Check out photos of the new RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 coming to T-Mobile and AT&T.
Bonnie Cha
Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
The RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 is the successor to the BlackBerry Bold 9000. The smartphone features a sleeker design, double the Flash memory, a next-generation 624MHz processor, and upgraded 3.2-megapixel camera.
Other highlights include 3G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BlackBerry OS 5.0, and a touch-sensitive touchpad.
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AT&T and T-Mobile bound
According to RIM, the Bold 9700 would be available from carriers worldwide starting in November. Specific release dates and pricing for U.S. carriers were not announced, but RIM representatives did stop by our offices with working models and said both T-Mobile and AT&T would offer the smartphone in early November.
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Backside
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is smaller than its predecessor at 4.29 inches tall by 2.36 inches wide by 0.56 inch thick and 4.3 ounces. It's similar in shape to the BlackBerry Tour and, in fact, has the same 2.44-inch HVGA (480x360) display.
The back of the phone will have a similar leatherette texture as the Bold and, according to RIM, it will eventually offer different color backplates like it did for the original model.
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Hands-on with the Bold 9700
Here is the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in hand. RIM is hoping the smaller size and other design enhancements will appeal to both men and women, since the original Bold was a bit masculine.
