Questions about BlackBerry Bold

[Shop-a-holic]

Any idea how much BlackBerry Bold might be selling for? I'm hoping it won't be as ridiculously priced as the iPhone.

Also, can we watch videos on BlackBerry Bold like on iPhone?

[desi_eng]

Any idea how much BlackBerry Bold might be selling for? I'm hoping it won't be as ridiculously priced as the iPhone.

Also, can we watch videos on BlackBerry Bold like on iPhone?

They've have multimedia capabilties on the BB since the Curve/new Pearl days, it's more of a software thing, and since the Bold is coming out with a brand new(upgraded) software system, I think they would be crazy to take out multimedia support now, so it's a safe bet it'll still be there.

As for price.....I HIGHLY doubt the Bold will be less than $199 (on 3 yr term) when it first comes out.

The peeps at RIM screwed up, this phone should have been out months ago, so they would have been able to get peeps to jump onto the 3G bandwagon with this phone instead of the new iPhone. And had they released it back in like May as originally planned, they could have now slashed the $$ a bit to entice more peeps to go Bold over iPhone. But all the delays and stuff, now they have lost a bunch of potential consumers and will most likely have to enter at an equal/higher price pt.

[Ziggy007]

This phone will be either 199/3yr or 299/3yr anything past that and they are just handing marketshare over to Apple

[keen4deals]

I hope it comes soon because Rogers $30/6GB is till August 31. Get this phone and data plan instead iPhone?

[cuongp]

I hope it comes soon because Rogers $30/6GB is till August 31. Get this phone and data plan instead iPhone?

are you still able to send emails and IM with the 6gb/$30 data plan?

[Badman]

are you still able to send emails and IM with the 6gb/$30 data plan?

YEP

Also I think it will come out before August 31st as I saw a rogers ad advertising this promo and it gave a list of their smartphones which included the Bold but just said Coming Soon

Also they can't have this priced more than $199 or $299 and too many people are comparing this to the Iphone. Also can't see it being less as its still a blackberry.

[cuongp]

according to some reports, it's suppose to come out july 25th, tomorrow...

i dont know how accurate this is

[brunes]

This phone will be either 199/3yr or 299/3yr anything past that and they are just handing marketshare over to Apple

I think that is stretching.... there are many, many, many business customers who simply can not use anything BUT a Blackberry, because of BES.

[alysomji]

Do yourself a favor and get a Nokia E71 instead.

Only thing is I'm not sure if it can run BlackBerry Messenger.

[desi_eng]

Do yourself a favor and get a Nokia E71 instead.

Only thing is I'm not sure if it can run BlackBerry Messenger.

Can to elaborate on how the OP would be doing themselves a favour in going with the Nok over a BB??

[alysomji]

It can do everything the Bold can but has much more features (eg. 3.2 MP camera w/flash, Flash-compatible browser using Flash Lite technology, HTML email, tons and tons of awesome third-party apps and warez apps as it's an S60 phone, etc, Accelerometer,etc.).

The advantages of the Bold: slightly faster, slightly bigger screen, BB Messenger (not sure if you can put this on the E71 but it looks like you can: http://www.businesssoftware.nokia.com/blackberry_downloads.php )

The E71 also has absolutely superb build quality based on all reviews. It doesn't feel cheaply made like a Dodge Caravan or something (while a BB can have that feeling).

For me, the make or break is all the apps you can get for S60 phones like the E71 that aren't usable on a BB. (see: http://www.noeman.org/gsm/s60-applications/ for example)

Check out reviews of the E71. Some are calling it the best phone Nokia has ever made (and that's quite a compliment).

[coolspot]

Rogers doesn't carry the E71 right? How hard is it to configure the Blackberry portion to work with Rogers?

[alysomji]

I never get my phone from Robbers...but I can tell you that it's supposed to come out by them in Sept or Oct. You can buy it right now from eBay, a local seller, or SNTraders website.

All you need is the BB 6GB/$30 package which you can subscribe to right now even if you don't have a BB at the moment - and you will still get 6GB of data on your non-BB phone.

I don't know much about how BB Connect interfaces w/E71. Check Google maybe. I don't see why it wouldn't interface well, though.

[Ziggy007]

It can do everything the Bold can but has much more features (eg. 3.2 MP camera w/flash, Flash-compatible browser using Flash Lite technology, HTML email, tons and tons of awesome third-party apps and warez apps as it's an S60 phone, etc, Accelerometer,etc.).

The advantages of the Bold: slightly faster, slightly bigger screen, BB Messenger (not sure if you can put this on the E71 but it looks like you can: http://www.businesssoftware.nokia.com/blackberry_downloads.php )

The E71 also has absolutely superb build quality based on all reviews. It doesn't feel cheaply made like a Dodge Caravan or something (while a BB can have that feeling).

