For all of those still rocking the 9000, rejoice!  AT&T has decided not to forget the on of the original gamerchangers, and updated you to 5.0.0.822 today.  Most companies are notorious for updating older phones or phones that have left the spotlight, so it’s nice to see that AT&T has not done this.  Let us know of any changes you find!

via: BerryReview

Four (now five) days after the original launch day of the AT&T BlackBerry Torch, Amazon does what it’s known for and offer great prices. While still $199.99 with a two-year contract in AT&T stores across the nation, Amazon is selling the Torch for a mere $99.99 with a two-year contract. Now, some have claimed that the low price is due to the unimpressive sales of the Torch. Nobody expected an iPhone-like launch with millions of phones sold on launch day. Nobody lined up to get their BlackBerry Torch, and we didn’t expect them to either. But that doesn’t constitute a price cut, and that isn’t what has happened here, contrary to what many others have been saying.

Amazon simply sells phones lower than carrier stores, they always have. Most online suppliers do, too. When you buy a phone from a supplier like Amazon, there are two agreements in effect, and many people are unaware of that. You’re agreeing to the carrier’s terms and conditions, as well as Amazon’s which are as follows:

When you purchase your device with service from Amazon.com, we automatically pass along an instant discount from the carrier to you. This discount has been provided to you based on your agreement to (a) activate a new, or extend an existing, line of service for this device with the carrier, and (b) maintain this service in good standing for a minimum of 181 consecutive days. If you do not activate or extend a line of service in connection with this device, or if your service is canceled/disconnected before 181 consecutive days, Amazon.com will charge you $250 per device, plus applicable taxes.

The Torch has been given mixed reviews here and there and not everyone is a huge fan of the sliding design. It is, however, running RIM’s new BlackBerry 6, which a lot of people are seeming to love. It isn’t what I want from RIM, I want more, but this is a good step in the right direction. I feel that once RIM gets BlackBerry 6 loaded on a full touchscreen device, things will go a little more smoothly for them. They really botched the marketing for BlackBerry 6 and the Torch to people that don’t follow BlackBerry news by not releasing word of the device until a week before its release. So I expected pretty low sales, but RIM has proven that they are not yet a dying breed.

Is this low price due to low sales? No. It’s Amazon, who has done the same with phones like the Samsung Captivate, which is still $200 with a two-year contract in AT&T stores, but $49.99 on Amazon with the same two-year contract. Take of it what you will, but this is nothing out of the ordinary.

via: MobileCrunch

If there is one thing RIM really needs now, it’s a carrier to support them and provide their products with some brilliant marketing. AT&T have finally released a flashy commercial for the BlackBerry smartphone of the season, and it’s a start.  It’s a nice ad, but it just doesn’t POP. RIM is in dire need of some POP beyond what the device does itself. This will be the first BlackBerry with BlackBerry 6, as well as the first to integrate the BlackBerry keyboard will a full-on touchscreen.  Let us know what you think of the 9800’s star performance in the comments below!

via: RIMarkable

A lot of you are wanting to get your hands on your very own Torch, I know I am! I got to play with one this past weekend, and I must say I’m impressed with BlackBerry 6 and the overall design of the Torch. To get a closer look at the device before Aaron’s or my device review of the Torch, head on over to PhoneDog and check out Aaron’s unboxing video here.

You can also read Aaron’s first impressions, here.

via: PhoneDog

Additional snapshots surfaced today courtesy of the folks over at Driphter of the soon to be released Blackberry Bold 9780. Earlier images of the devices about screen had only been seen with bands 1, 4 and 8. These bands are primarily assosiated with T-Mobile (USA), WIND Mobile, Mobilicity, Videotron (Canada), and band 8 is used overseas with carriers Optus and Vodafone. The images released today show 3G bands 1, 2, 5, and 6 used by major North American carriers  AT&T, Bell Mobility, Telus, and Rogers. This should give all GSM customers a glimmer of hope holding out for the more traditional BlackBerry form factor. Lets keep our fingers crossed that we won’t have to wait to much longer for a release date.

