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BlackBerry 8130 vs. BlackBerry 9100... fight!
Some of us at Engadget HQ won't ever be sold on the merits of SureType over good, old-fashioned QWERTY, but there's clearly a market for it -- RIM's BlackBerry Pearl series almost singlehandedly catapulted Waterloo into the consumer market, after all, and the upcoming 9100 looks to refine the formula to a crisp, golden brown perfection. Here, we've got one of the originals -- the 8130 -- beaming proudly next to its offspring, and RIM seems to have done a commendable job updating the package in all the right ways (optical trackpad, Bold 9700-esque design elements) while carrying over most of what the old model great. And knowing these guys, you'll be able to get it in a billion colors and special edition designs -- but for now, you can have these comparo shots in any color you want, as long as it's black.
Sprint's BlackBerry 8130 and 8330 get 4.5 update
For Pearl and Curve 8300 owners, BlackBerry OS 4.5 is something of a holy grail -- awesome, but pretty hard to find because carriers have generally been slow to roll it out. Fortunately, Sprint has graced owners of the 8130 and 8330 with the latest and greatest pre-4.6 goods, and what's more, tipsters are telling us that the latest version enables MMS messages. MMS, really? Reminds us of the year 2004, our road trip to the Canadian Rockies, and a simpler, more innocent time. But we digress; if you've got one of these devices, go kick off the download and get ready to play almost-catch-up to the 4.6-based 8350i, why don't you?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Verizon offloading Pearls for a Jackson
The age of the ultra-cheap (and non-repulsive) smartphone is officially upon us, and Verizon would like to throw its hat into the ring by offering the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 for the ridiculously low price of $19.99 on contract after $100 mail-in rebate "while supplies last." We'd obviously rather be able to slap down twenty right in the store and take the Pearl home with us, but 'round here, rebates are more the rule than the exception, so we're used to it. Keep it up, Verizon -- maybe Storms for $20 next?[Via Boy Genius Report]
Virgin Mobile Canada gets around to adding BlackBerry Pearl 8130
Usually we'd say that late trumps never, but in this case, we're not so sure. Two months shy of a full year after RIM announced the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 for CDMA carriers, Virgin Mobile Canada is just now adding the handset to its arsenal. We'll go ahead and assume you already know what this thing is packing, so here's the dirt you aren't familiar with: free on a 3-year contract (as if!), $299 on a 2-year plan, $349 on a 1-year plan (have we reached the absurdity ceiling yet?) and $399 on a 30-day contract (ah, there it is).[Via mobilesyrup]
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]
Planar's PD8150 and PD8130 1080p DLP projectors shipping in March
If Mitsubishi's polite pair of projectors weren't enough to satisfy those impeccably high standards of yours, we've all ideas that Planar's duo won't let you down. First spotted at Runco / Planar's zanily themed booth at CEDIA, it seems that Planar is just now getting around to giving us a ship date that we can dutifully pencil in. The flagship PD8150 -- which checks in with a glorious 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 1,000 ANSI lumens and a 15,000:1 contrast ratio -- will finally ship in early March for $7,999. As for the $5,999 PD8130, which also hits the road in March, you can expect the same resolution with a slightly lower 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Pretty tempting, no? [Via AboutProjectors]
Verizon's pink BlackBerry 8130 now available
In case you're too good (or too bad) for the original silver version, the previously outed pink variant of Verizon's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is now available. Think of it as light red, if you will. Grab it for $199 on contract after rebate, and if you play your cards right (that is, sign up for a qualifying voice and data plan) you can pocket another $100.
Alltel announces LG Scoop, Samsung Muse, and red BlackBerry Pearl 8130
Alltel's emphasizing the cool, fashion-friendly, stylish side of the three phones it's officially announcing today. First up, the LG Scoop is a dead ringer for the Rumor found on Sprint, featuring a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and a side-sliding QWERTY keyboard for the text maniacs among us; it'll be available in black, blue, and orange. Next, the Samsung Muse is a midrange flip with a penchant for audio (hence the name), rocking out with a 2 megapixel shooter, stereo Bluetooth, and a dedicated music key. Finally, the BlackBerry 8130 -- already launched in "amethyst" -- gets redone in red. No word on exactly when these puppies will be available, but all three will launch before the first quarter's out, and you can preorder the red 8130 immediately.
Hands-on with Sprint and Verizon's new BlackBerry 8130 color choices
We stopped by BlackBerry for a brief visit -- and to try and get the skinny on the 8xxx -- and low and behold the new 8130's were there for us to check out. The red set was branded Sprint, but the Powderpuff pink Pearl while the right color lacked Verizon branding. Either way, enjoy the pics of the new playful tones for your favorite RIM devices by following the gallery links below.%Gallery-12917%
BlackBerry Pearl 8130 spotted in red on Sprint
Wow it seems like new-color-for-BlackBerry-Pearl-8130 day over here at Engadget Mobile is in full swing. First we saw a Powderpuff Pink 8130 appear in Verizon's stable and now it seems the cat's out of the bag for Sprint's update. While this isn't listed on the site, apparently you can get at it now if you're arranging to pick up a new one. Enjoy the new choices friends.
Verizon adds pink option for BlackBerry Pearl 8130
The BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on Verizon is now pretty in pink, and while we know at least a couple readers are going to be stoked to see another color option, isn't the powderpuff pink option reserved for Paris Hilton and friends? Nothing much more to say here as the specs are identical to the 8130 we mentioned way back when, but just pinker. The handset is listed as "coming soon" on Verizon's Next site, but we'll be sure to post up the details on release when we see 'em.[Via PhoneMag]
Is this Sprint's crystal ball for January and February?
