blackberry

Telus subscribers can now order the BlackBerry Storm 9530 from the carrier for $249.99 with a 3-year contract. If this option doesn't suit you, you can opt for $449.99 on a 2-year contract, $549.99 on a 1-year contract or $599.99 to buy the unlocked phone.
Not the best deal indeed.

The waiting was unbearable for some, but now it's finally here: the BlackBerry Curve 8900 is now available from Rogers Wireless. The phone will cost $179.99 on a 3-year agreement with a minimum monthly rate plan of $45.

Key features include:

• 2.4" 480 x 360 display;
• 512MHz processor;
• Quad-band EDGE;
• Wi-Fi;
• 3.2Mpix

According to users at Howard Forums, it appears that Verizon customers owning a BlackBery Pearl 8130 or Curve 8330 can unlock the GPS function on their handsets by upgrading their firmware to version 4.5.0.97. Unfortunately, it looks like BlackBerry Maps is the only application that's able to utilize the internal GPS, Google Maps don't work.

Because the OS version isn't officially supported by Verizon, it might be an intentional concession, or if it was a mistake.

Just briefly: Bell subscribers waiting for the BlackBerry Storm will have to wait longer than intended, as the release was delayed until after Christmas...

How do you like that? What a base trick in time for holidays...

Vodafone Germany has released an new official OS 4.8.0.78 update for the BlackBerry Storm 9500. It includes a number of improvements, including the improved accelerometer, touchscreen accuracy, and more.

Reports from users who have already updated their handsets are mostly positive. Just don't forget to backup your data before applying the update.

The so-last-year BlackBerry Curve 8330 is now available to Virgin Mobile Canada users. We'll I guess it's better late than never, but just looks at those ridiculous prices:

• $50 with a 3-year contract;
• $330 with 2-year contract;
• $380 for a 1-year contract

Will you by one?

It looks like Rogers subscribers in Canada now have another cool BlackBerry to choose from, and just in time for Christmas. We're talking about the BlackBerry 8900, previously known as Javelin. The expected price is $179.99 on a 3-year contract. The handset is also available in Germany from T-Mobile, but it doesn't seem it will appear in the U.S.

Good news for Telus subscribers: the BlackBerry Storm 9530 is now available for pre-order through FutureShop. The device costs $649.99 with a limit of 1 unit per household, and will be officially released on December 18th.

There are reports stating that T-Mobile Germany has started selling the BlackBerry Curve 8900 in the land of Bavaria. This is nice and all, but it doesn't do us any good, as Germans use a QWERTZ keyboard layout, which is irritating. North Americans will have to wait a few more weeks before the handset if released on the other side of the Atlantic. Stay tuned.

[Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 8900 Now Available in Bavaria]

Check this out: apparently, Best Buy is offering the Pearl 8220 for free on a 2-year contract. No additional terms were specified, you see the same picture as we do, and it doesn't provide any more details. This photo was snapped  in the San Francisco Bay Area, so maybe it's a regional promotion... But a short check of your local Best Buy location won't hurt, would it?