So which next generation BlackBerry do you prefer? The 9800 Slider, Storm 3, or are you more of a traditionalist and holding out for the Bold 9780? Some of you shiver at the thought of moving parts or a touchscreen/QWERTY combo phone. What Blackberry are you? Let us know in the comments below!

via: Driphter

Best Buy has announced that they will be accepting pre-orders for the BlackBerry Torch starting today. While this has not been confirmed, we can still remain optimistic that this is fact. The device will go for 199.99 with a new two year contract from AT&T. Check with your local Best Buy store or visit their website at www.bestbuy.com/mobile. As soon as we receive confirmation we will get it posted. If any readers learn of any news concerning the devices status feel free to drop us a comment below.

Are you looking foward to getting your hands on the new BlackBerry Torch? Tell us how you feel below.

via BlackBerryCool

The guys from Crackberry filmed a lot videos while attending the AT&T / RIM event yesterday but this particular movie is kind of exciting. It’s the first commercial featuring the Torch 9800 on AT&T. It will be broadcasted to your television out there soon to make you want to buy one. Well as for me I have to say it works. I really like this commercial and I can’t wait to see how other carriers (especially now that we know all Canadian carries and some UK carriers will have it) will feature the Torch 9800 in their commercials.

What do you think about the commercial? Do you like it or do you think it’s strange? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

via: CrackBerry

Lots of news and exciting stuff today! Ralph de la Vega (AT&T president) and Mike Lazaridis (RIM President & Co-CEO) were on stage bringing us the Torch 9800 and BlackBerry 6. Let’s wrap it up to the most significant things:

The Torch 9800 was named after a company called Torch Mobile (who specialized in Webkit browsers) which became part of the RIM family, and also because it’s the first BlackBerry to have the new Webkit browser. It’s also RIM’s first ever combination slider and touch screen device.

Launching with the 9800 there will be BlackBerry 6 and it has some hot new features:

• Universal search – Just open it up and search your BlackBerry; feeds, settings, email, web, calendars, text messages even App World – in short: simply everything. And it’s simple to use: Slide the Torch open and start typing, that’s it! Apps can also tie into universal search bringing back all kinds of results.

• Unified Social Feed – Using feeds, Twitter, Facebook, Google Talk, everything in one list, also featuring seemless integration across  applications.

• Redesigned Media Environment – Working via WiFi for seemlessly syncing to your PC – Bluetooth for connecting to your car or Bluetooth headphones. They are also introducing the ability to look at your pictures by folder or date, and the ability to do multiple selections via two finger tap and take actions on your selection. Also there is now a podcast app which let’s you browse, subscribe, and wirelessly download podcasts. Pick of the crop for me is the WiFi music sync. With the new Desktop App you will be able to sync your whole music catalog, or just tag songs for a later sync. So when you’re out and want a certain song, just tag it and when you get home it’ll be instantly synced.

• Redesigned Homescreen – Featuring notification previews: A tap on the preview bar reveals information about your notifications. Also we got to have more content on the homescreen, individual contacts and bookmarks can be placed on the homescreen following a swipe to the left for showing frequently used items or a swipe to the right to reveal your favorites.

The UI was completely redesigned, following the principle “fresh but familiar”, so it’s remaining familiar to former BlackBerry users. Their main priority was to deliver a great user experience for existing as well as new customers. I really think RIM did a great job from what I’ve seen so far.

Another great thing is the Webkit browser. It features HTML5 support so now there’s the ability to make apps with HTML5 and CSS and then distribute them through App World. It’s not as lame as it may sound because it’s not just a webpage as an app, they can run in the background, access files and media, use location-based services, get notifications, etc. You get the idea.
Something very important for me was that Apps written for earlier versions of BlackBerry OS will run on 6, so we won’t lose what we paid for. I’m really excited now, these features sound so great. It was actually more than I expected, still I think I need to play around with this myself to see if all those features become useful to me in daily life.

