BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 phones are bricking themselves, RIM acknowledges

By Jeffrey Van Camp November 21, 2011

blackberry-bold-9900-9930 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

RIM’s problems continue. It’s only been a few weeks since the Canadian company faced massive global outages of its smartphone services, but now some owners of the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are complaining that their phones have suddenly refused to turn on, bricking the devices. Owners have had to get the phones completely replaced to solve the issue.

A RIM spokesperson spoke with CNBC, acknowledging the problem: “A limited number of customers have reported an issue where their device does not power on,” said the spokesperson. “[RIM is] actively working on a software update to resolve this issue.”

The issue is believed to be related to the BlackBerry 7 operating system, but a hardware issue is still possible. This isn’t the first time RIM has had issues like this. About 1,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks had to be recalled due to bricking issues like this. Our first PlayBook review unit experienced a similar issue to the one reported by Bold owners. After a charge one night, it simply wouldn’t turn on again. The problems are likely unrelated as the PlayBook runs a different OS than the Bold phones, but they are both BlackBerry products.

If you’ve experienced problems with your Bold 9900 or 9930, please let us know in the comments below.

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Jeffrey Van Camp

Former Digital Trends Contributor

As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…

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The future of BlackBerry phones is once again unknown. While TCL Communication will not make another BlackBerry phone, it does not necessarily mean we will never see another BlackBerry phone. It’s possible the global license could be snapped up by another company eager to capitalize on the brand’s highly recognizable name. HMD Global, for example, has seen considerable success with the Nokia name since acquiring the license, while British phone maker Bullitt owns the license to make phones from brands including Cat, JCB, and Land Rover.

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The BlackBerry Key2 LE is back home at Verizon, but only for business types

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The BlackBerry Key LE is a lower-cost version of the Key2, doing away with some of the more high-tech features seen on the expensive sister phone, and cutting costs by using different materials for the body, to create a more affordable but still distinctly BlackBerry smartphone.

You can check out our Key2 LE review to learn more about what it's like to live with the phone, but in the meantime, here are all the technical specs, details, and availability options.
Updates
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is available to buy at Verizon, but only to business and enterprise customers, according to reports. Verizon's selling the Key2 LE for $450 without a contract, or for $100 if you sign up for a two-year plan. The phone does not show up on Verizon's non-business store, so there does not seem to be the option to buy the phone for this price without a business plan.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Best Buy
The Unlocked 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on clearance at Best Buy. The popular retailer is really showing up with this deal, which sees the Z Fold 4 marked down to $700 and makes for nearly $1,300 in savings. Even more savings are available if you have an eligible device trade-in.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Amazon
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