RIM announces Blackberry Bold smartphones

SMARTPHONE MAKER Research in Motion (RIM) has announced its Blackberry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones with an updated Blackberry 7 operating system.

Both handsets feature RIM's latest operating system for phones, Blackberry 7 OS, are powered a 1.2GHz processor and have 768MB of RAM. They have the familiar Qwerty keyboard and trackpad along with a 2.8in Liquid Graphics capacitive touchscreen that has 640x480 resolution.

RIM said that its Blackberry 7 OS provides an easier and faster user experience through improved web browsing, voice activated searches and the ability to manage personal and business content separately.

The handsets will have Docs To Go pre-loaded with all premium features enabled, which can handle Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

Both models are made with brushed stainless steel frames and have a high gloss fibreglass backplate. The new Bold smartphones weigh 130g and are just 10.5mm thick, making them RIM's thinnest smartphones to date.

There is 8GB of internal storage, a 5MP camera that can record HD 720p video, near field communications technology and a 1230mAh battery.

The two handsets are the same apart from the fact that the 9900 offers tri-band HSPA+ whilst the 9930 offers dual-band HSPA+ and dual-band CDMA. Both have quad-band GSM/EDGE.

RIM said the two handsets will tip up at the beginning of Summer worldwide. µ