RIM’s “secret event” is a new Blackberry announcement
On July 27, RIM (Research in Motion) sent e-mails to leading technology sites, including CNET, informing them of an upcoming Blackberry event in New York the next week. On August 3, the secrecy was peeled away, ever so slightly, to reveal the newest Blackberry model: the Torch 9800.For months, bloggers and reviewers have suspected that the new Blackberry would be the first to use the new Blackberry 6 operating system. At the event, their suspicions were confirmed. The main focus of the new software is competing with the iPhone and Android OS in web navigation. Blackberry 6 is also expected to work better with touch devices, trackpads, and QWERTY keyboards.While readers waited for the latest announcements from the press conference, AT&T quietly added the Torch to their website, confirming that it will be an AT&T exclusive. The site lists a rundown of the device’s many features, including:
- Touch screen keyboard plus slide-out QWERTY keyboard plus trackpad
- Next-gen messaging for up to 10 people at once
- Social networking feed
- 5 MP camera
The news from the conference also revealed the motivation behind the name. The phone is the first with a WebKit browser, which was developed in conjunction with Torch Mobile. Previously, Torch Mobile had developed the Iris Browser, which also incorporated WebKit rendering.There will be several groups of people interested in following the new developments of the Blackberry Torch. One is Blackberry fans looking to upgrade their old tech. Another is disgruntled iPhone customers. The pricing seems reasonable–199.99 with a 2-year-service agreement. There will be two data plan options, 15 for 200 MB or 25 for 2 GB. The device went on sale August 12.