Verizon announces BlackBerry Pearl 8130, new BlackBerry plans
Oh the sweet smell of victory! Verizon Wireless has officially announced the first American-bound CDMA BlackBerry Pearl. The Verizon BlackBerry 8130 is no secret horse, having been rumored and revealed time and time again. Even so, it’s nice to see our CDMA-loving friends get a bit of SureType love. The Verizon Pearl sports Ev-DO, GPS (which happens to be locked to Verizon’s proprietary VZ Navigator), a new browser, 3.5 mm headphone jack, and an external microSD slot that provides support for cards up to 8GB in capacity. Not too shabby. The handset will be available online and in physical stores on November 8th for a somewhat shockingly high price of $249.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate. On the flip side, Verizon is bringing its BlackBerry BIS plans in line with Sprint’s recent price drop, offering unlimited data for $29.99 a month. Not too bad.
Thanks, to everyone that sent this in!
actually, the unlimited data is still 44.99 a month. the 29.99 plan is for 10mb a month. tethering IS still 15$a month, and text messaging is NOT part of the unlimited data. if you want text messaging its $10 for 500 plus unlimited to vzw customers $15 for 1500 and $20 for 5000
and I ordered mine today and got the fedex tracking number and it shipped already….
yum yum said the bear…
-db
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Geez, I’m so tired of all the complaining about crippled Verizon phones. Especially complaining about VZNavigator. Have you used it? It works fantastic.
For $10 per month for a great application, you can’t bitch unless you are cheap. Sure, there are free options for others, but what is the problem with paying for something that works? Most of you probably spend more than $10 per week on coffee.
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shipped, should recieve it monday, not happy when I ordered I didn’t get the 50 dollar mail in rebate so I will be sure to call them first thing in the morning.
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Oh I dunno mike mayby because by default the GPS is built into the device without need to use whorizen navigator not only dose verizon disable the gps wich on other carriers is enabled an you don’t pay service fee for but the slot were the sim card goes ios locked too. Expect to fght to get the unlock code your entitled to and they say dose not exist but dose.
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$29.99 plan is ulimited web and email (BIS only) if you want BES is $44.99. I changed plans on my 8830 today. $15 is still same for tethering.
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to say that vzw is copying sprint is the most retarded thing i have ever read on BGR.
RIM is imposing the pricing of $29.99 on all carriers for the new pearl for non BES coverage.
just because sprint announced it first doesn’t mean another company is copying them. get real. if you worked that way then sprint is copying vzw for releasing the pearl this month, seeing as in how vzw released theirs today.
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I ordered it for $299 minus $100 on line store discount. Then I got another $100 off saying it was a preorder special. I paid $99 w/ a 2 year contract! CANNOT BEAT THAT. No rebate mentioned anywhere that I can see though. And mine shipped today too! Yipeeeee.
Katherine
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Sprints plan is sooo much better…. Includes Unlimited email, internet, text messaging, Sprint TV and Navig……
I’m soo happy i’m with sprint
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@ Galvatron
The built in GPS does not offer turn by turn driving directions, as far as I know. Nor does it contain the constantly updated database of information. The GPS function that comes with the Blackberry can tell you where you are. I don’t need that. I know where I am.
As far as unlocking, that is only a concern if you plan on switching carriers. I don’t since I am very happy with the service and support from Verizon. But thanks for staying so predictable.
You must be correct that all of us on Verizon are idiots and you are the smart one. Just look at how well your posts are written…we must be the dumb ones.
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I know there are probably not enough actual users yet, but does anybody have any estimates of how the RF/call quality is on this (based on tests/reviews, or even on other BBs)?
My primary concern is excellent phone service. I’ve been very happy with my “real” Nokias on vzw for a few years now, and based on my own personal experience and what I think is the general consensus, the Motorolas and older Nokias have noticeably better signal strength and quality on vzw than LG/Samsung/whatever. I’m just wondering how BBs fit into that, and the 8130 in particular - I need to get a smartphone for work and I’m leaning heavily towards this BB.
