Join Our 3 MILLION+ Members Today! Register Here | Login
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home»BlackBerry News»Special Coverage

CES 2009: New BlackBerry Accessories from RIM - Bluetooth "Visor" and Executive Headphones

by Kevin Michaluk on 10 Jan 2009 10:50 AM
32
 

BlackBerry Bluetooth Visor

RIM has two new accessories on display at their CES 2009 exhibit which both look pretty cool...

Bluetooth Visor -  this one doesn't have an "official" go to market name just yet, but at CES it's being referred to as the Bluetooth Visor. You attach the Bluetooth Visor to your car's sun visor and connect your BlackBerry to it via Bluetooth. From there, the Visor's FM transmitter connects to your car's audio system, with all calls made and music played from the BlackBerry now routed through your vehicle's sound system. Think Remote Stereo Gateway / Bluetooth speakerphone all in one. The Visor will even autoscan for free FM channels to connect to. No pricing or release date as of yet, but look for it to hit in the weeks/months ahead. We'll definitely be carrying this at ShopCrackBerry.com.

Executive Headphones - RIM has taken the Premium BlackBerry headphones that ship with the BlackBerry Bold and bumped them up a notch. Their new Executive Headphones have a control dongle that allows you to play/pause and skip through music and the headphones come with interchangeable colored pieces so you can go from having black headphones to silver or red. They even come packed in a leather case so you can keep everything together and easily take them with you wherever you go. No pricing or release date just yet, but we're sure you'll see these hit soon!

Picture of the Executive Headphones and another of the Bluetooth Vistor after the jump!

 

New BlackBerry Accessories Coming Soon!

Bluetooth Visor
BlackBerry Bluetooth Visor

 

Bluetooth Headphones
BlackBerry Executive Headphones

Filed Under: Special Coverage;
Send to a Friend
 
Login or Register to post comments

32 Comments

Posted by Devlyn16 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

I'm thankful to see it appears the headphones have a case. I lost the Headphones that came with my storm because they didn't have one & must have fallen out of my pocket without me noticing.

I was considering another brand's visor Bluetooth device. If VZ carries this (wife has a corp discount) I may have to hold off and wait for this

 
 
Posted by 07thking Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

I wish i got those with the storm! speaking of storm, is that one peeking in the corner of the second pic?

 
 
Posted by dhyde79 Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 1226 days ago

if I had to guess, I'd say it's a curve.....GSM variety (you can see where it says EDGE in the corner if you look closely)

 
 
Posted by satalite Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

Yeah wish those came with my Storm too. I got the less than premium ones. :)

 
 
Posted by PvT Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

Nice design, looks small enough to take with you... since that sucka looks so fancy, it'll get ripped from your vehicle in no time.

I hope the FM transmission works well, I've always had problems with those ie: from my Garmin... or back in my iPod days where I returned many iPod FM transmitters since they just didn't work well for me. I realize that varys from vehicle to vehicle.

Anyways, looks great.

 
 
Posted by joygasm310 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

I gave them to the gentleman that bought my old curve off of me. None of the wired headsets that have come with the blackberrys ive had have been very nice. I think im gonna get me a set of iphone wired headsets. Ipod ear buds with a mic should be nice.

 
 
Posted by tnewton3 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

I would love to have the bold with these headphones, I bought my Bold too early. Does anyone know when these are going to start shipping with the new Bolds??

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

Just FYI

They sell the Premium Blackberry headsets for 39.99 at any corporate Verizon location if you dont wanna wait. Quality is great on them and they come with different sized earbuds

 
 
Posted by Sasan Molavi Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

you know, SHAME to RIM. why?
they had ONE chance of making an impact on the market for releasing their first touch phone. and they screw it up BIG TIME.
I am a long time blackberry user not because i am work in a big company. i have owned a blackberry since their first release 6720 (monochrome screen).
I love their phones, they are great. but HOW a company like RIM released such a piece worthless device like storm, WHERE is the INNOVATION? maybe the clickable screen, but nothing else. they didn't even put a prope CPU in it, the operating system is basically the same as a BOLD, there's so many bugs associated with that makes you wonder, HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU EVEN THING YOU CAN RELEASE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
It doesn not have one single element that made iphone so popular, except the touchscreen.
at first i wasn't that upset, i thought maybe APPLE is too good to beat, but when i saw PALM's new phone PRE, i knew that RIM didn't try enough. they screw it up BIG time.

