BlackBerry Pearl 9100 to ditch SureType?

By on Mar 4, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Rumor March 4, 2010

qwerty-bb-9100-keypad

Hold on to your hats, BlackBerry fans, because this one’s a bit crazy. Truesupplier, a well respected online retailer of OEM and third party phone parts and accessories has published images of what it claims is a full-QWERTY keyboard for the upcoming Pearl 9100. Featuring what is best described as a shrunken down version of the Bold 9700′s keypad complete with guitar-like frets separating each row of keys, we have virtually no doubts that this keypad is indeed genuine. Having said that, we believe it’s for another device. Why? Take a look at the send, end, menu and back keys. See how they’re stacked on top of one another and extend well beyond the top of where the trackpad will sit? ? There’s no way that would ever fit into the Pearl as we know it unless everyone on the 9100 team at RIM collectively lost their minds and decided to shrink the screen. We’re just throwing this out there as nothing but a guess, but perhaps this belongs to a next-gen Pearl Flip? Regardless, we’re really intrigued by the idea of using a full-QWERTY keypad in such a tight space. But level with us, readers. Is this a viable solution, or should RIM just keep going with the SureType keypad no matter what its detractors say?

UPDATE: Kevin at CrackBerry has heard that the BlackBerry Pearl 9100 will be offered in two versions: a SureType and QWERTY device.

[Via CIO]

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  • rederikus

    SureType was a heroic effort but I quickly found that I preferred multi-tap.

    I still own an 8100 and keep it as a backup. I love the fact that the OS is pretty constant across Blackberry devices and I love the stability of all BlackBerrys even though I don’t have some of the whizzy bits that newer and simpler OSs have.

  • Mog

    SureType is nice for people who are new to smartphones because it keeps the number keys in the familiar dialpad arrangement. It also allows the phone to be narrower and more like a traditional bar phone. I think RIM should keep on making phones for the “transitional” crowd. Other consumers want QWERTY? That’s what the Curve is for.

    A 3G Pearl would be killer this holiday for, say, $199 unlocked. It could happen, just look at the $179 Nuron.

  • Jake

    Have a feeling this is the keypad for the BB Slider we’ve been seeing.. makes sense.

    • Bob

      It makes more sense than them trying to cram a qwerty keyboard into a pearl thats for sure.

  • Hobbes

    I work for major telecom and have seen the 9100 with my own eyes (hell, I’ve held it in my hands). I can tell you for a fact that the pearless Pearl 9100 will in fact use the SureType.

    I wasn’t able to play with it for long but WiFi, BT, GPS and 3G were all present.

  • baFfLe

    SureType is for noobs? I doubt it. I’ve seen countless people scorn the Pearl because they can’t get the hang of SureType. I, on the other hand, think it’s great. I type very quickly because the keys are so large yet close together. I can also easily and rapidly type with one hand which is a real plus. It’s good for people with larger fingers as well because the keys are much larger than QWERTYs. I’ve been sold on the keyboard of the Pearl, it’s the size of the screen that’s getting old…

  • Kyle

    I wish they would offer suretype Bold. The BB keys are too tiny to be really useful, unless you have tic tacs for fingers…..

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