Our pal Al Sacco scored a bank error in his favor this morning when T-Mobile sent him a marketing image of the upcoming BlackBerry Bold 9700 which was not accompanied by any embargo terms. I brought you live images of the T-Mobile branded Bold 9700 previously, but this marketing shot sure looks sweet. T-Mobile also sent along the following blurb, which still makes use of the "onyx" codename:
"The BlackBerry 'Onyx' sports a premium experience and design with a high-gloss black finish and leather grain detail on the back. Boasting features such as high-speed 3G Web browsing, Wi-Fi calling, visual voicemail and support for corporate and personal e-mail options, the 'Onyx' will satisfy all your on-the-go needs. Also the phone comes preloaded with mobile applications from BlackBerry App World, including Amazon MP3 store for quick and easy music downloads and TeleNav GPS Navigator for turn-by-turn directions."Â
Regarding release dates, Al says T-Mobile says it'll be here before the end of 2009, and with the later-heard embargoed date being early November that sounds more than reasonable. As far the use of the word "onyx" goes, it could be that their sticking with that for now until they officially decide on the model number for the device. It should be a Bold 97xx (the word Bold is on the backside of the device), but rumor has it that the T-Mobile version of the Bold is actually a bit different spec'd than the version AT&T and other GSM carriers around the world will ultimately get. While the AT&T/other version makes use of the Bold 9000's processor and battery, the T-Mobile version is slightly different, featuring a different processor and making use of the battery found in the Curve 8900/Storm/Tour. Why? So the T-Mobile version will be the same worldwide, working with 3G both on T-Mo USA and T-Mo in Europe, while the everybody else version of the new Bold (AT&T, Rogers, Vodafone, etc.) will not need T-Mo USA's HSPA frequencies. Maybe T-Mo's will be the Bold 9700t while elsewhere it'll just be the 9700. Or maybe their just waiting until RIM actually announces the exsistence of the device and are sticking to the onyx codename until that happens. As always, all will be revealed in time. Sure looks pretty though.
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83 comments
Exciting! can't wait till its released.
I'm excited too but I think i'm going to sit this one out. And wait for the next BB tmobile will release around Feb 2010.
This is what everyone's been waiting for. I'll be there on day one
Sweet! I'm getting one when it comes out! Now lets see how much the price is without contract.
I switch blackberry's way to often. this problem is killing my wallet.
Same problem here, but I may still get it though.
Maybe its the pics I have seen (video too) but it seems like the keyboard goes out further to the edges making it wider.
I haven't been keeping tabs on the Onyx since I'm on Verizon but I thought I remembered seeing early pics with the keyboard having the same beveled look as the sides of the device, witch in turn made the keyboard look a bit smaller.
I could be wrong though. As I said, I haven;t been paying too much attention to the Onyx hype.
Looks great though!
I thihk I like the less conservative look it has compared to the Tour. I also like that it is it's own device as far as style. it may have the Bold's leather back but other than that it pretty much is it's own style with keeping with RIM's curent over all style.
That was one of the things I didn't like about the Tour when I first saw pics. The fact that the casing is a combo of the Storm and 8900.
This is indeed what everyone has been waiting for! It has it all, I hope Sprint gets a version like this, or their Tour version next year at least has the trackpad, Wi-Fi and 5.0 in it!!!
so the 9700 will have the same processor speed as the 9000... that totally burst my bubble =[
I cannot wait. I already know what I want for Xmas.
SHAWEET!
a 3g Berry for a chance on Tmo. I guess the Storm 2 is not coming to TMO?
So wait the T-Mobile curve will have AWS & regular 3g banding so it'll work on other networks?? If so sweet!
Awesome that they confirmed it will have UMA!
cool!!!!!!!!!!!! awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!!!
FOR IT! THE PHONE LOOKS GOOD COME ON T-MOBILE BRING IT OUT....
I can't wait for this device!!!! My 8320 is ready to retire.
What do you think will tmobile include in the Box??
