We posted earlier in the week that the BlackBerry Z10 was going on sale in India and judging by the amount of comments that the article received there are certainly some mixed feelings when it comes to the price of the new BlackBerry 10 smartphone. With India being an unlocked market the full price of the handset is required up front unlike in many other regions.

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Two days out from the BlackBerry 10 launch event and shit just got reallllly real. A leaked document from Vodafone in the UK states that the BlackBerry Z10 may be available even earlier than expected. There was a rumor that devices would land on some carriers starting February 5th, but if this one holds true, Vodafone will be offering up the BlackBerry Z10 for online order on January 30th and it will be in stores on the 31st. So UK customers may luck out and be the first to pick up a Z10, but we're certain to hear more on this Wednesday. Check out the full doc below.

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Earlier this morning some Vodafone users in the Middle East, Europe and Africa were hit with a service outage according to reports. Users were unable to access email or data services for a few hours but it looks as if now service is slowly being restored. Vodafone had this to say:

"Vodafone is working closely with Research in Motion (RIM) to restore full service as soon as possible. As soon as we have further information we will provide additional updates"

Things should be getting back to normal now for most users in the affected areas. If you're a Vodafone user and are having trouble getting email, be sure to drop a comment letting us know! 

Source: Reuters 

Vodafone UK is offering up a £10 discount on a wide range of Pay-As-You-Go smartphones on the run up to Christmas and this includes the popular BlackBerry Curve 9320. Where Vodafone has a slight advantage over some of the other carriers is that they sell the budget BlackBerry in five different colors - black, white, classic blue, vivid violet and pink.

The device will set you back £120 with the discount, which is pretty reasonable. For consumers on a budget, the BlackBerry Curve 9320 will give you the whole BlackBerry experience without breaking the bank. With Christmas just over a week away this could be perfect for a gift? The 9320 comes packed with the latest version of the OS - BlackBerry 7.1 and obviously it is perfect for social media, email and BBM just to name a few features. And not forgetting the glorious hardware keyboard. 

If you like to stand out from the crowd with a funky coloured BlackBerry head on over to the Vodafone website.

Vodafone UK recently launched the BlackBerry Freebee for its BlackBerry owning customers. Giving them free BlackBerry Internet Service every month. In conjunction with the launch, Vodafone UK also gave their reasons as to why they have introduced this Freebee.

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A quick snippet of news for you Vodafone customers in the UK. Today Vodafone launched their new BlackBerry Freebee on pay as you go. When customers top up £10 or more they will be entitled BBM, internet access, email and access to BlackBerry App World all for free!

In addition - the Vodafone BlackBerry Freebee also includes an extra 100MB of UK data so customers can use that at their leisure. Vodafone BlackBerry customers can opt in just by dialling 4355 for free from their handset.

You can see more information below but this looks a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. 

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Vodafone users may be experiencing a bit of an outage this morning in Europe. An anonymous tipster emailed in letting us know that BIS services are down following some planned maintenance last night. While it's unclear so far whether the problem is Vodafone's or RIM's, we're hoping it will be resolved shortly. In the meantime, let us know in the comments if you're on Vodafone and your BlackBerry services are down this morning. We'll provide updates as they become available.

*Update from RIM*
We are currently experiencing a BlackBerry service issue impacting some users in Europe, Middle East & Africa. All relevant support teams are working to resolve the issue. We apologize to any customers who may be affected.

*Update* - I have now been able to BBM my Vodafone friends so looks like things here in the UK are back to normal. Everyone else ok? (James)

Discuss in the forums

Great news for those of you in Germany on the Vodafone network. The company have today announced that mobile payments will be supported through BlackBerry App World. This will benefit BlackBerry users that do not have access to, or do not want to use a credit card to link to their account.
In addition Vodafone customers will also have the opportunity to perform in-app purchases giving the the freedom to buy without leaving the running application. All current BlackBerry models will support the new payment option as long as users have the latest version of BlackBerry App World installed.

Carrier App World payments are not new to BlackBerry although it is taking a while for the support to get to all networks. It certainly makes life easier than having to worry about a credit card or a PayPal account so I'm all for it. In this day and age with so many teenagers using BlackBerry this should also increase their ability to purchase from BlackBerry App World without having to pester mum or dad for credit card details. Everyone's a winner!

