04/03, 3:00pm
RIM faces patent lawsuit by Dutch company NXP
Dutch company NXP BV has filed a lawsuit against Canadian smartphone maker RIM for allegedly infringing on six of the company's patents. The firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of NXP semiconductors and wants compensatory and triple damages, though the numbers aren't revealed. It also seeks a stop of the sale of devices that infringe upon these patents, which include the BlackBerry Torch, Curve, and Bold, as well as the PlayBook tablet.
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03/14, 12:35pm
T-Mo BlackBerry Bold 9900, Torch 9810 get 7.1
T-Mobile has updated its versions of the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9810 to BlackBerry 7.1 with more than just the basic OS in store. The updates (EXE for 9900, EXE for 9810) both add support for voice calls over Wi-Fi, bringing a feature back not seen in most recent T-Mobile BlackBerrys. The format isn't using UMA (unlicensed mobile access) and won't automatically transfer calls to GSM or 3G if the caller wanders outside of Wi-Fi range.
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02/13, 7:25pm
Invite titled "What's Next"
RIM and T-Mobile have reportedly scheduled an event on March 15 to highlight "the latest and greatest T-Mobile BlackBerry technology." The invitation does not shed light on a specific device, however it does highlight BlackBerry OS 7 alongside the vague "What's Next" tagline.
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02/01, 1:05pm
BlackBerry 7, 7.1 phones earn government nod
RIM said Wednesday that BlackBerry 7- and 7.1-powered devices have earned a coveted FIPS 140-2 certification. The standard means they can now be used by the US and Canadian governments, as they meet stringent security stipulations as outlined by the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA). The current devices that comply include the Bold 9900, 9930, and 9790; the Torch 9850, 9860, and 9810; and the Curve 9350, 9360, 9370, and 9380.
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12/21, 11:50am
Spotify launches full version of BlackBerry app
Spotify's BlackBerry app has exited the test stage and is now available to supporting hardware. Users can visit Spotify's mobile site from their browser to download the app, with Spotify offering a 48-hour free trial. After this period, they will need to either sign up for a 30-day trial or pay for the Spotify Premium subscription, which costs $10 per month in the US.
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12/15, 10:50pm
Sprint gives BlackBerry 7.1 update in surprise
RIM's hinted-at BlackBerry 7.1 update started rolling out to Sprint owners on Thursday night. Owners told CrackBerry that their Bold 9930 and Torch 9850 phones were getting the upgrade over-the-air. Among other changes, it's expected to add 3G hotspot support for those willing to pay the premium.
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12/15, 5:15pm
RIM details process of removing Carrier IQ
Canadian BlackBerry smartphone maker RIM maintains it never gave carriers permission to install Carrier IQ software on its devices and has now detailed how users can get rid of it. T-Mobile installs the software on three BlackBerry handsets, including the Bold 9900, the Curve 9360 and the Torch 9810. Users need to download an app called IQ Agent, which will also detect and remove other third-party apps.
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12/04, 7:30pm
T-Mobile puts CIQ on BlackBerry, Galaxy, myTouch
A leaked memo to T-Mobile staff has confirmed that it and possibly other carriers are contradicting RIM's policies on phone tracking. Although BlackBerry designs leave RIM without Carrier IQ, TmoNews saw word that the Curve 9360, Torch 9810, and Bold 9900 all have the diagnostic app loaded inside. While not necessarily suggesting that RIM was misleading, it does show that the company has given away control to the carriers.
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11/10, 4:20pm
Bold 9900, Torch 9860, now at Cincinnati Bell
Cincinnati Bell just added two new BlackBerry 7 smartphones to its lineup in the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry Torch 9860. Either gets a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor. The former combines a 2.8-inch, 640x480 touchscreen display and a hardware QWERTY keyboard, along with an NFC radio.
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11/02, 1:45pm
Handset commands $250 after mail-in rebate
T-Mobile has announced that its subscribers will soon be able to purchase the BlackBerry Torch 9810. Despite the handset's availability for several months at competing carrier AT&T for just $50, the second-generation QWERTY slider is set to arrive at T-Mobile with a $300 price tag that bottoms out at $250 after a mail-in rebate.