Are you excited yet? I sure am! Can’t wait for it to hit Germany. And you lucky guys won’t have to wait that long for the Torch – it goes on sale August 12th for $199 with a two year data plan. Don’t forget to tell us your thoughts in the comments!

via: Engadget

After dozens of leaks and months of speculation, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 slider has been officially announced by AT&T and RIM. To say this is a happy day for BlackBerry lovers would be quite the understatement, and RIM needs this launch to go off without a hitch if they plan to stay relevant in the consumer market.  Check out the full press release below:

BlackBerry Torch Smartphone First to Feature New BlackBerry 6 Combines New Touch Screen Experience with Easy-To-Use Keyboard and Rich WebKit Browser First Smartphone to Support AT&T’s Next Generation Messaging Experience, and First to Offer Locations Feature New BlackBerry App World Pre-installed with Carrier Billing Support

Dallas and Waterloo, ON – Joining forces to offer the first smartphone to feature the highly anticipated BlackBerry® 6 exclusively on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T* and Research In Motion (RIM) today introduced the new BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone. Adept for socially connected consumers and packed with the tools business customers love, the new handset is the world’s first smartphone to combine a BlackBerry® keyboard with a full touch screen experience. Whether users choose to type out messages on the capacitive touch screen or easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard, browse the Internet using pinch to zoom or fluidly navigate with the optical trackpad, the BlackBerry Torch allows them to communicate any way they want.

“We were the first to launch the BlackBerry solution in 1999 and have a rich history of innovation and collaboration with Research In Motion,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “The two companies that brought the first BlackBerry smartphones to market have teamed up again with the new BlackBerry Torch, creating a true generational shift in hardware and operating system for this enormously popular service.”

“This is one of the most significant launches in RIM’s history and we are proud to introduce the new BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 together with AT&T,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion. “With a new user interface, new browser and new handset design, the highly anticipated BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 deliver integrated and uncompromising capabilities for consumers and business professionals that preserve the industry-leading strengths of the BlackBerry platform while adding exciting new dimensions.”

BlackBerry 6
The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with BlackBerry 6, a new operating system that retains the familiar and trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that’s powerful and easy to use.

BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with the touch screen and trackpad, includes expanded messaging capabilities with intuitive features to simplify the management of social networking and RSS feeds (Social Feeds), and provides integrated access to the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™ and various instant messaging applications available on the BlackBerry Torch smartphone. Its enhanced multimedia experience rivals the best in the industry and includes a dedicated YouTube app and Podcasts app.

BlackBerry 6 also integrates a new and rich WebKit-based browser on BlackBerry Torch that renders HTML web pages (as well as HTML email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, pinch to zoom for easy navigation and an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page’s key elements (simply double-tap on the BlackBerry Torch).

Universal search, always accessible from the Home Screen, allows users to search through email, messages, contacts, music, videos and more on the smartphone, as well as extend search to the Internet or to discover applications on BlackBerry App World™.

Advanced Messaging
Messaging has always been a core element of the BlackBerry smartphone experience and the BlackBerry Torch smartphone expands on RIM’s popular messaging solutions with the support of AT&T’s advanced messaging features for SMS and MMS. RIM’s new Text Messages application is especially exciting for users who communicate most via SMS and MMS, providing support for AT&T’s next-generation messaging experience, which includes group messaging with “reply all” functionality for up to 10 contacts. And for the first time, AT&T’s platform includes a new Locations feature.

Locations lets users easily search for points of interest, businesses,  and even the user’s own location, and insert this information directly into a message, all without leaving the messaging application. Using group messaging and locations together, users can arrange to meet a group of friends easily by sending one message to all of them, discussing together where to meet and then sending a map – all in one threaded conversation. AT&T designed the service based on research that revealed customers want features that help facilitate social planning, improved message organization and location sharing.

Apps At Your Fingertips
After powering up the BlackBerry Torch smartphone for the first time, users will notice a set of pre-loaded icons which allow them to download and immediately begin using a variety of rich entertainment and social networking applications to access Bloomberg, ESPN, The Weather Channel and Slacker Radio content in addition to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and more. Also available is AT&T’s Web Video Search, a unique new app that searches video content from over 70 major Internet video websites.

In addition to searching the Internet for video, the BlackBerry Torch smartphone also features more multimedia apps that let users download TV shows and watch live TV, as well as create video content and upload it to YouTube. The new Podcasts application makes it easy for users to find and manage audio and video podcasts.