Source: Mobistack.com

In tradition style, Vodafone UK has announced that they now have two new color variants of the popular BlackBerry Curve 9320 and will increase the range by adding a pink one later this summer. Kevin asked yesterday what colors we'd like to see for BlackBerry 10, so these may just be on that list. The two new colors are Vivid Violet and Classic Blue. The blue looks pretty nice but being a big tough man I can't say the same for violet -- and clearly the pink one will be out of the question for me. However, for the ladies these may well be perfect. So once the pink Curve is released it will make a grand total of five choices for customers as Vodafone already sell the black and the white one.

All variations of the BlackBerry Curve 9320 are priced at £135 on pay-as-you-go which is exceptional value if you ask me. In addition if you pick up one of these between now and the end of October the BlackBerry Internet Service will be half price - sweet. As well as getting the wonderful hardware keyboard on the BlackBerry Curve 9320 you will also find social networking a real breeze and keeping in touch with your buddies via instant messaging couldn't be easier than with the dedicated BBM key.

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Last year we saw the integration here in the UK of the Orange and T-Mobile networks coming under the one parent company of Everything Everywhere. This of course was great news for not only us BlackBerry users, but all phone users as both 2G and 3G switches seamlessly between whichever mast has the strongest signal.

Today Vodafone and O2 have announced a similar plan where they too will share cell sites. The companies will very much remain separate but the mast sharing will give the two networks a broader and more efficient network coverage.

So how does this effect us BlackBerry users you may well ask? The answer is quite simple.

When considering buying a new BlackBerry many of us are restricted to certain networks due to cell coverage. The plain and simple fact now is that the predicament is going to be massively reduced in the future allowing consumers to pretty much choose whichever network offers the best deal.

Sounds absolutely perfect if you ask me and fantastic news for us BlackBerry users. You can see the full press release from O2 and Vodafone below.

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While the above advert may not be the most exciting in the world it is nice to see that Vodafone are pushing the BlackBerry Curve 9320.

BBM is mentioned which is clearly targeting the youth market here in the UK. All the cool kids have a BlackBerry! With RIM receiving negative press on a daily basis these days it is encouraging to see that in some parts of the world the BlackBerry is still kicking the other operatings systems into touch.

Nice job Vodafone. You have earned some extra respect points from the CrackBerry Nation.

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

Remember this catchy Vodafone ad from last year featuring the BlackBerry Boys? Well they are back this time for another round, only they aren't so happy as they were before. No, it's not what you think -- the BlackBerry Boys are sad because they are no longer alone in their exclusive love and use of BlackBerry. The younger generation is taking over, using things like BBM for dating, "sending pictures on the move" and more. If you feel like having yet another BlackBerry tune stuck in your head all day, check out the video above to see the Boys in their reprise.

The long awaited White BlackBerry Bold 9900 has finally hit the streets. Vodafone UK is offering up the device today and customers can grab it for as little as £39 for 24 months, which includes 1000mins, unlimited text and 750MB of data and BIS. Other plans are available as well, so check for the option that best fits you.

So what say you? Do you prefer the black or white Bold 9900? Let us know in the comments!

Check out the White BlackBerry Bold 9900 at Vodafone UK

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

Everyone loves white devices, perhaps no one more than Kevin. While we've all been super happy with our BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930's in black, there is just something about the white version that makes it look oh so awesome. We've seen a few images of the device here and there, but until now no solid info was known as to where or when the device would actually surface. Vodafone has helped us out in posting a sneak peek video of the BlackBerry Bold 9900 in white. The device in the video is still unbranded, but it's a great sign to see that it will indeed be hitting carriers at some point. Check out the video above for more and be ready to get your white on.

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Myself, not being much of stock watcher -- I always find it interesting sometimes to see what causes stock in companies to go up and down. The latest rumors surrounding RIM are that Vodafone may possibly have an interest in a RIM buyout and while the rumor itself is debatable, the more interesting thing here is the effect it appears to of have had on RIMM.

Research In Motion stock rose 14% on the news of these rumors and it's not exactly the first time RIMM has gone up strictly based on acquisition rumors. Some investors have faith in RIM, while others are it seems, hoping someone steps in for an acquisition.

No matter how you look at the situation, the fact people are so fascinated with each and every RIM acquisition rumor that comes out, and the fact their stock either goes up or down depending on whom it is suggested as being the one to take over is interesting to watch. It shows you many people are still interested in RIM and their future as a whole.

via: BGR

While I was just about shutting down for the day last night, our good friend @tomagreen dropped me a mention on Twitter. He sent along a link along with "check this out" and told me where to look on the page. I clicked the link, scrolled a bit, and sure enough saw something that was both creepy and funny at the same time. What you see in the image above is just what I saw on the page. A white BlackBerry Bold 9780 with a zoomed in image of Universal Search. Only it wasn't some generic John Doe on the message list - it was Adam Zeis and Bla1ze. So curious as to where exactly the image came from and how it ended up on a Vodafone device page, we did a little digging and realized it came from Kevin's post on BlackBerry 6 (scroll to Universal Search).

