From the outset, the appearance of the BlackBerry KickStart caused a lot of surprise not only among BlackBerry fans, but to everyone who knows it’s atypical of RIM to create a flip phone. There’s still a long wait before the KickStart hits the market, but CrackBerry was able to get a pre-release version for review.
There are actually two BlackBerry flip phone prototypes: the KickStart 8220 which will feature WiFi and the SeaWolf 8210 which will have GPS.
Here are the features known about the BlackBerry KickStart and SeaWolf for now:
Clamshell / flip phone form factor
Quad-band radios: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (no 3G)
240 x 320 internal LCD
160 x 128 external display
2 megapixel camera
3.5mm headset jack
External microSD card slot
OS version 4.6
“Next Gen” SureType keyboard
8220 will feature WiFi; 8210 will feature GPS
Regarding the form factor, CrackBerry says that even though the face is thinner than other BlackBerry phones, it’s thicker due to its being a flip phone. Also, since it’s something different from all the other earlier BlackBerry phones, it might take some time getting used to, even if handled by someone who’s long used the brand. Bottom line is that CrackBerry is quite pleased with the phone and dismisses any notion that a flip phone might cheapen the brand.
