You might say that Verizon's brand new
BlackBerry Tour 9630...
ahem, took a "tour" through our offices this morning, gracing us with its QWERTY-having, global-roaming,
8830-killing presence. There's absolutely no question it's the best-looking CDMA BlackBerry to date and we also think you'll be able to stop
Bold owners in their tracks as you flash this thing around town; we'd argue that the
Curve 8900 is still a cuter handset when you take the company's lineup as a whole, but then again, the 8900 lacks 3G, and the Tour's keyboard might just be the best RIM's ever crafted for a phone. Bottom line, owners of any BlackBerry on Verizon or Sprint should be salivating at the sight of this thing -- and if they're not, honestly, they need their salivary glands checked. Stay tuned for our full review, but in the meantime, enjoy an unboxing and a few quick shots of the Tour taking its first breaths!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Citizen @ Jul 1st 2009 12:23PM
I cannot wait! This has been the phone I have been looking for. What a beautiful design. Congratulations Verizon and RIM!
Tyler @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:30AM
What is so great about this phone, what is so great. It dosent look extermernly great, the iphone and pre look alot better, it has a tiny screen thats not a touchscreen. The blackberry web browser sucks, its multimedia intergration isint great, and Ive never heard of a bb that can play a decent game. The only thing that is good about it is the keybord. I wouldent even call this peace of crap a smartphone.
Elliot @ Jul 1st 2009 12:36PM
The jerks at VZW are not allowing current VZW customers to pre-order the Tour for an upgrade.
Us loyal customers have to wait until AFTER the Tour is released.
Thanks for all the thoughtlessness VZW!
Galen20K @ Jul 1st 2009 12:44PM
I agree they should have let you guys Pre-Order seeing as its Highly Anticipated.
da5nake @ Jul 1st 2009 12:29PM
I really can't wait for Sprint to have it... why couldn't both come out at the same time :( nonetheless, that phone will be in my possession :D
carsly @ Jul 1st 2009 12:39PM
Can you add pics to the gallery to show it next to a Bold and Curve 8900?
Joe @ Jul 1st 2009 8:06PM
The Sprint one goes on sale July 12th...same day as Verizon
Galen20K @ Jul 1st 2009 12:43PM
Looks very Nice! I hope the T-Mobile 3G Blackberry Driftwood looks as Nice when it comes out this fall.
ckeegan @ Jul 1st 2009 12:47PM
Save yourselves $150 and buy the Ozone. Virtually identical specs, and an OS that's not locked down. Unless of course you have to have something that says Blackberry on it. If not, why would anyone buy the Tu-Tu-Tour? I'm so sick of the "tu-tu" thing. It's almost as bad as "fail".
From My Cube @ Jul 1st 2009 12:52PM
stupid troll is stupid
There is a reason people are addicted to their blackberrys and not some shitty want to be blackberry phone. RIM has nailed down this form factor and its OS (non storm) is rock solid. Go back to your bridge and hang yourself from it
kthxbi
ckeegan @ Jul 1st 2009 1:10PM
Your reply doesn't change the fact that there's an almost identical device on the market for 75% less. BlackBerry has nailed down there OS, to the point where it is virtually impossible to customize in any way. Form factor wise, there are a ton of options with the same form factor. RIM may have done it first, but that's meaningless now.
I'm not a troll, just stating opinion. Just like every idiot that said "Tu-Tu-Tour" on practically every comment string for the past 3 months.
Your dad @ Jul 1st 2009 4:23PM
Well the Bold OS and the Curve 8900 OS were not rock solid. What makes you think this one will be?
Croooow @ Jul 1st 2009 7:21PM
It has Windows Mobile? No thanks. Not worth the $150 savings!
Dan @ Jul 1st 2009 12:51PM
From @sprint: BlackBerry Tour available July 12 via online and telesales! $199 for upgrade eligible customers, incl Instant+MIR. http://bit.ly/bUlaO
TrueEddie @ Jul 1st 2009 12:54PM
Is it me or do pretty much all BlackBerry's look the same? With the exception of the Pearl, I can never tell them apart.
Nimrod @ Jul 1st 2009 1:06PM
Exactly. Aside from the Storm, all of their phones have looked the exact same for the past few years. How this is any different from the iPhone that has had the same looks in the last 3 years beats me. Its not visually pleasing to have 6+ models that look the exact same.
TrueEddie @ Jul 1st 2009 2:02PM
Oh yeah, forgot about the storm also.
Wobbly @ Jul 1st 2009 2:27PM
I agree, I don't think it looks much different from a BB 8800 even. I don't see why the Tour has all this hype?
E @ Jul 1st 2009 2:41PM
Thank you...I thought it was just me
pumkineater @ Jul 1st 2009 12:59PM
I am currently using a Samsung SCH-i760 which I like alot and I am due for an upgrade July 24th. Trying to decide if I should join the Blackberry world or wait for the Omnia II to come out(no release date yet). My husband and I do run an internet business and use outlook for emails, but have never owned a Blackberry. I text alot and also send alot of pics to family currently. My Samsung takes horrible pics! So do we jump on the tour when it comes out or wait for the Omnia to compare?
share your view with me over http://www.blackberry-tour.com/index.php?topic=135.msg424#msg424
Cy @ Jul 1st 2009 1:31PM
Anyone know if Verizon is locking the GPS on the Tour? I'm definitely jumping ship for an iPhone if they keep blocking out core features of their smartphones!
elgee02 @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:50AM
Well seeing as though they didn't lock the GPS on the Storm... they aren't going to lock it on this one either.
brenden @ Jul 1st 2009 1:10PM
I was excited a while back, then I got an iPhone 3GS. Problem solved
Galen20K @ Jul 1st 2009 1:24PM
Ugghhh Yuck. Broken Solution at Best. iFail
PD4 @ Jul 1st 2009 1:12PM
I think if RIM wants to jump in the consumer market, they have to think of new form factors. I have to agree, the form factor is TIRED! I mean come on, The Pearl was different and sold very well. The Pearl Kickflip was a good idea but eh nice try back to the drawing board!