So I do indeed find it amusing that Vodafone liked the image enough to use it on their page (flattered really). I guess RIM doesn't provide images like this for carriers and they must have not wanted to take some on their own? Who knows. If you look closely you can see they even cropped out the AT&T banner from the image, though it still shows (a bit blurry) on the device image. So we just thought we'd pass this along as a bit of CrackBerry humor. If you come across anything like this and want to let us know, drop us a line at tips(at)crackberry.com.

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

With the BlackBerry Torch 9860 having been given its official welcoming to the BlackBerry line up, more carriers are coming forth and sharing their info about the device. Vodafone UK, having already signed on to take the BlackBerry Bold 9900 in inventory now walks us through the BlackBerry Torch 9860 that will soon be hitting UK.

 

Earlier this month we saw that Vodafone listed the Bold 9900 as "coming soon" and it appears as though the dummy units have begun appearing in stores. As the past has proven, once dummy units begin to arrive at stores, usually the device is not far off, so could we possibly see the Bold 9900 land in stores in August? Vodafone customers, can you feel the excitement? Be sure to hop in the forums and let us know if you will be snagging one of these upon release, or waiting to see some reviews first. Thanks, Dave!

Sprint officially released OS 6.0.0.600 for the BlackBerry Bold 9650 yesterday, and here we have two more of the same for both the Bold 9780 and Pearl 3G. Vodafone has officially released OS 6.0.0.600 for these devices so if you're a Pearl 3G or Bold 9780 user get out those USB cables and try this one out. No reports of the good or bad on these just yet, so be sure to leave a comment or hit the forums for more.

Download OS 6.0.0.600 for the BlackBerry Bold 9780
Discuss more in the forums

Download OS 6.0.0.600 for the BlackBerry Pearl 3G
Discuss more in the forums 

Source: BerryReview

Vodafone seems to be the winner in the "coming soon" race with the BlackBerry Bold 9900. Vodafone DE in Germany now has listed the upcoming device on their coming soon page. While there is no release date listed (as has been the case in other sightings) it's still a step in the right direction. Nothing big noted along here as the site just lists the specs of which we already know but no preorder or other info. There is a sign up page to be notified when things start moving along however. Hit the link below to check it out.

Check out the BlackBerry Bold 9900 at Vodafone DE

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

In case you were questioning if Vodafone would be picking up the upcoming BlackBerry Bold 9900, ask no more. They have just posted a short "sneak peek" video showing off the latest BlackBerry smartphone. The video is under a minute, however it gets right to the point and tells all about the Bold 9900 features including BlackBerry 7, full QWERTY keyboard, 2.8" touchscreen, 5MP camera and more. Still no official date on this or its CDMA counterpart, but we're hopeful that we'll hear something solid very soon. Check out the video above for more and bring on the Bold!!!

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Here's yet another official OS this week - this time for the Curve 8900. Vodafone DE has officially released OS 5.0.0.1036 for the Curve 8900. It's been a while since we've since an official 8900 release from any carrier, so if you have a 8900 install this one and let us know how it is. Be sure to drop a comment in the forums with your findings.

Download OS 5.0.0.1036 for the Curve 8900
Discuss more in the forums

Vodafone Qatar, an aspiring player in the broad world of BlackBerry, now offers businesses the opportunity to hop into the possibilities of BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express. With no set-up or licensing costs, enterprises in Qatar may now ensure a secure environment for corporate e-mail on their BlackBerry smartphones - at an affordable price. Vodafone Qatar also unveiled a promotion that includes additional benefits for customers who register before January 31, 2011.

Jan Holzberg, Head of Business Marketing at Vodafone Qatar, says: "We understand it is important for businesses to be connected on the go. With BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express businesses in Qatar can get totally secure business email service on their BlackBerry with zero set-up costs." For more information on pricing and the promotion, head over to the Vodafone Qatar Business World Web site.

