It was back in November when we posted some of the first live images of the BlackBerry Pearl 9100 here on CrackBerry. These photos might not be breaking news, but as BlackBerry lovers it's impossible to not love checking out some fresh pre-release pics. The crew of Tecnomovida landed some new photos of the upcoming Pearl 9100 which show off this little beauty. Nothing really new to look at per se, but some of the photos are at different angles than have been posted on previously which give even more perspective to what the new 3G Pearl will be like to hold. The device is still sporting the SureType keyboard and running OS 5.0.0.449, and also has some Curve 85xx style media keys on the top.

I'll be off to CTIA in Vegas next week where new devices often get announced by carriers and manufacturers. That being the case, I'm not expecting to see an announcement on the new Pearl next week. It does seems to be getting closer, however, so hopefully we'll hear about it "officially" sometime between CTIA and WES at the end of April. Hit the jump for some more shots.

Yesterday, Boy Genius dropped some whispers hinting that the long awaited OS 5.0 update for the BlackBerry Tour 9630 was coming in the next 2-3 weeks and that it was also bringing a new Push To Talk feature. As it turns out, the files needed for that new data plan using push to talk features has been turning up in the past two OS leaks for Tour owners. And from info gathered in the forums, Verizon is seemingly not really trying hard to hide it from end users either.

As posted in the forums, some skilfull folks have found through the Verizon wap website you can actually find and attempt to add the services to your Verizon account. While at this point, the files and the addition to your account doesn't mean you can get it to work. It certainly puts weight behind the timelines given for push to talk and the rumored 9650 release.

• Check Out The CrackBerry Forums For More Information Where The Options Were Found>>

In an effort to give us all a better feel for the BlackBerry slider (aka 9700a as it has shown up as... at least for now anyways as that could easily and should change), the folks over at BBLeaks have got some more pics for us to gaze over. These pics give us a look at the back end of the device as well as give us a size idea by being compared to a BlackBerry Curve 8900. As with all prerelease devices, what we're looking at here is pre branded hardware. And while it may likely be close to "final form" the released models will have branding and such from carriers on them and will certainly look more polished. Past prerelease devices such as the Bold 9000 first showed up wearing a plastic battery door. A far stretch from the leather backing it arrived with at release. Some of you may remember the Bold 9700 was first seen with a trackball, so while pics give us a general idea, everything should be taken with a grain of salt until newer, branded hardware is spotted.

Still lots left to learn about this device as the days go by, hopefully we'll get to see a better look as many, many questions remain unanswered here. What about the camera? Is it 5MP and making use of the liquid lense we heard? Or is it still running the old 3.2MP that has been standard. What about the screen? Is it touchscreen? OS it's running, if any? Here’s to hoping someone out there can actually get an up close and personal look with one that actually powers on at some point. Now, with these new pictures showing up has it changed your thoughts on the device? One more picture after the break of the side by side with an 8900.

We've been waiting to see exactly how this one turned out for everyone. But as most of you know the past few days for Verizon Storm 2 owners have been rather interesting. BerryScoop got tipped the news about the possibility of Verizon being reissued Storm 2 devices due to a screen issue. Now while the screen issues seemed to be nowhere near as bad as what they were on the original BlackBerry Storm it did exist for some users. As indicated in the Verizon information, devices were being returned mostly with the lower left hand side of the screen either not working correctly or not working at all. This caused some high return rates for many users out there.

Noticing the problem and working with Research In Motion, Verizon was directed to return all current stock and was reissued a new batch of devices to replace the ones returned. Any customers experiencing issues with their current devices were also targeted through Verizons customer care in the fact if you had an affected device and called you could get a replacement for the improperly working one. The replacement coming in the way of a "Certified Like-New Replacement" or better known as refurbished. So how many of you out there actually had your BlackBerry Storm 2's replaced? Most people I ask state they never had any issues with their release device so I'm guessing the issue wasn't that widespread? Let us know in the comments either way. 

Remember the days when you could pick up a BlackBerry Curve and Pearl in just about every color of the rainbow? I certainly do. The crimson red 83xx was a sweet device that I always wanted but never actually bought. Seems like Research In Motion is keeping up this tradition with the Curve series as they have been releasing a multitude of colors for the 85xx devices. This time around rumor has it that we'll see a red version show up on Sprint at some point. The red color isn't exactly a new one for the 85xx series though, TELUS in Canada has had it since their intial release but if all pans out we should see it on Sprint any moment now. Sadly, it doesn't appear to be that sexy crimson red of devices past but rather a different shade of red. Rumor also has it that we'll see the 9100 show up in a few other colors as well for different carriers with Pink/Black headed to TELUS as it stands.

[ BerryAndroid / BlackBerrySync ]

In some not so shocking news, this glimpse of Big Red's system shows their End of Life Devices. These devices are listed as "Current devices with limited or no remaining shipments from the vendor." Among the soon to be dead are the BlackBerry Storm 9530 as we noted the other day, the Curve 8330 (no surprise), the 8830 (which I didn't even know was still around) and last but not least, the Pearl Flip 8230. I feel sort of bad for the Pearl Flip getting phased out as it almost feels like it was never properly phased in. Plus there are people out there who still love that form factor. I wonder if RIM will ever release an updated BlackBerry in the flip form factor or if that's all Waterloo wrote on that one.

So, once the end of the line hits for these guys, it looks like Verizon will be left with the Tour 9630, Storm2, Curve 8530 and the Tour2 Bold (something) on the horizon. No specific date for when the supplies will be gone completely, so if you have a sense of nostalgia you better pick up one of these devices before they're gone.

