The red-headed step child of the BlackBerry device family is launching relatively soon on Sprint (and probably Verizon), and we have got our hands on a nice overview of the product in case you had any unanswered questions. Quick recap? It’s a clamshell QWERTY flip device with a CDMA radio, Wi-Fi, GPS, 5 megapixel camera, 240×320 external display, 360×400 internal display, and optical trackpad for navigation. If you loved the Pearl Flip but hated the SureType keyboard, this might be a nice compromise, though it’s going to have to sit pretty low on the price scale for it to fly.

Click on over to our BlackBerry 9670 Oxford overview gallery!

According to them, the device actually failed in early diagnostic testing a whopping 4 out of 5 times (which is supposed to be extremely rare for RIM devices). The only other handset that failed, we’re told, is the BlackBerry Pearl Flip. What’s even more interesting, is that the BlackBerry slider our guy saw was Sprint branded. Want to go one step further? We’ve been told there is also a GSM/HSPA version and that the model numbers are BlackBerry 9900 and BlackBerry 9930. Lastly, it looks like the HSPA version of the device will support 850/1900MHz UMTS bands which would make it compatible with both AT&T and Rogers’ 3G networks.

Could Sprint be gunning for an exclusive on the brand new BlackBerry form factor? Our bets would be yes.

P.S. Our guy didn’t see the word “Bold” anywhere in relation to the sliding BlackBerry device.

Some thought Sprint was teaming up with LG to launch a killer WiMAX smartphone at CES but the big press event came and went with nary a mention of an LG-branded WiMAX handset on the horizon. A leaked inventory list from Sprint reveals that we all might have been barking up the wrong tree. First on the inventory list is not an LG phone but the HTC A9292, an Android-powered WiMAX handset with a candy bar form factor. HTC already has one WiMAX phone in its portfolio, perhaps the A9292 will become the second. Our unknown friend, the LG LS680 makes its second appearance on a Sprint inventory list. The LS680 will be an Android handset which the tipster claims is similar to the GW620 Eve. Also making a second appearance is the Palm C40, an unknown device that was originally spotted in Sprint’s inventory last August. The tipster leaked additional information about some new handsets that do not appear on the inventory list above, too, so hit PhoneArena for the details.

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If you’re Canadian and love the thrill of the hunt Boxing Day provides, hate waiting in long lineups on a frosty winter’s eve, are looking for a new smartphone, and aren’t too sure what to make of this WIND Mobile business, then Rogers kinda/sorta has a deal for you. From now until January 18th, the following smartphones are avaiable from $0 to $0.99: BlackBerry Bold 9000 (white), BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220, HTC Magic, LG Eve and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1. Of course, with such a price there is always a catch and in this particular instance it’s a decision not to be made lightly — a 3-year contract

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One of our Verizon connects was kind enough to hit us up with some info regarding Big Red’s upcoming Black Friday sale which will be going on all weekend. Sadly we weren’t told anything about super hot smartphones like the DROID, Storm2 and Touch Pro2, but we’d like to think that at least one of those phones will have a few bucks knocked off of its sticker price. Having said that, these deals are definitely worth checking out, so here we go:

• Gateway LT Netbook: $29.99 after $100 MIR
• Blackberry Pearl Flip: $9.99 after $100 MIR [BOGO]
• HTC Ozone: $9.99 after $100 MIR [BOGO]
• LG Glance: $0
• LG Versa: $29.99 after $50 MIR [BOGO]
• Mifi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot: $49.99 after $50 MIR. (Black Friday only)
• Motorola Entice $19.99 after $50 MIR [BOGO]
• Motorola VU204: $0
• Nokia 7705 Twist: $29.99 after $50 MIR
• Samsung Smooth: $0 after $50 MIR

In addition to what’s listed above, anyone purchasing an LG enV3 or enV Touch on Black Friday will receive a free LG HBM-210 Bluetooth headset.

Anyone seeing anything they wouldn’t mind picking up, or are you going to be trying your luck elsewhere?

While the launch of the BlackBerry Storm2 on Verizon is widely expected to take place on October 28th and the Bold 9700 is so close we can almost taste it, owners of current generation BlackBerry smartphones  — the Pearl Flip 8220/8230, Curve 8330/8350i/8900, Bold 9000, Storm 9500/9530 and Tour 9630 — should be pleased to note that RIM is all set for the launch OS 5.0. Specific dates aren’t easily pinned down as it more or less depends on the device one has and the carrier one is with, but thanks to our connects we know, for example, that Verizon will be dropping for the OS 5.0 for the Storm 9530 tomorrow evening with a fall back date set for Monday. Those that don’t have Desktop Manager set up on either their PC or Mac might want to get everything ready ahead of time as it looks for the most part that OTA software updates will not be made available. Oh well. OS 5.0 is oh so worth the hassle.

