AT&T*, the choice for twice as many smartphone customers than any other carrier and the first U.S. carrier to offer BlackBerry® service, announced today that the BlackBerry® Bold(TM) 9700 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) will be available for AT&T consumer and business customers in the coming weeks. The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 builds on the success of the original Bold model, introduced nearly one year ago, also on AT&T’s nation’s fastest 3G network. AT&T is the only U.S. carrier to offer the original BlackBerry Bold and will be among the first to offer the new BlackBerry Bold 9700. Customers can learn more about the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 by visiting www.att.com/BlackBerryBold9700.
The device is a beautiful combination of black and chrome accents that house a brilliant high-resolution display in a compact and lightweight package. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 features a 624 MHz processor with 256 MB of Flash memory, 3.2 megapixel camera and A-GPS to provide a faster location fix in support of AT&T Navigator with real-time traffic data. The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone also features an innovative touch-sensitive trackpad instead of the previous trackball for quick and easy access to email, messages, apps and more. It will also come preloaded with AT&T Visual Voicemail at no extra cost.
AT&T users of the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 can enjoy other benefits only available to them including the best coverage worldwide and access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network with more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots — including approximately 7,000 Starbucks locations. As with all other Wi-Fi enabled BlackBerry smartphones from AT&T, BlackBerry Bold 9700 users with a qualifying data plan, which includes all consumer BlackBerry unlimited data plans, get seamless and unlimited access to these domestic hotspots at no additional cost. When traveling outside the U.S., BlackBerry Bold 9700 users can enjoy wireless voice coverage in more than 215 countries and wireless data coverage in more than 185 countries. Of those, BlackBerry Bold 9700 users can access ultra-fast 3G mobile broadband services in more than 100 countries.
"AT&T was the first choice for BlackBerry in the U.S. and we remain the best," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "When you combine the BlackBerry Bold 9700 with the nation’s fastest 3G network, access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network and best coverage worldwide, it adds up to an unparalleled customer experience. We are proud AT&T is ranked number one in customer satisfaction among smartphone owners."
Mobile users will enjoy outstanding battery life, simultaneous voice and data capabilities and the ability to run multiple email accounts whether they are corporate or personal accounts. The device also affords power users the ability to edit Microsoft® Word, Excel® and PowerPoint® files and runs BlackBerry OS v5.0, which supports BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0, making it possible for users to add follow-up flags to emails, manage Microsoft® Exchange mail folders, forward appointments and view calendar attachments. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 can also be used as a 3G modem for a laptop computer with an additional data plan.
"The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 delivers state-of-the-art features and performance in a compact and beautifully designed handset," said Don Morrison, Chief Operating Officer at Research In Motion. "This sleek and powerful 3G smartphone offers an incredibly refined mobile experience that is ideal for both personal and professional use."
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone will be available in the coming weeks for $199.99 (pay $299.99 and receive $100 mail-in-rebate.) AT&T smartphones require the purchase of a monthly data plan. Other monthly charges apply. **
For more information, visit www.att.com/BlackBerryBold9700. For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com
For more information and detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.