Research in Motion today announced the first-ever BlackBerry flip phone. Unveiled at the CTIA Wireless tradeshow, the BlackBerry Pearl 8220 looks a lot like a standard flip phone from the outside, with a 128-by-160 screen that display Caller ID, message notifications, and a clock. Above the screen sits a 2-megapixel camera.

The phone more closely resembles a standard BlackBerry on the inside, however, with a SureType keyboard, 320-by-240 resolution, and a trackball. The Pearl 8220 also runs OS 4.6, features a 312-MHz processor, lets users edit Microsoft Word docs with Dataviz' DocumentsToGo, and can view HTML e-mail with an upgrade to BlackBerry server.

Other features include Wi-Fi, a music and video player, and a microSD card. The 8220 doesn't have on-board GPs, however. No word yet on pricing or availability.