can swap a Verizon phone over as easily as punching in the ESN and then dialing *228 then pressing 1 on the phone. No fees, 24 hours a day.

Get some details and take into account that not all the big areas in the US get the same signal as you.

[prokanda @ Nov 19th 2007 12:55AM]

**correction: I upgrade about ever 6 months... that was my error.

[Chau @ Nov 1st 2007 11:08AM]

I thought the Venus was suppose to be Next??

[Steve Jobs @ Nov 1st 2007 11:34AM]

I was hoping for the venus to be next too, since I'm up for new every two in december. I'm interested to see how much it'll set me back with my 100 dollar credit.

[bachviet @ Nov 1st 2007 11:22AM]

The first BB Pearl (8100) was released last year (to T-Mobile first) but it was without 3G/EV-DO. This is the first BB Pearl with such thing.

[Mark @ Nov 1st 2007 11:31AM]

NICE... now the ONLY blackberry with the smokin fast EVDO internet that can also be tethered to your laptop for broadband speeds is here. OH YEAH! It DOES smoke anything out there. (Hands down stole me away from ATT, like a shot.)

[jkroft @ Nov 1st 2007 11:39AM]

Did anyb ody notice if you click on the "3G Turbo Boost" link in the flash animation that the browser depicted on the Blackberry is Pocket IE?!

[Catalyst @ Nov 1st 2007 1:38PM]

My BB 8830 already does all this (via Sprint or Verizon) so certainly not the "ONLY ONE". Still great that it's not exclusive to AT&T and Tmobile as many like the smaller form factor (even though I can't give up my full QWERTY).

[[e-mail] @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:22PM]

Regardless of how ugly the phone may be, it is impossible to PRE-order anything!!
You may order something, or you may place your name on a list before an item is open for ordering, but it is poor grammar to put PRE in front of verbs in this manner.
And don't tell me you had pre-approval, as that also is impossible.

[Rich @ Nov 1st 2007 11:36AM]

LOL, i have the pearl.. its *beep*, i got more dust behind the screen then in my attic, an it does the patented BB S.O.S. error right when you need it. Once the iphone is out in canada or iphone gen 2 comes out im gonna drop kick this pearl..

[invictus1er @ Nov 1st 2007 11:44AM]

here is a question that I hope someone here can help with. With the recent knowledge that sprint is unlocking non-sprint phones and sprint phone alike, which would be the smartest buy (not buying an 8130 isnt an answer) in regards to the 8130? The verizon 8130 on verizon network or on sprints? Or vice vesa with the sprint 8130 on the verizon network or sprint network?

pro/cons of each would be great!

Thanks

[jase @ Nov 1st 2007 1:53PM]

I have Verizon and I must say they suck. I left for Singapore and they refused to let me switch my razer that was 1.5 years old for their 8800 when it came out (it uses a sim as well) honest they did me a favor because their phone is locked to vodaphone and costs like 2 dollars a minute. The odd part is I explained to the lady, I will be gone 6 month my contract will be up the month I get back why don't you let me get the phone so I can sign a new 2 year contract. No dice. But like I said I'm not mad they did me a favor, I bought an unlocked 8800 and I do fine here with M1. Even on prepay I pay .08 a min and .05 sms and free incoming(note that 1.5 sing dollar is like 1 USD so that's dirt cheap)The service here is better than an us company. 3g on the whole island even in tunnel(this coming from a guy who openly hates Singapore).

The only company in the US that comes close is T-Mobile who actually is generally rated the best each year not Verizon. I'm jumping ship on Verizon soon as I get back and buying one of these unlocked nice phones hopefully htc upgraded touch with 3g if it comes out before I go back. Note to Verizon the rest of the world(and your parent company) uses gsm. Pull it together. The pearl was so last year why do you continue to offer old crap?? its time for the US to honestly shape up and stop thinking its the best at everything and clean up the telecom industry. It a crappy country like Singapore can have a legit phone company why can't the US.

[jmattick @ Nov 1st 2007 3:09PM]

What is good for the new Pearl people (and existing Blackberry customers on Verizon) is the new plan...

