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T-Mobile USA offers free BlackBerry Pearl trackball replacement
If you're Pearl's pearl has lost some of its luster -- and indeed some of its control -- we've heard that T-Mobile USA is stepping in to help sort that out. As of the 15th February, BlackBerry Pearl 8100, 8120, and 8320 owners can apparently pop into a T-Mo shop and have it replaced for $free. The only catch is your device has to have been purchased from T-Mobile -- and, we assume, have troubles. Sadly other BB owners with problems can't get this in-store service -- as they require more than a simple pin for the same service -- but we'd imagine enough noise to customer support could help your cause if you're having trouble. We're liking the trend we've seen of late with carriers offering up these random acts of kindness and do hope we'll continue to see more.
Orange UK gets pay-as-you-go BlackBerry Pearl 8120
Orange UK has chosen to Launch RIM's BlackBerry Pearl 8120 as a PAYG number for all the would be messengers out there who prefer to remain sans plan. Price for this exclusive indigo set seems set at £145 (roughly $200) and should be landing in a shop near you in early February. Price of admission -- handset aside -- includes needing to grab an Animal package (Dolphin, Canary, Racoon, or Camel) and taking out a £5 BlackBerry internet service deal as well. Enjoy! At this point, pay-as-you-go is about where this set should be in terms of its age, you listening, Fido?
BlackBerry 8120 filters into Fido outlets, still can't be sold
Hold tight, Fido fans -- that BlackBerry you've been yearning for is almost here. Just days after hearing that BlackBerry and Fido would be getting together in the Great North, Boy Genius Report is providing a few sneak peeks at what's likely to be the first one available. The only marginally blurry shots clearly show that RIM's Blackberry 8120 is now Fido-branded, though there's practically zero chance for you to buy one even if you happen upon it. Why? Fido's POS machines aren't yet equipped with BB plans, so it looks like you'll have to wait until February 4th or so before exchanging cash for goods. Tough, we know.
T-Mobile releases BlackBerry Pearl 8120 in three tasty new colors
T-Mobile's been through the whole Pearl color blowout rigmarole before -- but not since the heyday of the 8100 have we seen this kind of selection. Those rumored shades from last month have materialized for the WiFi-equipped 8120, ushering in Black Emerald, Frost, and Indigo for the equally colorful price of $149.99 on contract after rebate. Just like the original colors, the new ones feature HotSpot @Home calling, a 2-megapixel camera, and microSD expansion up to 8GB. We've said it before, but it might bear repeating here, T-Mobile: make these $50, sell them alongside the 8220 for the same price, and we're in.Read - Black EmeraldRead - FrostRead - Indigo
T-Mobile to get BlackBerry Pearl 8120 in new colors?
We've heard from The Boy Genius Report that new colors may be in the works for T-Mobile's BlackBerry Pearl 8120 on October 15th. Picture yourself toting a Pearl in a color named "Frost", "Black Emerald", or even the mysterious "Indigo". Yeah, we know it's a stretch to get too excited about this, but we're trying to help boost the excitement factor for T-Mobile users as they wait for the curiously large Pearl 8220.
Voice search comes to Google Maps for BlackBerry devices
If you were concerned that you didn't look crazy enough screaming into your phone at business associates, family members, and the guy who does your landscaping, Google has added a feature to Maps for RIM devices which should confirm that yes: you're a total maniac. Available right now for a handful of BlackBerry phones (8110, 8120, US version of the 8130) you can grab Google Maps with voice search, which enables you to find what you're looking for by pressing the left-side button and speaking the name of a business (or location, we assume). Sure it sounds convenient, but think twice before searching for hookers or cocaine out loud -- stock brokers, you have been warned.[Via Gear Diary]
Rogers snags BlackBerry Pearl 8120 to keep 8110 company
Well, this certainly looks familiar, doesn't it? Yep, this had been rumored to go down for a couple weeks now, which dovetails nicely with the launch of Rogers' Home Calling Zone service, offering up unlimited long-distance Canadian calls via WiFi for $20 CAD a month. The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 comes in sporting the 2 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, SureType keyboard, and all the other spoils we've become accustomed to from the phone's other launches for $149.99 CAD (about $148) on a three-year agreement.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Rogers getting BlackBerry Pearl 8120 soon?
