We have mentioned the special edition Gold BlackBerry Bold 9900 a few times in the past couple of weeks and although you can't actually buy it, one arrived with me yesterday to play with thanks to BlackBerry UK.
Although the gold material isn't actually gold the fact that the device is not for sale I suppose makes it priceless and just as desirable as the crown jewels (so my brain tells me).
RIM is giving out the Gold 9900 to a few celebs and Olympic gold medal winners. I am neither of these, so I am sad to say that this one will be going back to RIM shortly, although I am tempted to emigrate just so I can keep it.
The gold won't be everyone's cup of tea, but in my opinion it looks awesome. I'm not into 'bling' but there is something special about this one. So above you will see a quick unboxing and look around the device. Aside from the gold there isn't anything that sets it apart from the standard BlackBerry Bold 9900 but I think I have fallen in love with it.
I'm off to a secret country now. Find me if you can RIM!
Article | 7 hours ago Message to Netflix: BlackBerry does support streaming protected content
Article | 8 hours ago Should QNX just be called BlackBerry?
Article | 1 day ago Deal of the Day: Save 42% on the Incipio OVRMLD Flexible Hard Case for BlackBerry Z10
Article | 9 hours ago Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg take front row for Monaco Grand Prix
Article | 9 hours ago In honor of Memorial Day, receive FREE SHIPPING this weekend at ShopCrackBerry!
Article | 10 hours ago The diamond encrusted BlackBerry Q10 will set you back $31,000
Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes Sep 13, 2012 at 6:04 am
Nice phone
ibcnul8ter Sep 13, 2012 at 7:11 am
agreed. i would totally rock it
bbclass Sep 13, 2012 at 9:19 am
this is not limited in any way.. you can buy it here... it really is awesome.. they customize any gadget - xbox, wii, iphone, blackberry.. they put gold in it and swarovski crystals. but its not limited in any way... here is the proof:
http://www.goldgenie.com/gold_blackberry.php
It's expensive but you can buy it, you can afford it.
diegonei Sep 13, 2012 at 10:48 am
The "Hera" of that site is the closest to what we see on the video and it is not the same. But pretty close.
tcseacliff Sep 16, 2012 at 5:57 pm
when are manufacturers are going to get it. unless the phnoes are actually made out of real gold, GOLD PHONES ARE FUGLY,UGLY AND HIDEOUS ! to make them worse, add the swavorski
crystals to really cheapen the look! I do not understand why grown adults think this kook is good? 2yr old like this look!!
kingsleyweb Sep 13, 2012 at 6:55 pm
I won one! from @UK_blackberry on twitter!
Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes Sep 13, 2012 at 6:07 am
Around the traclpad should be gold. The bb symbol on the back should be gold.the row of standard bb symbols should be in gold (the white font).
donnation Sep 13, 2012 at 6:59 am
Come on, that thing is hideous. For once I'd like to see the bloggers on here take somewhat of an honest approach to some of these phones RIM churns out. I mean the Porche phone is an embarrassment, and who in God's name wants to walk around with a Gold phone unless you're a rapper or a Kardashian?
raoul_duke Sep 13, 2012 at 7:10 am
+1000
I don't care how many RIMM stocks you own, just admit this gold finish is pretty fugly
diegonei Sep 13, 2012 at 10:52 am
So, are you guys saying the 9900 is ugly? Because it is the same phone. Nothing new, nothing changed, but the golden color.
I've always preferred silver/steel to golden but that does not make me think it is ugly.
donnation Sep 13, 2012 at 11:59 am
I'm saying a Gold 9900 is ugly and pointless.
EsJayDee Sep 13, 2012 at 10:56 am
FINALLY, I thought I was the only person thinking this didn't look good.
shemaree09 Sep 13, 2012 at 2:49 pm
yeah, the Gold and Black looks tacky for some reason.
