RIM's BlackBerry Bold (probably) hitting AT&T on October 27th

RIM's BlackBerry Bold wasn't technically supposed to have launched already -- that's the magic in being all vague about a release date, we guess -- but we can safely say we're absolutely relieved to finally have something out in the open here. Even if it's not carved in stone, per se. An internal AT&T e-mail discovered today notes that the "latest ETA" for the release of the Bold is October 27th (with a price TBD), though we'd feel a lot better about that if it said "definitive release date." At any rate, we'll find out in just ten days. Ten. Days.

[who? @ Oct 17th 2008 10:53PM]

Alright! I can take it trick or treating!

[dchardcorelives @ Oct 18th 2008 6:42AM]

G1 and done.. F this phone. Too much jerking people around.

[Isaac @ Oct 17th 2008 10:55PM]

I want to know two things.

Price. And the reason for the delay.

[Patrick @ Oct 17th 2008 11:02PM]

you and me both.
and probably masses of others out there

[MonteVale @ Oct 17th 2008 11:59PM]

It has been delayed because every IT department in Canada is screaming murder when it comes to deal with Bold.
Canada was the testing ground I guess and almost all major kinks have been worked out by now with proper patches being identified and available. Few people actually returned back to the "curves" here as they found the battery had to be charged daily on the "bolds".

[Mightytomahawk @ Oct 18th 2008 3:37PM]

Actually it was a major network issue. The 3G Iphone is so demanding on the AT&T network that if both phones where on the system the entire service would've taken a hit. From what I understand AT&T asked them to fix it so it was less demanding. That and a combination of some kinks that had to be worked out from the original launch in other markets.

[Albinomexi @ Oct 17th 2008 10:55PM]

first?
I felt like saying it

Maybe I'll trade it for my iPhone?

[Patrick @ Oct 17th 2008 11:00PM]

second, actually
next time feel differently about saying it

[who? @ Oct 18th 2008 12:24AM]

I take a moment for myself here for stopping another 'firster' from actually being first. Hooray!

[Jeremy @ Oct 17th 2008 11:01PM]

Really reinforces the age old saying "I'll believe it when I see it."

[garrenteed @ Oct 17th 2008 11:07PM]

Come to Alltel! Come to Alltel! Come to Alltel!

[Isaac @ Oct 17th 2008 11:14PM]

Yeah, and while were at it I hope I get laid!!

Face it, its not gonna happen.

*cry*

[Connor @ Oct 17th 2008 11:19PM]

PRICE? I NEED a CONFIRMED price.
I'm excited. :P

[helixtimestwo @ Oct 17th 2008 11:37PM]

My guess would be $199 after rebate....RIM needs to keep around the same price point as the iP3G

[MRCUR @ Oct 17th 2008 11:21PM]

FINALLY! I've been waiting to get a new phone since June. I've already tried the iPhone 3G (I currently have a 4 gig iPhone) twice and not had good luck with them. Hopefully the Bold will be much better, I'm pretty excited to finally have a BlackBerry.

[Shenzhov @ Oct 17th 2008 11:52PM]

I'm on my 3rd 1st gen iPhone. With all the problems I've had with it, I sure don't want a 3G. I'll never buy another phone without a battery you can replace.

I'm looking forward to getting a Bold and hope the price is reasonable. Excited too about finally getting a Blackberry too. The iPhone has some nice features, but bad battery life, coupled with high failure rate and crappy network connections has ruined it for me.

[MRCUR @ Oct 18th 2008 12:28PM]

I'm currently on my second iPhone as well. I went through two 3Gs before deciding to not buy another iPhone. I'll be at the AT&T store the 27th picking up what I hope is a great phone.

[JCA @ Oct 19th 2008 8:47PM]

I was quasi-content in waiting for network/firmware issues to get analyzed/debugged/etc but the keypad on my old SLVR V8 just went Full Retard on me this weekend.

Hurry up RIM! I'm using a Treo for christsakes!

[fred @ Oct 17th 2008 11:27PM]

I will glue an Iphone on the back and finaly get what I want. Large screen, easy UI, good surfing and good working tools. Any product developers out there?

[haha @ Oct 17th 2008 11:44PM]

Best buy has it listed as in stock on the 26th and a price of $649.99 unsubsidized

[egloskerry @ Oct 18th 2008 6:53AM]

To see prices before the signage is made: log in to ETK, open up old ETK, (assuming you're under BBYM) on the upper left go to Job Aids & Tools, then Vendor Pricing Signage Report.

[Derek @ Oct 18th 2008 12:39AM]

My guess is that it will be $299 on a new contract or upgrade eligibility.

New blackberry's are usually around that price point when they first release. I just can't wait to get rid of this iPhone!!!

[Stan @ Oct 18th 2008 1:58AM]

Even if the iPhone had keyboard shortcuts its email client is still pretty weak.

[Ryan C @ Oct 17th 2008 11:59PM]

So I'm guessing all the software kinks have been worked out, or will be fixed by launch?

Good call on AT&T for delaying it because of problems. They would had taken a lot of flak like Orange did. Especially with the problems with the iPhone 3G on launch.

[david amodt @ Oct 18th 2008 2:24AM]

Good info. Here and at BGR. 27th. Wonder what pricing is gonna be though..

