Blackberry Bold release date delayed?

According to reports crossing the wires this morning, Research In Motion is expected to delay the release of its next-gen BlackBerry Bold. The Boy Genius is claiming that software issues, battery life problems, and overheating are causing the hold-up, which will move the street date back to mid-August as opposed to the presumed July release on AT&T. There's been no confirmation from RIM on the news, but that's not stopping analysts from predicting the move will lower the company's second quarter earnings outlook. We're pretty sure it'll make businessmen with twitchy thumbs none-too-happy as well.

[Thanks, Sam]

[Das Boot @ Jun 25th 2008 11:16AM]

If all the kinks that it has are fixed when it finally comes out, i think it will be a formitable phone to have. I think battery life is one of those top 3 things a person wants improved and of course, no one wants a hot phone in their pocket, i mean, what if it explodes. Oh yes, there have been cases of exploding cell phones. . .

[rob paek @ Jun 25th 2008 11:24AM]

haha yes, an exploding phone would not be good! i'm pretty dead set on sticking with RIM rather than switching to the 3G iPhone. The Bold just seems to do more! Video recording, MMS messaging (like every other phone), bluetooth stereo (not sure if the iPhone will/can do that) - pretty much stuff the iPhone is currently incapable of.

[Frank Furter @ Jun 25th 2008 1:55PM]

@rob - it's kinda sad when you choose your phone based on hatred of another.

[haX0r @ Jun 25th 2008 3:32PM]

As long as the issue's are resolved, I think it is a good phone to wait for. Xperia's key are litterally a sticking point and who knows yet on the HTC Pro. Time will only tell. But I know one thing for sure = no iPhone.

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 25th 2008 3:58PM]

I'd rather they sorted the problems out than released a duff product.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 25th 2008 11:20AM]

I have no doubt that this will be another successful Blackberry but I really wish companies would stop copying the iPhone's chrome trim and these quasi touch screen designs.

I really liked the Blackberry 9000's jog dial rather than these stupid pearl controllers. Its just too bad you end up getting carpul tunnel from them.

[derX @ Jun 25th 2008 11:25AM]

I don't get how it's "copying the iPhone's...quasi touch screen designs." You mean because it has a large screen, the screen looks like that of an iPhone? Or because of the icons on the bottom of the screen it looks like that of the iPhone? Regardless, I'm gonna have to point out that the iPhone wasn't the first to introduce either of those. Again, *if* you think its having a large screen makes it an iPhone copy, I don't even know where to begin understanding that.

[farinasa @ Jun 25th 2008 11:32AM]

Now that's editing if i ever saw it. There wasnt an emphasis on the touch screen comment. I disagree with it as well, but you dug way too deep man. You didn't bother to mention anything about the chrome trim or respond to the main points of his post. People get all pissy whenever they see the word iphone in an article that is about a different phone.

[farinasa @ Jun 25th 2008 11:34AM]

Now that's editing if i ever saw it. There wasnt an emphasis on the
touch screen comment. I disagree with it as well, but you dug way
too deep man. You didn't bother to mention anything about the chrome
trim or respond to the main points of his post. People get all pissy
whenever they see the word iphone in an article that is about a
different phone.

[PatD. @ Jun 25th 2008 11:35AM]

To say that it's copying the iPhone is ridiculous. Besides it bears more of a resemblance to a black nokia 6233 - a phone which predates the iPhone by at least a year. But then again that's just a coincidence.

[derX @ Jun 25th 2008 11:44AM]

Farinasa, I commented on the part of his post that intrigued me the most. Why not comment on the part I find most interesting and confuzzling? He might not have put "an emphasis" on his post, but he did decide to include it which makes it his opinion, thus fair game to reply to. And how is that editing if you've ever saw it? Literally, I omitted 3 words.

And for what it's worth, PatD.'s comment did a nice job covering that base.

[farinasa @ Jun 25th 2008 12:18PM]

I just dont understand how you got large screen and icons at the bottom from his post. and then restating that he thinks its "large screen" resembles an iphone. none of that was said in his post. i apologize for using the wrong term of editing and ill replace it with extremely slanted misinterpretation. i dont think the bold resembles the iphone at all, not even the screen, but you put opinions in his mouth.

[derX @ Jun 25th 2008 12:49PM]

You do realize that those were phrased as questions which clearly means that I am asking him is this what he meant. I presented alternative I deemed were possible.

[rob paek @ Jun 25th 2008 1:58PM]

I believe the Curve came out in March and the iPhone at the end of June. How could RIM be copying Apple?

