RIM's BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 secret is finally out. Rumors became truths with RIM's recent announcement on their website about the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 -- the manufacturer's first mobile device to break their standard design format.
The rumors of a RIM flip phone can now be put to rest. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 has been formally announced and makes for the first major form factor change for a RIM device since the addition of the Pearl and its SureType/candybar design.
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 is a Quad-BAND GSM smartphone. It features a 320x240 (QVGA) pixel internal screen and the SureType keyboard.
The outside of the Pearl Flip features an additional screen, the 2.0 megapixel camera, and the ability to control various features of the Pearl Flip through hardware buttons. A 900mAh battery and the microSDHC memory card slot (supports up to 16GB cards) sit behind the keyboard.
Additional wireless features include Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b Wi-Fi with UMA support, and assisted-GPS.
In addition to the BlackBerry email and messaging software, DataViz's Documents to Go, BlackBerry Media Sync, BlackBerry Maps, and an enhanced HTML web browser also come with the device. Voice-activated dialing, background noise cancellation, support for MP3 ringtones, and and enhanced speakerphone round out the features of the 8220.
Device management platforms include the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS), BlackBerry Unite!, BlackBerry Professional Software and BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) platforms. The normal suite of device management utilities (such as deployment, remote activation/deactivation, remote wipe, and more) are able to be applied to Pearl Flip users as with other BlackBerry devices.
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip comes with a variety of accessories including a stereo headset, travel charger and USB cable.
Availability
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 has not been announced for any specific carriers at this time. It is assumed that T-Mobile USA will be one of the first carriers to offer the Pearl Flip given its similar feature set to other BlackBerry offerings from the carrier and the fact that T-Mobile is the featured carrier on the BlackBerry Pearl Flip website.
Price information for the Pearl Flip has not been released.
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