RIM (Research In Motion Ltd., the Canadian company that makes the BlackBerry) and AT&T introduced the latest BlackBerry yesterday morning - the BlackBerry Torch 9800. This is the first BlackBerry to run on the BlackBerry OS 6 and it is also RIM's first slider keyboard phone.
This new phone combines a touch-screen interface with a slide-out version of Blackberry's signature Qwerty keyboard.
The Black Berry Torch and its new operating system is predicted to assist BlackBerry to retain, if not increase, its market share. According to technology pundits, this phone was launched to neutralise the Apple iPhone's increasing popularity and the onslaught from other new generation smartphones.
Although the combination of the touch screen and a physical keyboard gives us the best of both worlds, but some commentators are disappointed that it has a lower resolution screen. Whilst the display is sufficiently clear for one to read text and view media but it is pale in comparison to high resolution screens on the iPhone and other smartphones such as the Samsung Vibrant.
Further, its 624MHz processor feels relatively underpowered in contrast to the latest smartphones available.
Having said all the above, I believe this phone will still be popular with existing BlackBerry users as they generally want a phone mainly for office use and are not the type to use their phone as a gaming or multimedia device for entertainment.
The BlackBerry Torch will cost $199 in the US.
We, however, do not as yet know when this phone will be available here or how much it would sell for in Malaysia.
Please post your comment.
11 comments:
It's USD 499 for the Torch, outright purchase without any contract from telco in the States. I think we can safely assume the price would most probably be about the same or slightly more than the Bold 9700 when it was first launched in Malaysia.
When will it be available in Malaysia? I am so eager to try BB after 5 years being loyal to Windows Phone.
Iphone is still the best.
It sucks. This is a carp phone, except for battery life.
Shop selling at RM2550 and some RM2700 in KL. AT&T set.
some shops are selling at 2250...
As I have read the article I think bb bold 9700 is still the best but the new torch has a new cool style slide n touchscreen...
damn,,, i want diz... trade wif my bold 9700
Interesting - i bought the BB storm a couple of years ago (because I couldn't wait for the Bold, which was out of stock - see - the result of impatience) and hardly used it cos the touchscreen was so crap.
Finally traded it in for a Bold (i paid about 2K for the storm and received RM250 for a trade-in. Amazing depreciation), but am now flirting with the idea of getting the torch - more because of the larger screen though the low res screen is a bit worrying.
I was tempted by the Iphone but I didn't like the only touchscreen functionality (same as the awful storm).
Btw, do other BB users find it difficult to receive MMSes and Audio Messages? Sometimes they just don't come in.
Iphone4 was better.
stupid iphone
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