First ever BlackBerry clamshell phone unmasked, dubbed the 'Kickstart'

Ready to have your brain blown out through the top of your head? Look above -- you're staring at the heretofore unseen BlackBerry clamshell, the Kickstart. The Boy Genius snagged a handful of photos of the device (which apparently he's known about for "a while"), and has decided to share his good fortune with the rest of the world. The phone sports a Pearl-esque keyboard, typical trackball navigation, and apparently utilizes both an internal and external LCD screen. No word on specs, carriers, or a release date, but BGR is saying this puppy is due before the end of the year. You'll know more when we know more!

[MastrCake @ Apr 30th 2008 10:50PM]

A clam-shell Blackberry? Seriously???

SIGN ME UP!!!

[James @ Apr 30th 2008 11:02PM]

Dubbed the ugly.

[happy_penguin @ Apr 30th 2008 11:27PM]

I think it looks fine. It's not for me, but it's fine.

[Mike Cerm @ Apr 30th 2008 11:39PM]

I don't understand the appeal of clamshell phones. In their folded position, they're useless, so you're constantly folding and unfolding, and then the hinge breaks.

Also, is it just me, or does that thing look huge? It looks like it's probably as big as the Pearl, except you don't have to unfold the Pearl to use it.

[Ty @ May 1st 2008 12:07AM]

Put the mask back on.

[thethirdmoose @ May 1st 2008 12:21AM]

Clamshell phone screens don't get scratched in your pocket

[Za @ May 1st 2008 12:26AM]

To Mike Cerm:
I guarantee that LCD screen breakage occurs FAR more often than hinge breakage - I've never had any issues with either but none of my friends have ever had a hinge break on their clamshells - but many have had screens break. However, it's usually the OUTER screen, not the INNER screen - which is naturally protected due to the design.

So I counter your comment by saying "Why would anyone by a candy bar style phone, leaving the most delicate and expensive part of the phone completely exposed? Furthermore, what about accidental keypresses forcing you to enter in codes to unlock phones and whatnot? It's easier for me to flip my clamshell open than to enter in an unlock code.

[happy_penguin @ May 1st 2008 12:30AM]

Clamshells fit very nicely in the pocket. My first gen razr, other than being a POS was a very nice fit in the pocket. Now I have an iPhone and it's pretty good in the pocket but not as compact as a razr. The tradeoff gives me the big screen and eliminates carrying my nano. No phone is perfect for everyone but this form factor is quite nice and I do like it. If I wasn't hooked on the iPhone I would definitely consider this phone.

[Sean @ May 1st 2008 12:40AM]

clamshell phone means fashion here in Japan, and they are all very nice, but none of them look like this one.

[James Cameron @ May 1st 2008 3:00AM]

Blackberry need to fire their designers. A calculator mobile phone and now this?? I guessed Blackberry are aiming at old folks market.

[huh @ Apr 30th 2008 10:52PM]

ew.

different strokes for different folks.

[po @ May 1st 2008 12:17AM]

This might be RIM's answer to flip phones, but honestly I like Blackberry for its simplicity design and no moving parts (besides the pearl ball), having this clam shell design kind of defeating the simplicity of it.

[Ryan Trevisol @ May 1st 2008 6:45AM]

And by different folks you mean people with really huge hands and pockets who think it's still 2002.

[Khris @ May 1st 2008 10:07AM]

I thought as time went on, innovation and creativity were supposed to push the envelope.......not re-open one from 2000.

What an abomination!

[Sushi @ Apr 30th 2008 10:52PM]

a clamshell Blackberry?! Never thought I'd see the day

[darkstar @ Apr 30th 2008 11:20PM]

this must be for Sprint!
omg, i think is prolly the one with evdo plus direct connect!!!! whoa!!!!!

[EMaster @ Apr 30th 2008 10:52PM]

oh wow it's a clamshell version of the X100 series. I hope it doesn't mess up like the pearl

[Dave @ Apr 30th 2008 11:43PM]

What messes up with the Pearl? Mine works great.

[jay @ Apr 30th 2008 10:53PM]

if the trackball lights up in colors.... id consider it

[gjp303 @ Apr 30th 2008 10:57PM]

that's tacky.

[Reader @ Apr 30th 2008 11:50PM]

I rather have a nice sized spoiler on it.

