The BlackBerry Bold gets official on Rogers

Sure, we've seen John Mayer's, done a hands-on, read reviews, gotten release dates and even listened to the painful Stewart Copeland-provided soundtrack, but today's the BlackBerry Bold's big coming out party on Rogers, and it can be all yours for just CA$399 plus a 3 year voice / data service plan totalling more than CA$45 a month. We should be seeing more countries come online later this week -- anyone taking the plunge?

[Rick @ Aug 21st 2008 10:54AM]

They can try pry my iphone from my cold dead hands...good luck RIM....hahhahahhahahahahhaha

[Flashpoint @ Aug 21st 2008 11:21AM]

I know exactly how you feel. I've never been an Apple lover, but the iPhone really does change my feelings about the company a bit. Best Cellular PDA on the entire market. The only thing that equals it in functionality is the Archos 6.

The new Blackberrys feel cheap and poorly designed. I used to have 2 of them in the 9000 series that were excellent for rolodex storage but terrible as phones. I switched to iPhone and love it.

You just got down ranked by all the apple fanboy haters on Engadget but, I'll give you a +1

[Dr Joe @ Apr 27th 2009 2:22PM]

Get a job.

[Quix @ Aug 21st 2008 11:46AM]

Saying anything positive about Apple or negative about Microsoft on Engadget comments is a one-way ticket to down.

Engadget has been overrun by the Redmond Horde.

*prepares for descent*

[Mike @ Aug 21st 2008 12:14PM]

Or maybe ppl get ranked down when they say stupid things? EG; the above.
Just a thought.

[Quix @ Aug 21st 2008 12:34PM]

How to get a low-ranking comment on Engadget:

"I love my iPhone/MacBook/other Apple product."

or

"I owned a Zune and hated it."

How to get a high-ranking comment on Engadget:

"I don't know why everyone complains about Vista. I've been using it for a year and it's been working perfectly."

or

"Screw Apple."

[Mike @ Aug 21st 2008 12:51PM]

Ok ok fine. Everyone is a fan-boy except you.
Or is it everyone who doesn't like apple/hate ms is a fanboy?

[John @ Aug 21st 2008 10:55AM]

CAD 399? Why, that's only $380.72!

[netnet @ Aug 21st 2008 11:02AM]

Unless I can get a $1500 phone for free, there's no way in hell I would ever think of getting a 3 year contract.

[Kspraydad @ Aug 21st 2008 11:09AM]

Welcome to Smartphones in Canada

[Austin @ Aug 22nd 2008 5:34PM]

More like welcome to cell phones in Canada.

[Moe @ Aug 21st 2008 11:02AM]

I'll Pass. Collect $200 and head to at&t buy iPhone.

[Magnificen7 @ Aug 21st 2008 11:09AM]

Me has iPhone. Me ignore BB forever now.

[waffles @ Aug 21st 2008 1:39PM]

me learn english? that umpossible

[Maanfi24 @ Aug 21st 2008 11:11AM]

As tempting as this will be when it hits AT&T, I think I'll hold off until Nuvifone hits next year. Don't want to burn that valuable upgrade.

[Jubei @ Aug 21st 2008 11:12AM]

Why is this product called BOLD? What is so bold about a product made of cheap plastics to emulate metal? As far as I know, cheap plastic screen, not high quality, diamond dust coated, optical quality glass? It should be called "el cheapo". The icons alone looks silly and something you see from the early 80's computing UI.

[netnet @ Aug 21st 2008 11:43AM]

Apple 3g is made of cheap quality: the are reports of the casing having cracks. I don't think there has been reports on BB or any other smartphones having their casings crack due to bad quality.

[Aaquib @ Aug 21st 2008 11:14AM]

L0L. Pay half that and get an 8GB iPhone 3G. You don't even have to get the data plan contract from Rogers, you can get any plan. Im on a $20 plan, B1TCHES!

[Jeff @ Aug 21st 2008 11:46AM]

And what exactly do you use the iPhone for without data? Resting it on the top of your hand as you show it off the the world while you walk?

[Mike @ Aug 21st 2008 12:15PM]

You do realize that without a data plan it just doesn't receive data... it doesn't suddenly shutdown.

[MIke @ Aug 21st 2008 11:17AM]

Actually 299 with 3 yr contract according to newspaper ads today. After seeing today's browser showdown with the iphone, I'm still glad that I did not hold out.

