Well that didn't take long. Only two days after RIM announced the coming of the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 to CDMA carriers in North America, RIM and Telefonica have today launched the GSM version of the Pearl "2", the BlackBerry 8120.
The 8120 features WiFi (vs. the GPS functionality found on the 8130), Video Recording capabilities, and a host of other improvements over the BlackBerry Pearl 8100, including an improved 2.0 megapixel camera, externally accessible memory card slot and improved web browser. The phone will be available from Telefonica in a stylish BLUE color (looking at the press release and 8120 website I can't quite tell if that's the only color it will be available in or also the standard black/grey colors as well. According to the official Press Release, there will be no waiting for the BlackBerry 8120 - it becomes available today.
The question now is, WHEN IS IT COMING TO AT&T, T-Mobile & Rogers?! I want it! I need it!!
For More Info, Read the Press Release and Visit www.BlackBerryPearl8120.com.
PRESS RELEASE
Telefonica and RIM Launch the New BlackBerry Pearl 8120 Smartphone in Spain
Small and stylish smartphone comes packed with new features including an enhanced visual interface, hardware refinements, Wi-Fi connectivity and a 2 megapixel camera with video capture.
MADRID, SPAIN and WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 3, 2007) - Telefonica, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies, and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, today introduced the new BlackBerry(R) Pearl(TM) 8120 smartphone in Spain. The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 seamlessly integrates business-grade communication tools and rich multimedia features in an impressively small and stylish design.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 comes complete with a 2 megapixel digital camera that supports video capture, an externally accessible memory card slot and Wi-Fi(R) connectivity support. These new features, along with an enhanced visual interface, add to the renowned BlackBerry(R) smartphone experience for email, phone, messaging (SMS, IM, MMS), web browsing, multimedia, organizer and other mobile applications.
"The new BlackBerry Pearl 8120 with its powerful communications and multimedia features helps users make the most of their time in both personal and professional settings," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at RIM. "The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 builds on the successful principles that won high praise for the BlackBerry Pearl design and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Telefonica to bring this amazing new smartphone to customers in Spain."
According to Luis Ezcurra, director of the Mobile Business Unit at Telefonica Espana, "The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone, together with a new reduced monthly service fee of 10 Euros, will help make mobile email even more popular, not only for companies but also individual consumers. The new multimedia features of the BlackBerry Pearl 8120, its small size, stylish design and Wi-Fi capabilities make it perfect for both personal and professional use."
Ultra-Sleek and Stylish
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone from Telefonica is available in a new stylish blue finish and maintains an ultra-sleek design, measuring only 107mm x 55mm x 14mm and weighing approximately 91g.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 provides an exceptional user experience through its trackball navigation system and RIM's popular SureType(TM) keyboard system. SureType - which allows a narrower handset design while maintaining easy phone dialing and message typing - has been enhanced to allow word completion, easier editing of misspelled words and a built-in spell checker.
Enhanced Visual Interface
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 features an updated visual interface and integrates a new font rendering technology that displays characters beautifully, with enhanced legibility at even the smallest point sizes. The new technology is evident throughout the visual interface, complementing the new look of the BlackBerry(R) email client, calendar, address book, task list, memo pad and web browser, while also enhancing other applications.
The BlackBerry(R) Browser is further improved with a new "Page View" option that displays a full web page on the screen along with a magnifying glass that allows the user to quickly and accurately point and zoom in on a specific area of the web page. Users can also press and hold the trackball to toggle between the "Column View" (which presents the web page in a continuous column for easy reading and scrolling on the go) and the "Page View."
Wi-Fi and Quad-Band Connectivity
In addition to quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support, Telefonica customers can also enjoy the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 with faster web browsing and expanded wireless data coverage via Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) networks. To meet various security requirements for users accessing a Wi-Fi connection, the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 is compliant with Wi-Fi security protocols including WEP (Wireless Equivalency Protocol), WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2.
Advanced Phone Features
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 offers many convenient phone features including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), Bluetooth(R) 2.0 support for hands-free use with headsets, car kits and Bluetooth peripherals, dedicated 'send', 'end', and 'mute' keys, smart dialing, speed dialing, conference calling, call forwarding, a low-distortion speakerphone for hands-free conversations and support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ring tones.
The smartphone also includes new features that enhance phone audio quality including enhanced background noise, wind and echo cancellation for better performance in loud environments like airports, restaurants or busy downtown streets. An 'enhance call audio' feature also allows the user to boost the phone audio's bass or treble while on a call.
Multimedia to Go
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 comes with a 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and enhanced flash. The new camera also supports video capture in two resolutions: 240x180 or 176x144 for sharing via MMS.
The media player now allows users to create and edit playlists right on the handset. Alternatively, users can manage their media files from their PC with the Roxio(R) Media Manager for BlackBerry(R), which is included with the BlackBerry(R) Desktop Manager software. The Roxio software was developed with Sonic(R) and is based on the award-winning Roxio Easy Media Creator(R) 9, making it easy for users to search for media files on their computer, view and organize them, create MP3 music files from CDs, add audio tags, album art, create playlists and convert files for optimal playback.
Roxio Photosuite(R) 9 LE is also included - this comprehensive tool makes it easy to edit pictures and create photo albums. Pictures can also be cropped, rotated and straightened, redeye can be removed, and brightness, contrast and saturation levels can all be changed.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 supports the Bluetooth(R) stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP), and comes with a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack so users can plug in their preferred headphones or speakers. The handset also provides the convenience of an externally accessible microSD/SDHC memory card slot for additional storage of music, videos and pictures.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 also supports high-speed USB for transferring files between the handset and a PC at data throughput rates of up to 10MB/sec.
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 is supported on BlackBerry(R) Internet Service, giving users access to up to 10 supported work or personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts), as well as BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server, enabling advanced security and IT administration within IBM(R) Lotus(R) Domino(R), Microsoft(R) Exchange and Novell(R) GroupWise(R) environments.
Availability
The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone will be available from Telefonica in Spain beginning October 3rd, 2007.
For additional information, please visit: www.blackberrypearl8120.com.
About Telefonica
Telefonica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both. The company has a significant presence in 24 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 212 million accesses around the world. Telefonica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy. Telefonica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.7 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,773,496,485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.
About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