[NobleArc, The Lazy Canadian @ Apr 30th 2008 10:57PM]

I really, really don't like it. It seems wrong on a very core level.

[spacegravity4me @ May 1st 2008 6:46AM]

that's what she said... wait

[Joshua @ Apr 30th 2008 10:58PM]

If only palm made a Treo like this, maybe they wouldn't be in so much trouble. I might just consider getting a blackberry, if an iphone never comes to Sprint.

[Michael @ Apr 30th 2008 11:07PM]

You do realize the iPhone is never coming to a CDMA network, right?

[Joshua @ Apr 30th 2008 11:15PM]

I know that the current iphone will never come to CDMA. I wasn't told anything about the 3g iphone or future generations....I can always dream

[AndrewT @ Apr 30th 2008 11:35PM]

Well from what I heard Apple went to Verizon first before Cingular, but they got rejected.

[aaron @ Apr 30th 2008 10:58PM]

Hmm...tempting.


AHHHHH...Who am I kidding. I will still get the iPhone 2.0

[Sachiejones @ Apr 30th 2008 10:58PM]

fugly

[giantenemycrab @ Apr 30th 2008 11:03PM]

Great idea, but the bottom part looks terrible.

[DarkLightConnection Unbanned @ Apr 30th 2008 11:31PM]

The same here... I've always liked clamshell over all other designs (including touchscreen)

This is overall nice, but the keyboard is really screwed up.. It looks like a chinese knock-off thing

[James Yopp @ May 1st 2008 12:47AM]

Agreed. However, if they'd been a LITTLE more conscious of themselves, and put their BRANDING below the keypad instead of atop the screen, they could have balanced the top and bottom better visually. Little things.

But, Still. Unless Apple or Nokia releases a device of this form factor, this is a STRONG want. My E61 is nice, but it's the size of an old-school Palm PDA.

[Nate @ Apr 30th 2008 11:04PM]

I think I may go for something like this, although, it looks a bit large for a clamshell.

[Rick @ Apr 30th 2008 11:05PM]

Clamberry

[Big Ed @ Apr 30th 2008 11:47PM]

They have a cream for that now.

[Saad @ Apr 30th 2008 11:05PM]

Clamshells are going the way of the dinosaur.

[gad get @ May 1st 2008 1:38AM]

According to your wishes, be it so.

[ChrisB @ Apr 30th 2008 11:05PM]

It looks like this person snuck the Kickstart into the bathroom!

[waiownsyou @ Apr 30th 2008 11:05PM]

This thing looks like a RAZR.

But then again, everything on the damn market looks like a RAZR.

Carry on, carry on..


.

[Peter @ Apr 30th 2008 11:06PM]

no way......looks huge! plus buttons look annoy to text on

[Fernando @ May 1st 2008 9:13AM]

I was just thinking the same thing if you look at how the person is holding it, either he as a really freakishly small hands or that thing is like the size of an iPhone with a full size flip to it.

[Michael @ Apr 30th 2008 11:07PM]

That thing is hideous. Do not want!

[tropmug @ Apr 30th 2008 11:14PM]

haha gizmodo got pwned by this.

that design makes me want one. despite never needing one.

[Jesse S @ May 1st 2008 3:05AM]

So it's like an iPhone for businessmen?

[Jkswiss @ Apr 30th 2008 11:20PM]

I think this one may be a flop. I think a lengthwise clamshell would have been more attractive with a true qwerty keyboard, better yet, a Xperia/Helio style slider w. qwerty. This thing is just ugly. There is no way I'd go with this over a Curve.

[darkstar @ Apr 30th 2008 11:23PM]

how thin is it???

[wiz @ Apr 30th 2008 11:23PM]

This is not the first clamshell with blackberry(although the first clamshell from rim)

Samsung SGH-T719
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=908

[Russell de Pina @ May 1st 2008 1:24PM]

And there's a reason why it was discontinued --- like the BB clamshell, it's mofugly.

[Rory Gamble @ Apr 30th 2008 11:24PM]

Is it just me or does that photo look like a GTA style 3D rendering?

[Frank @ May 1st 2008 12:01AM]

I was going to say that also. I mean something is off about the pics. Looks like renderings to me.