Another application that puts a key function of a phone at your fingertips is Visual Voicemail, which benefits customers by allowing them to select the voicemails they want to hear first.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include BlackBerry App World™ pre-installed, supporting carrier billing through AT&T, making it easier for customers to discover and purchase applications.

BlackBerry Torch Smartphone Features
• Elegant styling, measuring approx. 4.4″ (5.8″ open) x 2.4″ x .57″ and weighing 5.68 ounces 
• 3.2″ 360×480 capacitive touch screen display 
• 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, designed to feel optimally balanced when opened for typing
• Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth 
• Powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory 
• 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8 GB of storage out-of-the-box
• 5 MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to 640×480 resolution 
• Built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging
• Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n); qualifying smartphone customers can enjoy seamless connectivity to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional cost 
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack
• Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories 
• New BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 with integrated media sync for easily syncing music, photos and videos**. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes or Windows Media Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone
• Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE support for the option of voice service in more than 220 countries, data service in more than 195 countries and 3G connectivity in more than 125 countries, including Japan and South Korea 
• Removable, rechargeable 1300 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback

Pricing and Availability
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone will be available only for AT&T customers on August 12 in AT&T company owned retail stores and online at www.att.com/blackberrytorch, as well as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and RadioShack stores.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be available for $199.99 with 2-year service agreement on a qualifying rate plan and smartphone data plan required.  New smartphone customers may choose from two AT&T monthly data plan options, $15 for 200 MB of wireless data or $25 for 2 GB.  Enterprise and small business customers should contact their account representative for pricing details.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

AT&T imposes: a Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge of up to $1.25 to help defray costs incurred in complying with obligations and charges imposed by State and Federal telecom regulations; State and Federal Universal Service charges; and surcharges for government assessments on AT&T. These fees are not taxes or government-required charges.

**Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo and video syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

Limited-time offer. Other conditions & restrictions apply. See contract & rate plan brochure for details. Subscriber must live & have a mailing addr. within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area.  Up to $36 activ. fee applies.   Equipment price & avail may vary by mrk & may not be available from independent retailers. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to $35 restocking fee may apply to equipment returns; thereafter up to $325.   Some agents impose add’l fees.  Unlimited voice services: Unltd voice svcs are provided primarily for live dialog between two individuals.  No additional discounts are available with unlimited plan. Smartphone Data Plan Requirement: Smartphones require a DataPlus (200MB) or DataPro (2GB) plan. If you exceed your initial data allowance, you will automatically be charged an additional $10 for each additional 1GB provided on DataPro or an additional $15 for each additional 200MB provided on DataPlus.  All data allowances, including overages, must be used in the billing period in which the allowance is provided or they will be forfeited. An Enterprise Data Plan is required for corporate email, company intranet sites and business applications. For more details on Data Plans, go to att.com/dataplans. Offnet Usage:  If your mins of use (including unltd svcs) on other carrier’s networks (“offnet usage”) during any two consecutive months or your data use during any month exceeds your offnet usage allowance, AT&T may at its option terminate your svc, deny your contd use of other carriers’ coverage, or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for offnet usage.  Your offnet usage allowance is equal to the lesser of 750 mins or 40% of the Anytime mins incl’d with your plan (data offnet usage allowance is the lesser of 24 MB or 20% of the KB incl’d with your plan). Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots- Based on non-municipal company owned and operated hotspots. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. Seewww.attwifi.com for additional services, restrictions and locations.  Visual Voicemail -   Data plan required for AT&T Visual Voicemail. Data used in replying to and forwarding voicemail messages via SMS, MMS or email is counted against your data plan. Applicable data charges apply if data plan limits have been exceeded. International data charges apply to receiving, replying to and forwarding voicemail messages while roaming internationally.

We have all anticipated the official announcement of the 9800, and we were all still unsure of the official name of the device. Rumors had circled around that Torch was the official name, and this morning has alleviated all doubt. It has popped up in Google Ads and now AT&T’s page for the Torch has launched and made it to the party a little early. On the site you can video some videos, an image gallery, and subscribe for email information on the Torch. Who else is as excited as I am? Stay tuned for more coverage of the AT&T/BlackBerry event, and tell us your thoughts on the Torch below. To see AT&T’s page, click here.

via: BGR | AT&T