 
 
Posted by piggly009 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

I don't see how your saying that the Iphone does more then the Storm they do the same thing but the storm has the clicking touch screen that makes typing easy (it took me about a day to get use to it) and better camera that can actually records videos. an led flash. A lot more customizing options. FREE music ring tones from the songs on your device. Is a world phone. I never had a problem with my Verizon service (ATT blows). Removal battery. You can add more memory via micro SD card. Its messaging is amazing. Copy and past text I don't think you can do that on the iPhone. Most importantly brick breaker is amazing with the touchscreen. And CrackBerry for free ring tones, wall papers and a full selection of accessories all on one websight.

 
 
Posted by Achronas Sunday, Jan 11, 2009 1228 days ago

But, I agree with the first commenter...(sorry can't remember the name!)

I own the Storm... and am just not too impressed by it.
Yes, if, and I mean IF, the screen was exactly like the iPhones, and supported multi touch, the Storm would blow every other touchscreen phone away.
There would be no competition, it would just be perfect.

But alas, they chose to go with the "clickable" screen, which if you guys who own one have had the same problems as I have is pretty terrible, though a good idea.

I have had four Storms now, the first three of mine the Screens either stopped clicking (the second one I had) the screen cut out and went black ( my first one) or the screen stopped responding to any touch (my third one).

My current on, the screen is started to stop clicking down again... I'm getting overly annoyed. I use my phone way to much for it to keep stop working, the Storms screen isn't made for hardcore use... just the moderate user. I can;t stand the wear of a user that has to use it constantly.

 
 
Posted by Achronas Sunday, Jan 11, 2009 1228 days ago

But, I agree with the first commenter...(sorry can't remember the name!)

I own the Storm... and am just not too impressed by it.
Yes, if, and I mean IF, the screen was exactly like the iPhones, and supported multi touch, the Storm would blow every other touchscreen phone away.
There would be no competition, it would just be perfect.

But alas, they chose to go with the "clickable" screen, which if you guys who own one have had the same problems as I have is pretty terrible, though a good idea.

I have had four Storms now, the first three of mine the Screens either stopped clicking (the second one I had) the screen cut out and went black ( my first one) or the screen stopped responding to any touch (my third one).

My current on, the screen is started to stop clicking down again... I'm getting overly annoyed. I use my phone way to much for it to keep stop working, the Storms screen isn't made for hardcore use... just the moderate user. I can;t stand the wear of a user that has to use it constantly.

 
 
Posted by Achronas Sunday, Jan 11, 2009 1228 days ago

But, I agree with the first commenter...(sorry can't remember the name!)

I own the Storm... and am just not too impressed by it.
Yes, if, and I mean IF, the screen was exactly like the iPhones, and supported multi touch, the Storm would blow every other touchscreen phone away.
There would be no competition, it would just be perfect.

But alas, they chose to go with the "clickable" screen, which if you guys who own one have had the same problems as I have is pretty terrible, though a good idea.

I have had four Storms now, the first three of mine the Screens either stopped clicking (the second one I had) the screen cut out and went black ( my first one) or the screen stopped responding to any touch (my third one).

My current on, the screen is started to stop clicking down again... I'm getting overly annoyed. I use my phone way to much for it to keep stop working, the Storms screen isn't made for hardcore use... just the moderate user. I can;t stand the wear of a user that has to use it constantly.

 
 
Posted by Achronas Sunday, Jan 11, 2009 1228 days ago

Sorry about the triple comment.... my computer went all screwy!

 
 
Posted by jeansmith61008 Monday, Jan 12, 2009 1227 days ago

Just out of curiosity, will anyone and everyone help give me some information?!?!?! I am curious as to how bluetooth works as far as not only connecting to a headset so thAT YOU can use it as a hands free headset, but also how do you use bluetooth to transport information from one phone to another? I would appreciate any and all comments. Thanks....

 
 
Posted by ramzi188 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

When i first saw the pics without reading the title, i thought the visor is a new model of Blackberry and my heart started pumpin, this thing would look realllllyyy sexy as a new blackberry phone. RIM, think about it. looks like a 21st century phone !!!

 
 
Posted by dmann96 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

Seriously, all you Storm haters get a grip. Either you are an Apple lover or your are jealous because you are with a wireless company like AT& crappy T and cannot get the Storm.