Was thinking about $750 off Ebay but glad i'm waiting.

[Eric @ Oct 18th 2008 4:28AM]

My brothers gonna trade his iphone in for this, much much better email on the blackberry's than the iLag, my brother actully works at radioshack and he said that atnt is having a launch party on the 20th for the bold

[orlando @ Oct 18th 2008 3:59AM]

its been in mexico on telcel for around a week or two now, that's odd we usually get phones like a month or two after its realese. its at around $200USD with contract and like $600USD without it

[orlando @ Oct 18th 2008 4:04AM]

its $700USD without contract..

[Bob @ Oct 18th 2008 5:10AM]

Really reinforces the age old saying "I'll believe it when I see it."

Greetz Bob - http://www.torrentbug.com

[egloskerry @ Oct 18th 2008 6:46AM]

Well, I can tell you guys the price, at least at Best Buy. If Iremember right, $349 on a new 2yr, and $429 on an upgrade. I workSunday, so I'll check the price again then. And we don't have any onorder currently, but they are on our 10-26 plano, so we should havethem drop shipped on or before that date. And haha is right, $649outright. And if any BBY employees doubt I'm truthful, check for yourselves:live Bold 9000 planoed on Solutions D, right side, in Program stores.I'm already planning on holding one for plano when we get them in. Also, for anyone who's wondering, Touch Pro and Diamond for Sprint atBBY on 10-26 as well, should be in stores as early as Wednesday. $299and $249 for a new, respectively. I forgot the $150 upgrade prices.And they can be sold once they arrive.

[egloskerry @ Oct 18th 2008 6:48AM]

Oops, let me format that.

Well, I can tell you guys the price, at least at Best Buy. If I remember right, $349 on a new 2yr, and $429 on an upgrade. I work Sunday, so I'll check the price again then. And we don't have any on order currently, but they are on our 10-26 plano, so we should have them drop shipped on or before that date. And haha is right, $649 outright.

If any BBY employees doubt I'm truthful, check for yourselves: live Bold 9000 planoed on Solutions D, right side, in Program stores. I'm already planning on holding one for plano when we get them in. Also, for anyone who's wondering, Touch Pro and Diamond for Sprint at BBY on 10-26 as well, should be in stores as early as Wednesday. $299 and $249 for a new, respectively. I forgot the $150 upgrade prices. And they can be sold once they arrive.

[egloskerry @ Oct 20th 2008 2:04AM]

Sorry, it's $399 on a new 2yr, but the upgrade price is right. I guess I can print out some proof, because engadget never takes hearsay.

[scjessey @ Oct 18th 2008 8:14AM]

According to two dudes in my local store, the AT&T Fuze (HTC Touch Pro) is also being released on the same day. One of the guys was going to some sort of internal launch event and expected to be able to shift Fuzes immediately afterward. No price information yet, but I'm certainly going to consider a Fuze for myself.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 18th 2008 8:48AM]

Why would anyone buy this thing with the Storm just behind the corner? (at least for lucky americans?)
I often heard americans complaining that they can't get some phones that are available in Europe, but right now is we europeans who are getting jelous: No Storm or G1 seem headed toward our shores for the forseeable future, and even for the Sammy Omnia or the SE Experia we've got to wait 4 or 5 weeks more.

[Oscarv77 @ Oct 18th 2008 11:01AM]

Not everyone is with Verizon, so not everyone can get the Storm. The same thing applies for those that aren't with AT&T; they won't be able to get the Bold either.

If my company wasn't paying for my BB8820 and the AT&T phone bill, I would jump ship and get a Storm.

[Shenzhov @ Oct 18th 2008 11:52AM]

I'd really rather have the Bold with it's real keyboard.

From the looks of the Storm, it's a step backwards. It has 2 letters per key press and that's just a time waster in my opinion. Click Click Click...H...Click Click Click...I... HI Like typing on my old flip phone.

[Alex @ Oct 18th 2008 12:59PM]

While I agree having a real full qwerty keyboard is optimal, with suretype its definetly not as bad as "Click Click Click...H...Click Click Click...I... HI "

i have a BB pearl and to type Hi all i press is 5 then 3, same amount of button presses that it would be on a full qwerty

but suretype isnt perfect and doesnt always work out the way you are hoping, especially if you dont know the exact spelling of a word

[Phoenix @ Oct 18th 2008 3:40PM]

Hold the storm on it's side, full QWERTY...

[Will @ Oct 20th 2008 2:42PM]

It looks like a Moto Q. Nothing compared to the Bold

[alex @ Oct 19th 2008 3:18AM]

I know no one knows for sure (hell, this was supposed to be out on AT&T months ago) but does anyone have an idea as to how long AT&T will have it exclusive? 3 months? 1 year?

[ran @ Oct 19th 2008 9:36PM]

Must. Resist.

[bb @ Oct 20th 2008 2:14PM]

Bestbuy has the new 2 year price set at $349 and the upgrade set at $399, these are all early prices though...

[k4ffy @ Oct 27th 2008 1:17PM]

no sign of this thing on ATT today... darn it.

[Tori @ Nov 2nd 2008 7:23AM]

Best buy says "$659.99"

HOLY CRAP!!!