BlackBerry Pearl Flip Coming to Verizon Later this Month

Verizon Wireless has just announced that it will release a version of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip two week from today. This smartphone -- the first from RIM with a clamshell design -- will offer mobile broadband and a SureType keyboard.

This model launched last fall on T-Mobile USA, but the upcoming version will have a number of differences. Unlike the current model, the Pearl Flip 8230 will have be a CDMA phone with this carrier's mobile broadband service EV-DO Rev. A.

Not all the changes will be improvements; T-Mobile's version has Wi-Fi, while Verizon's will not.

More about the BlackBerry Pearl Flip
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 will be a consumer-oriented smartphone that includes the push messaging features people expect from a RIM device, plus the multimedia capabilities that have now become standard in this company's products. 

What will set it apart from other BlackBerrys is its clamshell design. When closed, users will be able to preview calendar reminders, email, text messages, and phone calls on a small external screen. Opening the Pearl Flip up will expose the 320-by-240-pixel (QVGA) internal screen and a SureType keyboard.

A 900 mAh battery and the microSDHC memory card slot are going to sit behind the keyboard. Other features will include Bluetooth 2.0, a GPS receiver, microSD card slot, and a 2.0 MPx camera.

Pricing and Availability
Verizon will release the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 on June 19. It will sell for $130 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.

Source: Verizon