You are here

CB » News & Rumors » RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Pearl 3G Smartphone!
RIM Announces BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with Voice over Wi-Fi Calling Previous
BlackBerry Bold 9650 Officially Announced!Next
43 Comments

RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Pearl 3G Smartphone!

By Bla1ze on 26 Apr 2010 08:30 am
0
loading...
60
loading...
0
loading...
RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Pearl 3G Smartphone

We've been speaking of the BlackBerry Pearl 9100 for quite some time. Now, at WES 2010 we can put the official stamp all over this thing. Research In Motion has just announced the BlackBerry Pearl 3G. Original lovers of the BlackBerry Pearl will feel right at home with this device. You can read on after the jump for the full press release and specification list of the all new BlackBerry Pearl 3G.

Press Release

RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Pearl 3G Smartphone

What do you want in a mobile phone? Small? Stylist? Fast? Full-featured? How about all of the above?

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the new BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G, the smallest BlackBerry® smartphone yet. Despite its impressively compact and elegant design, this stylish new handset is a powerful 3G BlackBerry smartphone with uncompromising performance and top–of-the-line features, including all the industry-leading BlackBerry® email, messaging and social networking capabilities that so many people love.

“The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is unlike any other smartphone in the world and we expect a broad range of new and existing customers will be drawn to its powerful features and compact design,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “Considering the fast growing consumer interest in smartphones and the fact that more than three-quarters of the people in the global mobile phone market are still buying handsets with a traditional alphanumeric keypad, we think the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G addresses a substantial market opportunity. It allows consumers to upgrade their traditional mobile phone to a full-featured, easy-to-use and fashionable 3G BlackBerry smartphone that supports BlackBerry Messenger and many other apps while maintaining a handset design and layout that is familiar and comfortable.”

The new BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone is a marvel of engineering and design excellence. It’s as powerful as it is compact. Measuring less than two inches wide (50 mm) and weighing only 3.3 ounces (93g), it still manages to pack in support for high-speed 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) networks, Wi-Fi® (b/g/n) and GPS along with a powerhouse processor that drives visually stunning images on the sharp, high-resolution display. It also features an optical trackpad for smooth navigation, dedicated volume and media keys for added convenience, a 3.2 MP camera with flash for quality pictures on the go, and support for up to 32 GB of personal content.

Key features of the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone include:

  • Elegant candybar design measuring 4.25" x 1.96" x 0.52" (108mm x 50 mm x 13.3 mm) and weighing only 3.3 oz (93 grams)
  • 624 Mhz processor with 256 MB Flash memory
  • 360x400 sharp-resolution display (238 ppi)
  • Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth, plus a comfortable keyboard that enables quick and accurate typing
  • Media player for videos, pictures and music (music plays up to 30 hours), plus dedicated media keys integrated along top of the handset
  • 3.2 MP camera with zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording*
  • Built-in GPS for location-based applications such as BlackBerry® Maps, as well as photo geotagging 
  • Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) - first BlackBerry smartphone to support 'n'
  • microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards
  • Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the emerging Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories
  • Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones
  • Support for BlackBerry® Media Sync for easily syncing photos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone** 
  • BlackBerry® OS 5
  • Support for tri-band UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks
  • Removable, rechargeable 1150 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.5 hours of talk time on 3G networks

The new BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone will be available in two models and several lustrous colors. The 9100 model features a 20-key condensed QWERTY keyboard and the 9105 model features a 14-key traditional phone keyboard. Both models include SureType® software that can complete words as the user types, making texting fast and accurate. The BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone is expected to launch with various carriers beginning in May. Check with individual carriers for details about availability and pricing. For more information visit www.blackberry.com/pearl3G.

* Video recording requires a microSD card, which may be sold separately.
** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

Topics: BlackBerry Pearl 9100 WES 2010 Press Release BlackBerry Pearl 3G BlackBerry Pearl 9105 News & Rumors Devices

RIM Announces BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with Voice over Wi-Fi Calling Previous
BlackBerry Bold 9650 Officially Announced!Next
Bla1ze Bla1ze 2972 (articles) 6551 (forum posts)
43 comments

miloszz

Wow, looks really awesome. Nice upgrade! Fast processor, not bad memory, extra-slick design.

In three words: I WANT IT !

Nomad6677

looking good :-) i may be considering this

veii

Things are getting exiting for us Crackberrys now! :)

Gawain

...with 256MB of flash memory, based on previous reading, this model will not likely be a recipient for an OS6 upgrade when it comes. That also makes me wonder if VZW would offer a CDMA variant of the device...that's kind of a bummer. I would love to see a 9150 CDMA/UMTS/HSPA w/512MB, Wifi/b/g/n, etc. That could be a hit...but I won't hold my breath...

DustBow

Same specs as the 9700 I think.
And the 9700 can run 6.0 (confirmed by trusted source in forums)

Gawain

here:
http://crackberry.com/blackberry-bold-9650-launching-512mb-device-memory...

I suppose it's possible with the current specs, but his feeling was that the extra memory is needed to give the new OS and applications enough breathing space.

zzarrillo

think this will come to verizon?

vedelorme

just say no to vzw!!!!!!

modernhetaira

I want one! I want one! I want one! Going to sell my 9700 if i can get my hands on one.

mciriello

I fail to see why anyone would buy this over a 9700 to save about an inch of width, only to be stuck with that sorry excuse for a keypad.

joeldf

Because the keypad actually works very well - thank you very much.