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11/01, 11:20am
ATT belatedly gets Bold 9900, Curve 9360 Nov 6
AT&T caught up to other US carriers on Tuesday with belated additions to its BlackBerry line. The carrier plans to pick up both the Bold 9900 as its headlining BlackBerry and plans to sell it for $200 on November 6. Another long-promised phone, the Torch 9860, is due the same day for $100.
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10/23, 5:10pm
We look at the all-touch BlackBerry Torch 9860
RIM's new BlackBerry Torch line is a reboot for the company. After the Storm and Storm2 failed to stem the tide of the iPhone and later Android, the new Torch shows signs RIM has learned its lesson: a faster processor, a touch interface, and the death of its infamous click-down screen. But is it enough? Our review of the Torch 9850 and 9860 will see if RIM is back in form or if its rivals are still moving faster.
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10/19, 10:00am
Spotify for BlackBerry enters preview
Spotify answered one of its most frequent calls Wednesday by releasing a test version of Spotify for BlackBerry. The early app gives much of the same music streaming as in the Android, iPhone, and Symbian versions, including offline caching and Last.fm scrobbling to track plays. Its current version requires an SD card and won't limit caching to Wi-Fi.
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09/30, 12:30pm
RIM divided on PlayBook focus on home, pro users
RIM had an large internal rift over how it would pitch the BlackBerry PlayBook, executives slipped out on Friday. Traditionalists at the company, such as co-CEO Mike Lazaridis, wanted to sell the tablet as a business companion, the WSJ heard. Rivals, however, wanted it to more directly chase after the iPad and focus on games, movies, music, breaking out of RIM's usual mold.
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09/13, 4:05pm
Curve 9380 hands-on reveals coming soon to Telus
RIM's first touchscreen-equipped BlackBerry Curve, the 9380, has been handled by BGR, suggesting the device is closer to shipping. The device resembles the Bold on its top half and the Torch 9850 on the bottom. The rear is very close in appearance to a traditional Curve-series smartphone.
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09/09, 11:00am
Jefferies analyst sees RIM too fast on BBerry Colt
RIM's self-proclaimed "superphone" based on its new QNX platform, unofficially known as the BlackBerry Colt, might be pushed too quickly into the market. Based on "checks," Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek believed on Friday that the Colt was "being rushed' with no BlackBerry Enterprise Server or possibly BlackBerry Internet Service support. The company might be following a classic technology company practice of speeding up its timing solely to have a device to show for CES in January, something that Misek saw as a potentially fatal mistake.
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09/06, 1:45pm
BlackBerry Torch gets first Verizon ship date
Verizon picked up its first ever BlackBerry Torch model on Tuesday with word it would carry the Torch 9850. Its version will be available online from September 8 and reach stores a week later, on September 15. The touch-only BlackBerry 7 phone will cost the now ubiquitous $200 on a two-year contract.
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08/26, 12:15pm
Analyst hears RIM may profit from carrier upset
RIM may see a bounce back in the market simply out of carrier worries of an Apple and Google duopoly, Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu learned on Friday. After talking to carriers, he heard that networks are worried about the "growing dominance" of Android and the iPhone and were sorely looking for a third option to keep competition up. With Nokia not due to ship its first Windows Phones until September, he said, the BlackBerry could benefit simply by being a well-established company with a recently revamped phone line.
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08/21, 1:40pm
ATT Torch 9810, Sprint Bold 9930, Torch 9850 ship
As promised, both AT&T and Sprint joined the BlackBerry 7 mix Sunday with their own additions now reaching shops. Sprint had the biggest release and shipped both the BlackBerry Torch 9850 and the BlackBerry Bold 9930. The two are the least expensive versions on sale in the US: the touch-only 9850 costs $150 when bought online with a contract, while the 9930 costs $200 under the same conditions.
