There'll be a BlackBerry Tour without a camera, too

Only the most buttoned-up, high-security businessfolk still require phones without cameras these days -- and seeing how the BlackBerry Tour is destined to become the new de facto choice for buttoned-up, high-security businessfolk, it stands to reason that a cameraless version makes a whole lot of sense. Sure enough, it turns out that Verizon will be offering a non-cam version right alongside the regular Tour when it launches on the 12th, but don't think of this as a great money-saving opportunity if you don't snap a lot of photos -- Big Red wants to charge the same $199.99 on contract for this one that they're charging for the regular version. CIA operatives, though, have to be pretty stoked.

[Via CrackBerry]

[RileyFreeman Posted Jun 30th 2009 12:35PM]

good ol rim and apple ripping people off as usual

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 1st 2009 1:37AM]

Last time I checked, that camera doesn't cost them a whole lot, so why would they take a whole lot off the price?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 12:56PM]

^You get what you pay for (IF you have a clue what services you need)

[CeluGeek Posted Jun 30th 2009 12:59PM]

Cameraless smartphones (the few that have been released) have always been as pricy as their camera-equipped versions.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 1:14PM]

A ton of lawyers need this because they can't get into courtrooms with cameras. Lawyers would probably pay MORE for this feature just to have their Berries in the courtroom...

[RileyFreeman Posted Jun 30th 2009 1:31PM]

the fact is theres no camera the price should be dropped. at least $50 bucks on the contract price. dont care bout no contract price

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 1:40PM]

So either the camera is that cheap that it doesn't deserve a price drop, or you get to pay that much more for it not to be included, and a different battery cover added.

A necessary move regardless of pricing, as there are plenty of facilities that ban camera phones, and any other type of camera.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 2:16PM]

RCC2k8 is right
my dad is a lawyer (i'm studying to be one too) and he usually cannot take his phone into the courtroom because of its camera.

Blackberries and directed to people like businessmen and lawyers but obviously some people think that its for playing brick breaker all day...

anyways
I will definitely pick up this phone when it comes out (no camera version)

I dont use the camera on my curve so this will be a good buy for me

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 5:11PM]

Most anyone working in a factory can't have a camera due to industrial espionage and anyone working for basically any defense contractor can get fired/prosecuted just for having a camera phone on them (seen it happen).


This is a great idea and will make it very popular with that demo.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 5:46PM]

Last I checked "There'll" wasn't a word.

[Chris Posted Jun 30th 2009 5:50PM]

When's the last time you checked?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/there%27ll

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 9:57PM]

wow Chris seriously burnt you to a crisp

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 30th 2009 8:17PM]

Pwned!! And by Chris!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 1st 2009 12:23AM]

The reason for no cost drop is probably due to the fact that software has to be modified for devices without cameras. Also the hardware is reworked so there's not just an empty pocket inside of the phone's shell. The extra engineering of the software and hardware placement costs money.

I used to work for a company that made copiers and if the difference between two models didn't mean a huge change in the amount of hardware used, the cost was roughly the same for either unit.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 1st 2009 9:32AM]

You are all aware that if you work for a big secure company you are going to have corporate email. That email is delevered by a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, your IT admin can set an IT policy to disable the camera completely.... so any BlackBerry with a camera can be a non camera BlackBerry via IT Policy.