Phone provider Orange has stopped dispatching BlackBerry Bold handsets due to software problems with the devices, in a move that threatens to taint the launch of the new touchscreen BlackBerry Storm.
Customers have reported several glitches with the Bold since its release in the UK two months ago, and the phone’s US launch date has been delayed, reportedly due to problems ensuring reliable reception.
Orange has now suspended all shipments of the device in Britain due to unspecified technical faults, according to an internal memo leaked to a mobile phone website.
“Following reports of software issues with the BlackBerry Bold handset across a variety of mobile operators, Orange has decided to act in the interest of its customers by suspending shipments of the device in the UK,” the memoto staff read.
The suspension was intended as an “interim measure” while RIM, which makes the BlackBerry, attempts to resolve the problem. This could take “a couple of weeks”, the memo added.
A statement released By Orange UK confirmed that shipments had been suspended while software on the phone was improved.
"Orange UK is committed to providing the BlackBerry Bold to its customers in the UK, however Orange UK and RIM are currently working on providing a maintenance release of software to address some reported 3G related concerns," it said.
"Although the reported 3G concerns have been limited to a minority of Orange customers in the UK, Orange UK and RIM both take customer concerns very seriously and felt it was prudent to introduce a maintenance release of software for Orange UK customers at this time."
The Bold’s technical problems threaten to taint BlackBerry’s reputation for making sturdy, reliable devices, at a time when it is attempting to challenge the Apple iPhone’s market dominance.
The BlackBerry Storm, which was unveiled this week, has a pioneering “clickable” touchscreen that RIM hopes will attract business emailers who struggle with the iPhone’s more sensitive tocuchscreen.
It is due to be on the market in time for Christmas.
The Bold has a standard QWERTY keyboard like the original BlackBerry, which was nicknamed the “crackberry” because of users’ tendency to become addicted to checking for new messages. RIM and Orange had not responded to requests to comment by the time of publication.
