[BamaFan2989]

yay for us tmobile users :]

[vinnes]

Definitely some photoshop work going on here. Looks like at least the tile floor background is not original. On one picture they have removed the guys thumb.

[itsagiven]

I like flip phones. I would buy this in a heart beat. The reason is that when you close the phone it prevents it from calling people or opening programs while it is in your pocket. I can't use a holster for mine so I am stuck with carrying it in my pocket. I cannot tell you how many times I have forgotten to lock the darn thing and find it in the most unusual programs when I take it out. I wear out my battery that way also. Anyway just my 2 cents worth.

[someonexh]

Originally Posted by itsagiven

I like flip phones. I would buy this in a heart beat. The reason is that when you close the phone it prevents it from calling people or opening programs while it is in your pocket. I can't use a holster for mine so I am stuck with carrying it in my pocket. I cannot tell you how many times I have forgotten to lock the darn thing and find it in the most unusual programs when I take it out. I wear out my battery that way also. Anyway just my 2 cents worth.

You might benefit from this program:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/afte...lackberry.html

[Edhoru]

More pics and details, apparently it will o to t-mobile:

BlackBerry KickStart: T-Mobile launch and a whole bunch of specs! | The Boy Genius Report

I didn't like it in the first pictures, but now i think it looks cool, although i'm not going back to suretype

[someonexh]

Originally Posted by Edhoru

More pics and details, apparently it will o to t-mobile:

BlackBerry KickStart: T-Mobile launch and a whole bunch of specs! | The Boy Genius Report

I didn't like it in the first pictures, but now i think it looks cool, although i'm not going back to suretype

was just looking at those pics, they are pretty slick.

[rDeuce]

Originally Posted by JSanders

Oh well, exactly as some of us expected--- look who's working in Waterloo!


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2089/...6c34dff2_o.jpg

That scared the S**T out of me! I hate clowns

[LunkHead]

*barf* They can keep it....

[John Clark]

I don't think it's so bad. I think it's a good idea on RIM's part.

[zkyevolved]

Personally, I like flips because I don't have to wrry about scratching the main screen. The outer screen will not have as main of function as the inside one. Not to mention, instead of lighting up the WHOLE screen, you'll only be lighting up the little one, outside, to show u if u have any messages or anything . I personally like it. Ironically I haven't had a flip phone since ... my startac, wait no... I had one other samsung one that was ... PoS.

[plakius]

Gross it's like a razr and a pearl had sex .... it will be available in pink

[dwp1975]

This is a interesting looking device, it looks ok in the concept photos with the T-mobile branding but looks like crap in the leaked photos. I think this device would suit my wife once her 8130 gets long in the tooth.

[sjcosta]

Originally Posted by hdawg

That is a fantastic looking device; if I were in the 90's

I wouldn't use that thing if it were free. I had a StarTAC in 1996, no need for one in 2008. Plz k thx.

i had a moto talk a bout same thing no way

[rambo47]

If it's part of RIM's efforts to continue to penetrate the consumer space (vs. business/enterprise space where they dominate) then a flip phone is a good idea. It won't be for a lot of users, but there will be plenty of folks, especially first-time BB buyers, who will see it as a compromise device. It will give them the familiarity of a regular phone and make the whole "Blackberry experience" less scary. Believe it or not, I've heard plenty of people say, "Oh, I could NEVER figure one of those things out," when referring to a Blackberry. Too many people see it as a technical nightmare and akin to voodoo and Linux combined. Obviously it's not, but that's a common sentiment among the non-technical savvy masses.

Plus, you can do that dramatic "angry flip closed move" to hang up on someone. Makes you look busy and important while sipping your latte at Starbucks. Like George Costanza when he was working for the Yankees.

[dwp1975]

RIM has some sort of method to their madness, maybe they feel they have perfected the email delivery and can now fiddle with handset development and all these variations down the pipeline are the end results. They put alot of R&D into the Pearl and that caught on like wildfire, so they are putting their feelings on and exploring even further. It can only make things better for them. But like I said previously. This device would make my wife even happier than her pearl does.