Email & Web for Blackberry
$29.99 a month gets you unlimited data.

Sure beats the shit out of the $44.99 plan everyone WITHOUT a Blackberry has to pay...

[skelzer @ Nov 1st 2007 4:43PM]

FYI - if you are up for "New Every Two", here's how to get the 8130 for $99.

NOTE:
This ONLY works if you are out of contract and eligible for New Every Two... if not, neither of the two discounts will appear online.

* BB Pearl Retail price = $299
* Before checkout, $100 discount will be applied automatically to price, new price = $199
* When selecting Blackberry data package, select "Blackberry Solution" (BES) package at $44.99/mo.
* At checkout you should now see an "Advance Device Credit" of $100, new price = $99

When you receive the phone, immediately call Verizon and have them switch your data plan to "Email and Web for Blackberry at $29.99/mo.

Final price including tax and free shipping comes to $104.99!

Enjoy.
-s

[downsouth821 @ Nov 1st 2007 6:27PM]

I so agree with you on that one. Thats one thing people dont state when your resigning your contract.Verizon is the only carrier that givs you a extra hundred dollars off the sign on price. So i can get the pearl for 50 dollars after i get my 50 dollar mail in rebate.

[PChang @ Nov 1st 2007 4:15PM]

on the Verizon homepage it says the phone is $149.99 after online discount, but everywhere else it says $199.99.

The Sprint version was already launched down here (South Florida) i think.

[skelzer @ Nov 1st 2007 4:52PM]

FYI - if you are up for “New Every Two”, here’s how to get the 8130 for $99.

NOTE:
This ONLY works if you are out of contract and eligible for New Every Two… if not, neither of the two discounts will appear online.

* BB Pearl Retail price = $299
* Before checkout, $100 discount will be applied automatically to price, new price = $199
* When selecting Blackberry data package, select “Blackberry Solution” (BES) package at $44.99/mo.
* At checkout you should now see an “Advance Device Credit” of $100, new price = $99

When you receive the phone, immediately call Verizon and have them switch your data plan to “Email and Web for Blackberry" at $29.99/mo.

Final price including tax and free shipping comes to $104.99!

Enjoy.
-s

[skelzer @ Nov 1st 2007 4:53PM]

FYI - if you are up for “New Every Two”, here’s how to get the 8130 for $99.

NOTE:
This ONLY works if you are out of contract and eligible for New Every Two… if not, neither of the two discounts will appear online.

* BB Pearl Retail price = $299
* Before checkout, $100 discount will be applied automatically to price, new price = $199
* When selecting Blackberry data package, select “Blackberry Solution” (BES) package at $44.99/mo.
* At checkout you should now see an “Advance Device Credit” of $100, new price = $99

When you receive the phone, immediately call Verizon and have them switch your data plan to “Email and Web for Blackberry" at $29.99/mo.

Final price including tax and free shipping comes to $104.99!

Enjoy.
-s

[skelzer @ Nov 1st 2007 4:54PM]

** pages timed out - sorry for multi-post.
-s

[Irene Rojas @ Nov 1st 2007 6:25PM]

Has anyone else noticed that it doesn't support any OBEX profiles at all?

"The BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 supports the following Bluetooth profiles: Headset, Hands–free, Serial Port. It does not support object exchange (OBEX) profiles."

[b1111b @ Nov 1st 2007 6:42PM]

So I actually got mine today. If you ask at the Verizon store and talk to the manager, you can make it happen. It is a pain, but I am playing with it right now and it is sweet! It took some prying, but they are allowed to do it from Blackberry according to the Manager here in L.A.

[chefoncall @ Nov 1st 2007 9:23PM]

I ordered mine online this morning and it has shipped already. I should have it on Monday.

[Lackey @ Dec 31st 2007 9:26AM]

I wish folks would stop comparing the U.S. to Singapore and Japan. The U.S. is HUGE, and most Americans just want reliable cell coverage at low cost.

Small modern countries will always be "ahead" in cellular infrastructure because their populations insist on it and it costs less to update small areas.