[Dan @ Jun 25th 2008 4:47PM]

"I really liked the Blackberry 9000's jog dial rather than these stupid pearl controllers. Its just too bad you end up getting carpul tunnel from them."

The jog dial sucks. Long live the trackball. I love how you think the trackball causes carpal (sic) tunnel but the old jog dial (which you can only use right-handed) didn't?

[rob paek @ Jun 25th 2008 11:22AM]

Dang it! I want this phone sooooo bad!!! Didn't the BGR review of this phone not really complain about any of those issues? Or maybe it did and I just don't remember...

[derX @ Jun 25th 2008 11:26AM]

*pats* There, there, calm down. LOL If they reviewed it, you can always go back to the site and check it out.

[Andrew T. @ Jun 25th 2008 11:42AM]

I was thinking the same, wasn't there a rumor of this a few months back and was ultimately denied? If this is true, I guess the problems started to happen. There are numerous sightings of the Bold being used and maybe those "testers" had those problems.

Also, wouldn't the release date affect all carriers with the Bold? Even with this rumor, Rogers seems to still be eyeing a July release date. I guess we'll have to see if this is in fact true or just another rumor.

[L.M @ Jun 25th 2008 11:42AM]

Good news for Nokia in Europe(E71). No matter here of course.

[Aquen @ Jun 25th 2008 11:49AM]

You failed to mention the iPhone's better screen, internet experience (Safari), iPod features, touch screen, and easy of use. If you're going to say the Blackberry Bold does some things the iPhone doesn't yet, well then you must list the things the BB Bold does worse too.

In my opinion the iPhone has it where it counts. Media and the web > MMS and video recording.

[Aquen @ Jun 25th 2008 11:50AM]

My mistake, my comment above is directed at rob paek.

[Joe @ Jun 25th 2008 11:52AM]

Where did they mention the iPhone in the article again?I am sick of people comparing these two.

iPhone = Toy
Blackberry = Work

Got it?

[Mikeweezer @ Jun 25th 2008 12:15PM]

Cisco VPN client - MS Exchange - Office app viewer = toy?

[John @ Jun 25th 2008 12:19PM]

Joe, I'm pretty sure you just compared the two.

[Jerry @ Jul 20th 2008 3:53AM]

I had an iPhone for three months. Gave it to my son and went back to my old Blackberry 8700. Loved much about the iPhone: Internet, having my iPod in my pocket with a couple movies for when I got stuck in an airport, the sheer beauty of it. That said, my hatred of its keyboard could not be overcome. My phone is my business lifeline and I have to be able to exchange e-mail efficiently; that just wasn't possible for me with the iPhone. I'm anxiously awaiting the Bold.

[grull27 @ Jun 25th 2008 12:06PM]

Blackberry's only competition against the 3G iPhone, delayed. lol :D

[babyfacemagee @ Jun 25th 2008 12:16PM]

I'd bet 10 bucks that it's a false story designed to drop the stock before earnings so a hedgefund can load up. They plant these kinds of 'fake' delays all the time. Go watch the youtube clip that shows Jim Cramer discussing all about hedge fund manipulation and how they trick the public with false news stories to manipulate the stock. Quite an eye opener if you haven't seen it.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 25th 2008 1:40PM]

RIM's stock can't be easily manipulated. Their investors are too smart to fall that kind of rumor. Most RIM investors are confident that earnings and revenue are climbing, so why should a short delay of a handset in the pipeline make a difference in a long term investment. A month wouldn't amount to anything. A rumor like that might make the stock waver a buck or two, but that's it.

[Mauricio @ Jun 25th 2008 12:06PM]

So...women cant work at businesses or have twitchy thumbs?

[rock99rock @ Jun 25th 2008 12:35PM]

Well sorda.

They can work at home, vacuuming. With those twitchy thumbs however, bitch better not break my dishes.

[theefman @ Jun 25th 2008 12:25PM]

You just cant get away from the isheep can you? If a phone can make voice calls is it copying the iphone as well? Because we all know the iphone was the first cell phone ever invented and every other phone released since then is just copying the iphone. Just wait, all those fancy phones which can copy and paste will soon ditch that feature to be more like the iphone!

isheep!!

[striggity @ Jun 25th 2008 12:36PM]

I blackberry article, and the iPhone is mentioned 25 times. (none of those 25 were in the actual article).

Only on the internets.

