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T-Mobile to Offer Wi-Fi Enabled BlackBerry Pearl 8120

By James Alan Miller
April 1, 2008

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Yesterday, Verizon picked up a spanking new BlackBerry. Today, it is T-Mobile's turn. The nation's number four major carrier will soon carry RIM's latest BlackBerry Pearl mode, the 8120.

It was the release of the original Pearl, the sleekest BlackBerry ever and the first with support for memory expansion and multimedia, that lead RIM's successful entry into the consumer market.

Most significantly, the new BlackBerry is not just Wi-Fi enabled, but it uses that technology to allow users to make a receive calls through T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home service, which offers unlimited, nationwide calling over any Wi-Fi connection.

T-Mobile is the only one of the four major U.S. carriers to offers such a service. It is also the mobile operator with the largest Wi-Fi hotspot presence in this country - by a country mile.

HotSpot @Home is a dual-mode service based on Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology. This allows users to seamlessly switch voice calls and data connections between a Wi-Fi and cellular connection, depending on which is available and most cost effective at a particular moment.

For example, a user can be on a cellular-call, using the minutes from their mobile plan, but when they walk into their home or in range of a T-Mobile hotspot, the call is automatically moved over to Wi-Fi without interruption, saving those and possibly improving reception. The same would happen while streaming audio over T-Mobile's EDGE network on the data side, for instance.

The Pearl 8120 also sports and updated user interface with new font rendering technology and graphic enhancements, according to RIM. Its SureType keyboard system includes better word completion, a spelling checker and a user-customizable dictionary.

The BlackBerry® browser is also improved and features a new page view option that allows users to point and zoom in on specific areas of a Web page.

On the multimedia front, the Pearl 8120’s media player can handle full-screen video playback and its got a 2 megapixel camera with 5x zoom for both picture and video. Listen to music through wirelessly through stereo Bluetooth headsets or with a wired headset connected through the new Pearl's 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack.

A microSD/SDHC memory card slot allows you to boost memory capacity by many gigabytes. And support for high speed (10 MB/s USB) let's you transfer content quickly between a desktop and the Pearl 8120.

RIM’s latest Pearl model measures only 4.2 x 2.0 x 0.55 inches and weighs a mere 3.2 ounces.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8120, which will be available in a new titanium-colored finish from T-Mobile, is set to ship on April 14th for an as of yet undisclosed price. AT&T, which already carries this BlackBerry, offers it for $199.99 with a two-year contract and when you sign up for an unlimited data and $39.99 voice plan.



Related Links:

  • AT&T Picks Up New and Improved BlackBerry Pearl
  • T-Mobile Wi-Fi/Cell Phones Go National
  • RIM Officially Adds BlackBerry Pearl to Crown

     
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