Recap on BlackBerry Bold

Our mobile world is once again stirred up with the most awaited handset from Research in Motion (RIM): BlackBerry (BB) 9000 series, where it has came from a long way back from when it's still a rumor in the wind. I remember Sammy once has posted about the most rumored 9000 series, here at Palm Addict. But now it has been officially named Bold.

There have been plenty of news & reviews covering BB Bold when it's first announced, and our own Palm Addict's iPhone Editor: Paul Biba also has made a piece about it here at PA. So without further ado, let me add some more infos to the already mentioned full specs of BB Bold:

• Quad GSM band, possibly there'll be a 1700MHz version for T-Mobile's 3G network
• Tri-band 3G up to HSDPA data transfer
• physically taller & wider than the Curve with 4.5 inches tall, 2.6 inches wide, half an inch deep, and weighs 4.7 ounces (around 133gr)
• 480x320 pixels of brilliant display with 65K colors, but still no touch-screen
• 624MHz powered processor, while no certainty yet on which processor are: Intel or Marvell?
• BlackBerry OS 4.6
• 128MB flash memory
• 1GB on board memory (with AES256 encryption)
• microSD expansion slot up capable to support 16GB card
• WiFi 802.11a/b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP
• Built-in enhanced & assisted GPS
• 2M pixels camera with 5x zoom, flash & geo-tag photos (using the GPS)
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack
• DataViz's documents support to read & edit Microsoft's Office docs, but not for Excel spreadsheet
• Standard battery of Li-Ion 1500mAH, that's still not juicy enough if used for 3G connection
• interchangable leathered textured back panel into blue, grey or red color
• sculpted full QWERTY keyboard keys that are seperated by curved barriers
• video player support play various formats such as MP3, WMA, AAC, DivX4, XVid, 3gp & WMV3
• the video capable to play 30 frames per second
• stunning and loud built-in speaker
• price range from US$300-500, depending on the carrier
• first carrier to launch it is AT&T this July
• additional iTunes sync capability
• possibly future Flash support in its BlackBerry OS web browser
• Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger support including push emails, realtime sync, full HTML, file transfer, customize status message, view avatar, display images, and use emoticons.
• IBM's Lotus support for calendar, instant messaging, Lotus' dashboard, portal components, Cognos Go business intelligence software and social networking.

Pheew... if those above features are not make you wanting for the Bold, then consider these side dishes incentives:

• RIM launched VC Fund up to $150 million to support companies that develop apps and services for BlackBerry. Meaning, there'll be plenty of 3rd party softwares available in the future.


• RIM is now offering a free program called BlackBerry Wallet, designed to help you store your personal information in an easy to access fashion. Just grab it at here or go directly to BlackBerry's mobile web site.


• Garmin is offering lifetime GPS navigation service on a BlackBerry handset, for only US$100!! But you're not allowed to transfer it to another or new BB handsets, so it stays only for one registered BB; but for good.

And if you're confused on choosing between iPhone or Bold for your next ultimate mobile phone, then you might want to read on Sascha Segan's (PC Mag) article: The iPhone is No BlackBerry. He has great insights on comparing both phones, and he's got a good point saying: "The iPhone does hurt RIM in its quest to expand its customer base to consumers, beyond its corporate core. Both are smart, both are nimble, and both have strengths. And as long as Apple is shackled to AT&T, RIM has a head start with most of North America."

Good luck on drooling over the new BlackBerry Bold, it'll be fun to watch how it's going to face off directly with iPhone 2.0 after its release on July or June this year. Or perhaps, you're waiting for the touch-screen BB 900 series a.k.a. BB Thunder? In the meantime, why don't you watch the hands-on BB Bold video clip below and maybe it'll change your mind... ;-p

Sources are from various websites on the net.
[blogged with my Treo 750v]