BlackBerry Pearl 9105 to feature T9 keypad?

By on Mar 31, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Rumor March 31, 2010

bb-9105

We’re not exactly sure just what’s up with RIM and the next-gen BlackBerry Pearl, but damn it, now we are dying to get to the bottom of this. We thought we knew all there was about the Pearl 9100 after we first saw it, but then came along the rumor of a version that will have a full-fledged QWERTY keypad in lieu of SureType. Today we’re hearing that there will also be a Pearl 9105 with — get this —  a T9 keypad. This information, not confirmed in any way, comes from a recently released OS build for the 9100 which also labeled for and contains files for a model 9105. Although it’s a bit fuzzy how the whole notion of this model having a T9 keypad came about (remember those old RIM patents?), the people behind BBnews.pl seem to be utterly convinced this rumor is entirely true and we’ll all get a glimpse of the T9-packing Pearl 9105 in May or June when it launches in Europe.

Thoughts?

Thanks, Dani!

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33 Comments

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  • Tdot34

    It will come with all three. That’s why we’ve have seen pictures of each keypad. They will be replaceable, giving the user a choice.

  • Chris

    Why would RIM want to make a phone that doesn’t have some sort of qwerty layout, suretype or otherwise? With the weakness of their web browser and other platforms doing the email delivery thing in a much improved fashion, why would they blend into the obscure realm of quasi smartphone, borderline feature phone?

  • Dave

    I posted the same thing on another site with the same rumor-

    “Is there anything about that image that doesn’t scream “FAKE” at the top of its lungs? The entire thing is pixelated, even moreso around the Blackberry-esque features – the screened earpiece, the BB logo, the BB button, and the keyboard.”

    Believe the point stands.

    • Chris

      Agreed. Still, photoshopped or not, RIM needs to stick to what they know. They’re still doing well, even with the success of the Android and iPhone platforms.

  • STFU

    A numeric pad on a Blackberry should be illegal.!

    • AT&T_CSR

      You mom giving birth should be illegal.

      • STFU

        I told your mother back in the 1930s it would be illegal but she still wanted it! I gave it to her and now look at you- a fucking retard.

      • AT&T_CSR

        You’re confusing my mom with that Cher cross-dresser. Has that HIV cleared up yet?

      • STFU

        It did clear up, because I gave it to your mother. So you probably have AIDS too- go get tested. And address me properly as “Dad”. Alright son?

  • Sugar Grove

    Yawn…. it works well to prop open a bathroom window at the Blackberry factory.

  • Frogger

    Looks like a Photoshopped prepaid phone.

  • bibi

    this picture comes straight from china!

  • bibi

    this picture comes straight from china’s vaginas

  • coleen

    rim is so stupid

  • FrankieFlo

    Regardless if its real or fake…what kinda idiot would even think of this….its like imagining a hot girl with a small cock….wtf who has this much free time on their hands

    • Doug

      Does the hot girl have a small cock? Are you imagining her with your small cock? Is she holding a small cock in her hands? Why would she need two hands to hold a small cock?

      Please be more specific with your remarks so I will know whether to go eww or HAWT,

  • minnieme

    that’s sexxxy!

  • Champs

    Some people have a death wish, but none more than BlackBerry. Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot.

  • Hey!

    If what Tdot says is true, then I can sort of see it (But why interchangeable? why not have different ‘light up’ keys that show a different keyboard set-up depending on what option is turned on?).

    But T9 on BB… doesn’t that defeat the main reason people buy BB?

    Does RIM think they’ll get some dumbphone-crowd type people?

    Move up, not down, RIM!

  • Ben

    I’m I the only person here that likes the idea of T9 keyboard on a blackberry?

    I would totally use one.

    • Maybe…not

      Yeah, but are you a person who’s used BB before? That’s the part you forgot to mention.

      Its obvious that RIM wants to attract new users, and implementation of T9 style is exactly what that suggests. In other words, they are aiming at the kids who are growing up who might see this as ‘My Fwirst Bwackbwerry!’ and are more used to the gobs and gobs of text they currently tap out on their cruddy T9 dumbphones.

      • Ben

        I used a blackberry Tour for a little bit less than 30 days before the trackball stopped working. and i still typed much faster on my old lg vx8360

  • Google!

    I learned on alpha numeric t-9 and moto itap. most did. hard to find that now days. my kids got mytouch-3g,s but cant text on a qwerty, my ex has this berry with the double buttons and hates it for that reason. its the entry level berry, not really meant to be a smart phone, no media required etc. serious users will buy the models up. this is for the average user and nice to see. not every phones needs to be a super phone, most average users dont need or want super phones. good job rim.

    • Maybe…not

      I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t get how QWERTY keyboard = super phone.

      PLENTY of dumbed down phones out there w/ QWERTY.

      And even then, your point could be twisted back: if the avg user don’t need a super phone, they don’t need a BB either. Get a dumbphone!!

      Which then goes back to the unspoken point everyone is trying to make: RIM is trying real hard to appeal to the ‘dumbphone crowd’, and that’s something that could potentially blow up in their face. (I’d go out on a limb and say the Pearl and Pearl flip were somewhat a failure already in this experiment).

  • Bill Murray

    Maybe BB is trying to start a new trend with the “BB Pearl Retro Edition”…

  • Ivor

    there are two variants that I know of.
    a QW ER TY UI OP variant on the US version. EU version will be a 3 buttons per key candy bar derivative. Not interchangeable (would invalidate warrantY).

  • jeesum

    looks like a nokia dumbphone

  • Dwayne

    I T H I N K T 9 i s a l o t f a s te r WAY t o T Y P E !!!!

  • Ayy

    Blackberries r lame, why does the pearl even exist

  • RAS

    There are some folks who cling to their T9 devices and simply refuse to try anything else. Although I personally find that picture heinous, is might get RIM some more customers. Sounds like they could use ‘em too.

  • chellykay

    Why would anyone buy a Blackberry that looked like a super gay candy bar phone….? laaaaame

  • Dara

    RIM seems to be looking towards different markets. Like the 92% of the mobile market that isn’t in the US.

    There are a lot of places where people learned a long time ago how to communicate with a T9 keyboard. They do it with one hand without looking.

    RIM would like to sell these people a phone, what exactly is it that people object to?

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