Verizon Pearl for going for $19.99, get ‘em while they’re hot!
Well if this isn’t a nice way to start of 2009, we don’t know what is. Sort of. Verizon is offering the ever popular BlackBerry Pearl 8130 in both silver and pink at the ridiculously low price of $19.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. A 2-year contract is naturally required, but $20 for a decent smartphone is just hard to argue against – especially if you didn’t receive a new phone over the holidays. Then again, maybe Verizon is more savvy than we give it credit for and it’s just trying to make money off of the countless drunks whose phones met an untimely demise on New Years Eve? Nah, that’s just silly. No one would want to profit from drunken accidents, right? In any case, the Pearl might be old news to BGR readers but for the less demanding mobile user this is most definitely a great deal.
Thanks, Tony!
Probably just clearing out inventory in anticipation of the new Pearl flip coming down the pipeline…
Wow! Old technology for only 2 years of high carrier charges. Happy New Year!
been this way since day after christmas
clearing out inventory for the new phones.
Just what I want. A BB running OS 4.2! Wow, what a deal.
This thing is free on a contract anyway. What is the news?
I wish I could get a BB 8220 Flip for that price.
gquaglia
I believe it is running 4.5
Gregg
And since T-Mobile has it for 49.99 and Sprint has it for $79.99 I would say maybe it isnt a bad deal. But of course since it is VZW offering it for the lowest price it is just another way for VZW to rip people off, right?
“Verizon Pearl For Going For …”
Too much holiday cheer still in your system?
Oh, and new one from AT&T has them new for 99.99 and refurb ones (that still require 2 yr contract) for $69.99. Still just another way for VZW to overcharge though, eh?
Def running 4.5. I just had mine replaced (screen went) and when i got the “new” one, it was running os 4.5. It’s also been data locked and with all the holiday hussle and such i haven’t yet been able to spend the time on the phone getting the problem solved. But, for 19.99, you really can’t go wrong with this on; that is if blackberry is your cup-o-tea.
I stand corrected ,the Verizon 8130 is running 4.3 not 4.2 and its definitely NOT running 4.5. You can get 4.5 for it, but not from Verizon and they don’t support it.
typo on my end. you are correct gquaglia, it is 4.3.
I think they are trying to generate low cost upgrades and 2009 newbies to smartphones – specifically BBs as Verizon has a mandatory BB data plan – which is a great source of revenue. The $24.99 plan is wowfully lacking in MBs for download and the $29.99 (non-corp email plan, unlim to handset) is a great profit generator.
Not to bash VZW or the other carriers but their allowed data delivery is, on anything but a handset-unlim plan, extremely expensive.
So… I think they are looking for newbies to a BB and a quick $25-$30 extra in mandatory up-sell. If I could get customers to fork over another $300-$360 for little to no additional demands, I’d take it. And a few thousand others like it.
It ships with OS 4.3 but Verizon definately has 4.5 out for the 8130. You can download it right off their website.
Pearl (and Suretype) isn’t for everyone but woman / teens love the thing.
@gquaglia
There’s nothing stopping you from getting 4.5 on an 8130 Pearl. Verizon supports and distributes it on their website.
My 8130 has been running Verizon’s release of 4.5 for roughly a month.
For the record, Verizon’s build of 4.5 is, 4.5.0.77.
@gquaglia:
Open mouth, insert foot. For both BIS and BES Verizon customers:
http://vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry/download.aspx?ct=personal
or:
http://vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry/download.aspx?ct=corporate
“BlackBerry Device Software v4.5 (updated 10/31/2008)”
As for this price point, this is awesome for introducing those who would normally opt for some dumbphone or featurephone to the world of smartphones!
@ nate
Thanks, i know my replacement came with 4.5. As for verizon supporting it, it does. when the upgrade became available, i was sent an email from verizon that it was available for download. That, to me, sounds a bit like support. no?! I never got around to setting it up on my old pearl as it was busted, but i do have to say 4.5 looks more polished than the older firmware.
@gquaglia
I just bought one of these in November and it had 4.5 on it already. I have since traded, but still, it did have 4.5 already installed.
i understand wal*mart isn’t the best place for a cell phone…but they have had the 8110 red pearl for 19.86 or something with a two year contract and the blackberry data package. they’ve had it for some months now. and wal*mart didn’t have mail in rebates…so i don’t see how this is a big story
Umm, Verizon has released an “official” 4.5 upgrade.
Get some facts before you spew.
This isn’t that bad of a deal if you are a “regular” consumer. But come on, do away with the MIR. I’m getting so tired of that.
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I got mine for free on 12/28. v4.5.0.77, brand new in box.