Verizon's BlackBerry Pearl 8130 now available for pre-order

by Paul Miller posted Nov 1st 2007 at 10:27AM

We've had plenty of face time with this little guy already, but Verizon Wireless has finally fessed up to a precise release date and price point for its EV-DO BlackBerry Pearl 8130. The phone is available for pre-order at $200 with a 2 year contract and an automatic $100 online discount, and will ship out on November 8th. Let's see if that's good enough to beat Sprint's version to market.

Filed under: Handsets, RIM, Verizon Wireless, EV-DO, CDMA

Tags: 8130, blackberry pearl 8130, BlackberryPearl8130, ev-do, pearl, per-order, verizon

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

gareth @ Nov 1st 2007 11:13AM

Id be interested to see how much Verizon has changed the OS. (Ive never examined a blackberry product on the Verizon line, do they change it at all?). I'm not a big fan of the default OS for VZ phones.

$100 seems like a good price though.

Neutral

JackTwist @ Nov 1st 2007 12:01PM

They usually don't put in their eye bleeding nasty Red UI on PDAs, at least not on the older treo like the 650 I had, and I don't remember seeing it on the Blackberries, but I'm hoping they didn't cripple the GPS on this and force you to buy the Verizon GPS. They probably did disable GPS on this device knowing Big Red.

Neutral

souvlaki @ Nov 1st 2007 12:03PM

where did you see $100? i see $200 and then a $50 mail in to make it $150.

also, it comes with VZ navigator preloaded, so now that the GPS will be enabled, i'm sure there will be a way to get 3rd party apps to work with it.

Neutral

gareth @ Nov 1st 2007 12:32PM

My bad I misunderstood the online discount, (I applied it to the $200). I stand corrected.

Neutral

Aron P. Goldman @ Nov 1st 2007 1:01PM

Hasn't VZ had EVDO blackberries for almost 2 years now? What are we gaining? Can you surf the web any faster or better?

Neutral

Jason @ Nov 1st 2007 12:11PM

Does this have wifi..and if not hows the browser when you pay for the internet monthly?

Neutral

Tejash @ Nov 1st 2007 1:44PM

any word if we will be able to get this without the blackberry data package?

Neutral

gareth @ Nov 1st 2007 2:36PM

Odd you should ask that, but i was talking to a Verizon Rep who told me, unlike other smartphone equip in the Verizon lineup, Blackberry products require a data plan- be it a alotment of data a month or a pay as you go plan. You MUST have a data plan.

Seems odd to me, unless all carriers have the same deal with blackberry...

Neutral

Tejash @ Nov 1st 2007 2:41PM

i asked an in store rep and she said it doesnt require a data package. however, i put no faith in the verizon in store sales reps. The preorder requires you to chose a blackberry plan. I hope there is a way around this.

Neutral

gareth @ Nov 1st 2007 3:08PM

To be honest, I really don't trust the reps in the store. I would call VZ and ask directly, thats what I did.

Neutral

SomeGuy @ Nov 1st 2007 6:22PM

A little clarification if I could. Blackberries do NOT...repeat...DO NOT have a pay-as-you-go data plan with Verizon Wireless. You can have 10MB or Unlimited only. However, there is a new plan for the Pearl...oh..and check on the website say...on the 3rd...for a surprise.

Neutral

chicooo23 @ Nov 1st 2007 2:58PM

Research In Motion the company who makes the Blackberrys have it with every Carrier that they need a data package to activate one of their phones in a network. Atleast thats what I was told with a few friends who have blackberrys with at&t so Ive herd it before and form what I know its not a carrier option but a requirement to selling the product RIM has with its carriers. If RIM found out phones in any carrier didnt have data packages they can sue the carrier. So if you have a blackberry with no data package and you call Customer service and they see your not billing for it. hope the rep doesn't notice otherwise they have every right to put a data package in there.

