Sprint officially announces BlackBerry Pearl 8130
Yeah, we know that Verizon got this baby out of the gates first, kinda, but it’s still pretty exciting to see Sprint drop a brand new BlackBerry handset. The Pearl 8130 is coming to Sprint complete with a number of exclusive Sprint service, including support fro Sprint TV, Sprint Music Store, Sprint On Demand News and Alerts, and Sprint Navigation. The hardware is functionally identical to the Verizon version, but we’re guessing that the GPS in this thing won’t have the same shackles imposed by The Network, hopefully allowing for more 3rd party navigation app support. Sprint stated that the handset will be available "next month" with pricing to be announced upon commercial release. Hit the link for the full press release. Welcome to the party, Sprint.
It’s about time
too bad that it still uses an 3 years old processor from the days of Blackberry 7250!!
looks cool in that all black style. Also I believe it is a tad slimmer than the original.
Give me the 8330 or give me death!
finally!
I want the Touch (Vogue). Is it still supposed to release the same day as the Blackberry Pearl? Nov 4th?
@Crackberry 7250 seems to have had an ARM9 processor running at 250Mhz. Not the same processor, but thanks for playing.
Who cares that this Phone on sprint anyway, Sprint=Sucks
How about Rev. A in a phone for a change…
Any idea when Sprint will offer the BB Curve??
HERE HERE…
I second the above comment…
When the hell is Sprint releasing the Curve???
@Roberto
well that was a real intelligent response. thanks for such a great comment.
anyways this phone i know will sell decently well. have a few friends with T-mobile and at&t that want to switch to Sprint for this phone.
Nino
@ Nino.
You’re friends must be oblivious if they are with TMO and ATT but will switch over to Sprint because of the Pearl. Are they not using the Pearl that is offered right now on TMO and ATT for the past year? Is the upgrade that drastic from the original to switch over to Sprint, who has a customer support department that is legendary along with rates that top the industry?
While phones are important, service (both call quality, rates, and customer support) is just as important. If your friends are moving over to Sprint, good luck.
At least go to Verizon if they want this phone. The data service is the best in the nation and their network is solid. Rates are high, but not much more than Sprints.
I’m a TMO Pearl user and will take a look at the VZW phone once it comes out. If VZW lowers the BB plan as rumored, then it may be hard not to switch over to them.
Sprint has better coverage and faster data than anyone else, including Verizon. Verizon will most likely disable many cool phone features.
I can do not understand why people say Sprint and VZW suck compared to ATT and TMO. CDMA has better US coverage and faster data. So I can’t use my phone out of the US. When traveling, I dont want to use it anyway.
I would consider switching to GSM when they get a decent data network, but not till then!!
Anyone disagree??
@ Andy.
Sprint is not the most reliable network out there, nor do they have the best coverage. They report customer loss each quarter and now the CEO has been removed. The customer service is legendary and their average billing per month per customer was # 2 (behind Nextel…huh).
I’m not out to bash the company here, but when shopping around and doing my homework and research, the two that keep coming up are TMO and VZW.
TMO – great customer service, excellent rate plans. Subpar coverage compared to all the others.
VZW – decent customer service, overpriced rate plans, however, the best reliability as far as the 4 major networks go.
AT&T just drops too many damn calls for me to consider anything of theirs. I’ve used them, as well as family and friends, with the same results.
So yeah…I’d disagree.
I agree that Sprint’s customer service sucks. The reason they are losing so many customers is that they do not get good phones and their customer service is def. horrible.
However, they do have the fastest data network and the best coverage of any network, including Verizon.
I traveled all around the country with work for 4 years with a VZW business phone and a Sprint personal phone. The Sprint device was much more reliable then the VZW.
Well I guess if Sprint is going to carry the CDMA BB 8130 Pearl, then Bell Mobility in Canada can’t be too far behind!! (I hope.)
Does anyone know, for sure, if and when RIM will be introducing the CDMA BB 8330 Curve? That is what I’m waiting for.
- CB
I have been a loyal Sprint user for over 8 years and have never had an issue with them. They have always treated me right. I am using the BlackBerry 8830 right now but will upgrade to the new Pearl in November. I like the smaller size with the added new functions not available on the 8830. Can’t wait until November 24th.