I've held the 9700, and the extra inch makes a big difference to me. And, I can work the keyboard just fine - better than I can with the Bold.

TeeJayEss

why wouldn't you? If i have a huge email to send, i like to make sure everything is correct on the computer before i send it out. With suretype, i can pound through texts/bbm/im with one hand and with the new texting laws... :)

sure it takes a bit of getting used too, but once you've used it for even a week, i feel like the pearl will always be one of my favorite devices.

mciriello

I suppose there are a good deal of folks who like the size/keyboard. I just think the Pearl made a lot more sense back when the "regular" BB was an enormous 8700. Now that the Bold has become smaller, I fail to see the point of the Pearl as much.

Kennedy.L

I used to have a pearl years ago and I loved it, I am considering either this or the 9700.
Right now I have a storm and have stuck w/ the same keyboard the pearl and that is my preference.

craines30

I have the tour now, but I miss the size of my pearl. I'm excited to see the new pearl. I hope verizon will carry it.

TeeJayEss

I traded my pearl 8330 for the new curve a little while back, i'm so excited for this phone. i just bought a new trackpad so when my plan finally expires i can go out and get this.

first blackberry. first love.

MaestroDarius

From what I see on the Spanish website, it appears we will only be getting the 9105 (T9 version) here in Spain... I like the idea of then making a T9 device in order to reach a greater public but I don't like them NOT selling the SureType device.

L_Boogie820

actually looks VERY nice.

Tony in Phoenix

Any idea when it will be available? Thx

MontanaVista

This is the BB I've been waiting for! I used the 8120 for a few years and loved it. I miss it, compared to my current 8900. But most of all, when I look at this phone, it looks like a spy phone! This is the Blackberry that Daniel Craig should be walking around with!

raval76

Give me a break...this redesigned Pearl is not what BB should be news releasing during its annual global conference and smart phone users want to see....show us the real deal changes at RIM.

CeluGeek

Sorry, but not everybody wants iPhone wannabees.

joeldf

Uh... many of us have been waiting for this announcement since last October. This is great (official) news.

sellersce

I really wanted an updated Pearl. I upgraded from the old Pearl to the Tour and the Tour is getting old with the sticking trackball. I was really hoping we would see a CMDA version of this phone.

PcolaChris

Its really nice for someone new to blackberry but I need at least 512 ram.

sourkevin

already called my att rep to reserve one!

kjdoug

what do you want in a phone? small? STYLIST? huh?
yes i would love a hair stylist in my phone please...haha

um i hope thats not an official statement from RIM..they need to hire new proof readers...

the brother

anyone notice the T9 keyboard on the black beauty on the offish link?

http://worldwide.blackberry.com/blackberrypearl/9100/

amazinglygraceless

I have to have this phone. I loved the 8100 and this is a
massive upgrade to that. Bring it on!!

Kennedy.L

this is the only phone I would ever considering buying instead of the bold. I would miss the extra 256mb of memory in the bold but that is about it, I used to have a pearl years ago and it was by far my favorite phone ever! the size was great.

CustomGrain

Now that's a good lookin blackberry.

Filmsnob

Since I'm locked in with Sprint, and with no CDMA version on the horizon, looks like I'll be going with the 8330 Curve. Like the 9650, which Sprint will carry, but I don't travel internationally, so not really worth the extra $ to me. Too bad. Love my Pearl 8130 and was hoping the 9100 would make it's way to Sprint.

kcmoberry

... will make it to all the carriers. it just appears to be starting off with the gsm variant. however.. if you are not interested in waiting, why go 8330 over the 8530? thought they were running very similar in price.

kcmoberry

if the EVO 4G isnt quite what I need I'll certainly be looking a this and the 9650 as fall back options. i currently use an 8130 and dig the form factor.

snowindec9

i loved my 8100 when i had it. this is just what i want. i recently bought the 9700. spent like 10 days with it before returning it. i just couldn't consider it a true phone for my needs. so i replaced the trackball on my 9000 and wala its new again. but seriously, i need to move onto a new berry.the pearl series is nothing to be taken lightly. the 8100 still is popular for many. the 9100 will do the same. i know if i walk into an at&t store this may, i will have the option to upgrade to either a 9100 or a 9700. i really wanted the true bold successor-the dakota to be released this summer but i think things are not looking up for it. what a shame. the bold 9000 was a revolutionary flagship phone in its prime days. oh well upgrading to the 9100 will be ok for me. anyone certain at&t will release it after rogers does?

llella

OMG! I love this phone. I hope Verizon gets this soon. I love having a BB (I currently have the 8230 Pearl Flip) but I hate how large they are. Im happy to see that BB has put out a new version of the Pearl.

Does anyone have any idea when or if Verizon will be getting this?

dancing-bass

Rogers/Telus will be carrying it for sure, but as of 2 minutes ago it wasn't on the website... (I guess that might take a few days)

I think I'll wait for a CDMA version. Rogers coverage is spotty at be in the area I live. CDMA (bell) coverage seems much more stable

info600

now can we see this new pearl in a flip factor instead of the Bold?

ath20wj

this looks amazing! hopefully there will be non of that "Pearl Flip" nonsense. BlackBerrys(BlackBerries?) shuldnt flip...

and anyone who dsnt like this keyboard obvlsy hasnt used it. its pretty badass.

CaliCat

I'm locked in to Sprint but I want this phone! I hope they will get it relatively soon after launch, and in decent colors...