For me, the make or break is all the apps you can get for S60 phones like the E71 that aren't usable on a BB. (see: http://www.noeman.org/gsm/s60-applications/ for example)

Check out reviews of the E71. Some are calling it the best phone Nokia has ever made (and that's quite a compliment).

Hmmm you make the small things for Nokia seem like major achievements while the "advantages" you list for the Bold as insignificant

Here is the comparison

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone2=2425&idPhone1=2370

The "slightly faster" processor is actually nearly double the speed...

E71 is also the ugliest phone ever when viewed side by side with the Bold

[alysomji]

Hmmm you make the small things for Nokia seem like major achievements while the "advantages" you list for the Bold as insignificant

Here is the comparison

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone2=2425&idPhone1=2370

The "slightly faster" processor is actually nearly double the speed...

E71 is also the ugliest phone ever when viewed side by side with the Bold

A much better camera, much better build quality and great software support are big deals, IMO. I'll take Garmin or TomTom GPS software over the RIM GPS software anyday, for example.

While the processor in the Bold is shown as twice as fast, the whole device doesn't feel much faster than the E71 based on reviews. A little faster, definitely. The Bold also has about half the battery talk time of the E71, however.

The E71 is pretty nifty looking, IMO. Very slim and elegant. Not everyone wants to follow the crowd and get a Crackberry (they're getting way too common for my liking). I'm glad the E71 looks different from it...

[Shop-a-holic]

IMHO, BB Bold looks much better than e71.

[Ziggy007]

A much better camera, much better build quality and great software support are big deals, IMO. I'll take Garmin or TomTom GPS software over the RIM GPS software anyday, for example.

While the processor in the Bold is shown as twice as fast, the whole device doesn't feel much faster than the E71 based on reviews. A little faster, definitely. The Bold also has about half the battery talk time of the E71, however.

The E71 is pretty nifty looking, IMO. Very slim and elegant. Not everyone wants to follow the crowd and get a Crackberry (they're getting way too common for my liking). I'm glad the E71 looks different from it...

1. Smartphones and cameras are two things that never really go hand in hand. For business users, the target demographic of all smartphones, camera is usually the least of their concerns.

2. I am not sure how you can compare build quality of recently released E71 vs a BB Bold that hasn't even been released. Neither has really withstood the test of time, so any claims on that matter are 100% assumption and fanboyism

3. Symbian may have a wider library of software, but BB's still have a decent amount. With a largely business user base, there hasn't been much push for mobile apps on Blackberry's in the past, but as the phone gets a more mainstream acceptance from people the library grows each day

4. The screen on the Bold has been widely stated to be the best screen on any smartphone on the market. Again this is based of early previews and reviews from only BB fansites who have demos, but another advantage on the E71

5. I don't many peoeple at all would take the awkward and crammed appearing E71 over the more smooth, rounded and clean design of the Bold

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/rickygp/5220/15072008006.jpg

[alysomji]

^^^Business users are not the target market for all smartphones. That's a ridiculous statement. Smartphones are basically computers on the go and can be used for a wide variety of applications. That's why many of them come with things like cameras, GPS, voice recorders, internet access, messengers, etc. Half or more of those using smartphones today are using them for personal tasks more than anything else, I'd argue.

Even RIM is finding that about half of its customers now are not buying the BlackBerry for business reasons. The company is shifting its focus increasingly to serving consumers at large - not just business consumers anymore - and that's why the Curve did so well compared to the 8800 World Phone. The Curve was much more in touch with the needs of the average person than the World Phone, and designed more intuitively. RIM has taken this into account in building the Bold. For example, it's making its phone as Facebook-friendly as possible, and also utilizing a design that's more reminiscent of the iPhone or N96 than past BlackBerrys.

As for build quality, the BlackBerry has never been particularly solid and Nokia has a reputation for building bulletproof phones. All reviews of the Bold and E71 indicate that neither RIM nor Nokia have strayed in terms of the build quality they normally put into their smartphones. In fact, if anything, Nokia put even better materials than they normally would into a phone of the E71's calibre - hence some calling it the best overall phone Nokia has ever made.

Thinner, sleeker and more compact than the Bold - and not a phone that every Tom, Dick and Harry will be carrying:
http://www.symbiancentral.com/images/stories/phones/e71/normal_e71_1.jpg

What you call tight, I call efficient.

Regardless, I'd agree that both phones will be closely competing with each other. BlackBerry will dominate here, I predict. That doesn't make it a better phone for everyone, however. Certainly not for me.

[danfromwaterloo]

^^^Business users are not the target market for all smartphones. That's a ridiculous statement. Smartphones are basically computers on the go and can be used for a wide variety of applications. That's why many of them come with things like cameras, GPS, voice recorders, internet access, messengers, etc. Half or more of those using smartphones today are using them for personal tasks more than anything else, I'd argue.

