Cellular South Launches BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 Smartphone

Clamshell Design Brings Industry's Leading Mobile Messaging Solution To Consumers That Prefer Flip Phones

RIDGELAND, Miss., May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular South, a leader in wireless solutions and innovation and the nation's largest privately owned wireless communications carrier, today announced the availability of the BlackBerry(R) Pearl(TM) Flip 8230 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM, TSX: RIM).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090522/CG21577)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090319/CG86339)

"We're excited about the freedom and flexibility the BlackBerry Pearl Flip offers our customers," said Jim Richmond, director of Corporate Communications for Cellular South. "This stylish and compact smartphone on our super fast 3G high speed mobile broadband network puts customers in control of how, when and where they communicate."

One quick flip of the handset opens up a world of possibilities with the industry's leading mobile messaging solution and a wide range of impressive Internet and multimedia capabilities, all in one powerful yet approachable smartphone. Customers can send a message to friends or family, make calls, browse the web, snap pictures, play games, watch videos or listen to their favorite music.

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone presents a sophisticated look with a sleek design and a chrome-finished frame surrounding its smooth, luminescent face. Packed with an abundance of powerful features, it weighs only 3.6 ounces and measures approximately 3.9" x 1.9" x 0.7". Featuring two high-resolution, light-sensing color displays, the external LCD makes it easy to preview incoming emails, text messages and phone calls without opening the handset, while the large, 240 x 320 pixel internal LCD displays messages, videos and web pages with impressive detail and contrast.

"The popularity of BlackBerry smartphones has grown tremendously around the world and the introduction of this exciting new flip phone will help extend the reach of the BlackBerry platform even further," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "The BlackBerry Pearl Flip is a full-featured smartphone with a unique and friendly design and it is a natural choice for flip phone users who want to start doing more with their phone than just talk."

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone from Cellular South is available in black and pink.

Key Features

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone is packed with powerful features, including:

Pricing and availability

*Video recording requires microSD card, which may be sold separately

** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies

About Cellular South

Cellular South is a privately-owned diversified mobile communications company passionately committed to helping customers get the most out of their wireless devices and services. The nation's largest privately owned wireless communications provider accomplishes this goal by providing the most reliable and advanced 3G nationwide wireless voice and data network, offering industry-leading family and unlimited flat rate voice, text and mobile web plans, and through its online and in-store Discover Centers, which give customers easy, simple and convenient tools, tips, advice and information on how to get the most out of their mobile phone. For more information, go to www.cellularsouth.com.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

SOURCE Cellular South