[Chad @ Jun 25th 2008 12:53PM]

If it does get delayed I suspect it will be at&t that does the delaying so it doesn't coincide with another July launch.

[Adam @ Jun 25th 2008 1:34PM]

They would never do something like that... :-)

[Quix @ Jun 25th 2008 12:58PM]

It's amusing that any story RIM or iPhone related brings out the iPhone (or simply Apple) haters in droves.

Say anything good about the iPhone in the Engadget comments section or criticize any aspect of any iPhone competitor and be prepared to be voted down to oblivion.

Blackberry is great. iPhone is great. Buy what best fits your needs and spare us your ridiculous rantings.

Astroturf Different, people.

[johnzilla @ Jun 25th 2008 1:01PM]

I think it's cute the way people who hate comments mentioning the iPhone are the first people to reply to them.

If you hate the comments, don't reply to them. Ignore them.

[Justin Ledoux @ Jun 25th 2008 1:06PM]

As Steve Jobs once said "Those who can't innovate copy, but it is never as good as the original". And I agree with him. Blackberry obviously have much more experience in the phone market than Apple, but as always, Apple will do things better than we expect.

[Tyson @ Jun 25th 2008 1:10PM]

Forget being an Isheep, why can't RIM but the GD phone on the market. Its been about a year before it was rumored. Every other company including Apple has been able to produce a 3G phone. Saying that they are shooting themselves in the foot and Apple is willing is not being an Isheep its being honest.

[Jason @ Jun 25th 2008 1:39PM]

i hope john mayers explodes and his gelled ass hair catches on fire.

[rob paek @ Jun 25th 2008 2:00PM]

haha best comment EVER

[mcgrewventures @ Jun 25th 2008 2:46PM]

Anyone know if this will hold up the launch of the BB Bold on Verizon?

[celerysword @ Jun 25th 2008 3:05PM]

Blackberry or Apple? Hmm, which corporate behemoth do I want to identify with most?

Move on people. Were comparing Apples to Apples (pun intended). Either way you end up being a pawn to marketing.

[Matthew @ Jun 25th 2008 4:11PM]

@Justin Ledoux

It was Bertrand Serlet, not Steve Jobs.

[go seki @ Jun 26th 2008 6:30AM]

Comparisons hmm: Sorry the Nokia E71 is a much better phone than this or an iPhone 3G .. if you want corporate behemoth .. Nokia is the biggest elephant out there by .

Don't get me wrong RIM make a nice phone in this form factor but the E71 is a far more functional device and the white one's should appeal to the iPod fanatics .

Finally I've said it before but repeating for the sake of it .. Apple != freedom the iPhone 3G is all the evidence you need.

[F @ Jun 28th 2008 7:18PM]

RIM needs to step up to the mic and respond.

Pumping up a product in the media, even through clever "leaks" of release dates, then remaining silent is bad business practice and will ultimately hurt sales.

Coincidentally, I received a brief "pump" message via email, as I had signed up for the BOLD mailing list. It was nothing but that, just pure pump with no useful information. Was this a prelude to a release? Why did you waste my bandwidth otherwise?

Try to ask RIM a question about the BOLD (such as features and compatibility) and they will stick their nose up at you.

Sure, as a consumer I understand things happen and releases get delayed. But this has been a pointed campaign to promote the BOLD phone, everywhere. And so, release dates come and go, people speculate - RIM protects itself by not officially giving out information (even though the "leaks" are no different than political leaks)... what am I to think as a consumer about this?

While I've no doubt this will be a great phone, RIM needs to improve its public relations.

[Leez @ Jul 1st 2008 6:59PM]

Does anyone know when the BOLD comes out for Verizon ?

[BabyFaceMagee @ Jul 6th 2008 6:37PM]

how much do you want to bet this is a 'fake' story planted by a hedgefund to manipulate the price before earnings? They do this all the time. Watch the Jim Cramer youtube clip where he explains how it's a common practice that the novice trader falls for regularly.

[DSH @ Jul 10th 2008 3:28AM]

Just spoken with Vodafone (UK) as my current Pearl has developed a fault and I was going to upgrade to a Bold instead of getting an exchange, and they confirmed to me that the UK release date is the 3rd August.

[D.Luxe @ Jul 10th 2008 3:24PM]

InfoSync is listing the Verizon and T-mobile BB dates as Jan. 2009. I hope this isn't true...

[Aaron @ Jul 24th 2008 1:48PM]

You guys are such nerd and kids... who cares about comparing both phone.. they are both good..