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BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 now available through Verizon
Seemingly as though it wasn't just totally pulling the claim of June 19 availability out of thin air back at the announcement, Verizon has gone ahead and started offering the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 online today. It's no Tour by any stretch, but the consumer-friendly phone comes in at a palatable $79.99 after discounts on contract and offers a 2 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, EV-DO Rev. 0, and the 20-key layout made famous by the original Pearl -- if you're into that sort of thing. And hey, it looks pretty good in silver, doesn't it?[Via Boy Genius Report]
Verizon gets official with 3G BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230: $129.99 on June 19th
After months of leaks, Verizon Wireless is finally coming clean with its intent to carry the 3G-enabled BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230. Said phone will arrive in silver on June 19th, bringing with it a 2 megapixel camera (with flash and video recording), a SureType QWERTY keyboard, microSD / SDHC slot and support for VZ Navigator. The pain? $129.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate and a new two-year agreement.
Verizon Pearl Flip dummy in the wild, release this month?
This thing's been all over Canada for a while now, but the CDMA version of the BlackBerry 8230 hasn't managed to find its way out of Alltel's clutches in the States. Of course, we've been waiting on Verizon to do its thing for a while -- and it looks like we might finally see a release in the next few weeks A poster over on CrackBerry's forums notes that dummy units are now arriving in stores, and goes on to say that the arrival of dummies usually means that the real things can be expected within three weeks, give or take. We know that most Verizon customers waiting for a new BlackBerry probably have their eyes focused solely on the Tour, but hey, it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Verizon calling BlackBerry 8230 Pearl Flip the "Apex"?
We've even mentioned it on the podcast -- RIM's naming convention is starting to get confusing, especially in the crowded 8000 range where you've got both an 8230 and an 8320 to worry about (and they're very different phones). TheStreet is claiming that RIM will introduce both the 9630 Tour and a flip phone -- the Apex -- at the company's WES conference next week; we have a very, very hard time believing that Verizon would launch multiple flip BlackBerrys in a short span of time, so that leads us to the logical deduction that the rumored 8230 Pearl Flip will come to be known as the Apex. Makes you wonder how Alltel, Bell, and Telus feel about that, doesn't it?[Via Unwired View]
Alltel pulls BlackBerry Pearl 8230 into the fold, $79.99 in early May
Here we thought that Verizon was going to ace out the US CDMA market by announcing the 8230 first, but alas, it ends up being Alltel -- the divested chunks of it post-acquisition -- that becomes the first American carrier to trumpet the device. Unlike its GSM sibling over on T-Mobile, the 8230 is a 3G handset equipped with EV-DO, but otherwise, it looks pretty much the same with a QVGA primary display, love-it-or-hate-it SureType keypad, and 2 megapixel cam. It'll hit the "new" Alltel's 2.2 million subscribers in 91 markets come early May for a seemingly reasonable $79.99.
BlackBerry Pearl 8230 comes to Telus
Alright, Telus, you can dial down the that envy-induced shade of green you've developed while pining for Bell's BlackBerry 8230. Actually, you can't -- green is a part of your color scheme -- so allows us to rephrase: the Pearl Flip is now available on both CDMA nationals in Canada. It'll run you $49.99 CAD on a three-year deal, which delivers the promise of the $50 KickStart we'd hoped for before the GSM version was originally announced; it's just a damn shame it's going to take a three-year contract to get down to that level (of course, the $449.99 contract-free option is always available, too). Grab it now in your choice of black or pink. [Via Howard Chui]
Telus' BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 appears on site, launch imminent
So with Bell's 8230 launch out of the way, Telus has now stepped up and dropped this set on the web. While it's not talking specifics just yet, seeing the flippy thing heralded as "coming soon" should at least whet a few fan's appetites. We had heard the set's price was originally set at $99 on a three year, but Telus may have spiked that in favor of a more reasonable $50 or $449 off-contract price. While we wait for the official news out of Telus, feel free to peruse the tiny gallery we've cobbled together or hit the read link to learn a little bit more.[Thanks, RileyFreeman]%Gallery-46911%
Telus' BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 gets a plan and pricing, rumor-style
Our friend (and oft correct) RileyFreeman over at HowardForums tipped us off that Telus' BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 is pimping and pruning its pricing prior to launch. Word has it that this flippy debutante will be priced at $100 on a 3-year contract, and $500 completely off-contract. Other info mentions that Telus has prepped a special plan just for this pink or black set, running at $32.50 it'll include 200 minutes, evenings and weekends after 6 P.M, 3 months free local calling, and unlimited mail and instant messaging. Of course, with Bell's launch of the same set at $29 on a three-year today -- and competition with its own BlackBerry Curve 8830 at the same price point -- we suspect Telus may want to rethink a tad -- if indeed, this proves true -- before they open the floodgates wide.[Thanks, RileyFreeman and agent_whitevan]
Bell Canada launches first CDMA BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230
Big day for Bell and smartphones as they add the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 on top of the Pal Treo Pro launch a little earlier in the day. Thankfully the BlackBerry seems to have its pricing lined up and will squeeze your piggy bank for $29 on a three-year contract, a steep $349 on 2, $449 for 1-year and is $499 off contract altogether -- though the $29 is apparently only until the end of March. Telus is also prepping this flippier BlackBerry for launch, though no word on a date for that just yet. In case you've forgotten the pink or black 8230 features GPS capabilities, 128MB of memory, external 1.6-inch and internal 2.4-inch displays, and the oh-so novel 4.6 OS. Grab it now on Bell's site if you've been dreaming of the same ol' BlackBerry in an entirely new and interesting package.Update: Pricing updated as site was updated.
