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 @ 11:52 am, Sam K Said:
Evilhomer, you said “do you think that we really care to hear about what devices you DON’T like?” Well I wish you could learn how to read. I never said I didn’t like the iPhone. In fact I said it was a nice device with a great interface. I simply said I’m tired of the Apple iPhone fanboys talking about it like it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. MMS was just one example of a missing feature from the iPhone. It also doesn’t have 3g network support, GPS, stereo Bluetooth or a memory card slot. Up until recently you could only send text messages to one recipient at a time. Recently they fixed that with a software upgrade. It also has a built in battery and you have to pay over $80 to get it replaced if it goes bad. The point I was trying to make was that a mobile phone costing $400 shouldn’t have basic features missing.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 12:24 pm, JSanders Said:
I had an employee run some enhancing on the that initial photo to enhance the reflection of the guy holding the device in his hand… to determine who it is…
posted here:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/rumor-mill/127756-no-4-5-but-clamshell.html#post914581
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On May 1, 2008 @ 12:29 pm, Bill Andrews Said:
Looks horrible. Maybe 5 years ago it would of been great
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On May 1, 2008 @ 12:34 pm, Ed Said:
This is one UGLY device. Seriously ugly. I think RIM is getting desperate…
Verdict:
U
G
L
Y
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On May 1, 2008 @ 12:35 pm, Newtonjack Said:
Looks to me it will have consumer rich features, MPs player, Video and camera etc.
Now if they put GPS and wi fi? That will be a killer device.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 12:35 pm, luc-mobile Said:
Regarding the position of the buttons: it is correct. The Blackberry is too feature-rich, so you end up using the Menu and Escape buttons a lot more often. The Call and End Call buttons are not used as often. Maybe they are if you talk a lot, but those are pressed just once for each call, unlike the Menu and Escape, that may be pressed many times while you’re using an application.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 1:08 pm, Kevin Said:
Yes yes yes! I will have to snatch this little beauty as soon as it’s released. I’m surprised they were integrate the trackball into a clamshell model. The only thing that could be bothersome is having to repeatedly open the phone in order to send messages if you are a heavy messenger. I text/email constantly so this may be in the open position all day and just closed *IF* I decide to put it in my pocket. My pearl is glued to my hand. Kudos RIM!
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On May 1, 2008 @ 1:47 pm, mayday Said:
ugliest phone to date for RIM. they would have me sold if it flipped open like the LG env. also the flat key and suretype keyboard are deal killers for me.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 1:53 pm, TreBlizzie Said:
Bout time. I hope that audio jack is 3.5mm like it looks in the picture.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 2:16 pm, ChrisNYC Said:
@luc-mobile
“The Blackberry is too feature-rich,”
IMO, there’s no such thing as too feature rich.
You’re more than welcome not to use all the features on any device, and certainly most people keep to a finite amount of features.
But when I hear people say something’s too feature rich, I’m thinking they haven’t bothered to RTFM.
No offense meant.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 2:58 pm, drythirst Said:
BGR Blakcberry rumor causes RIM stock to jump!
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080501.wrim0501/GIStory/
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On May 1, 2008 @ 3:07 pm, bbchristopher Said:
Not to be down on my favorite company, but… I don’t like it too much. Lets see something more innovative, or cutting edge!
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On May 1, 2008 @ 3:26 pm, Hainesy Said:
If this is indeed legit, I think it is going to be their entry level product, geared towards the teen-ish crowd that can’t afford the Pearl and prefer flip phones. I doubt it will see the success of the Pearl, but you never know. Blackberries have a “cool” aura to them and this might just take hold.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 4:12 pm, subzerohf Said:
Sure, with a phone that thick, they can afford to have a phone jack of any size.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 5:30 pm, Meany Said:
July 2007? Could be an old prototype?
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On May 1, 2008 @ 6:29 pm, T.K Said:
are you hiding in RIM’s men’s room? hehe…
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On May 1, 2008 @ 6:29 pm, aalqadaffi Said:
That’s really terrible. What was that one T-Mobile flip phone w/ the SureType pad that did PUSH. This seems a bit similar. But yes this is surely an abomination to all true RIM lovers.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 6:48 pm, Robert Said:
Is it me, or does the picture look like it was taken in a bathroom? Talk about going to great lengths to get a spy pic!
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On May 1, 2008 @ 7:27 pm, Jeff B. Said:
I kinda like it, when it’s open teh bottom of the keyboard could be sliced off to make it look better but other than that it’s not a bad looker, I guess I might buy one if I knew the entire spec. sheet on it.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 8:13 pm, pixar Said:
Ugh! Looks fugly!
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On May 1, 2008 @ 8:43 pm, btdown Said:
Sorry..I will NEVER use suretype only device. I will only buy real f’in qwerty.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 9:45 pm, galvatron Said:
you guys still don’t get it do you? thisisto deter pople from motos racket to atract the non smartphone savy folk your dumbe gilrfriend who likes flip phones. thisis to bring that type of consumer into rims fold. genius
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:17 pm, rickster Said:
Sure hope it works better than it looks.
Plus side - it’s plus-sized, which means my big hands could probably use it.
Minus side fugly, fugly, fugly
With all that space they could’ve had a 3-way slider and included a full keyboard instead of a large Suretype one.
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:42 pm, Jeff Said:
Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick
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On May 1, 2008 @ 10:48 pm, Wifiguy Said:
Blackberry would be a fool to drop this. Flip phones are the thing of the past. Blackberry needs to watch HTC, they understand what a next generation device looks like. Blackberry needs to do a form factor like the HTC Raphael and Diamond. Avoid this form factor like the plague.
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