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08/18, 7:50am
ATT steering users towards high-tier unlimited SMS
Newly uncovered AT&T update strategy suggests that the carrier will make the unlimited text messaging plan the only option for new subscribers next week. As of August 21, the $10, 1,000-message plan should disappear and leave only the $20 individual and $30 family unlimited plans. Anyone else will have to pay per use, according to Engadget's screen cap, which at 20 cents per SMS and 30 cents per MMS is designed to steer all but very occasional users into a fixed plan.
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08/15, 3:25pm
ATT to sell Torch 9810 at low price
AT&T on Monday priced and dated the BlackBerry Torch 9810's arrival in the US. The BlackBerry 7 smartphone should reach its shops on August 21. At $50 on contract, it will also be one of the cheapest BlackBerry introductions yet on AT&T, costing just $50 on a contract where the original Torch cost $200.
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08/15, 1:10pm
Bold 9930 to cost $250, Torch 9850 $150 at Sprint
The rumored August 21 ship date for the BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Torch 9850 smartphones at Sprint has now been confirmed by the carrier. The former will cost $250 on a new two-year contract while the Torch 9850 will cost $150 on the same term. Either gets a 1.2GHz CPU and BlackBerry 7.
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08/10, 8:15pm
Leaked advertisements point to launch dates
Sprint is reportedly ready to launch RIM's BlackBerry Torch 9850 and Bold 9930 within the next two weeks. The carrier recently confirmed plans to launch both devices, however the company did not provide details regarding release timing. Leaked advertisements posted on CrackBerry suggest both handsets will be available on August 21.
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08/09, 8:45pm
Devices to ship August 10-12
Canadian carrier Rogers appears to be the first company to confirm launch dates for RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9810 smartphones. Customers will be able to purchase the Bold beginning tomorrow, while the Torch is said to be available by August 12, according to a post on Rogers' official Twitter feed, however pricing remains unclear.
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08/04, 3:30pm
BlackBerry Bold 9900, new Torches priced in Canada
The top three Canadian carriers have not only unveiled their plans to carry the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and new BlackBerry Torches but given the clue as to pricing that will likely translate to the US. Rogers has said that both the 9810 and the 9860 will cost $200 when attached to a three-year contract. The Bold 9900 will carry an unusual premium at $250 on the same terms.
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08/03, 1:45pm
BlackBerry Torch 9850 to hit Sprint, US Cellular
Sprint and US Cellular became two CDMA carriers to sign on to BlackBerry 7 launches on Wednesday. Both of them will carry the Torch 9850 and share its 3.7-inch, 480x800 display, 1.2GHz processor, and fast-responding five-megapixel camera. CDMA puts the two on EVDO-based 3G, but it's unclear what software differences the two will have.
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08/03, 5:00am
BlackBerry Torch 9850, 9860 bring fast full touch
RIM greatly widened its smartphone mix on Wednesday with two more BlackBerry 7 devices. The 9850 and 9860 are the first touch-only phones from RIM to get a high-resolution screen: either has a 480x800 LCD that finally makes them competitive with modern Android hardware and more comparable to the iPhone. The two likewise drop the often criticized click-down SurePress screen from the Storm and use multi-touch instead, much like the Torch 9810.
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08/03, 12:15am
BlackBerry Torch 9810 goes live
After unintentionally posting a product page early, AT&T and RIM together unveiled the second BlackBerry 7 device, the BlackBerry Torch 9810. It stands as a direct sequel to the original Torch that has the familiar vertical QWERTY slider, but with a much faster 1.2GHz processor and 720p video recording from the Bold 9900. While its design is very similar to the original Torch, it bumps the previously aging 3.25-inch display to a much sharper 640x480.
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08/02, 10:15pm
Both smartphones expected to launch August 16
A leak reportedly details the launch time-frame for RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9810 smartphones through the Canadian carrier Bell. Screenshots allegedly showing the carrier's internal documents, which were posted by CrackBerry, suggest both the Bold 9900 and Torch 9810 will be available at Bell on August 16.
