Some people will tell you that Sprint and Verizon have the best BlackBerry service. We know quite a few of those people ourselves. The reason: faster data connections, especially with Verizon, thanks to their EV-DO Rev. A update. The problem, though, is that if you were a fan of the slimmer BlackBerry Pearl, you were out of luck with any CDMA network; the phone to this point has only been available through GSM providers AT&T and T-Mobile. That will all change in November, though, as RIM will introduce the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 for Verizon and Sprint.
“With its unique blend of functionality and design, the BlackBerry Pearl smartphone has been turning heads and winning praise from business users and consumers alike,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “The new BlackBerry Pearl 8130 builds on all the great features and aesthetic design that people love about the BlackBerry Pearl and offers an exceptional new choice for CDMA customers that are looking to upgrade their mobile phone.”
There are plenty of reasons to like the Pearl. It’s small, weighing just 3.38 oz. and measuring 4.2 inches high by 1.97 wide by .55 deep. It’s like one of those old Nokia candy bars you had back in the day — except a ton more functional.
The coolest improvement we saw was the “Page View” option in the BlackBerry browser. With it, you can view full web pages, using the magnifying glass to zoom in on areas of interest.
Other features include a 2 MP camera, full multimedia player, BlueTooth capability, and GPS. There is no word yet on pricing. *Update: the Verizon Pearl is now on sale.