BlackBerry Pearl 8230 flips its way into the FCC's heart
In the unlikely event that you needed a few final shreds of evidence to be convinced that the CDMA version of the BlackBerry Pearl flip -- the 8230 -- is real, feast your eyes on this heavy reading. Just-approved FCC documents show a device outline that can only be described as that of a clamshell, and sure enough, the SAR report indicates CDMA and EV-DO on the 850 and 1900MHz bands, so yeah, if this isn't the 8230, we can't imagine what it'd be. The timing on this development really couldn't be any better since we're expecting it to hit both Verizon and Telus in the near term, so quick show of hands: who's buying?
Best Buy spills beans on Telus' BlackBerry Pearl 8230
So, is the BlackBerry Pearl 8230 headed to Telus this month after all? Yeah, maybe. Best Buy's gone ahead and revealed a product page for the Telus-branded, CDMA-packing version of the Pearl flip, though you can't buy it online -- and until we hear otherwise, we're going to go ahead and assume that they're still plenty hard to find in stores. Pink or black, your choice, for $499.99 CAD (about $398) off contract.[Via MobileSyrup]
Verizon's Touch Diamond, Versa, Intrigue, and Pearl 8230 take a family photo
Aww, isn't that cute? Everyone got together for one last picture before graduation -- that magical time everyone goes their separate ways to retail shelves across the country where they'll be picked up by subscribers and adopted into loving families of their own. Here we've got four hotties that are due on Verizon in the next few months: the Touch Diamond and Versa, both of which we expect by mid-March, the Nokia 7205 Intrigue, which we've expected for over a frigging year now, and the BlackBerry Pearl 8230, which will launch when it damn well feels like it. Nothing particularly amazing about this shot, but we've got to say, the Intrigue looks absolutely stellar -- assuming it actually comes off this good in the flesh.
Verizon tidbits: Versa, Touch Diamond, Pearl 8230, and more
We've got a handful of juicy morsels coming out of Verizon today -- actually, that sounds a little unpleasant, but you know what we mean -- and we wanted to pass along what we've heard. Follow the break for all the action!
BlackBerry 8230 en route to Telus this month?
That CDMA version of the Pearl 8220 flip we just saw -- the aptly-named 8230 -- might be just a few weeks out from a launch in its native lands. BlackBerryNews has obtained some Mr. Blurrycam-style footage of Telus documentation showing a big ol' "Coming Soon" seal next to the phone, but more importantly, "by the end of February" is apparently being tossed around as a possible window in company meetings. Telus customers, be honest: this, or a CDMA Bold? Both, maybe?[Via MobileSyrup]
BlackBerry Pearl 8230 caught in Verizon garb
We've been hearing some idle chatter that RIM intends to redo its Pearl 8220 flip in a CDMA flavor any minute now -- and RIM's one of the best manufacturers in the game at spreading its wealth equally between the GSM and CDMA sides of the fence, so an 8230 model seemed like a foregone conclusion from the moment the 8220 was announced. Sure enough, we now have a shot of a Verizon-branded 8230 doing its thing -- not really what Bold hopefuls on Verizon were hoping for, we'd imagine, but a solid consumer-grade offering nonetheless. The fella who posted the shot over on CrackBerry's forums doesn't know what colors will be available at launch, but mentions that he expects it'll be "coming soon." CTIA in April, perhaps?[Via Boy Genius Report]
