BlackBerry launches two new smartphones
MUMBAI: BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has announced the launch of two new smartphones, BlackBerry Bold 9650 and BlackBerry Pearl 3G. RIM also announced BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5, a voice-over-Wi-Fi service for business users.
The BlackBerry Bold 9650 is sleek and solidly designed. It has a 2.4-inch display, a 3.5-mm headphone jack and supports up to 32 GB of expandable (microSDHC) memory. It also sports an optical trackpad rather than a trackball. It supports HSPA and UTMS networks as well as Wi-Fi connectivity and GPS. It runs BlackBerry OS 5.0 and comes with BlackBerry Messenger as well as support for up to 10 different e-mail accounts. It also supports a 3.2-megapixel camera with a flash, autofocus and image stabilization.
The Pearl 3G less than two inches wide and weighs only 93g. It supports 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS technology and runs BlackBerry OS 5.0. It has a 3.2-megapixel camera with a flash, BlackBerry Messenger and supports up to 32GB of expandable memory.
Two models of the Pearl 3G will be available, one with a 20-key condensed QWERTY keyboard (model 9100) and one with a traditional T9 keyboard (model 9105). Both will feature RIM's predictive text software, SureType. The Pearl 3G also has that optical trackpad rather than the light-up BlackBerry trackball found on previous Pearl models.
Both the new devices will support mobile applications built by third parties for RIM and carry built-in GPS with support for geo-tagging, BlackBerry Maps and other mapping applications.
RIM has also introduced its voice-over-Wi-Fi service for business users. BlackBerry MVS 5 works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to allow users to use a single work number between their landline desk phone and BlackBerry smartphone over a Wi-Fi connection. Some key features of BlackBerry MVS 5 include incoming call filtering, network preference settings (the option to switch between Wi-Fi or cellular for making calls), and Wi-Fi network access controls. BlackBerry MVS 5 will be available later this year from RIM's carrier partners.
The pricing of the handsets is still not known but they are touted to be launched in May this year.
