Basking Ridge,
N.J. – Verizon Wireless will offer its first global phone that can be used as a
wireless modem when it launches its BlackBerry Bold 9650 at $149 after $100
mail-in rebate.
The smartphone, which operates in
3G mode in more than 200 countries, will be available June 3 for online
ordering at
and will turn up in the carrier’s stores June 10. It is also available to
indirect retailers to sell.
The device operates in 3G mode in
EV-DO Rev. A networks in North America as well as in 2.1GHz HSPA networks abroad.
It also operates in quadband EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad.
Features include Wi-Fi 802.11
b/g, optical trackpad, push-to-tak (PTT), Verizon navigation service in more
than 20 countries, 2.45-inch display,
3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder with flash, Bluetooth stereo, BlackBerry Media
Sync software to sync music and photos, 512MB flash memory, included 2GB
MicroSD card, and MicroSDHC slot supporting 16GB cards.
The 9650 also offers access to
Facebook, MySpace and Flickr as well as instant-messaging services, including
BlackBerry Messenger.
A non-camera version of the phone
will also be available for order online beginning June 3.
To use the phone as a 3G laptop
modem, consumers must get a GlobalAccess Connect plan. A $65 per month option
features a 5GB allowance in the U.S. and Canada (with 5 cents per MB overage)
and 100MB allowance in select countries (with $5.12 per MB overage).