What? These smart devices are directly targetted at business users - a VERY large majority of RIMs installed userbase is corporate. Just now, with the emergence of the Pearl, have RIMs started attracting other users. Most personal users find that the apps that are important to them (sleek design, cameras, MP3s, etc) go elsewhere. Ziggy was dead on - the target market for the BB and all their "clones" are the business users.

Even RIM is finding that about half of its customers now are not buying the BlackBerry for business reasons. The company is shifting its focus increasingly to serving consumers at large - not just business consumers anymore - and that's why the Curve did so well compared to the 8800 World Phone. The Curve was much more in touch with the needs of the average person than the World Phone, and designed more intuitively. RIM has taken this into account in building the Bold. For example, it's making its phone as Facebook-friendly as possible, and also utilizing a design that's more reminiscent of the iPhone or N96 than past BlackBerrys.

Oh, really? Half? Which orafice are you pulling your numbers out of? The reason why the Curve did so well compared to the other phones is that the price dropped significantly AND integrated a camera and GPS into it. There was a genuine reason for installed users to upgrade - I am responsible for sign-offs in my dept. for all new BBs and a large majority of the Curves we've ordered have been because installed users want the camera and GPS. It's great for travelling to different locations.


As for build quality, the BlackBerry has never been particularly solid and Nokia has a reputation for building bulletproof phones. All reviews of the Bold and E71 indicate that neither RIM nor Nokia have strayed in terms of the build quality they normally put into their smartphones. In fact, if anything, Nokia put even better materials than they normally would into a phone of the E71's calibre - hence some calling it the best overall phone Nokia has ever made.

Build quality? Are you serious? Its a phone, not a car...BBs get used more frequently than Nokias AND have a moving part to them (trackball/scrollbar). They're going to break down more - it's just part and parcel of having a moving part.


Thinner, sleeker and more compact than the Bold - and not a phone that every Tom, Dick and Harry will be carrying:


What you call tight, I call efficient.

Regardless, I'd agree that both phones will be closely competing with each other. BlackBerry will dominate here, I predict. That doesn't make it a better phone for everyone, however. Certainly not for me.

Blackberries will clean up until such time as Apple figures out how to make an effective business app like the Blackberry Enterprise Server. Once that happens, Apple will devour the entire market.

I've seen the way people use Blackberries and all related devices - they're status symbols. Just like you quoted above "not a phone that every Tom, Dick and Harry will be carrying". You carry the Nokia around because, yeah, it's good, but more importantly nobody else has it. While there is a definite market for rare technology for the cult fans, most people (where the money is) are looking to be one of the huddled masses. You know, to KEEP UP WITH the Tom, Dick and Harry. Make an iPhone crossed with a BB, and mid-level execs and up will be pitching tents in line for it (haha, double entendre).

[coolspot]

Blackberries will clean up until such time as Apple figures out how to make an effective business app like the Blackberry Enterprise Server. Once that happens, Apple will devour the entire market.


Apple needs a physical keyboard, or some revolutionary hepatic virtual keyboard :)

[dairymandip]

Apple needs a physical keyboard, or some revolutionary hepatic virtual keyboard :)

lol a heptic keyboard would suck even more battery up

nokia e71 is so sexy sometimes i wish i wawited and got it instead of hte iphone

[alysomji]

Oh, really? Half? Which orafice are you pulling your numbers out of?

Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM, reported that close to 40% of BB users are now from the consumer market.

That was in February.

By the way, last time I checked, GPS and a camera aren't exactly essential business tools for the average executive. So, please don't say on the one hand that BBs are only for business users and then on the other hand say that I'm not seeing why the Curve was so successful compared to the 8800. The 8800 is used almost always by business people. The Curve is used by everyone from your high school kid's class joker to Britney Spears to the clerk at Wal-Mart that sold you your groceries.

Blackberries will clean up until such time as Apple figures out how to make an effective business app like the Blackberry Enterprise Server. Once that happens, Apple will devour the entire market.

Only in North America. Nokia dominates the more important and far larger overseas market - and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

I've seen the way people use Blackberries and all related devices - they're status symbols.

Exactly. They're not business-only tools anymore.

Just like you quoted above "not a phone that every Tom, Dick and Harry will be carrying". You carry the Nokia around because, yeah, it's good, but more importantly nobody else has it.

Maybe not many people have it here. Worldwide? Hell yes a lot of people have it. Nokia IS the smartphone on an international level. Their phones being incredibly good and reliable has a lot to do with that.

While there is a definite market for rare technology for the cult fans, most people (where the money is) are looking to be one of the huddled masses. You know, to KEEP UP WITH the Tom, Dick and Harry. Make an iPhone crossed with a BB, and mid-level execs and up will be pitching tents in line for it (haha, double entendre).

A senior executive generally doesn't want to be carrying a device that you're now seeing in the hands of even blue collar workers and high school kids. Maybe that's not right but it's true.

