New BlackBerry Boasts Old-School Looks, New-School Functionality

Fans of the BlackBerry will be pleased to hear that a brand-new flip version of the popular device is now available. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 is Waterloo, Canada-based Research in Motion's (RIM) first foray into the flip sector of the cellphone market.

RIM first announced the Flip 8220 in September, but failed to release any conclusive details about its ultimate release date. In fact, the company only ball-parked a late fall launch; thankfully for the many BlackBerry fans anticipating the device's release it appears to be ahead of schedule and should be available in stores today.

Like its predecessors in the non-Flip sector, the BlackBerry 8220 features a very sleek design, including a chrome inlay and the traditional and much-beloved QWERTY keyboard. There's also a microSD/SDHC memory card slot and a 2.0 megapixel camera.

The list of features is certainly a long one. The device, which weighs just under four ounces, and measuring 3.9" x 1.9" x 0.7" will feature superb, detailed resolutions, a display that adjusts based on the light around it, and both an external and internal LCD. The former will display incoming emails, texts, and calls, while the latter showcases messages, Internet sites, and video. (Source: digitalhome.ca)

The device, as you might expect, is also primed for mobility. The 8220 Flip features speakerphone, Bluetooth 2.0, hands-free headsets, car accessories, and what RIM is calling top-of-the-line Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) and Voice Activated Dialing (VAD) systems.

So, what's the big deal?

Well, though the Flip 8220 resembles the traditional (even boring) run-of-the-mill cellphone, it integrates the rare and very popular QWERTY keyboard for much less money than other versions of the BlackBerry. Fans of the series who haven't yet had the funds to back such an investment will be pleasantly pleased by the phone's affordability and functionality. (Source: hereshow.ca)

Finally, those requiring a bit more personality in their phones, listen up: a pink version should be released in the coming weeks.