If there's one thing we'd like more than a Rumor with fixed firmware, it's a Rumor in green. Alright, that's a little bit of a stretch, but it looks like we're going to get one nonetheless; Sprint's latest Playbook is circulating among the ranks, revealing a supposed green Rumor dropping on February 17. The pink Centro we've heard so much about should be available on January 13 alongside a red version of the BlackBerry Pearl 8130, the first in-store appearance of the Sanyo S1 candybar, and a new iDEN piece in the form of the Motorola i570. Keeping the green Rumor company on the 17th of next month will be the Samsung m520 slider (yay?) and -- maybe most notably of the whole lot -- the Samsung Ace, Sprint's answer to the whole BlackJack craze.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Alltel's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 now available
A friendly reminder to our friends on Alltel: your very own BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is now available. Announced last month, Alltel's 8130 is pretty much like any other 8130, which is to say it's 3.4 ounces of emailin', SureTypin' happiness in a lovely "amethyst" shade that should be appropriate for both business and personal users. GPS, microSDHC support, a 3.5mm jack, and a 2 megapixel cam headline the feature list -- but then again, you Sprint and Verizon peeps already know all about that, don't you? Track down the 8130 on Alltel now for a shade under $150 after $100 rebate.
Motorola Q9c, i335 / Blackberry Pearl 8130 on sale at Sprint
It's not like you didn't know this day was coming, but Sprint users eagerly awaiting the actual release of Motorola's Q9c / i335 or the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 can quit sitting on their hands. That right folks, as of now, all three of the aforementioned handsets are available on Sprint, and while we're sure you're up to speed on all the specs, here's the down low on prices. After a two-year agreement and mail-in rebate, the i335 will run you $49.99, while the Q9c demands $149.99 and the Pearl 8130 rings up at $199.99. Take your pick -- the trio is on sale now online and in Sprint stores everywhere.Read - Motorola Q9c / i335 on sale at SprintRead - BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on sale at Sprint
Alltel getting BlackBerry Pearl 8130
It didn't want to get left out of the RAZR 2 craze, and it doesn't intend to get left out here, either. Alltel has announced that it'll be adding RIM's CDMA BlackBerry Pearl -- the 8130 -- to its lineup in time for the holidays. It'll come in an "amethyst" shade and feature the same GPS, EV-DO, 2 megapixel cam, and external microSDHC slot featured on its Sprint and Verizon cousins. No word on an exact release date just yet, but when it is available, it'll run $150 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Register your interest now over at Alltel's site.
Sprint's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 will run $199
The existence and imminent launch of the Pearl on Sprint is no secret whatsoever; Sprint has announced it and heck, we've even played with it. One thing Sprint had been coy about revealing, though, was pricing. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the rough range Sprint would be looking to hit, of course, but it's nice to know exactly how many pennies we need to save up to make a particular phone materialize in our pockets, isn't it? It turns out that that holiday promotion site -- you know, the one that caused the whole Motorola Q2 confusion -- revealed that little gem, and the going price is $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate, two-year contract, and purchase of a data plan valued at $25 or higher. Sound fair?[Thanks, Terry S.]
BlackBerry 8130 makes its way to Telus
It seems only fitting that RIM would launch its BlackBerry Pearl 2 in the motherland, doesn't it? Available immediately, the 8130 is on sale with the carrier for a penny under $200 CAD on a three-year contract, $400 on a two-year, and $450 on a one-year, and a whopping $500 without a contract. Just in case the features slipped your mind, we'll run 'em past you again: EV-DO radio, 2 megapixel camera with video recording, Bluetooth with A2DP, media player, and expandable memory via microSD. If anyone up there has a pocketbook brave enough to bear such pricing, sound off in comments and let us know what you think of the latest 'Berry. [Thanks, Don C.]
Verizon's BlackBerry Pearl gets new data plans, too
They're still miles away from T-Mobile's ridiculously cheap $10 for unlimited BlackBerry email, but Verizon's trying to reach out to a more personal, consumer-based audience as it preps to launch its own Pearl with a new data pricing structure of its own. Unlimited web and email will run you $29.99 when purchased with a voice plan, $34.99 without, offering support for up to ten POP3 and IMAP accounts. Again, T-Mobile's got these cats beat hands-down if saving dinero is the priority -- but then again, Verizon takes the cake for total coverage area and, of course, 3G speed. Pick your poison.
Verizon's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 now available for pre-order
We've had plenty of face time with this little guy already, but Verizon Wireless has finally fessed up to a precise release date and price point for its EV-DO BlackBerry Pearl 8130. The phone is available for pre-order at $200 with a 2 year contract and an automatic $100 online discount, and will ship out on November 8th. Let's see if that's good enough to beat Sprint's version to market.
Hands-on with Sprint's BlackBerry Pearl 8130
Happy day, we bumped into Sprint's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 this aft at CTIA and not surprisingly it's a lot like the other Pearl we all know and love, but in a richer, smoother CDMA flavor. We dig it -- as we do all of RIM's creations -- in a business handset kind of way, and thought that some pics would make somebody happy before they head on down to pick one up -- once they hit retail in November, that is. Follow the link to see the pics.%Gallery-9017%
