RIM finally unveils (disappointing?) BlackBerry Torch 9800

by Steven Mostyn - Aug 4 2010, 06:18

Offering the best of both worlds when it comes to user interfacing, Canadian smartphone specialist Research In Motion (RIM) has this week unveiled the BlackBerry Torch 9800, a touch-screen handset that also boasts a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Addressing a crowd of tech journalists gathered at a New York press event on Tuesday, Mike Lazaridis, co-chief executive officer of RIM, described the Torch 9800 as both “fresh and exciting,” but also said it offers a “familiar” feel to users.

The Torch, which many industry watchers believe is RIM’s attempt to better compete with Apple’s iPhone and the growing popularity of Android devices, comes equipped with a tight 3.2-inch touchscreen display (480x360), a disappointing 624MHz processor, the BlackBerry 6 operating system, 3G and WiFi connectivity, 4GBs of data storage (expandable to 32GBs) and 512MBs of RAM.

Other features include a 5.0 mega-pixel camera (with continuous auto-focus), VGA video recording (640x480), a bundled 4GB microSD card, an improved browser, a built-in multimedia player, social networking integration, Bluetooth v2.1, GPS support, and a 3.5mm stereo headset jack.

According to a recent survey conducted by market research outfit Nielsen, some 50 percent of existing handset owners have their retail sights set on either Apple’s iPhone or a comparable Android smartphone, which would certainly support the notion that RIM is eager to reassert its once-formidable presence.

That being said, while the Torch is likely to be well received be RIM fans, initial online feedback would suggest its lack of processing oomph, cramped screen, poor resolution, and unrefined interface aren’t going to be sufficient to draw consumers away from rival platforms.

The BlackBerry Torch officially launches in the U.S. on August 12, priced $199 USD, and will be carried exclusively by American telecommunications giant AT&T via a mandatory two-year service contract.

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