If its soooo limited, they should have made the phone ALL Gold lol
tcseacliff Sep 13, 2012 at 11:04 am
it is UGLY ! maybe ACTUAL gold, might be ok, but this brassy "gold" never looks classy on any phone ever! I dare ya, go find anything that looks good with that brassy, plated "gold" and get back to us! the 9900 is a nice phone, but not in "Gold"! Could you Imagine how bad this would be with those cheesy "svzorski crystals" too!
And I wish he would have looked at his messages, that led was making me nuts!
Rootbrian Sep 14, 2012 at 3:16 am
It is to you, but not to a majority of us blackberry users. I don't judge by appearance. I don't care about looks either. Maybe some day you'll be able to see through the light of the included perception.
Vincents1278 Sep 13, 2012 at 7:46 am
This is just silly. It's almost a slap in the face to people waiting for the BB10 devices. I don't get this move. Who would want a gold version of a device that will be a doorstop by January?
dynot Sep 13, 2012 at 7:56 am
I'll admit I don't even like the regular 9900 styling but that gold trim brings it to a whole new level of gawd-awful ugliness.
RIM should concentrate on delivering a decent OS and make a phone that doesn't look like it came from the '90s. Not wasting resources on gimmicks like this. Mind you, probably doesn't take much to slap on cheap-looking gold trim to make a "new" phone. And the fanboys say the iPhone 5 is not innovative!!!!
Rootbrian Sep 14, 2012 at 3:19 am
Dude you do realize that this blackberry is geared towards Olympic gold medal winners right? Consumers won't be able to buy them. So what if your beef with its appearance? Nothing is wrong. Please don't judge, it's not a very good perception.
Alex_Hong Sep 13, 2012 at 8:00 am
It would be awesome if there were a gun metal colour. Something similar to the 9780, a darker chrome.
rexrim Sep 13, 2012 at 8:01 am
<3 fall in love to this gold 9900
bbclass Sep 13, 2012 at 9:18 am
this is not limited in any way.. you can buy it here... it really is awesome.. they customize any gadget - xbox, wii, iphone, blackberry.. they put gold in it and swarovski crystals. but its not limited in any way... here is the proof:
http://www.goldgenie.com/gold_blackberry.php
It's expensive but you can buy it, you can afford it.
codiak Sep 13, 2012 at 8:25 am
They will use BlackBerry Protect to hunt you down James!
Ronzdaname Sep 13, 2012 at 8:50 am
It's a Bold 9900 with gold trim...nothing spectacular!
kill_9 Sep 13, 2012 at 9:16 am
James - I hear Lybia is a lovely place to hide from RIM with your gilded BlackBerry uglyphone.
Rootbrian Sep 14, 2012 at 3:21 am
Clouds in ye eyes? It's awesome!
Mvor7 Sep 13, 2012 at 9:30 am
James, would you be kind enough to point out which theme is running on the P9981? Thanks :)
RedDotNick Sep 13, 2012 at 9:43 am
James, your voice sounds like Bane........that's creepy......LOL
donnation Sep 13, 2012 at 9:54 am
RIMM execs: "Hey, lets make some special edition phones for a product that didn't sell particularly well and that are awful looking and pointless."
RedDotNick Sep 13, 2012 at 10:12 am
Pointless commentary........BB10 FTW!!! Rocking the Bold form factor ;)
donnation Sep 13, 2012 at 12:00 pm
That makes sense. Nice post.
olblueyez Sep 13, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Omg, does it come with a snap on gold tooth? Wait till he slides it into that pouch a few times and the gold spray paint starts to peel off! LOL
shemaree09 Sep 13, 2012 at 2:46 pm
...but we cant get a WHITE 9930!?!? come on!
jwn66 Sep 13, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Ugh, why doesn't BB just start a custom shop on there site, $100 more and you can get whatever colour you want. Guess they don't like $$. I would get some kind of orange lol.
Balti43 Sep 13, 2012 at 9:12 pm
thats not a blackberry bold, thats a blackberry gold ;)
Rootbrian Sep 14, 2012 at 3:22 am
I love that gold trim!!!!!