Research In Motion has announced five new smartphones based on the BlackBerry 7 operating system. Three will join the BlackBerry Torch model range, the other two are BlackBerry Bold models. It’s RIM’s largest-ever largest global launch, involving more than 225 carriers and distribution partners worldwide. Previous announcements have often launched products on a regional or country-by-country basis.
The new NFC-equipped BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are RIM’s thinnest smartphones, each offering a QWERTY keyboard below the touch-sensitive display. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 has a slide-out keyboard below the touch screen, while the BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860 are touch-only devices with 3.7-inch screens. All have 1.2GHz processors.
Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO of Research In Motion, said “This is the largest global launch of BlackBerry smartphones in our history. The BlackBerry solution offers a best-in-class mobile communications experience that customers love and we think they will be thrilled by the faster performance, enhanced browsing and richer multimedia delivered by these powerful new BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Torch smartphones.”
The devices will start to become available later this month, although specific UK information hasn’t yet been released.