RIM makes the BlackBerry Bold 9700 official, hitting in November
It’s always a lot of fun for us — and hopefully for you, the readers — any time we can run wild with pictures, news, and even reviews of an unannounced handset. Today, however, RIM spoiled our fun and formally announced the BlackBerry Bold 9700. Things like carriers, release dates and pricing have been withheld for the time being, but RIM has made a statement saying that we should all expect to see the BlackBerry 9700 go on sale “around the world beginning in November.” Spec wise, nothing has changed since our pre-release review, but just in case some of you forgot or weren’t paying a whole lot of attention, here’s a quick refresher on the critical specs:
- BlackBerry OS 5.0
- 624MHz CPU
- 256MB flash memory and support for microSD cards up to 32GB
- Quad-band UMTS/HSDPA (800/850/1900/2100 MHz) or tri-band UMTS/HSDPA (900/1700/2100 MHz)
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with UMA support (carrier dependent)
- A-GPS
- 2.44″ HVGA+ display
- 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
- Optical trackpad
- Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP/AVCRP
- 1500 mAh battery
- 6 hours of talk time and 17 days of standby (3G)
- 109mm x 60mm x 14.1mm, 122g
In short, this is the BlackBerry device of your dreams. We’re expecting pretty much every single major GSM carrier on the planet to pick up the 9700 sooner or later, so we’ll be sure to keep the updates coming. As always, high res pics and a few other odds and ends are available after the jump.
UPDATE: AT&T, Rogers and T-Mobile have announced they will be carrying the Bold 9700 in the weeks ahead. AT&T and T-Mobile’s 9700 will go for $199.99 after a $100 MIR on 2-year deals while Rogers will be asking for $299.99 on a 3-year contract with a monthly minimum voice and data plan of $45. Bell and TELUS have yet to come forward with pricing but have confirmed they will be carrying the device.
Tokyo, Japan, October 22, 2009 — ACCESS CO., LTD., a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets, and Emblaze Mobile Ltd., a technology design house for cutting-edge mobile devices, today unveiled ELSE INTUITION™, a groundbreaking mobile platform jointly developed by ACCESS and Emblaze Mobile.
http://www.access-company.com/news/press/ACCESS/2009/20091022_emblaze.html
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So here’s likely a dumb ques., but with the HSPA move, does this technically mean that if I bought a Rogers Bold 9700 at retail and also have use Telus for work, would I simply be able to take out my Rogers Sim and shove in a Telus sim (if there will be one) into the phone and it will work? Portability?
Nope. Rogers and Telus both specialize in “locked” Devices. Meaning only Rogers SIM is recognized and vice versus.
I know I’m confused but maybe others are too. The memory issue seems to be that while the new models, including the 9700 allow for very large media cards (16 to 32) you can install and run apps from the media card, so you have to rely on the on-board memory. I’ve never pushed the envelope so far as maximum-sized SD card. They’re advertising it up to 32GB and in the past, blackberries have handled larger than advertised cards without a hitch. So I’ve never been close to having a space problem for media. But with the explosion in 3rd party apps, on-board memory has emerged as an operating limitation, at least until the 9700 and the Storm2. If I understand correctly, some critics fault RIM for not allowing apps running from the relatively huge SDcards, either because of security concerns or because of the antiquated OS.
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I have got to have one. It is just what the Doc. ordered. Business just got easier
Does anyone know if they will make the 9700 Bold w/ out a camera for those secure work places??
Cash Horn needs this…so does his dad….hurry up Tmobile–get this puppy up and for sale….and developers, put some apps up asap…..
Anyone know on what date exactly will this be released? It would be nice to know.
As far as I am concerned, it is not official at AT&T until they give us a DATE!
The date on AT&T is Nov 22nd.
Are you sure about Nov 22nd? I want to replace my Nokia E71x and the 9700 has peaked my curiosity about BlackBerrys. My sister loves her 8320 and she doesn’t want to go back to other brands. I’ve searched everywhere for a definitive release date in order to avoiding repeatedly calling AT&T stores. Are all BlackBerry product launches like this?
Verizon Wireless??? I guess they want to move the Storm 2s on out.
So T-Mobile goofed by showing a pic of the BB 8900 instead of the 9700. Log into my T-Mobile account to upgrade my phone and there is no option for me to select the 9700. All I see available is all previous BB models. Log in as a new customer and it is available. So this intro pricing for the BB9700 is for new accounts only???/