[strang @ Aug 21st 2008 11:36AM]

Apparently that browser test is questionable. HoFo Rogers forums has a thread on the Bold right now and people are saying that while surfing with Wi-Fi on the BB, the indicator should stay on and turn white. They've seen average 6 second load times on Wi-Fi on the Curve so there's no reason why the Bold would take this long. Seeing also that the Bold dropping connection to 3G all the time is weird too. You can also hear the GSM buzz from the speakers. That Bold was definitely not using the correct transport.

[Kspraydad @ Aug 21st 2008 11:32AM]

Why are people actually comparing this to an iPhone?
Different user base, different target market, different functionalities.

[Gary J @ Aug 21st 2008 11:34AM]

There are many companies whose servers are BB only.

[Budweyers @ Aug 21st 2008 11:39AM]

Boldy going where no other smart phone has gone - 3g, wifi, qwerty keyboard, small screen, awful internet browsing, and boring applications with no developer base... horray for BB.

[ntran04 @ Aug 21st 2008 11:41AM]

I think getting locked in for 3 years by Rogers isn't as bad as everyone thinks. Being the only GSM provider, who else are you going to switch to? Bell? Telus? Yeah Rogers gouges the consumer with high prices, but I think what most people aren't hearing about is how easy it is to switch up your plan (add/remove features etc) whenever. Also you can upgrade your hardware after a year at a discounted price (got my 8GB iPhone for $170 and kept my old plan). The prices on paper are just suggested. You can call in and bargain/bitch and get a plan that fits your needs at decent prices (YMMV).

The 3 year contract isn't a commitment to the price/plan/phone, it's a commitment to the network. If there was more competition up here, 3 years would be ludicrous, but unfortunately there isn't.

Oh yeah, fuck Rogers, blah blah blah...

[Aaquib @ Aug 21st 2008 11:44AM]

The problem is that next year when the 2 new GSM companies enter the market, you're locked into Rogers. You can bet those other 2 companies will pretty much be giving away plans to get you to switch, but...oh...You'll be with Rogers.

FUCK ROGERS!!!!

[strang @ Aug 21st 2008 11:49AM]

If you know about the Retentions depart then just get those plans matched. No big deal.

[tiuk @ Aug 21st 2008 11:51AM]

I actually just went through all this. Jumped ship from Rogers to Virgin mobile, plan was to stay with them for a year and see what happens with the whole wireless spectrum thing. Turns out with Virgin (which uses the Bell network) I get absolutely no reception where I live, so I had to go back to Rogers. In the process I lost my phone number which I had had for six years (that's how long I was with Rogers before switching), and had to pay a new activation fee, etc. Whole thing took up a ton of time and money.

When going back to Rogers I only wanted to sign up for a year at most, but to get a halfway decent plan they require you to be on a three year term. Since they have a really good student plan right now, I decided to just bite the bullet and sign my soul away for another three years.

Yeah, I'll be locked in with them once the other GSM networks are up, but who knows, maybe that will force them to be more competitive to keep customers.

[Mike @ Aug 21st 2008 12:18PM]

Who are these two new companies?

And yes, Fuck Rogers.

[Quix @ Aug 21st 2008 11:46AM]

Too bad browsing speed on the BB blows chunks, even over wi-fi.

http://gizmodo.com/5039886/video-blackberry-bold-vs-iphone-web-browser-showdown-it-gets-ugly

Vote me down for harsh truth, people. Vote me down.

[MSM @ Aug 21st 2008 12:41PM]

Did you even read the article before you mouth off? looks like BB wasn't actually on wifi as the iphone was.

[Jubei @ Aug 21st 2008 1:07PM]

If true, its even worse. Looks like the operating system on the BOLD is too stupid to choose WiFi on its own for a better browsing experience. Even worse, that tiny surface area for a display squishes everything. Can it get worse? Yes, the browser shown is terrible, the UI is not polished at all. What a lousy experience for users.

[Quix @ Aug 21st 2008 1:54PM]

@ MSM:

Check the new "debunk" video here on Engadget. Bold still takes 59 seconds to load the page over wifi while the iPhone takes 35 seconds.

So much for that theory.

[James @ Aug 21st 2008 11:51AM]

The iPhone and a Blackberry are really comparable devices... I have both an iPhone and a BB 8830.
If I had to do all my email on the iPhone, I'd probably shoot myself in the face.
The iPhone is great for what it is, but it certainly is not a Blackberry replacement for many serious Blackberry users...

