Research In Motion is poised to launch five new BlackBerry smartphones that run the company's refreshed BlackBerry 7 operating system. More than 225 carriers and distribution partners have started or completed over 500 certification 
programs for the new BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry Bold, RIM said Wednesday.
Featuring all touch designs, the company's latest BlackBerry offerings combine 1.2-GHz Qualcomm processors with dedicated high-performance graphics chips. Moreover, the company's new Torch models, which have slide-out keyboards, are equipped with 3.7-inch capacitive touchscreens -- the largest displays on any BlackBerry smartphone to date.
Under the hood, RIM's latest BlackBerry releases include a five-megapixel camera that doubles as a high-definition (720p) video recorder, a 24-bit graphics engine, and advanced sensors for enabling new augmented-reality apps. What's more, the new handsets integrate both Wi-Fi and GPS radio chips, as well as a microSD card slot capable of supporting up to 32GB of storage . Additionally, the new BlackBerry Bold models offer Near Field Communication support for reading SmartPoster tags as well as pairing the devices with accessories.
RIM's European Opportunity
In the United States, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 with 3.2-inch touch display is slated to launch exclusively on AT&T 's wireless network later this month. AT&T also plans to introduce the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry Torch 9860 later this year.
However, it appears that RIM's biggest potential opportunities to gain significant traction are in Europe, where mobile operators are strongly concerned about Apple's dominance and are seeking alternatives, noted IDC Research Manager Francisco Jeronimo. "Support for other operating systems will be key to balancing Apple's strong presence in the market," he said.
BlackBerry handsets are the "most profitable devices for operators" and the most efficient in terms of network usage, Jeronimo observed. Moreover, the BlackBerry is "still the dominant platform" in Europe's corporate segment, he said.
RIM has also significantly improved its presence in the European consumer segment. "Consumers with strong messaging needs are still very loyal, as they deliver the best e-mail and messaging experience, and operators love loyal clients," Jeronimo said. "BlackBerry [handsets are] now cool devices among teenagers, [who are] strong adopters of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM)." (continued...)
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