Rogers loves it some BlackBerry, and seeing how the Canadian behemoth's closest American analog, AT&T, now has both next-gen Pearls in its stable, we see no reason to believe that this won't happen. MobileInCanada is reporting that Rogers is gearing up to add the WiFi-packing 8120 alongside the GPS-equipped 8110, a phone that it already sells for $199.99 CAD (about $201) on contract. Heck, Rogers still proudly sells the original 8100 for a hundie less, so they could very well end up with a Pearl trifecta if they play their cards right. No word on when we might see this pop up exactly, but as for pricing, it'd have to slot in above the 8110 if AT&T's strategy is any indication.
T-Mobile launches WiFi-laden BlackBerry Pearl 8120, we handle it
The next episode of the ubiquitous Pearl is now available in T-Mobile stores across the land, bringing the spec sheet in line with the features Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T customers have been enjoying for a little while now -- a 2 megapixel camera, external microSD slot, and 3.5mm headphone jack, just to name a few. Unlike the 8130 for CDMA networks, the 8120 that T-Mobile and AT&T share adds a 802.11b/g radio, but the T-Mobile version packs yet a couple more tricks up its sleeve -- you know, the ones you'd probably expect of any modern T-Mobile phone with WiFi, namely support for myFaves and HotSpot@Home. That last bit about the WiFi calling is where it gets really interesting. Put simply, the experience we had setting up, using, and making calls with the new Pearl linked up to our router was the best we've had so far with any HotSpot@Home device; it definitely seems like T-Mobile and RIM are learning a thing or two about how to make this a truly seamless and painless process. A "UMA" indicator on the display lets you know that calls are being routed over the service, but if you're not paying attention to it, you might never know it's happening -- it's just that good. Grab it starting today for a shade under $150 on contract, or if you'd prefer to keep your money firmly in your pocket, you can still live vicariously through our gallery here!%Gallery-20499%
T-Mobile's BlackBerry Pearl 8120 spotted in the wild
Fresh off an announcement for an April 14th release, the latest rendition of the Pearl for T-Mobile -- the WiFi-enabled 8120 -- is strutting its stuff in its natural (somewhat natural, anyway) habitat. Casual observers would have an awfully tricky time telling this apart from the Pearl 8100 of yore, but the trained eye will notice a "WiFi" logo chilling on the display and a mildly revised keypad layout here. Probably just a matter of time before T-Mobile has these bad boys in every color of the rainbow, we imagine.
T-Mobile snags the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 on April 14th
April 14th -- just like we expected, that's the date T-Mobile subscribers will gain access to the WiFi totin' BlackBerry Pearl 8120. Unlike AT&T's offering, that's WiFi for voice and data thanks to T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home service. EDGE data, 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5-mm headphone jack, SureType keyboard, and microSD / SDHC expansion for your multimedia round out the specs quite nicely. Now all we need is the price, right T-Mob?
AT&T's BlackBerry Pearl 8120 gets reviewed
Now that BlackBerry Pearl 8120s are trickling into AT&T's retail channel, so are the reviews, and it looks like we have a worthy (if not modest) successor to the original 8100 on our hands. PC Magazine's quick look at RIM's latest "fashion" phone (we use that term very loosely here) reveals that the 8120 continues RIM's tradition of handling business tasks with aplomb while stepping up its personal game in a big way; the external microSD slot had no trouble taking an 8GB microSDHC card, and let's be honest, there really isn't anything to not like about a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sound quality is apparently quite good -- another RIM trademark -- and the web browser has mercifully improved over what the 8100 brought to the table. Sadly, the WiFi apparently doesn't do much good; browsing with it doesn't yield much of a performance gain over EDGE for some reason (a problem seen on T-Mobile's Curve, too) and the lack of VoIP support is a bummer. Kudos to AT&T for protecting its voice revenues, we guess. Overall rating? 4 / 5, which we figure should be enough of an endorsement to swing a few BlackBerry faithful headlong into the 8120 boat.
