Orange beats T-Mobile to Bold in UK

Getting it this week

10 August 2008 22:43 GMT / By Stuart Miles

T-Mobile might have announced that it will be offering the new BlackBerry Bold from September, but it looks like Orange is going to pip it to the punch.

According to the operator, BlackBerry fans will be able to get their hands on the new emailing focused device from the 16 August in the UK.

A spokesperson has told Rob Kerr over at the Inquirer that "Orange will be taking stock on the 14th and will have them in its shops by the Saturday 16th, along with online ordering."

The website is saying that the tariffs start at £45 a month, with the phone free.

Vodafone or O2 has yet to confirm when their versions of the device will be available however Pocket-lint's review sample contained an O2 sim card in it.

Sources within Vodafone have told Pocket-lint that it hopes to announce its dates "soon".

3, is the only other operator to announce when it will be offering the handset however as it is still busy setting up its BlackBerry services it says this is unlikely to be until November.

Pocket-lint has just reviewed the BlackBerry Bold giving it a coveted "Hot Product" award.