Canadian phone makers, Research in Motion (RIM) have developed a clamshell Blackberry - a flip-phone Blackberry - and pictures of the new email handset have been leaked all over the web!
RIM, the mobile phone manufacturer who is known for making the business style Blackberry range has decided to take a step closer to a more customer friendly style. According to The Register, the handset, codenamed ‘Kickstart’, uses the SureType keyboard that’s already used on the Blackberry Pearl, along with the central TrackBall for navigation.
Boygeniusreport.com are behind the leakage of this new handset, along with the photos as proof of it’s existence. BGR states: “This isn’t fake, this isn’t a hoax. We’ve known RIM is planning to launch a flip phone within the year, and we now have the pictures to prove it!”. RIM are yet to actually confirm the rumours surrounding this new Blackberry but considering the pictures that have been flying around cyber space, I would say that this is a genuine story from BGR.
Pictures indicate MP3 abilities, along with a camera, which possibly shows that RIM are targeting consumers rather than corporate types… I sometimes consider a Blackberry myself, but I’m just not sure about this. Browsing through the initial set of pics that have been leaked, it’s not exactly an attractive phone. I much prefer the Blackberry 8110 GPS Pink - to quote Melanie, it’s a “gorgeous little device”! I whole-heartedly agree!! Or for the more masculine readers amongst you, there’s always the Blackberry 8310 Curve (it comes in two colours!) with its metallic finish.
Rumour has it they are planning to release the BlackBerry “Kickstart” by the end of the year, although we’re yet to get any information on pricing or regional availability etc.
So if you’re a BlackBerry fan and you happen to have always wanted a flip-phone, looks like your wish will soon come true. Now… considering the time of year this may be launched, a certain song by Mariah springs to mind! However… I’m no karaoke queen and seeing as the sun has finally decided to show itself, I won’t spoil it!!
Let us know your thoughts about the flip-phone Blackberry. Will it be appearing on your Christmas list this year?
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:25 am
About time they changed and offered something different looks cool
May 7th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Hopefully we’ll have some more images soon which I’ll post on here for all to see. I may be convinced when I see more of it….