The BlackBerry Torch 9800: that’s the name of that mystery slider phone we’ve seen in repeated links over the last few months, and as expected, it’s running the revamped BlackBerry 6 OS. It’s just been unveiled at a launch event in New York, and we’ve got all the details on it right here.
While the iPhone and Android have been hoovering up all the attention in the smartphone space of late, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 is RIM’s big bet to catch up and assure its number one spot for suits and chatty teens alike. As expected, it combines the best of both worlds, with a 3.2-inch, 480×360 juicy touchscreen, and a slide out QWERTY keyboard underneath that looks very similar to the fantastic pad of the Bold 9700.
Under the bonnet, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 packs Wi-Fi, GPS, a 624MHz CPU, and 4GB of onboard storage - not a huge amount, but still a first for a BlackBerry. There’s also a 5-megapixel camera onboard, another improvement over any previous ‘Berry.
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 isn’t just about new hardware. It’s the first ‘Berry to run BlackBerry 6, RIM’s overhauled software. It’s been far too long, but it looks like RIM has finally fixed the browser, endowing the BlackBerry Torch 9800 with a WebKit browser capable of opening more than one tab at a time – at last!
We’re also expecting all the other tweaks we’ve seen in prior BlackBerry 6 videos, including pinch to zoom gestures, and an app for sucking in all your Twitter and Facebook feed updates.
We’re heading off to meet RIM folk shortly, so stay tuned: we’re hoping for a BlackBerry Torch 9800 slider hands on session, and we’ll bring you all the photos and details just as soon as. It’s out in the US on 12 August, and we’re chasing for a UK launch date ASAP.
UPDATE: The BlackBerry Torch 9800 launches in the US on 12 August, but a RIM UK spokesperson has just confirmed UK availability. “You’ll see a series of announcements across EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Asia) in the coming weeks,” he told journalists at a launch event in London.
Check out our Blackberry 6 demos:
Blackberry 6 new media capabilities
Blackberry 6 new pinchy skills
What do you think? Can the BlackBerry Torch 9800 make you forgive RIM for the Storm? Shout up in the comments below and stay tuned for plenty more coverage!
Out TBC | £TBC | BlackBerry
