U.S. cellular operator T-Mobile might be the underdog in the market, still trying to get 3G data services out the door and expand its network beyond urban areas and interstates, but every now and then they land an exclusive no other mobile network can boast: today, it’s a white version of RIM’s BlackBerry Pearl smartphone.
“The BlackBerry Pearl has set the bar for combining the functionality of a full-featured BlackBerry phone and the ultimate in style, all at an affordable price,” said Mike Butler, T-Mobile’s Chief Marketing Officer, in a statement. “Now, the white BlackBerry Pearl provides our customers with another effortless, yet stylish, option to stay connected with loved ones.”
T-Mobile’s take on the Pearl supports the company’s myFaves feature, offering one-button access to five frequently-called friends or phone numbers; Pearl users can also use myFaves to get one-tap email access to their five myFaves contacts. Of course, the Pearl also handles BlackBerry Internet service with support for up to 10 email accounts; instant messaging via Yahoo, AOL, MSN, and/or ICQ; BlackBerry Maps, and a built-in Web browser. Also on board: a 1.3 megapixel camera, media player capabilities (AAC, MP3, MPEG-4, and H.263), integrated trackball for navigation, 64 MB of user memory (plus a microSD expansion slot), and a 240 by 260 pixel LCD display. And, of course, the Pearl is still a quad-band GSM/GPRS and EDGE phone offering international roaming.
After mail-in rebate, the white version of the BlackBerry Pearl is priced at $149.99 with a two-year service contract; if white ain’t your thing, T-Mobile will still be happy to sell you the original piano-black version.
“The BlackBerry Pearl has proven that it’s possible to provide a full-featured handset at an attractive price point with an uncompromising user experience and an extremely small, light and stylish design,” said Mark Guibert, Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Research In Motion in a release. “We are delighted by the immediate success of the BlackBerry Pearl in the market and we are pleased to build on this momentum with the addition of another stunning color and finish.”