It’s no secret (well, maybe you just haven’t heard yet) that the freshly announced BlackBerry 8520 will come in a CDMA flavor as well. It also doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put together a full spec list for the BlackBerry 8530 variation, but we’ve received a spec sheet from one of our ninjas with a delightful confirmation. Here we go:

• 320×240 resolution screen
• 1xRTT, EV-DO
• QWERTY keyboard
• 2 megapixel camera
• OS 5.0
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi b,g

We told you all future Verizon BlackBerrys would have Wi-Fi, and this sticks to what was reported. It looks like Verizon’s BlackBerry lineup will be getting a little spread out too, which is a good thing. Low-cost BlackBerry Curve 8530 as an entry device, BlackBerry 8230 Flip for the soccer moms, BlackBerry Storm for the consumers, BlackBerry Tour for business users. We likey.

[Image via CrackBerry]

Right on time, the Pearl Flip has made its official debut on Verizon Wireless’ website and is now ripe for the picking. Surprisingly, sort of, the Pearl Flip has already been discounted — selling for $79 after a $70 mail-in rebate and two year contract instead of the announced $129.99. Apparently, Verizon included the Pearl Flip in that $50 price drop when it ended the BlackBerry BOGO promotion. For those who prefer a more personal shopping experience, the Pearl Flip is also available in stores today. Now with the 8230ccccccc out of the way, Big Red can focus on bigger and better ‘Berrys (Tour, anyone?).

Thanks, Adam!

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Reaching out to all the U.S. Cellular customers out there who might feel a little left out with new phones being announced for other carriers, we’re trying our best to stay on top of the handful of handsets due out this month. While the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 and Samsung Code might not be the most exciting of the bunch, one of our sneakier readers managed to snoop dedicated pages for each handset live on U.S. Cellular’s site. Don’t try this at home kids — they’re not easily found from the main site. Hit the read links for each handset to see the full specs and sit tight as both the fliptastic 8230 and, umm, Windowstastic Code are set to drop later this month.

Thanks, TW!

Read (BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230)
Read (Samsung Code)

*sniff* We thought this day would never come but Verizon has officially announced the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230. Available starting June 19th, Verizon asks that you fork over $129.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate on a 2-year contract. As for the specs, you know the deal: OS 4.6.0, 324MHz processor, external display, vertical QVGA internal display, SureType keypad, 2 megapixel camera with flash, GPS, so on, so forth. Anyone excited? The Pearl Flip is just as cool as the Tour, right?

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Another month and another rebate sheet from Verizon Wireless. This latest version spans only the month of June but it does contain a few yet-to-be announced phones. We have the Casio Exilim and the Motorola Rival, both of which are slated for launch on June 10th. We also have the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 whose launch is right around the corner. Sorry folks, no tuh, tuh, Tour or Storm 2 yet. The next rebate sheet will land at the end of June so keep your fingers crossed. Hit the jump for the full rebate sheet.

Thanks, anonymous and Ezmo!

A few of our Verizon Wireless ninjas came through this morning and hit us with some information about some of the Verizon’s BlackBerry rumors that have been floating around. Here is what we’ve got:

• The BlackBerry Storm has not been forgotten by Verizon. A new version of the 4.7 OS (.148) is indeed undergoing testing right now. It looks as if this version will pass testing and Storm owners will be getting their much needed update soon. If you know where to look of course, you can already snag it.
• The Pearl Flip 8230 has made its appearance in Verizon’s inventory system. The handset is reportedly running OS 4.6.1.160 and both silver and purple versions are being toted around by some lucky Verizon Wireless employees. No exact launch date but the launch is reportedly imminent.
• Last but not least, we got confirmation that the Storm 2 is indeed on the fast track will be launched in the very near future. Our source places the launch in early July, though we highly doubt that will be the case.

That’s all for now, folks.

Thanks, anonymous and Fan_of_fanboys!

So check it. We just got a tip from a new ninja but this information looks really credible so we’re running it… Here’s the random bits of info we received:

• All Verizon BlackBerry handsets launched after the BlackBerry Tour will have Wi-Fi
• The Storm 2′s screen does not press in like SurePress, rather it operates more like traditional capacitive touch screen panels. We’re not sure if the rumored TruePress is just localized haptic feedback or what, but we can’t imagine RIM abandoning their entire fucking selling point on the Storm.
• We have no idea what to think of this part, but, our tipster said the BlackBerry Tour would be accompanied by a BlackBerry Atlas with the Atlas having Wi-Fi, not the Tour. Again, don’t flip out, but it’s just what was told to us by this particular tipster.
• BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 release is “imminent”. We’d say May release, June latest.
• 8230 specs… EV-DO Rev. 0, 2.0 MP Camera, 3.5 ounces, Flash 128 MB, RAM 64 MB, SD Card – Expandable to 16GB, Usage/Standby – 220 min. / 216 hrs.

There you have it, guys!