[matt @ Aug 21st 2008 2:33PM]

well i think you will be disappointed when you see that the new BlackBerry's with the virtual keyboard like the iphone

[Andrew T. @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:45AM]

Well thank god that's just ONE BlackBerry model instead of the whole line. It's always nice to have choices now doesn't it?

[Nicholas @ Aug 21st 2008 11:56AM]

Please oh, please oh, oh please!!!
C'mon AT+T, get this phone ready soon at a reasonable pricepoint/service plan!!! My 8700 works----but I want TECH POWER!!!
And please allow 3G tethering!!!

[YpoCaramel @ Aug 21st 2008 12:01PM]

Or if you're in Hong Kong you could just walk into a Smartone-Vodafone and pick one up.

[helloUser @ Aug 21st 2008 12:02PM]

So......engadget isnt going to whore its front page with the Bold like it did with the iPhone???

[Zubin Wadia @ Aug 21st 2008 12:50PM]

Some thoughts here on why the 3G radio problem might be happening on all three frontline phones: iPhone 3G, Nokia E71, BB Bold...

http://zwadia.com/?p=47

Cheers,

Zubin.

[Ryan @ Aug 21st 2008 12:50PM]

Im so tired of this whole iPhone / Blackberry debate. Find another medium to brag that your device is better than any other.
This thread should be focussed on people purchasing the Bold, their experiences, and perhaps why the chose it.
I clicked on the comments link hoping to find some info on people trying to purchase the Bold, not some stupid iPhone vs. BB debate.
This site is filled with this cr*p, along with the rest of the internet.

So how about something relevant, like how I spoke with a few Rogers employees at various stores this morning and heard there will be a very small shipment coming in. Due to such small stock only the corporate stores will be getting them (Rogers Plus and Rogers Video). It is worth noting that I am in Calgary, AB and it might be different elsewhere.

Now thats the kind of post I would like to be reading when the title of the thread is "The BlackBerry Bold gets official on Rogers" not "iPhone vs Bold, Come Debate Why Yours Is Better"

[pekosROB @ Aug 21st 2008 4:50PM]

Agreed. I don't understand why people are trolling around the internet looking to pick a fight. I also don't get how someone can hate a company (Apple) so much. What did Apple ever do to you (not you the writer, you as in the audience)? I doubt half of the people who hate Apple haven't ever even owned an Apple product.

I'm a BlackBerry user and an owner of a MacBook, iPod, and an HP desktop. I don't sit here saying why my things I own are so great. I buy them because they suit MY needs. I love all of my gadgets and I wonder how many people buy products because it suits their needs and tastes versus what they just want or what society wants...

But the internet allows freedom of expression and opinion, so I suppose we have to just deal with it.

[Matt @ Aug 21st 2008 1:43PM]

I just wanna know if I can get that UI for my Curve. Mine looks so crappy by comparison.

[Montevale @ Aug 21st 2008 2:45PM]

Lets have couple of weeks of in the real world testing.
Only after that we can have some real comments on what the Bold is like.
Bold is not a revolutionary product and is built on the stregth of previous models.
They are hoping to get the 8700 crowd on board with that device as an upgrade.
There are so many 8700 users that have frowned at the perarly-curvey options and couldn't see why 8800 would justify an upgrade.
The Bold is hopefully enough reason to forego that 8700 workhorse and move on.
As for the iPhone vs BB... well get a grip...when a person using BB everyone thinks that person is working when you see an iPhone for some reason the feeling is quite the opposite and this is the uphill battle for the Apple and of course the other way around for the Rim.

[bostonirishguy13 @ Aug 21st 2008 2:51PM]

@ Montevale: Well said!

[Carson @ Aug 21st 2008 2:53PM]

It's actually more than $399.99. It is in fact $599.99, and comes with a $200 MAIL IN rebate. You still need to pay $599.99 up front!!

https://www.rogers.com/web/Rogers.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=Wireless_BuyFlow_Portlet_Definition&Wireless_BuyFlow_Portlet_Definition_actionOverride=%2Fportlets%2Fconsumer%2Fwireless%2FphoneBuyflow%2FshowPage_ForPhone&Wireless_BuyFlow_Portlet_DefinitionproductId_Detailed=9000R&_pageLabel=WRLS_BuyFlow

[rj @ Aug 21st 2008 3:43PM]

so exactly which rogers store has this in the toronto area? i've called several ... and they all say they may or may not get this phone either tomorrow or monday.

if anyone knows of a store in the toronto area that has it in stock, please kindly post it.. thank you.

[RedGhost @ Aug 21st 2008 7:28PM]

I am looking forward to trying this phone out today!