Cingular to Sell BlackBerry Pearl Starting Friday

Posted 30 November 2006 @ 01:42 pm EET     Print     Reprint     E-Mail     Comments

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Cingular Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile phone service carrier, said on Wednesday it will start selling Research in Motion's new BlackBerry "Pearl" handheld device on Friday as both companies seek to boost sales during the holiday season.

The Pearl, the latest version of the BlackBerry handheld device used by thousands of corporate customers, has a digital camera and expanded capabilities for handling videos and photos. It is slimmer and lighter than its predecessors.

Research in Motion, based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, competes with Palm Inc. of Sunnyvale, California, in the growing market for gadgets that combine cell phones, e-mail, Internet access and cameras for busy corporate customers.

Cingular will sell the Pearl starting at $199.99, after rebates, with a two-year subscription at some Cingular retail stores, on its Web site and through its corporate sales unit beginning on Friday, the company said in a statement. The phone will be available in most of its stores by December 4, Cingular said.