The retailer that I have pre-order from was changing the expected date almost daily for awhile but seems at least for now they are keeping the Aug 19th date. Of course, they are getting theirs from either Rogers or ATT. There must be a lot of bucks involved in allow only one or two carriers to release the device first, otherwise RIM would be really cutting their profits since I am sure they could have released the device weeks ago. I am not sure about Rogers but ATT just released the iPhone 3g and I would assume that it is not wise business to rollout two new devices at the same time.
TORONTO (AP) — The new BlackBerry model should be coming to North America within a month now that Research In Motion Ltd. has started selling it in Germany and Chile.
The BlackBerry Bold is a high-end BlackBerry that has twice the screen resolution of current models made by RIM. The Bold, or 9000, matches the resolution, but not the size, of the screen on Apple Inc.'s iPhone, which has emerged as a potent competitor in the smart-phone category.
AT&T Inc. says it will be the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Bold, as it is for the iPhone. An AT&T spokesman declined to say Thursday when the company will release it.
But Peter Misek, an analyst with Canaccord Adams, said he expects AT&T to start selling it on Sept. 15 and Rogers Communications in Canada to release it on Aug. 18.
Some stores in Canada have already unveiled a store model and fliers.
Genuity Capital Markets analyst Deepak Chopra also expects it will be released in the United States in mid-September.
RIM has begun to roll out the BlackBerry Bold in some markets through partnerships with wireless carriers there. RIM unveiled the Bold in Chile on July 22 and in Germany on Aug. 6.
RIM had no comment about specific plans in North America.
Misek said the Bold will cost about $200 in the United States depending on the contract.
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