[coolspot]

A senior executive generally doesn't want to be carrying a device that you're now seeing in the hands of even blue collar workers and high school kids. Maybe that's not right but it's true.

They really don't care - as long as it works, they'll use it.

[alysomji]

They really don't care - as long as it works, they'll use it.

They won't use it as long as it works. They'll use it as long as they're not paying for it or they're getting reimbursed for it. That's the reason most business users have BBs now.

If you want a business person to actually pay for it by himself/herself, I'd say the BB is still attractive because of him/her being familiar with it. But, I'd say the device is quickly losing its luster and reputation as a desirable device amongst executives - what with even kids having them now and being accessible to everyone. That's my POV, anyway.

I'd wager to guess that most execs would even choose the iPhone over a BB if you gave them the choice, right now -- today. It's all about what's hip and cool and still not accessible to the average joe because it hasn't cheapened itself to that level. Even bare minimum smartphones can meet basic web and email necessities of a typical senior exec. Of course, BB Messenger is still hard to get unless you've got a BB Connect compatible phone (i.e. Nokia E90, for instance). Without BB Messenger, I'm not sure where BB would be.

[wesleyw]

Anyone with news on the Bold? Cnet and a couple of sources said that it will be launched in Canada by Rogers on July 29th...but I haven't seen anything on their website yet...

[bleeet]

Even RIM is finding that about half of its customers now are not buying the BlackBerry for business reasons. The company is shifting its focus increasingly to serving consumers at large - not just business consumers anymore - and that's why the Curve did so well compared to the 8800 World Phone. The Curve was much more in touch with the needs of the average person than the World Phone, and designed more intuitively. RIM has taken this into account in building the Bold. For example, it's making its phone as Facebook-friendly as possible, and also utilizing a design that's more reminiscent of the iPhone or N96 than past BlackBerrys.

actually is has been said (even by exec ar RIM in interviews) that the they are shifting thier focus to everyone not just the businese market because the iphone has done well ( and has taken a good portion of the smart phone market share) not because half their customers are buying the phone for non-business reasons.

you will see proof of this is their upcoming ad campaign for the bold and their new touch screen blackberry coming in sept. They are trying to change peoples thought about the blackberry being business only. they have to challenge apple and they can't do that by just focusing on business users

[si1ence]

Anyone with news on the Bold? Cnet and a couple of sources said that it will be launched in Canada by Rogers on July 29th...but I haven't seen anything on their website yet...




Blackberry bold will b lunched on 14 Augest

have a look abt this news (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/07/28/blackberry-bold-available-for-preorder-from-mco-august-14-arrival/)

and right now it is available on MCO Web 699$ for preorder


And here is an other news abt Nokia has disconnected Blackberry supports for Eseries
More Info (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/07/30/nokia-disconnects-no-more-blackberry-support-for-eseries/)

[desi_eng]

A much better camera, much better build quality and great software support are big deals, IMO. I'll take Garmin or TomTom GPS software over the RIM GPS software anyday, for example.

The Garmin software has been available on the BB's for over a year now....

[JeffTaylor1985]

As for TomTom GPS software, it's far superior to RIM's. Mostly the maps are what I am concerned with, and TT navigator software gets underlying data from more accurate map sources (Tele Atlas maps + user map corrections)

[Elessar]

Blackberry bold will b lunched on 14 Augest

have a look abt this news (http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/07/28/blackberry-bold-available-for-preorder-from-mco-august-14-arrival/)

and right now it is available on MCO Web 699$ for preorder


Anyone who has kept up with the Bold's launch dates will tell you that delays are commonplace. First it was early-July, then the much repeated July 25th. RIM continues to maintain that it's a summer release, and many expect that Rogers is going to do it August.

Of course, the rumour mill continues to churn. Possible pushbacks until Sept etc.

So in conclusion, don't bother with the rumoured release dates. You'll just be disappointed.

[aznrock2000]

Hi, so the Bold was officially released as of yesterday everywhere. However, some places have yet to receive some and other places that received any only got 2-3 units.

With a 3 yr contract it's 399.99 or you can buy the phone without a contract for 649.99-699.99.

I had the chance to play with a working phone and it's pretty good. It doesn't feel big or heavy at all on the hands.

[nfnx]

yah its been huge news but i am surprised its not stirring up nearly as much attention as the iphone... they kept everything relatively low key

[bmmr]

My local BB has ample stock of the Bold.. There has been no major stampede like the Iphone created.

[Ziggy007]

Rogers and RIM dropped a big turd with the big price.

Even on the website the price is listed at $599.99-$200 MIR on a 3 year term.

Good luck on ever getting that back.

Given the fact that Rogers still hasn't done anything for their terrible BES data rates, I would say this is the biggest screw job they have in their current phone lineup.