BlackBerry Bold 9700
| Manufacturer | BlackBerry |
|---|---|
| Compatible networks | GSM |
| Availability by country | November 2009 |
| Successor | BlackBerry Bold 9650 |
| Related | BlackBerry Curve |
| Form factor | Smartphone |
| Dimensions | 109 mm (4.3 in) (h) 60 mm (2.4 in) (w) 14 mm (0.55 in) (d) |
| Weight | 122 g (4.3 oz) |
| Operating system | BlackBerry OS 5 upgradeable to version 6 |
| Battery | 1500 mAHR |
| Display | 2.4 in (6.1 cm), 480×360 non-touch LCD |
| Rear camera | 3 MP LED flash |
| Sound | Single loudspeaker 3.5mm audio jack Microphone |
| Connectivity |
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) (2.4 GHz only) Bluetooth 2.1 |
| Development status | Discontinued (December 2011) |
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 (codenamed Onyx) is a smartphone developed by telecommunication company BlackBerry, formerly known as Research in Motion (RIM). The second device in the Bold series, it succeeds the model 9000 and precedes the Bold 9650. The device, which runs on the BlackBerry OS, features several improvements over the 9000, including introduction of an optical trackpad, and a reduced size overall. Other visual changes were carried out in order to appeal both men and women.
Upon release, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 received mostly positive reviews from critics. The smartphone was commended for its design and most changes were favored, such as the trackpad. However, critics were ambivalent towards the dated software and the slow browser, and some concluded that the device did not set itself apart from previous models.
The BlackBerry Bold 9700 was succeeded by the upgraded version, the BlackBerry Bold 9780, introduced in October 2010. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 was discontinued in December 2011.
Starting April 2009, various rumors circulated regarding the smartphone and other reportedly planned models for the BlackBerry line-up. The first rumor reported that a trio of devices were being developed as high-end smartphones, codenamed Onyx, Driftwood and Magnum. All of them were rumored to contain a "hybrid concept" with a touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard, with similar prototype designs but destined to different networks. Onyx was rumored to be released only for AT&T markets.
An image of one of Onyx's early prototypes surfaced online, with a similar hardware to the 9000's, including the same trackball. That prototype was early reviewed by website CrackBerry, which confirmed diverse details about the device, such as the 480×360 display, the 3.2 megapixels camera and connectivity features—Wi-Fi and GPS. The same day, other information regarding technicalities were revealed on a surfaced AT&T filesheet about the smartphone. Already known as the BlackBerry 9020 and having started production, a photo of the device surfaced, though it replaced the trackball with a trackpad. A previous prototype with a trackball was put up for sale on eBay, where it passed the mark of $600; four days later, a pre-launch list of then-upcoming smartphones for AT&T surfaced online on August 9, 2009, which listed the device. A T-Mobile press image was leaked on September 8.
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