I have a Storm; which is my second BlackBerry purchase. I bought my wife and iPod touch (2nd Gen) for Christmas and there is no comparison when it comes to ease of use, functionality, and customization. The Storm wins hands down especially with MediaSync being able to load my iTunes library.

All thats left for RIM is to be sure to secure a superior application forum. This was there first run, cannot wait to see what the can do in the future. If we all remember Apple didn't get it right and still has major issues with the iPhone...

 
 
Posted by piggly009 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

I Know right its like Apple was asking me to go get my storm after they announced the better quality music and DMR free music. (I got my storm the day after the MacWorld thing When they announced the iTunes pulse)

 
 
Posted by alawson84 Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

It would be great to see some new info on the App Center and the apps that will be available. The one thing the Iphone has hands down over the Storm is the App Store and the many different types of apps. I really hope Blackberry takes notice of this and not just spit out more business apps (even though they are usually great) I'd like to see some more focus on the general consumer. Here is to hoping.

 
 
Posted by Runell A Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

Here in Canada those headphones have been on sale for a while now. You can walk into any Bell (maybe Telus) stores and you can purchase them.

Edit: For those who are looking for some good earbuds for your Iphone... these are awesome! They control the music AND you can answer calls with it without taking the Iphone out

 
 
Posted by pvtolson Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1229 days ago

motorola already has this the motorokr t505

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

Well it looks like RIM is going to be swapping places with the old PALM! If it wasn't for your BIS, you would be left in the dust!!!! The VISOR - come on, this is the latest and greatest you can do? Motorola already has this "new" technology in the T505, headphones - come on not many (if any) people use their BB's for their PMP.......why don't you guys throw your resources into your OS where you REALLY need the work done!!!!!!

 
 
Posted by HeavyComponent Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

The bluetooth looks kind of big, but I'm looking forward to the headset.

 
 
Posted by leathernuts Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

just bought the headphones this evening at VZW. They sound great. Could use a little more base. But to be honest it depends on the buds you use. The ones that are on (medium) I guess were not snug enough. When I first played them, I was like, WOW, these really suck!! THen I put the bigger buds on that completely sealed out the noise (very nice) and the base came to life. Heres the interesting part thoug- the manual says for BB's with 4.6 OS and higher. I am using them with my curve. All functions worked that I could tell. I plugged them into my Storm as well, and did not hear a difference. What is up with the 4.6 or higher statement?? It works on 4.5 as far as I can tell. If anyone can shed some light on this, that would be great!

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Sunday, Jan 11, 2009 1228 days ago

bt visor??? hmm motorola and jabra have had this for a while....

 
 
Posted by Terrigno Saturday, Jan 10, 2009 1228 days ago

Dang. That Blackberry Phone in the first picture looks like a Storm Frame with a Curve inside or Bold inside. Now that phone looks hot!

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Monday, Jan 12, 2009 1227 days ago

That's the 8900... and it is hot!

 
 
Posted by boiseit Sunday, Jan 11, 2009 1228 days ago

Those headphones look like similar to the headphones that came with the Bold. 3 different Bolds, 3 different headphone sets. All of them had bad feedback and wouldn't stay in my ears. I was stunned by that. I just hope that the executive ones are better.

 
 
Posted by Anonymous Monday, Jan 12, 2009 1227 days ago

What cable is that in the picture of the Bluetooth Visor? It looks like it could be a Mini/Micro USB Cable which would come in real handy

 
 
Posted by VeryyBold Monday, Jan 12, 2009 1226 days ago

Kevin, do you know if the visor will have A2DP support???

That would awesome.
Thanks.

 
 
Posted by BlackberryBoldJapan Monday, Jan 12, 2009 1226 days ago

Let's just hope you are able to hardwire the visor to your car battery. The biggest weakness of these devices is the need to remember to periodically remove them from your car and charge them, or bring the car charger, or plug it in when you get a call. Unless you use it every day and charge it every day odds are you'll end up with a dead unit when that critical call comes in.

Bottom line - just like most every state has passed laws banning talking on the phone they should also support national legislation to force all car makers to include a $5 bluetooth chip into their car stereos.

 
 
Posted by Cancunlover Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 1226 days ago

I've tried the Premium headset that came with my Bold, but it's not that good as my own Sennheiser ear buds. There's not enough bass in the Premium's, and the volume also sucks...