Source: Zawya

Once more the BlackBerry Torch is subject to making headlines, which at this rate may very well take over the world soon - but that's only a good thing. This time it is Malta to enjoy the love and with BlackBerry being so popular there, the BlackBerry Torch will likely be a hit among the socially connected and business oriented individuals. Proud to bring the BlackBerry Torch to Malta is Alexandre Froment Curtil, Head of Marketing at Vodafone Malta; "[RIM and Vodafone Malta] were the first to launch the BlackBerry solution in Malta and we have a rich history of innovation and collaboration with Research in Motion. Our two companies that brought the first BlackBerry smartphones to the local market have teamed up again with the new BlackBerry Torch to provide our users an enormously popular service with the latest technological advances."

As far as pricing goes, Vodafone Malta is very flexible. You can go without contract and pay a cool 599€ or choose from one of the many plans available. You could go all deluxe with the Smartphone 95 plan and get the BlackBerry Torch for free, which at 95€ per month is not that bad as it includes a 2GB quota of mobile Internet use as well as 600 free minutes to all local and EU networks. Should it be anything in between, Vodafone Malta has you covered - go check out the plans for yourself and you will see what I mean; there is a little something for everyone! Be sure to head over to the Vodafone Malta Web site for more details and pricing information. And do not tell me I did not warn you of the many options Vodafone Malta offers, I told you!

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The BlackBerry Curve 3G is making its way around Europe and Vodafone Malta is the next stop. They have announced that the device should be available in stores from tomorrow. It will ship with BlackBerry 5 and it BlackBerry 6 ready. The device will be available without contract for €339. There is a monthly contract offer of €50 per month on a smartphone post paid plan.

• Click Here For More Details Via The Vodafone Website>>

Source: VodafoneNews

Are you in the market to buy a BlackBerry smartphone? Why not double up and get one for your spouse, friend or someone special? Vodafone Qatar has namely announced a BlackBerry promotion with a simple yet intriguing idea: buy one BlackBerry smartphone and get the second for half the price! Offer available for a limited time only.

There are two options to choose from: the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and the BlackBerry Curve 8520. For either choice you will get the Freedom Welcome Pack (Vodafone SIM card) along with the Flexi 55 plan, which includes 55 minutes to make domestic calls to another Vodafone Qatar number free of charge. To top it off, BlackBerry service for a month is included as well. Since launching its tremendously successful BlackBerry service in June, Vodafone Qatar is on its way to become a strong player in the Middle East with over 600,000 subscribers to date in general. So, what are you waiting for? Hop in and be part of the broad world of BlackBerry!

Source: Telcompaper

With the BlackBerry Torch 9800 well and truly available in the UK, Vodafone looks set to releasing another BlackBerry in the very near future. The BlackBerry Bold 9780 tariff prices have just been outed so we should expect to see them in stores soon. We haven't even seen a release day of any kind for the 9780, so having the prices out and about is pretty crazy.

We know already that the Bold 9780 is a refreshed Bold 9700 with more memory and 5MP camera in the same shell so it's safe to say that the tariffs would be very similar to the 9700. Here's the tariff details currently known:

• 900 minutes (anytime/network)
  
• Unlimited texts
  
• 500mb of data
  
• BIS included
  
• £35/pm (24 months) - device free on this plan
  
• £40/pm (18 months) - device free on this plan

Will you holding out to get your hands on the Bold 9780? I am curious to know if any 9700 owners will upgrade or just wait for BB6 to be available.

Source: BerryReview

Now that Canadians have been blessed with the release of the BlackBerry Torch on Rogers, it is time for some Europe-centric news and although UK customers had their release postponed, they may not be the only ones looking forward to October. Vodafone Deutschland has confirmed via Twitter that BlackBerry Torch goodness is coming soon! No word on pricing, though. BlackBerry users in Germany, this will have to do until the BlackBerry PlayBook sees an European release in Q2 2011 :-)

At this point it seems if you're on any carrier other then AT&T chances are your purchase of the BlackBerry Torch is going to be delayed. While we can't say exactly for certain the reasoning for it, it's certainly no longer just bound to Canadian carriers any more. Vodafone UK, which was set to release the BlackBerry Torch 9800 on September 27th has now updated their website to show that orders will not ship until October 1st. I'm inclined to believe it's so that the OS' can be updated on the devices but, that of course hasn't been proven as of yet. In any event, you can still pre order the BlackBerry Torch on Vodafone UK. Hit the link below to get started.

• Click Here To View The BlackBerry Torch 9800 On The Vodafone UK Website>>

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 isn't even available for sale yet in the UK (you can only pre-order), but that hasn't stopped it from making a few appearances in this new Vodafone UK network commercial above. If you're in the UK and waiting on the Torch to hit, check out the video for a little in-action eye candy. Thanks to Dave for sending this in!