[rambo47]

There are a ton of folks who like the clamshell/flip design. Protects the screen and keyboard. It would have been interesting to see RIM shoehorn a QWERTY keyboard into it, but hey, baby steps! I'll definitely get one to replace my beloved 7105t, strictly as a backup.

[dwp1975]

Originally Posted by rambo47

There are a ton of folks who like the clamshell/flip design. Protects the screen and keyboard. It would have been interesting to see RIM shoehorn a QWERTY keyboard into it, but hey, baby steps! I'll definitely get one to replace my beloved 7105t, strictly as a backup.

If the design changes from those leaked photos and it looks alot better I may get one as a weekend/vacation phone that I can carry and still be connected to the world minus the bulk of a full size blackberry.

[Jagga]

Originally Posted by lord_jefe

OK, I'm calling shenanigans.

Look at the size of that thing. It looks like an 8800 plus the flip screen. That is waaaaaay too big to be usable. If I was RIM, and making a flipberry, it probably wouldn't be much larger than a razr -- thicker, yes, but I can't see why they would need that much real estate -- heck, the keys look bigger than an 8800s and it's got a suretype keyboard.

It's a hoax.

I'll have to agree with you to some degree. Looking at the photo, the left hinge of the Kickstart (when open, at the base) is twisted & larger in height than the right side of the hinge which is even with the base of the handset. Of course this could be a "dummy" model ready for showing a final or proposed design. But the model is still feasable.

Changes Needed:
* too much wasted space under the keypad - great for branding but ugly.
* This unit, since thus far not rumored to have UMTS, should be no thicker than 5mm (1/3inch) than the 8110/20/30 when closed! One level of a mobo is used on the base and 2 LCD's back to back for the flip.
* Suretype keys look WAY too flat to be used without looking! Give them raised edges/centers, and slightly smaller. Tactile feedback that is definitive will beat keypad size anyday (to a degree, the BJ II is way too small).
* Give this thing stereo speakers!
* Full dimensions should be no larger than the present RAZR2 V8/9. The width of that is great for suretype keypad, a little thicker of course to maintain great battery life.

@rambo47, great & very realistic view of the average consumer. Ever wonder why the Bold, which replaces the 8800 series (going to blackberry.com their flash animated presentation no longer shows the 8800 series amongst the lineup), is marketed at the corporate user while STILL carrying a camera?! RIM is realizing to major changes in the corporate & consumer market space. Corporate users are being asked or pushed to consolidate their phones (business mobile phone & pager = BB), and also consumers wanting to have what their personal cell can do rolled into their BB.

I'm living proof. I left my BB Pearl 8100 for 3 reasons:
* Training staff out of my own pocket was getting expensive with data rates.
- RIM resolved this in March 2008 with $15 Ultd Email Plans for MANY carriers.
* I wanted a better media experience, as I don't drive, public transit can be VERY dull and reading emails the entire trip & hearing weird mundane conversations drove me insane: A2DP, 30fps video playback @ QVGA res.
- RIM has been working with many companies for video streaming over EDGE but its STILL too slow & pixelated (for me at least). A2DP is there on the 8110/20/30 models like the Curve's.
* Wanted Triband 3G because I know I'm going on vacation to London this year and EDGE on such a busy network is way to slow even for webbrowsing.
- RIM, with teh BOLD solved this & the previous 2 points spot on with a new cpu, HSDPA triband, A2DP with car BT audio, 30fps @ half VGA res & recording! My son does some hilarious things from time to time and I want to have a phone ready to record it fluidly and clearly.

[akim911]

Flip phone is confirmed from my one roomate working at rim. He told me that I could play with his Bold if I wanted to, maybe tonight. So I asked is their going to be a flipberry and he said yes we're working on one.

[Dawg]

I kinda dig this thing. I like clam shell devices. I liked my lg 8600 it was just missing the keyboard. And the PIM brom my BB