BlackBerry Bold In Stores Nov. 4, For Real This Time

BlackBerry Bold 9000 smart phone

The official release date comes after a great deal of speculation around when the high-end mobile device would actually hit the streets. The Bold, which is already up and running in several other countries, hit snags in the U.S. as BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd. and AT&T hammered out software issues to ensure the Bold operated properly on AT&T's 3G network. The Bold went back for additional testing to ensure the device wouldn't hit the same 3G hang-ups as the Apple iPhone 3G when it was released in July.

The Bold marks the first 3G BlackBerry and also supports HSDPA networks globally.

According to a statement from RIM, the BlackBerry Bold will start at $299.99 and is exclusive to AT&T.

The Bold takes high-end smart phones to a new level, featuring a lustrous black exterior, satin chrome-finished frame and a leatherette back plate. The Bold offers a half-VGA color display, 480 x 320 at 217 ppi, and a full QWERTY keypad for typing. It also offers built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, a 624 MHz mobile processor and 1 GB of onboard storage with up to 16 GB available via microSD/SDHC expansion. Additionally, the Bold offers a host of rich multimedia capabilities including a media player for music, video and photos; a 2 megapixel camera with built-in flash, zoom and video recording; and an optimized Web browser.

In a statement, RIM co-CEO and president Mike Lazaridis noted that the delays that plagued the Bold were to ensure it would operate as promised.

"The development of the BlackBerry Bold smart phone was an ambitious undertaking, and we focused intensely on the things that are most important to mobile customers when developing this best-in-class smart phone for HSDPA networks around the world," he said.

Announced in May, the Bold took the smart phone world by storm. Originally, it was expected to be available in the summer, but hit its first round of delays in June. Continuing delays made it one of the most sought after devices in BlackBerry's 10-year history.

While the Bold was delayed, BlackBerry also announced a string of other devices, including the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 for T-Mobile and the BlackBerry Storm for Verizon Wireless, its first ever touch screen device which pits BlackBerry head to head with other touch screen titans like the just released T-Mobile G1 and the Apple iPhone 3G. Some saw the new devices as a slick diversion to appease users while they awaited the Bold's release.

Along with offering typical BlackBerry applications like voice, email, messaging, organizer and browser, the Bold's ties with AT&T enable it to offer a host of other services including simultaneous voice and data capabilities, AT&T Navigator Global Addition, seamless Wi-Fi, cellular video and AT&T mobile music services.

Additional features include Bluetooth 2.0 support, BlackBerry Desktop Manager, voice activated dialing, speaker independent voice recognition and a host of other functions.

AT&T's 3G network is available in more than 320 major metropolitan areas in the U.S., a number that AT&T expects to grow to 350 by year's end. For users not in 3G-covered areas, the Bold will work on AT&T's EDGE network, which covers more than 13,000 cities and towns.