Neutral

zombiefightsshark @ Nov 1st 2007 3:22PM

Anyone know how Sprint's Pearl pricing plan will work? I spoke to a customer service agent who told me that you'll be required to buy a BB plan... $39.99/mo minimum... on top of the voice plan. Anyone heard otherwise? It seems strange to push a consumer phone through a business phone's pricing model.

Neutral

nesquik @ Nov 1st 2007 8:02PM

The Sprint BB Pearl will be a penny shy of $200 w/ a 2 year agreement after a mail in rebate. And the BB plan for the Pearl is $29.99/mo, not $39.99/mo. Whoever told you that needs to get their facts straight.

Neutral

Jason @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:24AM

This phone is now shipping. I placed an order yesterday morning during the preorder, and it should be here by this evening :-)

Also, this model has real GPS but no WiFi. It has an updated browser that adds some Opera Mini-like functionality.

Neutral

frank @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:13PM

To answer Gareth's question above, Verizon hasn't actually redone the OS on any Blackberry that I'm aware of. We've had the 8703 and now the 8830 at work and, in both cases, all they do is add a theme, albeit a heinous one. The default "Zen" theme with the open road/blue sky background is still there if you want to activate or you can download others. Once you do, it looks the same as any other carrier. On the 8830 they manage to cripple the GPS without touching anything else.

Neutral

trooth @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:15PM

The issue with Blackberries is that they will constantly try and connect with RIM's servers. Even if you choose to block your data plan it will attempt to communicate with RIM. Blackberries are the only devices that blocking the data is not an option. You can choose Pay as you go access, however the device will generate data traffic regaurdless if you surf the internet or set up email. For people that have an issue with this, Blackberrys are not for you, that is how they work and RIM isn't going to change it.

Neutral

Cubro @ Nov 3rd 2007 11:19AM

As of this morning the Verizon web site has updated the status of the Pearl as on sale now and in stores on the 8th.

Neutral

Tiamegs @ Nov 13th 2007 11:25PM

Verizon says that the Blackberry Pearl will be in the Verizon stores on the 8th. I have read in some other places that you can get it in stores now. They also stated that you could "Pre-order" them on their website and they will be shipped on the 8th, but people have reported they have already shipped, and have been given a tracking number. Does anyone know the real story?? I have been waiting for this phone to come out and I don't want to go to the store on the 8th only to find out they are sold out because they began selling them on the 4th. Is Verizon doing this on purpose? Or is it just some bad information out there?

Neutral

Gib @ Nov 6th 2007 9:27PM

I preordered mine sunday and its already in route, should be here tommorrow. I have talked to some people already having recieved and using the pearl. Looks like during the preorder time, when you placed the order they automatically shipped it out. A little confusing...

Neutral

Bachlogic @ Nov 7th 2007 4:37PM

I just came from the Verizon Store. My rep had the new Pearl in the back. Was happy to go and unbox it and fire it up for me. (That�s what salespeople do) I didn�t think that I would like the silver but I do. It is another Pearl but on the VZ network this puppy should fly. It is $29.99 for BIS and $44.99 for BES. Text messaging is still separate. $10 for the VZ Navigator which would be worth it. I however, like driving around aimlessly lost and not asking for directions so I probably will not turn the service on for now. I am currently with Sprint for another 83 days (but who�s counting) and then I am out of there. I drop so many calls a day it is not even funny. I also get VM notifications when the phone is in my hand with 4-5 bars. Sprint NEVER wants to admit there is a problem.

The size of the Pearl is perfect and the sure type is fine when you get use to it.

Neutral

Carole @ Nov 9th 2007 11:56AM

I want to buy the VZ Pearl but I need it to work when I go to Europe. VZ online rep says this is not possible, but store says it is when you purchase the "Global Plan". Very Confusing. Also has anyone heard about the possibility of getting the unlock codes and unlocking the VZ version of the Pearl. If so who does this?