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I went to the downtown Boston VZ store this morning, and despite the fact online the pre-order label has been removed…they insist that the device will not be available in the stores until the 8th.
This may change, I don’t usually see VZ make things available exclusively online.
Either way I am probably going to have to wait for my corporate VZ Rep to place my order.
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Could someone please explain what “tethering” is.
Also, you can’t knock the VZNavigator until you’ve used it. It’s extremely user friendly even when you’re driving. I think it’s flawless! You don’t have to take my word for it… check it out for yourself.
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I live in DC metro and Verizon works on the subway, underground. They’re the only carrier to do that. AT&T has no 3G BBs and their voice coverage in this region leaves something to be desired. Sprint has the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced.
Simply put, Verizon makes those high margins because of their service. It’s unfortunate they don’t compete on phones, but at the end of the day I need to use my phone on a network otherwise it’s an expensive brick.
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Is this considered the Pearl 2? or just a pearl with CDMA and shitty software that verizon puts on?? If this isnt the pearl 2 any word on when that is coming out??
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guys, what is the BES and BIS you are talking about? i was waiting for the the price drop so i can get the world edition, is there any major difference between getting BIS and BES?
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PHONE AVALIABLE NOW, just ordered on line and called VZW on line cussotmer care. They upgraded my shipping to overnight…it will be at my house by 3 pm tomorrow…
Just got email confirm from Fedex…
Enjoy your new toy everyone, we only had to wait a year after everyone else…
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Tethering is when you attach the BB device with a USB cable to your laptop. Using the VZ Access Manager software it allows you to get online using the BB device as a “data modem”
It costs $15 a month on top of the usual data service fee of $44.95…Verizon calls the service Broadband Connect.
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BES = Blackberry Enterprise Server (Corporate Mail)
BIS = Blackberry Internet Service (Personal Mail…like Comcast, Adelphia, and AOL)
On Verizon you don’t choose one or the other they are both available. Obviously your company needs to be running a BES Server.
I manage a corporate network, we have two BES servers with about 200 BB devices total.
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Follow up to previous post
PRICE:
Order phone with full data plan and save an extra $100, this plus the rebate of $50 and the phones final cost is $50 plus tax.
In one week if you do not need the tether feature, call and downgrade plan to email/web only ($15 less per month) they willl prorate and you saved another 85 -95 bones.
Happy hunting, and enjoy the new toy…
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If verizon can turn off a feature of a device and charge you MONEY they do it. Any possible way they can get more money more money.
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Mike on the tower,
Galvatron is ALWAYS going to dig and dig.
Some you cannot please. Oh in regards to the GPS service with horizon it is truly outstanding, although I have used Telenav and been happy also.
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i think crackberry said it was 150 with 2 year life signing
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Just got mine in hand this afternoon. Had to add picture messaging (I have the family plan and it was included but my prior blackberry wasn’t capable of getting pictures). If you had a blackberry before, make sure that you call up and add it. Also they claim that the $29.00 is for unlimited messages and surfing. Is that true? I switched since I was paying $44.00. They give you a case but it can’t attach to anything. I just activated it and works fine. Now going to Costco to get a SD card.
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Ordered my Pearl today and already got a shipment conformation. Yeah I think it stinks that Verizon locked the GPS Option, but in the end. I’ve never had to use GPS, not in my car, nor anywhere else. Call me old fashioned but I’m only 21 years old and I can read a road map just fine, i’m not too crippled by technology to rely on GPS or Turn by Turn navigation. As for the pricing of the phone After my 2 year obligation and after mail in rebait, I only had to pay $50.00 in the end. Thanks VZN keep up the EXCELLENT work.
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They just e-mailed me the rebate form which I guess is automatic if you ordered on-line. The receipt has to be dated before the 26th of this month. My net cost will be $49.00, $299.00 less $100, less by $100.00 2 year credit, less $50.00. Not bad! The phone is great. (as I said before, the only problem is the case)
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