RIM enters the clamshell arena

10 September 2008

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 smartphone marks a change in form factor

Having long been associated with the candybar design, RIM has announced that its new BlackBerry Pearl Flip is a clamshell. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 still maintains all that we have come to love about BlackBerry Pearl devices, including a SureType QWERTY keyboard and the manufacturer's iconic trackball. Yet due to its design it also sports two high-resolution, light-sensing colour displays. Users will be able to preview emails, text messages and phone calls as they arrive on the external LCD screen, before reading them in full on the internal screen.

Despite boasting Wi-Fi, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip relies on EDGE data speeds to access the internet which is a shame, especially after the recently launched BlackBerry Bold featured HSDPA. However, the device still offers some key features including the ability to access up to 10 supported personal and work email accounts and the DataViz Documents to Go software suite that enables users to edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files from the phone.

Availability and price details are yet to be confirmed though RIM has announced that the BlackBerry Pearl Flip will at first be exclusive at T-Mobile in the US.