I'm not normally one to salivate over new devices, but I like the looks of this one...I've been hemming and hawing over whether to jump over to T-Mobile, and this might just make my decision for me in a few months. :)
I agree with six4seven....this is killing me! LOL But I am gonna buy it anyway! LOL Can't wait!
I knew T-Mobile would get the 9700!!! Yeaahhh!!! This is my next phone, we just have to get it B4 at&t...
Very excited about this... Two things though. No mention of UMA and I thought the codename for the T-Mobile branded 9700 was the "Driftwood". I love the "Onyx" codename. Can't get excited though, RIM will change that at the last minute... Yay, my name is on the phone!!! :-)
if you read the original article by Sacco he mentions it will have UMA
Sweeeet!!! Haven't read that article yet but thanks for clearing that up for me.
so is this a tmo exclusive? all we've seen so far r tmo branded onyx...
oo btw Kevin.. We all know you already have the StormII. Do you have the Onyx/Driftwood too?? You were excited when you saw someone carrying the 9700 in the wild so I'm assuming you don't?
"including Amazon MP3 store for quick and easy music downloads"
Hmmm . . . fascinating. I wonder if this will be available for other BB devices.
Now BlackBerry might be able to compete with other phones.
anyone noticed both the white numbers and letters?
just like the at&t version...
Wow! That is nice!! With all the new models coming out, I'm losing track of which phone will have which rumored feature. Is this the one that's rumored to have a touch screen and keyboard, or am I get this one mixed up with an other rumored model?
The Magnum has touchscreen and full qwerty. The onyx is the bold with a trackpad.
Thanks Se7en!! I know someone would know :)
They've been talking about the Magnum since 2008 so i'm betting CES 2010 in January they'll have a working copy and you'll probably see it on carries Feb-Mar 2010. Tmo usually release a new BB around that time. So if you can wait i'd skip over the Onyx cause you know there will be a new BB in 5months.
cheap on tmobile
well now lets all run !!! and grab a 9700
if I could afford it I would but 2 haha gimme
I would even promote RIM to get one :)!!! rofl
I hope this one have a better batery performance and a non heat celular.
Cause my bold is hot as hell!! but i do love it!!
No thanks, you couldn't pay me to get tmo service. I'm waiting for a new one over the Bold on at&t.
Dropped calls and no UMA.... Yeah, enjoy that.
UMA is the only thing T-Mo has over AT&T...who's to say T-Mo's 3G service will even be worth a DAMN! Guess you'll be dropping 'em too!
you forgot about cheaper service from tmo
After this contract im going to tmo anyway so this may be the one
i will definitly be getting this device!
I am ready for this new phone. I love my curve but i want another blackberry.
hurry up, !@!@# haha I need a few of these puppies :)
I didn't see anything in this article or the one on CIO that made me think they will actually called this the "Bold 9700" other than a reference to a production model with "Bold" stamped on the back.
I'd have to think the Bold's successor will come as an exclusive to AT&T first and hopefully be the same size as the Bold, not smaller like this one.
Don't see the reasons for such excitements.
Bold 9000, Tour, and this one look pretty much alike.
Yes, there are some minor barely visible cosmetic diffs,
but not that many to jump and attack nearest store.
This ad doesn't even say if the device has better than 9000 screen!
I just read CX mentioning that the Driftwood will be using a different battery. This could be T-Mobile's.
I will be buying this phone, but I might try to wait a few extra months and get it at the lower price with a new contract.
Is it confirmed that the T-mo version of the Bold 9700 will have UMA? The last I heard, T-mo was having complications with UMA + their 3G network together.
oo yea! i remember hearing that too.. apparently none of the techs has been able to successfully use uma and 3g together... but the original article does say it will support uma...
i guess all we can do is wait and see!
Nice phone, but I'm still waiting for the Magnum on T-mo. Will it happen? Also, what's with the lesser processor and battery? Unfortunately I don't travel abroad, so making it work on both networks doesn't help me, better battery and faster processing would though.