Kicking off WES 2008 this morning RIM announced the upcoming release of BlackBerry Bold, also known as BlackBerry 9000. This 3G packing smartphone comes fully equipped with HSDPA, EDGE, Wi-Fi, GPS and a 2.0 megapixel camera. Not only that but the BlackBerry Bold also features 1GB on on-board memory, 128MB of flash memory for content storage (such as phonebook and messages), Media Sync allowing it sync directly with iTunes and its amazing half-VGA (480×320 resolution) color display.

The BlackBerry Bold is expected to hit carriers this summer. Pricing is expected to be fairly high. Check out BlackBerryBold.com or click on over for its full press release. Read the full story

RIM and Microsoft has signed an agreement to bring Microsoft's Live Hotmail and Messengers services to BlackBerry. This agreement will allow BlackBerry users to have access to push Hotmail email and actual a Live messenger application by entering their username and password once (similar to how Windows Mobile works).

"The BlackBerry platform is respected around the world for providing optimized messaging capabilities and RIM continues to look for ways to provide customers with a wide range of communications options and the best possible mobile experience," said Mark Guibert, Vice President, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. "Our relationship with Microsoft and the addition of Windows Live services to BlackBerry smartphones helps us build on that strategy for our customers."

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RIM has teamed up with RBC and Thomson Reuters to start a $150 Million fund called "BlackBerry Partners Fund". This fund will be focusing on investing into new mobile applications and services. 

“The mobile world has evolved well beyond phone calls and simple messaging to require more empowering and liberating solutions that connect people to everything that matters most to them, wherever and whenever they want,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “RIM, RBC and Thomson Reuters share the common belief that mobile applications and services will propel the industry forward and the BlackBerry Partners Fund is being formed to help fuel innovation and activity in the mobile ecosystem.”

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While Kevin over at CrackBerry has been enjoying his BlackBerry 9000 he seems to have learned of a new name for the device. According to CrackBerry and BGR they both are claiming the new name for the device will be "BlackBerry Bold".

After a little bit of research it appears that blackberrybold.com has been registered to someone in Vancouver and not by RIM as of yet. However RIM does own a wide variety of blackberry9000.com domains including blackberry9130.com.

So it's really hard to say what RIM will launch the BlackBerry 9000 as but we should find out real soon…

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So as you may or may not know RIM's WES 2008 conference starts in just a few days. The conference starts only May 13 and runs until the 15th. This year at WES (Wireless Enterprise Symposium) its likely that you will see RIM release their hot new toy, the BlackBerry 9000. Kevin over at CrackBerry.com has been putting the 9000 device through some in-depth reviews after winning this prototype off eBay. Check out what the upcoming BlackBerry 9000 has to offer by visiting on of these reviews:

• CrackBerry Review part one
• CrackBerry Review part two
• CrackBerry Review part three