[ GizmoFusion ]

We knew this was coming mostly due to rumors (and a slight OS goof), and the Curve 8520 has finally made its way to Fido. The device is just $50 with a 3/year agreement and matching BlackBerry Data plan, $350 with a 2/year contract, or $400 for just the device or prepaid service. Nothing new and exciting with this release as the Fido version is still the standard Fido-branded black, but maybe a lavender or red version will work into the lineup down the road. It looks like the device is only available by phone or in stores as well. For more information, check out fido.ca.

• More information on the Curve 8520 for Fido >>

Needless to say, we're gonna stick the fat rumor tag on this one. But, according to the folks over at The Street it seems investors and analysts were given reason to worry about Research In Motion at some point in time. The worry coming from what is yet to be confirmed news that BlackBerry Storm orders have either been drastically reduced or cut off entirely.

While we speculate all day about the reasons why this may be, it's best we just ride this little piece of information out for the time being and see what, if anything actually comes out of it. Seems every year as we count the days down to WES rumors come from everywhere, all spelling Research In Motions demise. But none of them ever seem to become reality. That said, what do you all think? Original Storm series saying goodbye or still around for a while yet?

No surprise here folks. We let ya know back on February 4th that folks in the UK would be gaining another carrier for the BlackBerry Storm 2 as Vodafones exclusive deal was up. That day has arrived and now, T-Mobile UK users can log on to the website and place their orders for the next generation Storm. You can grab one up for free provided you hook up with a T-Mobile plan £30 or higher.

• Head On Over To The T-Mobile UK Website For More Details And Ordering>>

Kyle over at BlackBerryCool got tipped to something interesting today. The March 1st issue of business week recently ran the above ad in their publication advertising the BlackBerry Storm2. Nothing out of the ordinary about that, unless you look harder into the ad where it says "See all there is to see with BlackBerry® Storm™ smartphones from Rogers and other major retailers". Funny, Rogers doesn't sell the BlackBerry Storm so are they planning on it? Or do we just have a marketing mix up where the ad department just didn't adjust the tag line? Let us know what you think folks in the comments, would you all like to be able to grab a BlackBerry Storm from Rogers?

Alright folks, this is getting kind of out of hand. Normally before a device is released we see a few hands-on photos and videos of them but with this particular device, the BlackBerry Pearl 9100 has surely seen more then a "few" hands on. The newest one comes to us courtesy of FeedBerry which is an Indonesian site and will be doing a follow up post after some more hardware testing. So, not only is it making its rounds in the US and Canada, it has gone international now.

The BlackBerry Pearl 9100 has so far, been rumored to be arriving in April during WES 2010 according to some analysts out there. But really the device looks complete, the OS with each hands on keeps showing a higher revision then the previous and people are waiting for it. Research In Motion might as well just get it out to whatever carriers are picking it up and revise their WES launch plans to different device if they truly do plan on hanging onto the 9100 until then.

Folks have been enjoying their BlackBerry Storm2's for a while now in the UK but due to an exclusive deal with Vodafone, carrier selection has been slim. With T-Mobile UK's recent announcement that will change and consumers will have another choice when picking up the BlackBerry Storm 2. Sometime this month, the device will be released on the T-Mobile UK network.

In addition to the announcement of the Storm 2 launch, Phil Lander, T-Mobile’s account director at RIM,  also confirmed that they’ll have an official Twitter application shortly. We already knew that but to hear it come way of a Research In Motion employee gives us hope we'll see it sooner then later.

[ IntoMobile via Mobile News ]

Its been a few days now since we noticed T-Mobile pulling "older" BlackBerry Curve series devices. First to be noticed was the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and then eventually the BlackBerry Curve 8320 went AWOL as well. While we were waiting to see if it was just an inventory issue, it sure didn't seem that way considering T-Mobile typically just outright says it's out of stock on their site if it truly is. News from engadget today, seems to be a bit more clear as the comments they have gotten from T-Mobile are that the BlackBerry Curve 8900 has "reached the end of its life-cycle".

With the BlackBerry Curve 8910 having been spotted rolling through the FCC with a smile on its face it could quite possibly end up at T-Mobile. It's logical for them to get the device with it's trackpad, larger display and like it or not many customers out there still have needs and wants for a EDGE only device and maybe the BlackBerry Curve 8520 won't fit that bill where as the 8910 could. All about choice. If given the choice between an 8910 or an 8520, I'd take the 8910.

The BlackBerry Pearl 9100 is the furthest thing from a secret on the interwebs. The latest news is that it'll be rocking T-Mobile and WIND 3G bands. Up until now it's only ever been spotted touting the typical AT&T and Rogers 3G so if the above pic is to be believed some 1700mHz love is headed your way. Not that it wasn't expected but if you have been bummed about the possibility of not getting an AWS 3G version, chin up. If the pics are correct you should be able to grab one as soon as RIM acknowledges what the world already knows. The BlackBerry Pearl 9100 exists and is coming soon to multiple carriers.

[ @alphatectz / @CellGuru ]

A quick note for all of the good folks in India today (errr... well, yesterday technically). Looks like RIM has officially launched the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in India. Woohoo! The 9700 is now available nationwide in retail stores serviced by Redington India... Plus, it is now on hand at Airtel, Aircel, BSNL, Idea Cellular, Loop Mobile, MTNL, Reliance, Tata and Vodafone locations.

For users of the ever popular Bold 9000 in the region, the 9700 may draw more than a few looks. The design has been updated, and packs the touch-sensitive trackpad, a high-performance 624MHZ processor, 256MB of on-board flash memory, a 3.2MP camera (with video), OS 5.0, and a heck of a lot more.

For more details hit up http://in.blackberry.com or check out the full press release after the jump.