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Home / Cell phones / Business smartphones
New BlackBerry smartphone takes Verizon Wireless globalBy Philip Berne, 30 June 2009
GALLERY
RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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RIM BlackBerry Tour
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With worldwide 3G roaming, Verizon Wireless' new smartphone is set for traveling. Find out more about it here.

We'd been hearing a lot about the BlackBerry Tour over the last month, and today Verizon Wireless finally took the wraps of their version of the globetrotting BlackBerry device. In terms of style and capabilities, the Tour is strongly reminiscent of the BlackBerry Bold on AT&T or the BlackBerry Curve 8900. It's a classic BlackBerry design, with the full QWERTY keyboard beneath a roomy screen up top. On the inside, the phone will be the first full-QWERTY phone on Verizon Wireless' considerable BlackBerry lineup to use the new BlackBerry OS 4.7, so Verizon user will finally see the updated interface we'd enjoyed on other recent models.

Verizon Wireless' Tour will be available on July 12 for $200 with a 2-year contract and a mail-in rebate. Because Verizon Wireless uses a technology that isn't usually compatible with 3G networks outside of the U.S., the BlackBerry Tour will feature dual-mode radios, capable of browing Verizon's 3G EV-DO Rev. A network here in the states, or foreign 3G HSDPA networks, on the 2100 MHz band, in Europe and elsewhere. Verizon Wireless says the phone will be able to make calls in 220 countries and access e-mail and Internet in any of 175 countries where Verizon Wireless provides data roaming services.

In addition to the advanced networking, the phone will also get a 3.2-megapixel camera with geo-tagging and video recording capabilities. The camera will also use auto focus to sharpen up shots. The phone will support GPS, but Verizon Wireless' version of the BlackBerry Tour won't support Wi-Fi networking.

Verizon Wireless is currently taking pre-orders for the phone. The Tour comes as Verizon Wireless is ending its popular buy one get one offer for BlackBerry phones, though the carrier is offering that $70 rebate for BlackBerry devices across the board. This brings down the price of older BlackBerry devices, like the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition of the older Curve 8330, to only $50. Even Verizon's top-of-the-line BlackBerry Storm device will be discounted to $150, making it cheaper than the new BlackBerry Tour. We should note that the $70 rebate will come in the form of a debit card.
Best Smartphones
Name Score Price Carrier
C
Nokia N95 8GB NAM 83% $450Unlocked
Apple iPhone 3GS 83% $200AT&T
Sprint Hero 81% $180Sprint
Motorola Droid 81% $200Verizon Wireless
HTC Droid Eris 81% $100Verizon Wireless
Apple iPhone 3G 77% $100AT&T
RIM BlackBerry Tour 77% $200Verizon Wireless
HTC Touch Pro2 77% $350T-Mobile
Sprint Tour 77% $200Sprint
HTC Imagio 77% $200Verizon Wireless
HTC Tilt 2 77% $300AT&T
RIM BlackBerry Storm 2 77% $180Verizon Wireless
RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 77% $200AT&T, T-Mobile
Nokia E75 76% $380Unlocked
Nokia E71x 76% $100AT&T Wireless
Sprint Touch Pro2 76% $350Sprint
Samsung Intrepid 76% $150Sprint
Nokia N97 75% $650Unlocked
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile) 75% $200T-Mobile
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Sprint) 74% $200Sprint
T-Mobile G1 74% $180T-Mobile
Palm Pre 74% $200Sprint
Samsung Jack 74% $100AT&T
RIM BlackBerry Pearl Flip 74% $10Verizon Wireless
T-Mobile myTouch 3G 74% $200T-Mobile
Click here to see full and advanced chart »
 
 
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