T-Mobile's BlackBerry Pearl 8120 looks ripe for April 14
Oh, T-Mobile. If only you'd kept to the original rumored date we'd heard of February 18 to release your BlackBerry Pearl 8120, you'd have been able to beat your arch nemesis AT&T out of the gate. Anyway, we suppose late is definitely better than never in this case -- and when you consider that you'll be tacking on support for your HotSpot@Home WiFi calling service, it's still a solid win for your lineup. Let's hope you can stick to the date![Thanks, Mumbo]
AT&T gets official with BlackBerry Pearl 8120
Suddenly, our Pearl 8100s are looking just a little long in the tooth. AT&T rather unexpectedly pulled out all the stops today to rush its 8100 replacement to market today ahead of schedule, offering several enhancements that Sprint and Verizon customers have been enjoying on their 8130s for a few months now: an externally accessible microSD slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a refreshed 2 megapixel camera, for starters, but more shockingly, WiFi instead of the GPS found on the 8110 and 8130. The 8120 is available to businessfolk starting today and will run you a shiny new pair of Franklins out the door on contract.[Via phoneArena and Crave]
Want a BlackBerry Pearl 8120 now? Try SunCom
Sorry to blow that big, fancy release you were planning next February, T-Mobile, but it appears you've been beaten to the punch. Strangely, regional carrier (and, ironically, recent T-Mobile acquisition) SunCom appears to be first out of the gate in the US to release the WiFi-equipped Pearl 8120, the next episode of RIM's popular Pearl series for GSM networks that brings the device roughly in line with what's available for the CDMA peeps. Early adoption has its price, though: SunCom's 8120 will set you back a cool $220 on a two year agreement -- assuming you're in a SunCom coverage area and you like the color blue, that is.[Thanks, Chaps]
T-Mobile's BlackBerry Pearl 8120 gets dated, detailed
At this point, the 8120, RIM's next-generation Pearl for GSM networks is little more than a twinkle in the FCC's eye -- but T-Mobile's 'bout to turn this party out. The Reader's Digest version goes something like this: Hotspot @Home support, February 18. Where's the rest of the story? Why, over on Engadget Mobile, of course!
The lowdown on T-Mobile's BlackBerry Pearl 8120!
We're sorry in advance if we're ruining anyone's plans to give or receive a T-Mobile branded Pearl 8100 for the holidays, but you know what they say, don't shoot the messenger. Word on the street is that T-Mob will be replacing the 8100 with the WiFi-equipped 8120 on February 18 (it could've been selling them already, but there's apparently a push to clear out the 8100s for the holidays first). The initial model will be gray and will feature a redesigned keyboard and trackball along with an external card slot -- in other words, much of the same joy Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel customers are already enjoying with the 8130 -- with the addition of Hotspot @Home support like its big sib, the Curve. Only question left is, how long until we can get a full rainbow going?
FCC shows RIM's BlackBerry Pearl 8120
Know the difference between the BlackBerry Curve 8310 and 8320? That third digit makes all the difference, and the Pearl's no different. Like the 8320, the 8120 adds WiFi -- a boon for UMA, and likely for T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home -- and also adds a number of improvements seen in the CDMA Pearl that's been floating around as of late, like a 3.5mm headphone jack and external microSD slot. These rumors have all been in the pipe for some time, and as is so often the case, the FCC has been more than happy to confirm all of 'em with the outing of the 8120 via filed documentation. The model in the FCC's clutches isn't carrier-branded, but we figure it's a pretty safe assumption that this sucker's headed to T-Mobile, no?[Via MobileBurn]
A look at Verizon's busy summer
Please, we beg of you, take these dates with the proverbial grain of salt -- but according to sources, the dates draws near for what could be one of the busiest phone launching quarters for The Network ever. Word on the street is that several phones should be launching shortly including UTStarcom Libra at the end of June, the Palm Treo 755p, UTStarcom Titan, Sierra Wireless 595U USB aircard, and the Motorola Q9M (aka iPhone Killer) rounding out the month of July. A few other honorable mentions we'd like to throw in for ya: looks like the Samsung I760 might be forced to downgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0 in order to make the summer launch schedule, the Treo 800W is on track for late August and BlackBerry Pearl 8120 some time in the fourth quarter of the year. Not a bad list, eh?[Thanks, Jesse and HTC Kid]
Red Pearl makes its debut on Rogers
Leave it to Rogers to sneak out another color in the BlackBerry Pearl stable without having an official announcement anywhere in sight. Since May 9, Rogers has been quietly selling the candy apple red 8120 (8100, just kidding) for $249.99 (about $230) on a (gulp!) three year contract. Now, the only question is why would RIM and Rogers release the Pearl in such a lovely shade without a ton of fanfare? Maybe they were still backlogged from other events. [Via Howard Forums]
