BlackBerry Torch 9800

Posted by admin on August 7, 2010 ·

BlackBerry introduce the world’s first smartphone with a BlackBerry ® keyboard and full touch screen – the BlackBerry ® Torch™ 9800.

Although no release or launch date or UK contract prices have been announced yet, it is expected that Vodafone will be the first carrier to release the latest Blackberry.

It comes with the new BlackBerry 6 operating system and there is a lot to be excited about. “BlackBerry spent a lot of time talking with customers, testing and re-testing the software to make sure we could deliver the new features users want without losing any important aspects of the user experience that our customers already know and love” says Mike Lazaridis, the President and Co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM) on his blog.

Mike continues… BlackBerry 6 delivers a stunning visual design and the teams here have done an incredible job implementing the amazing array of enhancements, including our new WebKit-based web browser which was first previewed at MWC earlier this year.

BlackBerry 6 has something for everyone, I am particularly enjoying the new universal search and auto-wrap text zoom features.

With the new BlackBerry Torch smartphone, we also believe our hardware team has delivered the best combined touch-qwerty experience available, seamlessly incorporating our signature BlackBerry keyboard and precision trackpad in a striking design that simply feels great in your hand. One of the things I love the most about the BlackBerry Torch design is the way it allows me to easily transition between using the touch screen, trackpad and keyboard interfaces. I can switch between them and interact with the handset and applications in a very natural way.

The BlackBerry Torch is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to ship with our new web browser and we invested a substantial amount of time and effort to engineer a WebKit-based browser that can operate quickly, beautifully and efficiently. In fact, Peter Rysavy today released a new study reporting on the efficiency of the BlackBerry 6 Browser with respect to data usage. We continue to believe that efficiency is an important advantage for our customers and an imperative for the wireless industry.

BlackBerry 6 is scheduled to be first introduced to the market with the BlackBerry Torch on August 12, but I know many of you are also wondering about support for existing BlackBerry smartphones.

I am happy to report that BlackBerry 6 will be available in the months ahead (pending carrier certifications) on some of our leading smartphones, including the BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G 9100, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 and BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700.

At RIM we have a long history of building groundbreaking technology, and we are passionate about our products – each day, thousands of RIM employees are focused on enhancing our software, services and smartphones in order to continue meeting your changing wants and needs. The launch of the BlackBerry Torch with BlackBerry 6 is one of the most significant launches in our history and this amazing new smartphone brings together many of RIM’s core strengths into one fluid and superior user experience.

I hope you will be as delighted with the BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 as we are, because we are very proud of these accomplishments and because we really do love what we do.

BlackBerry Torch 9800 Launch

BlackBerry Torch 9800 Review

The BlackBerry Torch is RIM’s first slider phone, and the first time we’ve seen a ‘normal’ touchscreen too. It seems smarter than the Bold and better than the Storm, but what’s the BlackBerry Torch like to use?

First impressions are average – in packing a full QWERTY keyboard under the screen, the depth of the device is obviously going to be increased.

However the angular chassis looks a little squat, although when you get it in the hand for the first time, that feeling quickly dissipates.

The chassis has a nice chrome bevel around the outside, giving it the same flavour as the Bold 9700 and adding to the more premium feel. The odd faux-leather effect is also gone in favour of a more lined approach on the back cover, which we like

The camera has been upgraded to a 5MP effort with flash, as well as packing face detection and continuous auto-focus, bringing it nicely in line with the current crop of smartphones.

Both open and shut, the BlackBerry Torch is easy to use in the hand – the weight distribution means one-handed typing is possible with both methods, which is sure to please die-hard BlackBerry fans.

The thickness is less of an issue than we anticipated as well. The size and height of the phone (111 x 62mm) offsets the 14.6mm thickness nicely, and the device feels better in the pocket than something like the Palm Pre.

The keyboard is as good as on the Bold 9700 – it has a nice raised feel to each button, and the spacing isn’t too bad either.

We’re sadly not talking about the ease of use present on the original Bold, but nonetheless it’s a decent effort that BB fans will enjoy.

The trackpad is also a welcome addition to proceedings – sometimes you don’t always want the freedom of a touchscreen, especially when using the physical keyboard. Flicking your fingers up and down can be a chore, and the trackpad makes things easier to navigate.

BlackBerry Torch 9800 – UK Network Carriers

Vodafone, Orange and Three have so far confirmed they will be carrying the Blackberry Torch 9800 in their range, but as yet no release / launch date or UK contract prices have been announced.