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Home»BlackBerry News»News & Rumors

T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9700 Glimpsed in the Wild!

by Kevin Michaluk on 10 Aug 2009 07:18 PM
129
 
T-Mobile BlackBerry 9700

Seriously, I need to travel more often. It wasn't so long ago that the 'javelin' (Curve 8900) was still unavailable that I spotted three in the same airport while flying to NYC. This time around while traveling home from vacation I was able to spot and get a few precious moments of hands-on time with the device above (single capture taken on my Verizon Tour) ... of a T-Mobile BlackBerry Bold 9700.

Wow, what a device. I've already reviewed the BlackBerry "onyx" (9020 device model at the time, now the BlackBerry Bold 9700) and basically concluded it was the ultimate "traditional" BlackBerry. Compared to the unit in that initial review, this one has a trackpad (vs. trackball), more of a silver chrome vs. charcoal (could be that AT&T will get the charcoal version) and the leather back on the battery door that we've previously featured on the blogs. It also felt different in the hand compared to my early model - this unit felt very sturdy (production ready?!). Couple that feeling with the T-Mobile branding and let's hope this baby is due sooner than later.

So for all the T-Mobile customers out there who didn't rush out to buy the Curve 8520, how do you feel about the BlackBerry Bold 9700?? Finally visual proof of a 3G BlackBerry on T-Mobile!! Big thanks to the BlackBerry Gods for being so good!

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129 Comments

Posted by esalonia Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Looks nice

 
 
Posted by Itanium Shock Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

holy sh*t
that is some phone right there lol

 
 
Posted by Working Class Hero Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

it's about time T-Mo stepped up to the plate with 3G...you're only 3 years late! LMAO!

If AT&T gets the charcoal housing, that'd be sweet. I personally don't like the silver/chrome housing on the Bold or the T-Mo Onyx.

Other than that...that trackpad is looking tasty!

 
 
Posted by kurrupt_1 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

I just used my upgrade on the My Touch. Dang I want this Bad!

 
 
Posted by Jaredius Sunday, Nov 29, 2009 796 days ago

You are proof that "poppy" TV commercials work.

 
 
Posted by joslyn2191 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

That looks nice!

 
 
Posted by cide2life Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

it looks sexy :)

 
 
Posted by MrJabezTaylor Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

I'm so happy if this is true I haven't bought new blackberry yet cause I'm waiting on a 3G one. I hope they let the keyboard be like the Curve 8320 I have now. I love the way it feels.

 
 
Posted by quahog_convo Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

That looks fantastic.

 
 
Posted by seanp666 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

How did you spot this phone in a crowded airport?? And who had the phone?? Was it a tester or something??

 
 
Posted by cigardj Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 906 days ago

My (gu)estimation, Kevin knows the folks who get to test these units or he himself is one of the fortunate that gets to test them and he is given embargo reporting rights. If nothing else, RIMM respects Kevin and Crackberry why not give him a test unit then let him build a story around it such as "look what seen at the airport!"

Think about it, Kevin is usually on the money about features and release dates. So is BGR, because they know people at RIMM or if nothing else, they do have a good relationship with the company.

I'm jealous can't you tell?

 
 
Posted by kk926 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

I am totally drooling over this thing and cursing myself for being so quick to re-sign my AT&T contract!

Is this the first Blackberry with BOTH 3G and wi-fi? At least in terms of AT&T and Verizon, I think so...

Between both of those options and the new trackpad... As I said in the subject: drooooool

 
 
Posted by wcihlu Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

bold 9000 on att has both 3g and wifi... itll be the first blackberry on tmo to have 3g and wifi
what phone did u upgrade too? the 8900??

 
 
Posted by ceepee Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

that shit is hot!!!

 
 
Posted by Ev0lv3 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

There's lots more room for a bigger screen on this thing (LOTS of un-used black), makes me think that its gonna be the same "shell" as a different phone.

 
 
Posted by kurrupt_1 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

this will trump all with 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and UMA.

 
 
Posted by hackntossh Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

No UMA, they haven't figured out how to do the hand off between 3G and WiFi for UMA...sucks I know.

 
 
Posted by davidnyc Monday, Aug 10, 2009 906 days ago

really? I've really been waiting for a 3G/UMA device.

 
 
Posted by hackntossh Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 906 days ago

yes really. i've been told by a t-mobile engineer that no one has perfected the 3G to UMA hand-off, so it is a no go.

 
 
Posted by InpherKnow Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

I need this in my life!!!!! My 8900 is serving me quite well, but a 3G berry for tmo=digital heaven.

 
 
Posted by xDAKx Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

I was going to buy a T-Mobile 8900, but if this is for T-Mobile USA (not T-Mobile UK or DE or another T-Mobile) then I will be waiting... fer sure. zomg.

 
 
Posted by cinnamin Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

all i can say is wow!