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07/28, 6:55pm
Slider phone with touchscreen expected in August
More evidence has popped up indicating the Blackberry Torch 9850 may soon be hitting Sprint's shelves. N4BB reports that the RIM smartphone has shown up in some leaked inventory slides. This follows on sightings of the phone in Sprint's CelleBrite point-of-sale system late last month.
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07/26, 7:40am
RIM next-gen smartphones leak ahead of launch
The RIM BlackBerry 9850 and 9860
have been confirmed again ahead of their launch in a website slip. This time a site selling a Bluetooth headset accessory has also confirmed that the BlackBerry 9850 and 9860 (formerly codenamed “Monaco”) will be called the BlackBerry Torch. An additional slip, this time by Verizon, shows a Verizon staffer giving users a walkthrough of the forthcoming BlackBerry Bold 9930.
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07/25, 7:20pm
RIM hints more BlackBerry 7 hardware soon
RIM dropped a strong hint on Monday that it was about to unveil more BlackBerry 7 devices. The company promsied that "new BlackBerry devices are coming with our new OS" and invited users to check back on Tuesday for details from a BlackBerry 7 Fan Night. When asked if it involved more than the Bold 9900, one follower was told only that they would "have the answers tomorrow" with a wink.
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07/15, 3:00pm
BlackBerry Torch 2 appears at FCC
RIM's BlackBerry Torch 2 may be close to a release as the phone has surfaced in an FCC approval. As shown in the filing, the second-generation slider supports HSPA 3G on the 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands needed for AT&T as well as the top three Canadian carriers. Like the Bold 9900, the Torch 2 might show in late August since it too will see details go public in 45 days.
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07/12, 8:20pm
RIM talks Bold 9900 launch and PlayBook retail
RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis at the company's annual shareholders' meeting hinted that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 was very close to a launch. He expected a launch "over the next month." The launch plans were even more aggressive than usual with 491 certification programs and 191 carriers.
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07/08, 6:45pm
Will have touch but no hardware QWERTY keyboard
More photos of the BlackBerry 9860 running Blackberry 7 have surfaced. The latest shots of the device have shown up on the Greek blog GreekBerry. There have been several names associated with the 9860, including Monza, Monaco, and Volt.
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07/08, 11:50am
Bell line-up leak reveals new Torch, Curve, Bold
A line-up of new BlackBerry handsets coming to Canadian provider Bell has been leaked and posted up on the web by TechFIBE. The leak includes the Curve 9360, the Bold 9900, Torch 9860, and the Torch 9810. All but the Curve 9360 are slated for a late August release, with the single handset due to arrive in September. The Curve is again singled out by sporting an 800MHz processor rather than the 1.2GHz CPUs of the other three.
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07/05, 8:55pm
Launch time-frame detailed in AT&T leak
RIM's BlackBerry Torch '4G' and LG's Thrill may be set to arrive in August and July, respectively. Although the companies have yet to confirm release details for either device, a document allegedly circulated within AT&T points to the carrier's launch time-frame for a number of upcoming devices devices. The leak also hints at the '4G' branding for the Torch's successor, which has been previously referred to by the model number 9850.
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06/26, 7:15pm
2011 BlackBerry Torch, Bold in Sprint CelleBrite
Two of RIM's more important smartphones may be close to getting an unveiling at Sprint. A sighting in Sprint's CelleBrite point-of-sale system shows both the already unveiled BlackBerry Bold 9930 as well as the still unofficial Torch 9850. Neither of the devices seen in the CrackBerry tip were given prices or release dates.
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06/03, 5:30pm
New smartphones hit market in July
CrackBerry has leaked Sprint's release dates for several new smartphones. According to the list, The Samsung D600 will start shipping the BlackBerry Bold 9930 will be available on August 21. The LG Optimus Slider, also known as the Gelato Q, will show itself September 11.
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05/19, 11:55am
Millennial has iOS dwarf Android in mobile ad cash
Millennial Media in its mobile ad study for this past April highlighted the mounting problem of getting Android users to pay for apps. Although Google recovered from a dip in March and now represented 53 percent of ad hits on Millennial's network, iOS devices stood for 50 percent of the actual revenue where Android was at 39 percent. iOS ad impressions were growing at a much faster rate as well, at 47 percent since the start of the year where Android grew by 19 percent.
