Is it a sign of the high value corporate types place on their BlackBerry devices, or of RIM continuing to be out of touch with the smartphone marketplace? T-Mobile has announced that it will be launching the BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone on August 31: the device is at the high end of RIM’s latest offerings, sporting a speedy processor, BlackBerry OS 7, 24-bit graphics, and speedy mobile broadband on T-Mobile’s “4G” HSPA+ network. It will also come with a high price tag: although T-Mobile hasn’t officially announced prices, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 will be offered for $299.99 with a new two-year service contract after a $50 mail-in rebate. That means eager BlackBerry fans will be spending close to $400 (with taxes, fees, and other charges) to put on of these in their pockets.
“T-Mobile is excited to add a BlackBerry smartphone to T-Mobile’s best 4G product lineup ever,” said T-Mobile USA VP Andrew Morrison, in a statement. “With the new BlackBerry Bold 9900, we are offering our socially-active and business-minded customers a powerful device with a unique proposition—the pairing of a nationwide 4G network with the mobile communications efficiency that has become synonymous with BlackBerry smartphones.”
The BlackBerry Bold 990 features RIM’s latest BlackBerry OS 7 with improved HTML5 Web browsing performance, a 1.2 GHz processor, and like other handsets in RIM’s latest lineup features both a touchscreen and a QWERTY keypad for messaging—it can also handle HD video capture via its 5 megapixel camera. Like other new BlackBerry offerings, the 9900 offers RIM’s new 24-bit Liquid Graphics interface for a smoother look, along with support for augmented reality applications. Folks used to RIM’s standby features will appreciate built-in email and BMM clients, along with an updated Social Feeds app for keeping on top of social networking. The 990 features GPS, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 8 GB of internal flash storage.
For BlackBerry aficionados, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 represents an evolutionary improvement over previous BlackBerry models—and if you have to carry a BlackBerry to tap into corporate email systems, it may represent a solid choice. However, feature-wise there may not be much to tempt users away from less-expensive Android or iOS devices, save perhaps in the case where a physical QWERTY keypad—and RIM has historically made most of the best—is a make-or-break feature.
Business customers can place pre-orders for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 now.
Do they really think anyone cares about Blackberry anymore? The Internet is obsolete, the app store is garbage…. I’d never pay for any blackberry phone, but id take one as a “free gift” on a contract.
To me, this sounds like a hail marry: maximize profit for the little phones you sell and hope you can make a bundle on a discounted Enterprise plan to corporations that sill use Blackberries.
I like the new Bold but not for $300 on contract. I’d rather go for the HTC Sensation 4G
I like the new Bold but not for $300 on contract. I’d rather go for the HTC Sensation 4G
The price leader is not the technology leader in this case.
cheap sial
What is that?
uh no.
To me, this sounds like a hail marry: maximize profit for the little phones you sell and hope you can make a bundle on a discounted Enterprise plan to corporations that sill use Blackberries.
Yawn
nah im good
300 dollars bit steep
“Business customers can place pre-orders for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 now.”
I think anybody can make a pre-order, not just businesses. And the price is NOT set by blackberry, but by the carrier, but you should expect a solid hardware device to cost more. BB users are not your typical trendy phone buyers who get a new device on a whim of being trendy. Funny thing is, the folks who buy the devices to enhance their life are usually the ones who do the least living. And as as much as I hate to say this, it’s easier to text and drive on a BlackBerry than on a touchscreen phone. :/