AT&T said it earned $3.2 billion in the third quarter of 2008, on revenue of $31.3 billion, up slightly from a year ago.

AT&T gained 2 million new subscribers, 1.7 million of which are postpaid, bringing its total customers to 74.9 million.  Postpaid ARPU was $58.99 and the company has $9.3 billion in cash.

In phone news, the delayed BlackBerry Bold will finally ship Nov. 4, officials said.  The phone is said to have an especially bright touchscreen while retaining its QWERTY keypad. 

Customers will be able to simultaneously talk on the phone and use data services, TeleNav GPS software will be included, there is support for Wi-Fi connections and the phone can access video and music download services, officials said.  Customers will also be have access to BlackBerry’s on-device applications store, announced separately by Research In Motion today, which opens in March 2009.

AT&T’s other red-hot device, the Apple iPhone 3G, sold 2.4 million in the quarter with 40% going to new customers.