BlackBerry Bold to Arrive on Election Day

On November 4th, some Americans will be able to get election results on their brand new BlackBerry Bolds. RIM announced today that it would begin selling the Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone ($299 with contract) on Election Day to AT&T customers.

The Bold was first launched in RIM's home country of Canada in August and was expected by industry watchers to begin selling in the U.S. in September—and then in October. Today’s announcement makes the early November date official.

"The BlackBerry Bold is the best BlackBerry smartphone ever, backed by the nation's fastest 3G network and the hands-down best international coverage of any carrier," said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive of AT&T Mobility in a press release today.

Apple's iPhone, which also runs on AT&T's 3G network in the U.S., has had some problems with its 3G claims, and RIM's shares dropped slightly this fall on speculation that the Bold would suffer the same issues.

RIM is in the midst of what may turn out to be the largest product upgrade cycle in the company's history. The company announced its first flip-style phone on October 13. It also recently announced a push-to-talk version of its popular BlackBerry Curve. A touch-screen version of the BlackBerry is also reportedly under development for release as soon as 4Q08.

RIM, which has historically maintained control of the smartphone market, is now up against the juggernaut that is iPhone. On Wednesday, AT&T said it has activated 2.4 million 3G iPhones since the new version was launched in July. Apple said Tuesday that it sold 6.9 million iPhones globally in Q3 as compared to the 6.1 million BlackBerry models Apple says were sold in the same period by RIM.

• For more on Wi-Fi and BlackBerry, read “BlackBerry Flip Phone Now Available,” “BlackBerry 8820: RIM's First Wi-Fi Model,” and “Wi-Fi Comes to Blackberry.”
• For more on BlackBerry Bold, read “First BlackBerry Bolds Released,” “September Newsbits,” and “CTIA: Internet Development Moving to Mobile.”
• For more on smartphones, read “Who Will Cash in on the Smartphone 'Gold Rush'?,” “Who Wants a Dual-Mode Phone?,” and “Android Could Change Everything.”
• Also see "Delayed BlackBerry Bold Finally Set for Debut" at InternetNews.com.