 
 
Posted by ohboyscott Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

t mobile? what a shame

 
 
Posted by kudvu002 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

just got my wife an 8520 and love her trackpad, I think this would be the device to make me put my 8900 down!

 
 
Posted by Zaakir Abdullah Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Damn! time to toss the 8900 on ebay!!!

Where are the red number keys!!

 
 
Posted by johnnyrope1 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Red Keys are a verizon thing.

 
 
Posted by Yandar Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Tmobile Uk uses red number keys too. FYI

 
 
Posted by marinman Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Undoubtedly this is a hot looking phone, but RIM's piecemeal approach to innovation is really starting to get me angry. The trackpad rocks by the way, but Wi-Fi and 3G shouldn't have been such a no-no for previous devices anyways. Let's see some risks baby, push out that touch-screen BlackBerry with a full QWERTY we know you're working on.

 
 
Posted by dwaynewilliams Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Why is the green phone key upside down. Every picture of this phone has an upside down green phone key.

 
 
Posted by Mentalist21 Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009 906 days ago

All the new blackberrys (8520, storm 2, onyx) appear to have the upside down send key, must be a new thing for blackberrys...

 
 
Posted by PiKappaAlpha Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

wow. i cant believe tmo did something right. lets hope its tmo usa cuz i dont think i could stand the heartbreak if it doesnt come to the states

 
 
Posted by ducksmith Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Now that we just got 3G in Jacksonville, this is a no-brainer. I can upgrade next week, so as soon as it's available, I'm in.

 
 
Posted by Djflawlezs Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Yes Yes and Yes!!!!

I am so on this phone the 1st day it comes out. It is soooo overdue by t-mobile.
Can we get a date??
Month???

 
 
Posted by GJW Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

PLEASE tell me this was a U.S. T-Mobile handset!!!!!! I have been waiting since they launched their 3G service in the NY market (their first 3G market) and now FINALLY there is evidence that a 3G blackberry is more than just a dream.

And while I would LOVE to have a combo touchscreen and full qwerty keyboard, I'll be happy to jump on the 9700 the day it's available! I've been living with my very solid (but extremely slow) 8800 BB since it first came out and I'm way overdue for a new device.

 
 
Posted by wcihlu Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

i would love to know what your express was kevin. i know if i saw an unreleased blackberry i'd flip like a little school girl running into zac efron

 
 
Posted by scurvydlicious Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Hey, when I approach people, that I don't know, at airports, train stations, restaurants, movies, etc, they always give me weird looks and run away from me when I ask to play with their Blackberry... How do you approach someone that you don't know and ask them if you can touch their berry?! Do you whip out a business card and they know who you are?

 
 
Posted by Barack-Berry Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

i think its about time to put the 8900 up for auction

 
 
Posted by bmwmpower Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

OMG SO GETTING THIS. EFF YA!

 
 
Posted by kcg5060 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Wow! I'm glad I'm on T-Mobile, now I have a device to fawn over for a year come my upgrade time. I seriously considered bounching back to VZW for the Tour, because of the lack of 3G, but now, there is hope!! To quote Kevin:

"...thanks to the BlackBerry Gods for being so good!"

Amen to that!

P.S.: The leather door is shmexay! Go BB and Mighty Magenta!

 
 
Posted by hgarcia8585 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

This is a T-Mobile USA phone, you can tell by the dots on the "T" T-Mobile USA begins with one dot, T-Mobile in other countries begins with 3 dots.

 
 
Posted by PiKappaAlpha Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

sweet. i was sweating there for a second

 
 
Posted by Yandar Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Thats an interesting bit of trivia. Im sitting next to a Tmobile Uk Bold and your right.

 
 
Posted by artie Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Any chance this will end up at Sprint????

 
 
Posted by Madness87 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Oh well, my trusty Bold is going to have to carry me through the next couple of months.

It's like the faithful wife who has stuck with you through everything and while still attractive, you cannot help but look at or want the sexy new neighbor :)

Though I don't know why they are doing this titanium/chrome on different carriers thing. Why not keep the design the same.

 
 
Posted by hackntossh Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

The only problem is no UMA, they haven't figured out how to reliably do the hand off from 3G to WiFi/UMA

 
 
Posted by booyahku Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

i've been using my Nokia 6610 for the last two months, saving my upgrade for this bad boy!!!!!!!!!

 
 
Posted by kgdakid Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

I will definitely be thinking about selling my 8900 for this, as long as it still has wifi and all other features of the 8900...

 
 
Posted by BuddyBlackberry Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

MON O MON PLEASE LET THIS BE FOR REAL....
TMO needs this very bad. We've been hurttin for something like this....

 
 
Posted by Sheyi Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

I'm ecstatic...T-Mobile is pretty good at keeping their phones under wraps so I guess we just wait for clearance from the FCC. Keeping my fingers crossed for a September release??

 
 
Posted by Queen4111 Monday, Aug 10, 2009 907 days ago

Great! Can we have a release date, please?

 
 
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