Just in time to bolster RIM’s position to launch a significant counter-offensive against the iPhone in the Canadian-based handset maker’s smartphone niche, T-Mobile’s upcoming BlackBerry launches have been detailed. Thanks to a leaky product pipeline at T-Mobile, we’re hearing that no less than five new BlackBerry handsets will be launching on T-Mobile’s network over the next few months. The new BlackBerry models include fresh new color offerings for the BlackBerry Pearl 8120, the much-anticipated BlackBerry Pearl 8220 (formerly known as the KickStart), and the BlackBerry Javelin.
T-Mobile will be launching the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 in three new colors. Following on the newest BlackBerry Pearl 8120 color offerings, T-Mobile is planning to launch the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 in Tahitian Green, Indigo, and Light Blue color schemes. The new Pearl 8120’s will be available with the BlackBerry OS 4.5, to keep things fresh for the aging Pearl.For those BlackBerry fans waiting on RIM’s first attempt at a clamshell handset, the BlackBerry Pearl 8220 will be hitting T-Mobile in late September or early October. The BlackBerry Pearl 8220 has been referred to en masse as the BlackBerry KickStart, but has recently undergone a name change to better fit in with the BlackBerry consumer-oriented product portfolio. And, keeping in line with RIM’s naming conventions, the “20” tacked on to the end of the BlackBerry Pearl 8220’s model name denotes that the BlackBerry flip will sport a WiFi radio that should play nice with T-Mobile’s HotSpot @Home UMA service. The BlackBerry Pearl 8220 (aka KickStart) should launch with BlackBerry’s newest BlackBerry OS 4.6.
And, just in time to give holiday shoppers something to look forward to, T-Mobile is expected to launch the BlackBerry Javelin in late November or early December. The BlackBerry Javelin is considered to be the EDGE-only variant of the high-resolution BlackBerry Bold 9000 that has garnered so much attention as of late. The BlackBerry Javelin will not offer the higher 3G data speeds of its more capable sibling, the BlackBerry Bold, but stays true to RIM’s new design aesthetic. The Javelin is both sleeker and slimmer than previous BlackBerry monoblocks and should give non-3G users an appealing alternative to the more pricey BlackBerry Bold. BlackBerry Javelin customer can look forward to a slightly newer BlackBerry OS 4.6.1.
The move to offer the BlackBerry Javelin in favor of the BlackBerry Bold point to T-Mobile’s ongoing push to roll out their 1700Mhz 3G network across the US. The T-Mobile 3G network just recently went live in Las Vegas and Austin, so the nascent 3G infrastructure is moving along quite nicely. But, it’ll likely be well in to 2009 before we see a T-Mobile compatible BlackBerry Bold 9000.
[Via: BlackBerryNews]