BlackBerry Pearl 8230 caught in Verizon garb

We've been hearing some idle chatter that RIM intends to redo its Pearl 8220 flip in a CDMA flavor any minute now -- and RIM's one of the best manufacturers in the game at spreading its wealth equally between the GSM and CDMA sides of the fence, so an 8230 model seemed like a foregone conclusion from the moment the 8220 was announced. Sure enough, we now have a shot of a Verizon-branded 8230 doing its thing -- not really what Bold hopefuls on Verizon were hoping for, we'd imagine, but a solid consumer-grade offering nonetheless. The fella who posted the shot over on CrackBerry's forums doesn't know what colors will be available at launch, but mentions that he expects it'll be "coming soon." CTIA in April, perhaps?

[Via Boy Genius Report]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2009 9:20PM]

One question: what's the point? I never understood why RIM ever bothered with this design - it's about worthless as a Blackberry. Now Big Red is going to sell it? What am I missing here?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2009 9:39PM]

Some people like flip design phones. They aren't comfortable holding a brick to their head. It's a matter of taste. If RIM can offer these people the option of a flip, I don't see that as a bad thing.

You get the functionality of a Blackberry in the familiar form factor of a flip.

Win - Win.

[RileyFreeman Posted Feb 3rd 2009 9:52PM]

rim is one of the best in spreading its love to both cdma and gsm?


ummm that line needs to be edited out.


the ONLY company that still takes a year to make a cdma variant of a gsm phone. which is also the ONLY who is based out of north america (motorola no longer relevant with constant crappy Q's. Palm has to still launch their pre). North america who has a larger CDMA base than gsm gets the shaft by rim. Dont bring up that piece of crap called a storm. clicking screen? if i wanted to type slow id stay with a dumbphone.

Rim dual launch is not hard. HTC does it. samsung does it palm is about to do it. if apple didnt have that contract id bet any money theyd do it.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2009 11:47PM]

I agree, RIM needs to show more love to CDMA. I've not no interest in the Storm and the Curve 83X0 is long in the tooth. Give us some Bold/Niagara or Curve 8930 action!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2009 10:30AM]

OMFG OMFG I CAN NOT F-ING WAIT FOR THIS TO COME OUT!!!!!!!!!!

i just turned my 7250 off in favor of my pn-820, but i really miss bbm, and google sync.

i expect this to be out just before my upgrade elegibility in july

[RileyFreeman Posted Feb 4th 2009 3:52PM]

are u even serious?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2009 1:27PM]

You guys do realize that there are only two major carriers in the world that run on CDMA, right? The vast majority of the cell phone networks on the planet are GSM. CDMA is the red headed bastard step child of the cell phone network world.