BlackBerry Pearl 9100 Expected to (Finally) Launch on AT&T October 3

It’s unclear what took so long, but Research In Motion’s (RIM) latest consumer-oriented BlackBerry “Pearl” smartphone, the Pearl 9100, a.k.a., the Pearl 3G, is about to become available through U.S. wireless carrier AT&T, according to a report on Engadget.com.

The BlackBerry Pearl 9100 is expected to launch on or around October 3, just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

The Pearl 9100, the third version of RIM’s popular BlackBerry Pearl device behind the original Pearl 81xx and the Pearl Flip 82xx, was announced way back in April at RIM’s annual Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES). At the time, RIM told media representatives that the Pearl 9100 would become available in the United States in May, but that never happened; the device is strangely currently only available through one, small U.S. carrier, Cincinnati Bell.

In July, I told you the Pearl 9100 would be coming to AT&T sooner or later—I found an AT&T branded Pearl 9100 part as proof–and if this most recent rumor proves to be solid, AT&T should get the BlackBerry 9100 out the door within the next few weeks. The AT&T device should also come in at least two colors: black; and a two-tone red and black.

Read more about the Pearl 9100, and check out some pictures and accessories, here. Then take a look at the Pearl 9100’s sibling with a traditional “T9” keypad, the BlackBerry Pearl 9105.

You can also jump on over to RIM’s website for official details.

AS

Via Engadget

Al Sacco covers Mobile and Wireless for CIO.com. Follow Al on Twitter @ASacco. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline. Email Al at ASacco@CIO.com.