Alltel has just announced the latest addition to its handset arsenal and it’s a familiar face indeed: RIM’s CDMA varient of the Pearl Flip. In terms of specs it’s not the most ground-shaking Berry of the bunch but for $79.99 after a $70 mail-in rebate, it is most definitely a solid option for bargain-seeking BlackBerry addicts. There are two caveats to the $80 price point however — first, the obvious two-year contract. Secondly, users must select from among Alltel’s Smart Choice Packs starting at $69.99 per month. All Smart Choice Packs include unlimited data, Internet and email however, so it’s hardly a deal breaker. If $80 for a shiny new Pearl Flip 8230 isn’t low enough for you but you’re in dire need of a Berry, the Curve 8330 is now $50 after a $100 mail-in rebate and the Pearl 8130 is free after a $100 mail-in rebate. Yeah, we’d definitely go for the Pearl Flip. Alltel’s 8230 is available in early May in all 91 markets. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Alltel Wireless launches the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone
New flip phone joins Alltel’s impressive spring line-up of handsets perfect for moms, dads and grads

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With wireless customers craving both style and functionality, Alltel Wireless announced today that the BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8230 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) will be available in retail stores and online at alltel.com beginning in early May.  This stylish and compact smartphone puts customers in control of how, when and where they communicate and joins Alltel’s impressive spring line-up of phones that make perfect gifts for moms, dads and recent grads.

The clamshell design of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone allows users to discreetly screen calls and preview messages on the high-resolution external display or utilize the large internal display to respond to calls or messages, view maps and web pages, and play games.  With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, the internal LCD displays videos and pictures in crisp detail and contrast.

“Alltel is committed to offering customers stylish and innovative phones, and the BlackBerry Pearl Flip gives customers the best of both worlds – a small, stylish smartphone rich in multimedia coupled with the industry’s leading mobile email and messaging capabilities,” said Angela Rittgers, director of product management for Alltel Wireless.  “As Alltel expands its handset lineup and showcases hot phones for spring, we know that the BlackBerry Pearl Flip will be a favorite with customers across the 22 states that we continue to service.”

Featuring a large SureType® QWERTY keyboard, an intuitive user interface with trackball navigation, built-in GPS with BlackBerry® Maps preloaded and support for locations based applications and services, and a 2 MP camera able to record video*, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone is packed with powerful features, yet sleek enough to slip easily into a purse or pocket.  It also features full HTML browsing, a rich media player with the ability to sync music from iTunes® or Windows Media Player**, an expandable memory card slot (microSD/SDHC up to 16GB) and stereo Bluetooth® support.  Customers can activate the smartphone on BlackBerry® Internet Service as well as BlackBerry® Enterprise Server.

In addition to the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone, Alltel customers can choose from a wide-range of additional phones that make perfect gifts for any occasion, including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and upcoming graduations.  Alltel is also offering the recently announced Motorola Evoke, great for social networking; the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330, one of the most popular smartphones available today; the BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 smartphone, an impressive handset that combines multimedia and communications features in a compact design; the Motorola Hint QA30, a stylish, compact device with a slide-out keyboard; and the LG Rhythm™, allowing customers to bring their music with them, right on their handset.

Alltel Wireless is offering the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone for $79.99, after a $70 mail-in rebate, at Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com. This discounted price is available to new and existing eligible customers who sign-up for a two-year service agreement on a qualifying Smart Choice Pack.  Smart Choice Packs start as low as $69.99 per month and include unlimited data, email and Web access.  Alltel has also announced that the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone is now available for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone is free after $100 mail-in rebate.

Alltel Wireless continues to serve 2.2 million customers and operate in the 91 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) that Verizon is required to divest. Alltel Wireless continues to be an industry-leader, providing choice and flexibility with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, providing unlimited calling to and from any 5, 15, or 25 numbers on any network. Alltel Wireless was also the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time without extending their contract.

For more information on the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone, visit alltel.com or blackberry.com/blackberrypearl.

* Video recording requires a microSD card, which may be sold separately.
** Using BlackBerry® Media Sync. Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies.

The next few months will be busy for U.S. Cellular customers as five new handsets are rumored to be hitting the shelves by the end of June. Coming first is the HTC Touch Pro which is slated to arrive on April 17th. Following close on the heels of the Touch Pro is the Samsung Gloss U440, a white or charcoal clam shell with a QWERTY keyboard, integrated music player, stereo Bluetooth and 1.3 megapixel camera. Targeting a feminine audience with a penchant for texting, the Gloss will hit the shelves in early May. Shortly thereafter in mid-May, U.S. Cellular will debut the entry-level Samsung R311, a simple clam shell with Bluetooth, one-touch speakerphone and a VGA camera. Last but not least to arrive in mid-June are the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230, which needs no introduction, and the LG UX840. The LG UX840 will be a QWERTY slider with a 3″ QVGA touchscreen, 3.0 megapixel camera, integrated music player, stereo Bluetooth, full HTML browser, email support and GPS. The lineup is hardly confirmed considering the source is an anonymous forum post, but we imagine U.S. Cellular customers will be glad to hear about the possibility of some fresh blood coming their way.

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