Alltel gets the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230

[JFB]

*Press Release*

Release Date: April 23, 2009

Alltel Wireless launches the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone

New flip phone joins Alltel’s impressive spring line-up of handsets perfect for moms, dads and grads

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – With wireless customers craving both style and functionality, Alltel Wireless announced today that the BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8230 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) will be available in retail stores and online at alltel.com beginning in early May. This stylish and compact smartphone puts customers in control of how, when and where they communicate and joins Alltel’s impressive spring line-up of phones that make perfect gifts for moms, dads and recent grads.

The clamshell design of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone allows users to discreetly screen calls and preview messages on the high-resolution external display or utilize the large internal display to respond to calls or messages, view maps and web pages, and play games. With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, the internal LCD displays videos and pictures in crisp detail and contrast.

“Alltel is committed to offering customers stylish and innovative phones, and the BlackBerry Pearl Flip gives customers the best of both worlds – a small, stylish smartphone rich in multimedia coupled with the industry’s leading mobile email and messaging capabilities,” said Angela Rittgers, director of product management for Alltel Wireless. “As Alltel expands its handset lineup and showcases hot phones for spring, we know that the BlackBerry Pearl Flip will be a favorite with customers across the 22 states that we continue to service.”

Featuring a large SureType® QWERTY keyboard, an intuitive user interface with trackball navigation, built-in GPS with BlackBerry® Maps preloaded and support for locations based applications and services, and a 2 MP camera able to record video*, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone is packed with powerful features, yet sleek enough to slip easily into a purse or pocket. It also features full HTML browsing, a rich media player with the ability to sync music from iTunes® or Windows Media Player**, an expandable memory card slot (microSD/SDHC up to 16GB) and stereo Bluetooth® support. Customers can activate the smartphone on BlackBerry® Internet Service as well as BlackBerry® Enterprise Server.

In addition to the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone, Alltel customers can choose from a wide-range of additional phones that make perfect gifts for any occasion, including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and upcoming graduations. Alltel is also offering the recently announced Motorola Evoke, great for social networking; the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330, one of the most popular smartphones available today; the BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130 smartphone, an impressive handset that combines multimedia and communications features in a compact design; the Motorola Hint QA30, a stylish, compact device with a slide-out keyboard; and the LG Rhythm™, allowing customers to bring their music with them, right on their handset.

Alltel Wireless is offering the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone for $79.99, after a $70 mail-in rebate, at Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com. This discounted price is available to new and existing eligible customers who sign-up for a two-year service agreement on a qualifying Smart Choice Pack. Smart Choice Packs start as low as $69.99 per month and include unlimited data, email and Web access. Alltel has also announced that the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone is now available for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone is free after $100 mail-in rebate.


Alltel Wireless continues to serve 2.2 million customers and operate in the 91 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) that Verizon is required to divest. Alltel Wireless continues to be an industry-leader, providing choice and flexibility with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, providing unlimited calling to and from any 5, 15, or 25 numbers on any network. Alltel Wireless was also the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time without extending their contract.

For more information on the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone, visit alltel.com or blackberry.com/blackberrypearl.

* Video recording requires a microSD card, which may be sold separately.
** Using BlackBerry® Media Sync. Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

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[Lonewolf85]

I thought the BB Flip was exclusive to T-Mobile but I guess not. I like the Flip on T-Mobile because you can also get the hotspot calling feature on it, but as far as for Alltel I'm not sure. Question is will it have a SIM card slot like the BB Storm does, or will it be locked to North American useage only. Alltel needs to bring a brand new smart phone to table, as they always seem to behind in release their version of it. (IE the Delve aka Instinct) Otherwise the divested markets won't be able to compete with the other carriers.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf85

I thought the BB Flip was exclusive to T-Mobile but I guess not. I like the Flip on T-Mobile because you can also get the hotspot calling feature on it, but as far as for Alltel I'm not sure. Question is will it have a SIM card slot like the BB Storm does, or will it be locked to North American useage only. Alltel needs to bring a brand new smart phone to table, as they always seem to behind in release their version of it. (IE the Delve aka Instinct) Otherwise the divested markets won't be able to compete with the other carriers.

The CDMA version was announced not too long ago and "divested" Alltel beat Verizon to the punch in releasing the phone, as it was announced to be coming to Verizon first.

Apparently Alltel got through the testing phase of the phone before Verizon, which is not surprising as Big Red can take forever getting some phones out in a reasonable amount of time...

[Lonewolf85]

Ahh, guess I missed that announcement. Did they say whether or not it would have a sim card slot in it? I work on military bases so having a phone from Alltel that could be used internationally would be awsome.