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04/20, 9:50am
BlackBerry Curve Touch to show at BlackBerry World
RIM's first budget touchscreen phone, the BlackBerry Curve Touch, received extra details in a leak Wednesday morning. The GSM version of the phone is now believed by a BGR source to be arriving at the BlackBerry World Expo at the start of May. It would ship in June or July and has supposedly been spotted with T-Mobile branding, though the US carrier wasn't called out by name.
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04/14, 9:05am
Millennial shows iOS regaining ground on Android
Millennial Media in its report for March mobile ad share showed Apple bouncing back in mobile ad share. The Verizon iPhone was credited with an 11 percent spike in iOS ad hits just over the past month. While Android still had the leading share specific to smartphones at 48 percent to the iPhone's 31 percent, Apple's ad impressions were now growing faster as well, at 29 percent month-to-month versus 23 percent.
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04/13, 1:05pm
RIM co-chief ends BBC interview
RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis drew flak on Wednesday for abruptly exiting an interview with the BBC's Click Online. When grilled on the impasse with India and Middle Eastern countries over access to information, Lazaridis cast the question as "unfair" and declared the interview over. The company has often maintained its stance that it can't open up access but has usually been willing to discuss the problem when confronted.
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04/08, 11:00am
BlackBerry Torch 2 given hands-on in leak
The second pre-release BlackBerry in as many days has received a hands-on Friday. RIM's previously slipped-out Torch 2 is siad to be superficially near-identical to the original but saw huge leaps due to the hardware, BGR found. The 640x480 screen is "absolutely great" and matched by a much faster 1.2GHz processor that could "light a fire."
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03/28, 3:10pm
ATT cuts WP7, Captivate, Curve 3G prices in promo
AT&T kicked off another promo on Monday that hinted at lingering issues for Windows Phone 7 sales. Both the LG Quantum and Samsung Focus have dropped to $50 on contract for the sale. The move helps clear a path for the HTC HD7s but follows a pattern where both the carrier and third parties like Amazon have singled out AT&T WP7 phones for heavy discounts.
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03/04, 8:55pm
Marvell hints RIM focusing on low-end BlackBerry
Marvell in its financial results call on Friday may have given signs that RIM is stepping away from high-end BlackBerry phones. CEO Sehat Sutardja blamed a steeper than expected 34 percent revenue drop primarily on RIM moving to "entry-level smartphones," where Marvell doesn't have chips to offer. Most of Marvell's designs in the BlackBerry line have focused on flagships like the Bold and Torch.
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02/04, 1:45pm
RIM starts official BlackBerry trade-up program
RIM hoped to keep more customers loyal on Friday by kickstarting a new BlackBerry trade-up program. The offer lets users swap an existing BlackBerry for as much as $120 towards a newer model, such as a Style or Torch. As with sites like Gazelle, the value depends both on the individual phone and its working state.
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01/13, 2:50pm
BlackBerry Torch 2 leaks out
The third leak today of a future BlackBerry model suggests RIM may plan a much more aggressive release for its flagship. The Torch 2 would roughly double the speed of the original Torch's two years old 600MHz chip with a 1.2GHz processor. BGR noted it would also be the first BlackBerry phone ever with hardware graphics acceleration, giving it tentative support for 3D games that have been off-limits in the past.
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12/21, 8:40am
Verizon said seeing iPhone as critical to plans
Verizon considers the iPhone as "essential to its future success," Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu said on Tuesday. Receiving further updates from purported sources, he understood that Verizon is "excited" to launch the iPhone. The carrier allegedly still believes that Apple is vital to offsetting slowing Android sales.
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12/10, 1:45pm
Best Buy free iPhone 3GS and Torch deals live
Best Buy today confirmed that its rumored free iPhone 3GS deal is now live. Apple's 8GB phone is free on Friday for those who both visit in-store and who qualify. Although not mentioned, the deal should include both new two-year contracts, second lines and those eligible for a full upgrade.
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