| BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) unveiled | | | | But is Torch 9800 really RIM's winning lottery ticket and |
| its latest smartphone earlier this week - BlackBerry | | | | more importantly, can it challenge the iPhone? |
| Torch 9800 - and billed it as the "best Blackberry | | | | The answer to the first question is yes. |
| device ever." But is it an 'iPhone killer'? | | | | In the past, RIM had tried to challenge the iPhone's |
| First, let us look at the Torch 9800. | | | | supremacy with its first touchscreen-only smartphone |
| The Torch 9800 is no doubt RIM's best-looking device | | | | – the BlackBerry Storm - but it was plagued by |
| to date. | | | | both software and hardware bugs. RIM followed it up |
| But the Palm Pre Plus look-alike device is not only | | | | with an improved Storm 2 but that device too failed to |
| handsome but also smart – the Torch 9800 boasts | | | | whip up a storm, enjoying limited success, as many |
| of beefy specifications such as 5-megapixel camera | | | | BlackBerry fans, who were used to the time-tested |
| with flash, autofocus, digital zoom and geo-tagging | | | | BlackBerry's Qwerty physical keyboard, found it hard |
| features; a 3.2-inch capacitive multi-touch display (with | | | | to adjust to the new virtual keyboard. |
| 480x360 pixel resolution display); 624MHz processor; | | | | Not surprisingly, the hype surrounding Storm 2 quickly |
| 8GB internal memory (4GB flash memory + 4GB | | | | fizzled out and the device, finding it hard to compete |
| microSD card); a slide-out Qwerty keyboard; an optical | | | | against the likes of even a string of Google |
| trackpad for easy navigation; 512MB RAM; Bluetooth | | | | Android-based smartphones launched by HTC, |
| 2.1; GPS; Wi-Fi; 3G; GPS; tethered modem; | | | | Motorola and Samsung, soon joined the long list of |
| accelerometer; ambient light sensor and proximity | | | | pretenders that failed to live up to the 'iPhone killer' |
| sensor. | | | | hype. |
| The Torch 9800 is a unique smartphone from RIM | | | | According to the analysts, the limited success of |
| because it's the first device from the Canadian stable | | | | touchscreen-only device could have this time |
| to combine a touchscreen with a full slide-out Qwerty | | | | prompted RIM to take the safer path by launching a |
| keyboard, which has made BlackBerry devices so | | | | device that incorporates RIM's core strength - a |
| popular. | | | | physical Qwerty keyboard – as well as compelling |
| The Torch 9800 is also the first device to appeal to | | | | multi-touch features. |
| both corporate users as well as general consumers. | | | | The timing of the launch of the device is also right, |
| Why? Because, besides offering secure Microsoft | | | | analysts said, as RIM faces the threat of losing market |
| Exchange Server e-mail and calendar support - the | | | | share to not only the iPhone but also Android-based |
| hallmark of RIM's devices that has made BlackBerry a | | | | smartphones. |
| corporate smartphone brand, the Torch 9800 also | | | | On Monday, a Nielsen survey revealed that 50 percent |
| promises to be a device you'd love to take along to a | | | | of BlackBerry users desired an iPhone or Android |
| party - it supports the company's Media Sync service | | | | phone for their next purchase. |
| that streams DRM-free music from the user's home | | | | Another report by research firm Canalys said RIM's |
| media library over Wi-Fi connections. | | | | BlackBerry now trails both Apple's iPhone as well as |
| And unlike most other BlackBerry devices, the Torch | | | | Google Android-based smartphones in terms of US |
| 9800 comes pre-loaded with the BlackBerry app store, | | | | smartphone sales. RIM, Canalys said, controlled 32 |
| App World. | | | | percent of the smartphone market in the most recent |
| And, that's not all. RIM goes a step further by boosting | | | | quarter while Android-based smartphones claimed 34 |
| the device with the company's latest proprietary OS - | | | | percent market share. |
| BlackBerry 6. In fact, the Torch 9800 offers what | | | | And, this is not good news for RIM as, in 2009, |
| previous BlackBerrys lacked – a robust OS. The | | | | BlackBerrys dominated the US smartphone market |
| BlackBerry 6 packs a completely revamped | | | | with 46.7 percent share, according to International Data |
| "generational shift" Webkit-based Web browser; | | | | Corp. (IDC). |
| multi-touch input gestures including a new | | | | Hence, according to Nielsen's Don Kellogg, Torch 9800 |
| pinch-to-zoom for Web browser, e-mail and more; a | | | | could be the right device to prevent further exodus of |
| slick user interface; an improved notification system; a | | | | BlackBerry users. |
| universal inbox; a new media player; a universal search | | | | "Up until this point, BlackBerry users had to choose |
| bar; and better support for applications. | | | | between getting a touchscreen device through |
| The BlackBerry 6 also signals a deviation for RIM into | | | | BlackBerry, like the Storm, or getting a traditional |
| social networking realm - unlike its predecessors that | | | | Qwerty device, like the Tour," Kellogg said. |
| only catered to the needs of the corporate users, | | | | "I think in a lot of ways, this device kind of allows users |
| BlackBerry 6 OS offers integrated connectivity with | | | | to have their cake and eat it too...I do think that this is |
| social networking sites like Twitter, MySpace and | | | | an evolutionary step for BlackBerry," he said. |
| Facebook and hence is likely to appeal to social | | | | The Torch 9800's new OS - BlackBerry 6 - will also |
| networking addicts. It also has a "feed application" to | | | | help keep customers happy, analysts said, as the |
| capture all of your Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace | | | | device's web browser, multi-tasking capabilities and |
| social networking updates. | | | | multimedia features are at par with iPhone and |
| According to RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis, Torch 9800 is | | | | Android devices. |
| the "outcome of RIM's ongoing passion to deliver a | | | | "They (RIM) integrated all kinds of applications and new |
| powerful, simplified and optimized user experience for | | | | features, [such as] universal search and taking |
| both touch screen and keyboard fans" and promises | | | | advantage of multitasking capabilities of the operating |
| to deliver a "communications, browsing and multimedia | | | | system, as well as maintaining that unique keyboard |
| experience that we think users will love." | | | | experience that BlackBerry users love," said Forrester |
| Not surprisingly, analysts have fallen in love with the | | | | Research principal analyst Charles Golvin. |
| device, claiming that it could change RIM's fortunes and | | | | In other words, unlike the Storm and the Storm 2, the |
| challenge the dominance of the iPhone. | | | | Torch 9800 could be RIM's first ever blockbuster |
| The plus points of the device, the analysts said, are the | | | | smartphone ever since 2002 when the first Blackberry |
| overhauled user interface, a physical keyboard, | | | | hit the market. |
| multi-touch features, a more powerful camera (the | | | | But before RIM breaks out into a victory jig, a bigger |
| Torch 9800's 5-megapixel camera is a first among | | | | question looms – is the Torch 9800 an iPhone |
| BlackBerry devices) secure emailing environment and | | | | killer? Click here to find out. |
| social networking support. | | | | |