BlackBerry Bold debuts in North America

The long-awaited BlackBerry Bold, or BlackBerry 9000, made its North American debut Thursday on Rogers Wireless in Canada.

The Bold is a souped-up version of the BlackBerry Curve model, which has sold well in the U.S. on all four major carriers. This new and improved BlackBerry is supposed to have a superior screen resolution to the Curve and more memory. It also has Wi-Fi and operates over a 3G network, something the GSM version of the Curve does not do. Rogers, like AT&T and T-Mobile, which offer the Curve in the U.S., is a GSM carrier.

But all the new bells and whistles will cost consumers a pretty penny, which might make it out of reach for the consumer customers Research in Motion hopes to attract. Rogers will sell the phone for about $400 with a three-year voice and data plan.

Many have compared the Bold to Apple's iPhone 3G, even going as far as to call it RIM's iPhone killer. But even though the Bold offers an improved full HTML Web browser and an improved screen resolution for watching video, it does not have a touch screen. Like previous BlackBerry models, it has a standard QWERTY keypad and BlackBerry's special track ball for navigation.

That said, the real BlackBerry iPhone killer will likely be the BlackBerry Thunder, which is supposed to have a touch screen. The Thunder is expected to be released later this year.

The Bold has already been available in other countries including, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Chile and Ecuador. But Rogers is the first North American carrier to get the phone. The phone is expected to launch in the U.S. in September. And a CDMA version of the phone is also expected.

CNET Reviews will have a hands-on review of the new Bold soon, so stay tuned for more detailed information on just how well all these bells and whistles actually work.

[Penguinisto]

yipe!

Nobody needs complain about the iPhone pricetag ever again...

[totorototoro]

Are three year contracts common in Canada? That seems a bit extreme.

[professionaladventurer]

Kinda looks a iPhone but with a lil small screen, cheesy GUI and a silly keyboard thingy, but hey you can pick your own carrier! Take that iPhone.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Looks much more professional than the iSlab. The BOLD is GO !

[DavyBoyWonder]

@totorototoro

lol, common? They're practically the norm. And rogers has us by the balls when it comes to 3G, they're the only ones that offer it.

Supposedly our recent wireless spectrum auction will bring in new competitors (who knows when) to fight rogers on the prices, but the amount that was paid for the spectrum likely means the prices will be just as high as rogers prices, and they'll probably collude anyway.

Our two other wireless carriers, Bell and Telus, are already colluding on text messages. With them, you get charged $0.15 for any incoming text message, and you can't restrict incoming messages. But if you pay an extra $10 a month, you get unlimited messaging. Nice scam, eh?

[webmaster003]

I can't wait for the Bold. But I wonder when Telus Mobility in Canada will get it? Any one know?

[PierreCanada]

three years is pretty standard for all of the cellular carriers in Canada (Rogers/Fido, Bell and Telus).

[Constable Odo]

Businesses will buy this model without a second thought. HSBC will purchase this handset in place of the iPhone and the Bold will fit into their corporation like a well-worn glove.

[angry jubu]

$400 and a three-year commitment? Are you f*ckin kidding me? I'd go back to a land line first.

I'm SHOCKED. The Canadians are general so progressive and egalitarian in all other areas. I mean - universal free health care on the one hand - and THIS on the other?

[rahoman1]

We don't have universal or free health care in Canada. Our system is public health care, and we are drowning in taxes.

[angry jubu]

$400 and a three-year commitment? Are you f*ckin kidding me? I'd go back to a land line first.

I'm SHOCKED. The Canadians are general so progressive and egalitarian in all other areas. I mean - universal free health care on the one hand - and THIS on the other?

[kemar7856]

rogers is a rip 400 on a 3 year contract while at&t has 2 year i might as well buy this phone for 700 online

[jerxxx1300]

i think people must not compare a smart phone with an iphone. overall the iphone's original concept and purpose was to bring the best music experience to your mobile phone. honestly it has done it's purpose like surpass music phones like the lg chocolate or nokia's express music phone and threw in a great web browser at the same time. i think the bold will do great in it's bracket by destroying the smart phone competitors like palm and windows mobile. let's just get over the iphone it's great at being the best music phone just as the ipod is the best mp3 player. it has targeted the younger market and some adults just as the ipod.

hopefully the price tag will drop on the bold and i hope it;s on tmobile bc at&t treats their customers like dirt and is so over priced....

[over_the_hill]

I'll still take a SonyEriccson Walkman phone over the iPhone. Better sound quality as far as I am concerned.

[cyclelogicpress.com]

Makes the iPhone look pretty good.

[pdaking1]

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