BlackBerry Kickstart, the clamshell flip phone? We’re unveiling it to you for the first time!
133 comments
Filed in BG's Corner, BlackBerry, Exclusives, Handsets
Are you ready, people? We’ve been holding this info for a while now trying to confirm it, but no more! We have here pictures of a new BlackBerry device. It is a BlackBerry clamshell — a flip phone and codenamed the Kickstart! Let me repeat this. This isn’t fake, this isn’t a hoax. We’ve known RIM is planning to launch a flip phone within the year, and we now have the pictures to prove it! As you can see, it uses a SureType keyboard, has an external LCD, and a pretty decent looking internal LCD. It also uses the TrackBall for navigation and does have a camera. We’re hearing a release date before the end of the year. What do y’all think of it? Hit the gallery for all the pictures of the brand new BlackBerry flip phone!
On May 1, 2008 @ 3:22 am, w4lker Said:
FAIL
I know a Pearl With A Hinge when I see one.
RIM has had 16 months to come up with The Next Great iPhone Killer and all they did was put a hinge on the friggin Pearl?
Research In Motion, I short thee.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 5:51 am, specced Said:
I’m gonna assume it’s ugly because it’s an engineering prototype, and that RIM will have the good sense to give it some lipstick/mascara before it sees commercial release.
iPhone killer? Who gives a shit, that’s not what this thing’s about. There’s a big market for something like this, especially if it’s aggressively priced: mom, dad, the kids, pretty much anyone looking for a new phone, even if it’s only to get a suretype keyboard that makes texting your booty call slightly easier when you’re wrecked. And it could be a great way for corporations to effectively (and cheaply) deploy BBs lower down the corporate ladder, to users who wouldn’t want to carry around a QWERTY device. The Pearl just looks “smaller, pussier BB device”, but the flip adds a certain “je-ne-sais-quoi” that’ll probably attract a lot more dumbphone or casual smartphone users. Shit, I’d buy one of these.
Not to mention that the form factor will make it more comfortable to use as a phone than any other BB device. Hey RIM, maybe a dual slider device with kick while you’re at it?
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On May 1, 2008 @ 6:26 am, Rex Said:
RIM doesn’t need an iPhone killer. There is no iPhone Killer - the only thing that will kill the iPhone is the iPhone 2.0.
Apple, however, still needs a blackberry killer…
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On May 1, 2008 @ 7:05 am, bb9000 Said:
for someone to say these photos are fake. pisses me off. why are you even on here?
secondly to bg. this is a great marketing ploy. lol. every tech site from apple to zipit has you post and 90% have a link to your site.
3rd if any skeptics out there. why dont you go look at every tech site. see what there headline says. and look where they got it from and you have doubt?? this is the site. THE ONLY SITE people look for rummors with truth. within one hour of bg reporting this. it was up on 50 different sites. whats that tell people. that bg is the site people hover over waiting for news because they cant get there own…
still dont know if i love it or hate it.. but cant wait to play with it
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On May 1, 2008 @ 8:43 am, Mark Said:
Ehhh… Not the phone for me
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On May 1, 2008 @ 8:51 am, M Said:
R U for real? BGR I am going to call BS on you today…if you “knew this for a long time” why are you just now coming out with it.
Also it looks TOTALLY fake for so many reasons. Or like it was a prototype from 2004.
c’mon MAN or boy
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:14 am, Griz Said:
Blackberry should be ashamed.. this ugly candy bar goes against everything Blackberry has always been!
Looks like someone took that phone to the bathroom to snap those pics…which is where the phone belongs!
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:30 am, subzerohf Said:
Look! in the sky….it’s a brick, it’s a phone, it’s a flip phone!
Have we time-travelled back to 2002???
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:31 am, Blackberry192 Said:
Ew…
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:32 am, res08hao Said:
yawn. boring.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:41 am, Fil Said:
def a fake look at it!! it is in the same shape of a LG shine.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:42 am, Sam K Said:
This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. I agree that it’s not the best looking device. I just hope they don’t take forever to come out with a CDMA version for Verizon. Ever since I saw the Samsung t719 clamshell with the Surtype keyboard I always wondered why RIM never made a clamshell version of the Pearl. I really hope this has a 240 x 320 pixel QVGA screen.