Now if they made a BB with a slide out keyboard would be nice attraction to the non business consumer IMHO. Maybe the Storm2 will be improved and more for the non business user.
Daniel @ Jul 1st 2009 3:05PM
Are you forgetting Blackberry has 2... not 1 but 2 models outselling the iphone. Blackberry has the number 1,2 and 5 spots with his lineup. Black berry has more consumer sales than iphone, Android, and Palm put together right now. I don't think they are too worried about changing form factor because the 1 they have is outselling everything else.
DanielMyBrother @ Jul 1st 2009 4:26PM
Daniel. you should get your facts straight before you post. Rim, for one quarter, outsold the iPhone because of their 2 for one sale. Verizon and RIM have publicly stated this is why they had the sales bump. Which they only attained by giving a phone away.
Oh and while you were out, the year 2000 called. They want their phone OS back.
If you think RIM is not very concerned by the iPhone, the need to rewrite the BB OS, and the need for a real SDK then you just aren't paying attention.
PD4 @ Jul 1st 2009 10:38PM
First the BOGO offers helps RIM greatly. Complacency is not good for RIM. They can change the color of the keyboard, and trackball. Even give an optical trackball for some models but that may not be enough. I do agree the same old OS is dull. Look at HTC's Sense UI, Palm Pre WebOS. I would not doubt that Jobs and Apple are not working on topping WebOS and Sense UI. RIM need to get all the ball. If no designer has an answer, hire ones that do. Get people who push the envelope.
Josh @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:11PM
The BlackBerry SDK is just fine. Unfortunately everything is in Java so it's far too difficult to develop for. Oh wait. Java is a breeze!
http://www.mobilitea.com/blog/
Alex @ Jul 1st 2009 1:19PM
So would this be considered the Tour tour?
TedP @ Jul 1st 2009 1:47PM
where's the contacts for the desktop cradle charger???
Wirefly @ Jul 1st 2009 2:33PM
For those who haven't seen the Tour unboxing on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMSvsUEruXY
James villan @ Jul 1st 2009 3:30PM
OMG! i cnt wait for this phone to hit my store! love the desing and finally has a 3meg cam!!!! nice! by the way it actually comes with a case lol
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YourMom @ Jul 1st 2009 4:22PM
I would be hard pressed to think of any device more boring than yet another Blackberry.
iroq321 @ Jul 1st 2009 6:59PM
yet you still wasted your time clicking on the read more link, scrolling through a few other comments, inputing your email address and password, and typed in this completely useless comment.
tell me, what's more boring, this blackberry or your life?
dudznyc @ Jul 1st 2009 4:24PM
In my opinion....I think Sprint's version of this Tour looks better to the eyes.
the lighter chrome finish on the edges/sides compliments the glossy black finish,
and gives it a more modern Blackberry feel/look to it.
though hands down I do believe both VZW and Sprint are stepping their phone game up. (Espcially now with Blackberries since CDMA carriers aren't very lucky on getting Blackberries.)
gowen @ Jul 1st 2009 5:12PM
does anyone know how hard it would be to unlock this thing and run with - for instance - an orange SIM when in the UK and CDMA when in the USA ?
KeegdnaB @ Jul 1st 2009 5:23PM
as hard as it is to call CS and say "hey, I'm traveling overseas and would like to unlock my Tour"
Observer @ Jul 1st 2009 5:31PM
I am not salivating over this phone. Talk to me when they have a modern OS.
richard1968s @ Jul 1st 2009 5:31PM
@ted p- The charging contacts are on each side of the battery cover latch.
And yup this Blackberry looks like most of the others. All iPhones look alike too. Both designs have been copied over and over because they are popular. The Blackberry form factor also has the advantage of being functional.
I don't understand the comments about the Blackberry being and old tired form factor when it is still so popular that other manufacturers feel they need to copy the form factor to meet the needs of their customers. If it was truly a tired old form factor that is losing popularity wouldn't you see everyone jumping ship and making something else?
Bonqueesha @ Jul 1st 2009 7:19PM
That phone is gorgeous, hands down.
iroq321 @ Jul 1st 2009 7:26PM
this be-otch can't come soon enough!
so slick. i want it...like, now.
Maroot @ Jul 1st 2009 10:10PM
Uhh...I just got back from the Doctor's Office and a visit to Fry's Electronics.....
The Doc told me I was suffering from a berry common syndrome.
Said he's seen an outbreak of uncontrollable salivating recently.
Anyway he checked my salivary glands and said they were "engorged and excited" and should go away by July 12th.
Nothing serious. Doc said I was gonna be OK. He prescribed some NoDoze and Red Bull until July 12th.
I thanked him and went to Fry's to get a replacement keyboard.
My old one shorted out from all the saliva.
Can't wait till the 12th
Yeeha!!!!!
James D @ Jul 2nd 2009 6:24AM
Okay, I don't mean this as a flame, I'm genuinely curious:
What is it about the Tour that has people so excited?
I know people are terribly excited, but I haven't seen any concrete reasons why. It's usually just some form of salivating/eagerness in comments without any meat behind them.
Are the specs impressive? I've not seen them listed anywhere save for the 3 megapixel camera, and that's not terribly exciting in 2009. Is it the looks that have people drooling? It is a handsome Blackberry, but it's not drastically different from other handsets of theirs.
What is it that I'm missing, and why should I want this more than the Bold on AT&T? (aside from, of course, complaints about AT&T's network)