Regular readers of my blog will know how much I love the iPhone but hate the keyboard or rather lack thereof. There are two reasons why I keep the phone though: firstly because it’s scratched so I doubt anyone would buy it and secondly I love the email and internet on it. I think though, I’ve finally found a replacement for the phone.
Firstly the specs are better than anything Research In Motion (the company that builds the BlackBerry’s) has ever released before. We’re looking at a powerful 624Mhz processor (4 Mhz faster than the iPhone), HSDPA, Wifi, GPS and support for up to 16 gig Micro SD cards.
The phone has a 320X480 resolution screen which is higher than most phones. Best of all it has a proper keyboard and I’m willing to sacrifice on screen size for a decent keyboard as it’s ultimately the keyboard that makes a phone usable. Included is a camera and a new interface that is supposedly more user friendly and simple. Another gripe I have with the iPhone is battery life and that BlackBerry Bold features a massive 1500mAh battery which should be good for 5 hours of talktime.
It’s also important to mention that RIM has created a fund of $150 million for developers of applications for their platforms.
What I find impressive is that features such as Wi-fi and GPS are now basically standard. Could this be the ultimate business phone? Well with the impending release of the new Apple iPhone which will feature 3G and better integration to business servers the market is about to get exciting.
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Wow! Thats a nice phone. I was researching the Curve this weekend. The new interface looks good. And i love how they have offset the number pad to the far left of the face so that you can dial with one hand!
I have an iPaq that I’ve stopped using cos of exactly that… its outright impossible to use it with one hand!
Any clues on pricing and availability yet?
Nicest looking smartphone I’ve ever seen.
No word yet on price but expected to be around $300-$500 on the AT&T network.
Availability in the US is their summer so within the next 3 months or so.
I’m not impressed that this post has only popped up now considering I got a new phone just last week!
Very pretty. I am off to sulk about my now-not-so-cool-E61i… Know if/when it will be available in SA?
The E61i is a great phone!
No idea when this will be released in SA. I’m assuming the end of the year the latest.
Have you considered the N95 8GB? I’m using it now, and I have no complaints.
@Haydndup: Theoretically the N95 8GB is the perfect phone in terms of features. Two problems are that I break slidey phones and that I’ve been spoilt by a QWERTY keyboard for a while now.
Yea, I’d have to agree with you on the QWERTY keyboard – they do come in useful.
With regard to the sliding keyboard, mine has proven to very durable (this includes dropping it while the keyboard was extended).
nice piece of phone!
Im loving this phone but cant seem to get a price tag on it and an outlet that sells them besides the overpriced Vodaoutlets!!
New info points at around August so it’s a while still.
Get ready for BB 9000. It is gona come in USA at the end of this month. Got a Email from a Canadian compnay (SNtraders) and the said that they r getting few
units within few days but they didnt confirm the price but acording to them it will B around 650$
Ouch, that’s pretty expensive considering the iPhone is $200.
Blackberry still needs to prove why they are better than Apple besides for the whole “having a keyboard” issue.
I have had my hands on the Blackberry Bold and it fits nicely into the hand. I think you will all find it a lot thinner then it looks in the photos, I work for vodafone myself and have been holding out for a new smart photo, Form me it was between the Samsung i900 and the Bold. We got the i90o the other day and as good as it looks and its spec kida matches the bold. The Windows OS and slowed it rite down. Yes the i900 has the 5mp camera but you can only open the cam applications once everything else is shut down otherwise it does not have enough system memory. As always Windows Mobile’s ways of making it hard to shut down applications have spoilt i good looking high spec device. The blackberry bold has the capability to open and edit Microsoft Documents while running the BB OS that we all know it quick. BB virgins should not be put off by using a different OS as this is fantastic and after a few days you will never go back. The Bold should be in Vodafone stores on 4th September.
For people in USA and Canada whom want to buy it now.it is available online too have seen a deal on
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1422961
it is a sim free and unlocked version, mean no restriction for using it with any network.
Does anyone know it this phone will be available from mtn as well? I’ve been holding out for it…not upgrading my contract. Please give me the good news asap…
mwah
oh yeah…and also when it will be available from mtn…if at all?
Thanx
Hi Niki
Unfortunately there is no info about the South African Bold yet. Considering MTN just “launched” the Pearl I think we may be in for a wait. I’m also holding out for this phone so I feel your pain!
Bold Available from MTN:
MTNDoor 0831233667
R349 on Anytime200 Contract
where can i buy the blakberry gold in durban?
regards neil
i am a nashua subscriber , on talk 500 , anyone know if i can upgrade to bb bold?
I have been using the Blackberry Bold since it was launched and I have to admit that is the best phone RIM has ever produced. Very easy to unlock as well.
David
The GSM Unlocker