On a side note, I’m so tired of the Apple iPhone fanboys. The iPhone is a nice device with a great interface but considering the cost, it should not be missing features like MMS.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:54 am, Cellular Sam Said:
Some people are just used to bar style and are quick to judge. It’s just a different form factor that will attract new customers that want flip phones. Anyone who’s ever worked in wireless knows this.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:00 am, ChrisNYC Said:
LOL, me thinks someone’s in trouble for using the old “I just gotta use the bathroom, right back” trick.
It doesn’t appear to have a larger screen than the Pearl, and the Surtype area is the same. There’s just more wasted space at the bottom, and where the hinge is.
If it gave you more screen, or more type surface…otherwise I don’t get it. It’s gotta be marketing, cause it’s not adding anything as far as I see. Good work BG.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:02 am, Evilhomer Said:
What’s wrong with you people already hating on this device? Who cares if you think it’s too ugly or too big? There is nothing wrong with a company offering a variety of devices.
I don’t think anyone here give a crap if you like your Pearl better, or will only use a qwerty keyboard. It’s choice. If you think there is not a market for a blackberry flip phone then you need to get out of your mothers basement once in awhile. If you don’t like it, don’t effin buy it.
Sam K: I can assure you that the Apple Fan Boys are just as sick of haters like you basing on the device every chance you get. Most adults could care less about MMS. Pictures sent that way usually suck because they have to be low quality and they cost money. Just email the photo. You get a better quality photo and it doesn’t cost extra. The iPhone is what it is and is evolving daily. If it doesn’t suit your needs, don’t get it. But do you think that we really care to hear about what devices you DON’T like?
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:08 am, bb9000 Said:
i agree 101% with evilhomer… i like that there branching out… who knows whats under the batter of that bad boy.. watch out now…. rims a commin
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:29 am, Maurice Said:
hmmm, ill have to hold it
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:30 am, ChrisNYC Said:
>>>.. watch out now…. rims a commin
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:39 am, ChrisNYC Said:
Oops, it chopped short my reply.
I was saying that with the RIMM stock up 600% since 1/06, I’d say they’ve already arrived.
People will see this clamshell out on the floor and be quite surprised when they flip it open…”Woah, it’s a BlackBerry!”
I bet it sells well.
My only criticism was I’d like to have seen a clear benefit to the design, like a little bigger screen.
Good work RIMM.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:44 am, VerSe Said:
What is the purpose of this. What real need would one have for it to be a flipphone, makes no sense and doesn’t need look hot at all. One BB i’m not proud of!
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:53 am, boston Said:
wow thats quite possibly one of the ugliest phones i’ve ever seen…
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On May 1, 2008 @ 11:10 am, Olga Said:
Not a fan of suretype but I do love the idea of BB creating flip-smartphones. Maybe down the road they’ll make this thing a little less of an eye-sore. (Love Verizon’s service and I keep thinking Verizon will take it, judging by appearance =)
Thanks BGR, this was a nice surprise!
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On May 1, 2008 @ 11:22 am, thefencechild Said:
wow, why does making a flip phone mean RIM is going back in time? Last time I checked flip phones are released on a constant bases. It’s still the second most popular form factor behind sliders(which I’ll never get). Besides, everyone is trying to develop different ways to produce the same product but slightly different so maybe people who didnt buy the old devices will buy the new one. It’s called trying to expand your audience otherwise known as……. business
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On May 1, 2008 @ 11:38 am, Sam Said:
Well the photo is interesting (dummy model, I think. The date on the fake display is July of 2007???)
BUUTTTT, I like the idea. This would really target the consumer market instead of the business market. Perhaps this is a little something for the consumers, now what about the enterprise users???
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On May 1, 2008 @ 11:46 am, Sam Said:
Oh No! And the microUSB charger? WTF? Why can’t all the manufacturers just get on the same charging bandwagon so that I don’t have to have a mess of charging wires coming out of my cigarette lighter???
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