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The funny thing about the BlackBerry game is watching new devices flip between GSM and CDMA; it seems as if the GSM side can't stand to let the CDMA side have the spotlight for more than a few months.  Shortly after transitioning the "flagship" moniker to the CDMA BlackBerry Tour 9630, the Onyx decided to rear its beautiful head, complete with 3G and RIM's latest feature, the all-new trackpad.  If you read my review of the Curve 8520, you know that I see it as a great replacement to the trackball.

In separate reports, both AT&T and T-Mobile are planning to pick up the BlackBerry 9700 ("Onyx") at some point in the future, though no one knows exactly when.  Crackberry's Kevin Michaluk was lucky enough to snap a few pictures of a T-Mobile branded 9700 while sitting in an airport, returning from vacation.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time!



Though the AT&T branded 9700 has not been spotted in the wild as of yet, a tipster managed to snap a picture of AT&T's internal systems, showing the 9700 on the charts for release at some point in the near future (though, as we all remember with the AT&T version of the Bold, and more recently with the Nokia E71x, "near future" is defined differently with AT&T).  Regardless, getting it into the system is half of the battle, so let's hope that this screenshot is a sign of good things to come.



With the "9700" model number, the "Onyx" would be classified as a member of the Bold family, and as of a few days ago, we have visual proof to lend credence to it.  As Noah mentioned in his post (and believe me, Kravvy's still a spry young whipper snapper, despite what he says), IntoMobile ran across a picture of the 9700, complete with "Bold" branding and the faux-leather back Bold owners have come to know and love.

So, we're still in the dark when it comes to launch dates and pricing, but live pictures and internal screenshots are half of the battle.  Who's gearing up to purchase one at launch?

Blackberry recently introduced the new Blackberry Tour, the latest in their lineup of Smartphones. The full QWERTY keyboard Tour is now available at Verizon Wireless.

The Tour has all the great features that consumers have come to expect on their Blackberrys. Access to Email, the internet, the ability to access corporate information and access to Verizon’s 3G network. The Tour is manufactured
by Research in Motion.

Timothy O’Rourke, vice president, computer and information services at Temple University has used the device exclusively since it was introduced. O’Rourke said, “University faculty and administrators are very mobile these days. They need a dependable, easy-to-use device that keeps them in touch with students, e-mail and the university while they are out of the classroom. We also have faculty who travel to our international campuses in places like Brazil, China, France and even Senegal. The ease of use and the global capability of the BlackBerry Tour make it an easy device to recommend to our faculty and administrators.”

The Blackberry Tour is now available at Verizon Wireless communication stores and online. The Tour costs $199.99 after a $70.00 mail in rebate and requires a new 2 year customer agreement that includes voice and an Email plan.

For more information on the Blackberry Tour, please visit Verizon Wireless.

Confused as to who Sony Ericsson is aiming the new Jalou at?  Well, see if you can guess if we tell you they compare the size of the phone to ‘your favourite lipstick’.  Yes, the Jalou is perfect for girls who like their tech a little more feminine than the normal mid-range mobile phone, but may be a touch too girly for anyone else.

The Jalou is also tiny, measuring just 73×45, but quite a thick 18mm, and weighing a scant 84 grams.  This does mean the screen is only a 2″, 240×320 resolution item, but the phone is 3G with a 3.2 megapixel camera, a stereo FM RDS radio, music player and A2DP Bluetooth, so it easily meets the minimum spec standard needed today.  What makes the Jalou stand out is its mirror key, which, as its name suggests, turns the screen into a mirror!  You’ll also find a new step counter called Walk Mate and an interface which brings the signs of the zodiac to your standby screen.

The Jalou will also be available as a limited edition, designed in conjunction with Dolce & Gabbana.  The rose coloured phone will feature 24 carat gold plating and come with satin storage bags and a D&G branded headset.  Both phones are scheduled for Q4, but price has yet to be announced.

Post from Dial-a-Phone, UK's no. 1 for Mobile Phones.

 

Earlier today I received a few messages from readers/viewers asking about the T-Mobile Touch Pro2's pricing. Lots of information was flying around the Interwebs, some of it correctly pegging the 2-year contract price at $349.99 after rebate, and some of it incorrectly speculating the phone would cost $279 under the same terms. A few folks even said they'd talked to T-Mobile sales reps who'd told them the price would be $279. Huh? 

I received a review loaner TP2 a week ago under embargo, a common practice that allows journalists to test devices and prepare their reviews for release at a preset time (when the embargo "lifts"). My review hit just after midnight last night, as did many others across the Web. All of the reviews mentioned the $349.99 price. We all had the information. The information came from T-Mo. So why are people reporting that T-Mo reps have been telling them $279, and not the $349.99 price that the media was given, and is now showing on the T-Mobile Website?

Very strange. But true. People asked me about it earlier today, and people are commenting about it now online.  Here's a snippet from the comments over at TmoNews:

I have just spoken with a T-mobile Rep via online chat. Here is a quote:
"
Skyler L: ok, only one final question then
Skyler Loth: you are certain that the phone is 279 on a two-year contract?
Carolyn B: Yes.

What gives? What happened? Did any of you call T-Mo - or chat with an online rep - about the Touch Pro2? If so, what were you told? 

It's too bad - $279 is closer to what this phone should cost. Great device, but $349 is way too much to ask. Even $279 seems steep. Check out my review for more on Touch Pro2, T-Mobile style. And sound off in the comments if you have a tale of T-Mobile to tell.

 

Whatever bad things I sometimes (okay, often times lately) have to say about Symbian S60, it's still one of the world's most popular smartphone platforms. Maybe even the most popular - but who's counting? And whatever bad things I sometimes say about Nokia's recent flagship phones (cough, cough, N97), they still do turn out some juicy kit on occasion. Like the E75 and it's super awesomely big QWERTY board.

If you dig the feel of S60 and like the look of the E75 (in Black only), then today's your lucky day: Dell Home is selling 'em for a mere $250 each, with free shipping. Yup, $250 for an unlocked, contract-free E75, complete with North American 3G banding. Dude, it's a deal! That's like a whole hundred dollars less than T-Mobile wants for the Touch Pro2 with a two-year contract!

The price initially shows as $369.99, so be sure to use coupon code "91B?79FVS4HT2$" to get the sale price and free shipping.

Shop now at Dell Home (via DealNews)

Noah gets in-depth with T-Mobile's flagship Android phone, the myTouch 3G with Google. Part one of two.