UK gets global exclusive on Blackberry Bold 9700

Vodafone and T-Mobile UK are the two first networks in the world to offer the latest hot handset from RIM, the BlackBerry Bold 9700. We Brits can now get our hands on the high profile smartphone before even our US cousins, who will have to wait until next week.

The 9700 (sometimes called the Bold 2) is an update to the popular Blackberry Bold, which is smaller, lighter and faster than its predecessor. It runs BlackBerry OS 5.0, which includes improved versions of many existing apps, such as a faster web browser.

One major improvement is the new optical trackpad, which replaces the trackball in the first Bold - like all trackballs it tended to accumulate dirt and then not work very well.

Battery power has also been upgraded, so that RIM claims that the Bold 9700 has as much as 19 days standby and six hours talk time.

It's fast and it's furious...

The Bold 9700 is based on a 624MHz processor, comes with a microSD card slot (internal storage is expandable up 32GB) and it is bundled with a 2GB memory card fort storing media and other files, as well as a GPS receiver, WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1.

The 2.4in HVGA display has 480 by 360 pixel resolution, and the 3.2 megapixel camera comes with features like autofocus, variable zoom, image stabilisation and flash.

Other features on this consumer friendly phone include a video recording function and a media player with support lots of audio and video formats.

And it's over here

Vodafone is offering the 9700 for free with a £35 per month two year contract or at £40 per month on an 18 month contract.

T-Mobile contracts for a free Bold 9700 start at £35 per month, although adding 'unlimited internet usage' and the Blackberry's signature push email service costs an extra £5 per month.

Look out for our full review of this handset.