AT&T BlackBerry Bold receives Technical Acceptance; Nov 4 launch, $300
We’ll get right to the point on this one. One of our sources notified us last night that as of 6:00 PM EST yesterday, the BlackBerry Bold has officially received Technical Acceptance from Big Blue, meaning the handset has been approved for sale by the phone gods of AT&T. Typically, TA means the handset is about two weeks from launching but we had our fingers crossed that AT&T would somehow be fast-tracking the release since the Bold has already been delayed so many times. Unfortunately it doesn’t look that that will be the case. Word is coming in now that AT&T has officially stated on this morning’s earnings call, that the Bold will be released on November 4th. We still have it on pretty good authority that October 27th was intended to be the date – looks like AT&T and RIM just had to keep the tradition of delays alive one last time before launch.
UPDATE: This just in – $300 price point yall! (Thanks Carlos)
How many people will use the excuse with their boss of they need to go vote that day but instead go to the AT&T Store to pick up a new Bold?
@JC
As stated, if you cancel your contract within 30 days to switch to another carrier, you are only charged the activation fee and the prorated charges you have used. I don’t know why you’d switch but that’s your option.
@John
What price did you expect? It’s a top end 3G capable business device. It’s not a cheap Nokia flip. This is a drop in the hat for most businesses and if you really need it, $300 is not too much to pay considering all the great services and feature you get with this device. Push email alone is worth the price of admission. If it’s still too much, wait a month or two and it will probably go down $50 to $100 (don’t quote me).
Eh, I’m a government employee so the price doesn’t bother me. I either get it on Nov. 4th, or I’m going to get it in Dec.
So if I get it on Nov. 4, I’ll get it for $199. If I get it in Dec, I’ll get it for free. I think I’m going to pay for it. I don’t want a 7290 again!
PC mag says “$299.99 with 2-year contract and mail-in rebate” does that mean that the BOLD will be $400 and AT&T will be sending you one of those crappy $100 ATT bucks gift cards thatcan only be used on ATT?
I read somewhere that the component cost of this phone was less than the iPhone. . .so why not match the iPhone price? Does RIM just want to be outsold by Apple? Seriously, what’s going on over there?
$299 with 2 year contract is too high for me. If it was $199 i would consider trading in my curve for it.
I was really hoping for $199 but ohh well.
ATT marketing sucks why same day as the elections?? It will be the last thing on the news. WTF!!!
Actual Launch Date has been moved to Nov 7th effective today!!
Actual launch date has been moved to Nov 7th as of this morning
Price be damned, I’m in. I’m rockin a Curve 8330 through Sprint with OS 4.5 and I love it BUT I’ve been waiting for this phone for too damn long. $299 is worth it for me… even if that is after rebates.
Looks like I’m “voting” twice on the 4th.
Our at&t rep called and stated she will place the order for our Bolds on Nov. 5. Sweet. Finally!
any info on full retail price? I want to figure out how much i paid to be an early adopter to get the device way early.
Interestingly on the price, I was reading a claim by the head of Vodafone Australia that they’re planning on pricing the Storm below the Bold. I wonder if Verizon will follow suit?
The price doesn’t surprise me, though- as said, this is a high end 3G business smartphone, be prepared to pay a premium…
@Big: Didn’t mean to come off as excited. Has nothing to do with this, just a hectic day at work is all.
@ AT&T Ninja
There is a $20 restocking fee on all phones. this new restocking fee just started 2 days ago.
Wow, nov 4 or 7th, which is it?
all the bold **WILL** be release Nov 4th. i have secert covert undercover peeps…so BGR is right on with the date….
November 4th. We just found out today.
AT&T Customers to Enter a ‘Bold’ New Wireless World
Breakthrough BlackBerry Smartphone Is Coming to Nation’s Fastest 3G Network; Arrives in Stores Nov. 4
DALLAS, Texas, and WATERLOO, Ontario- October 22, 2008 – AT&T customers will be entering a bold new wireless world with the launch of the BlackBerry® BoldTM, a breakthrough 3G BlackBerry® smartphone that operates on the nation’s fastest 3G network and is the first to support HSDPA networks around the world, including in Japan and Korea. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Research In Motion (Nasdaq:RIMM; TSX:RIM) announced today that the highly anticipated BlackBerry Bold smartphone will be available in the United States for as low as $299.991 on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in AT&T retail stores nationwide, through http://www.att.com and select national retailers, as well as through AT&T’s business-to-business sales teams.
@Level
Is this long enough between posts for you?
@RupertP
Andy Bernard Dunder Miflin
@ Edwin…how did you negotiate an upgrade sooner than you’re allowed? I went to at&t today and they said that it costs $18 to move upgrade to when you want. is this what you did? i’d like to follow your lead
thanks!
Of course upon reading BGR today and checking out the ATT site link, I called my account rep. He told me first that there’s no release date determined yet. So I pointed him to the ATT press release. His response is:
“I’m aware of the website, but we were told today that it’s not accurate and that we can’t start promoting it yet.”
I know, just fuel for the fire. Accurate? who knows. Just passing it on as it was given to me!
Who ever says Nov. 7th is smokin rocks.
Nov. 4th is the official date. Live training has been going on all day. Rest assured bgr-ites the BOLD is official @ $250.00 after $50.00 mailer.
@BeBoldMa…about a month and a half ago AT&T migrated my account to their new billing system. All my rate codes fell off. End result was them taking $3500 out of my bank account and essentially destroying me. They DID get it resolved and gave me credits, but I went for broke, pleaded my case, and the rep noted it was OK for early upgrade. I think if you call and sweet talk the right rep, they’ll do it. I don’t recommend having them take thousands of dollars to do it
I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be 10/27. I was in an AT&T store yesterday and the rep said 2nd half of November. BS, of course, but he made one point. If it was going to be 10/27, his store would have stock for one, and it would be in the system, and neither was the case.
So November 4…Election day lol…Is this a political move by either party to have us stuck at AT&T and not be able to vote.
…
This blows. I was looking forward to having it while on a looong drive come Halloween. I’ll love it just as much on 11/4. Got my Pro to hold me over.
3%? you gotta be joking. Do you remember where it was 2 month ago? rim is in the ruins