Alltel Wireless announced today that the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) will be available in retail stores and online at alltel.com beginning in early May. The clamshell design of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone allows users to discreetly screen calls and preview messages on the high-resolution external display or utilize the large internal display to respond to calls or messages, view maps and web pages, and play games.

Featuring a large SureType QWERTY keyboard, an intuitive user interface with trackball navigation, built-in GPS with BlackBerry Maps preloaded and support for locations based applications and services, and a 2 MP camera able to record video, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone is packed with powerful features, yet sleek enough to slip easily into a purse or pocket. It also features full HTML browsing, a rich media player with the ability to sync music from iTunes or Windows Media Player, an expandable memory card slot (microSD/SDHC up to 16GB) and stereo Bluetooth support.

Alltel Wireless is offering the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 smartphone for $79.99, after a $70 mail-in rebate, at Alltel retail stores and online at shopalltel.com. This discounted price is available to new and existing eligible customers who sign-up for a two-year service agreement on a qualifying Smart Choice Pack.