No other new specs, so we’re assuming what was suggested back in January holds true today. That means 512MB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 5-megapixel camera on the back, along with GPS. The display is 3.2-inches.

As with the Monaco and Bold Touch we saw earlier, the Torch 2 should get its official reveal at BlackBerry World 2011 next month. It’ll apparently arrive on AT&T come July; no word on pricing at this stage.

When it comes to specs, everything remains the same as the original black version with Blackberry 6 OS, 5-megapixel camera with flash, autofocus, environment settings, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 512MB of RAM, and a 3.2-inch 480×360 touchscreen.

Only other difference besides being white appears to be the ribbed texture on the back side. The verdict is that it feels good. The phone will be available exclusively through Vodafone soon.

[Via Pocket-lint]

There’s also a 5-megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth, along with GPS. RIM has also used the latest version of their homegrown OS, BlackBerry 6, which cleans up the UI nicely; you also get access to the BlackBerry App World download store.

No word on pricing or availability at this stage, though the white Torch will only be released on Vodafone contracts, not PAYG. For more on the BlackBerry Torch, check out our full review.

Hardware

There are compromises involved whichever smartphone design you choose: all-touch candybars have to make do with virtual keyboards; QWERTY sliders or folders have the added bulk of a hinge mechanism, and the DROID PRO loses screen real-estate. At a time when we’re used to seeing 3.7-inch or larger Motorola Android devices, the DROID PRO is a mere 3.1-inches running at HVGA resolution. It takes up the top two thirds of the handset, and while 480 x 320 is a fair step down from the 854 x 480 on other recent Motorolas, when spread over a smaller panel it’s less obvious than you might expect, and decent touch responsiveness goes a long way to making up for the reduced scale. In comparison to the 480 x 360 BlackBerry Torch it’s a narrower screen, though the handset overall is also slimmer than the RIM slider.

On the lower third is a QWERTY keyboard, and it’s here the BlackBerry similarities really kick in. Viewed side-by-side with the Torch, you could well think the ‘boards were from the same company: each has a heavily bowed keycap with pronounced ridges to guide the fingertips, and each is snappy and responsive. The number and symbol layout is different on the Motorola, pushing the number keys to the top row rather than as a block, and there are dedicated @, comma and period buttons which we prefer. Despite the relatively narrow width, this is one of the best hardware keyboards on an Android device at the moment.

In-between the screen and keyboard there’s a row of the usual four touch-sensitive controls: menu, home, back and search. No optical trackpad, however, which is a shame considering it would be well-placed for thumbing. On the top there’s a 3.5mm headphones jack and the power/standby button, while the volume rocker and a microUSB charge/sync port are on the left side. On the right is a user-assignable multifunction key, preset to load the calendar, but easily changed to trigger the camera, media player or whatever app you’d prefer.

On the back is a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, embedded into a slightly protruding bulge across the top edge. The whole back panel has a translucent, wavy pattern across it, while a band of silver-effect plastic runs around the outer edge of the phone. It’s solid, but we’d prefer more metal in a business device.

Altogether, though, it’s a surprisingly compact device, with press shots proving misleading as to its perceived blockiness. In fact it measures 119 x 61 x 11.7 mm and tips the scales at 134g; longer than the Torch, but otherwise narrower and thinner. It’s also one of Verizon’s so-called Global devices, packing the usual CDMA/EVDO Rev.A connectivity for use in North America, together with quadband GSM/EDGE and triband UMTS/WCDMA for use abroad. There’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, along with GPS, a digital compass, proximity and light sensors. Motorola has used the same 1GHz TI OMAP processor as in the DROID 2, with 2GB of onboard storage and a microSD card slot (Verizon pre-load a 2GB card).

Software

We’re glad to see Android 2.2 Froyo on the DROID PRO, though it’s not a clean install; instead, there’s Motorola’s MOTOBLUR-inspired UI, a halfway house of sorts before the full MOTOBLUR experience which has seemingly been relegated to the company’s entry-level consumer-centric devices. There’s the full gambit of Google apps – Maps, Gmail, the Android Market, etc. – along with Skype Mobile, QuickOffice, a File Manager app, Mediashare and AuthenTec’s VPN client.

There’s also business-friendly functionality, such as encryption and more complex root certificate management, and you can remotely wipe or lock the handset (and the microSD card) with the right server-side software. Password expiration and automatic-wipes are also supported. We’ve no qualms about performance, the 1GHz CPU keeping things moving slickly and pretty much lag-free, though the limited resolution and display size does begin to grind after a while.

Log in with your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking accounts, and the DROID PRO pulls in recent updates from your contacts and slots them into their respective Contacts app entries. There are also various resizable homescreen widgets, from which you can view updates in one or more of those networks, as well as post status changes of your own. It’s worth noting that this is Motorola’s own system; there are official Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other network apps available in the Android Market, which generally have more functionality but less integration with the overall system.

Browser & Messaging

With Android 2.2 comes Flash Player 10.1 support, and the usual arguments about whether mobile Flash is worth the inevitable browser sluggishness. Suffice to say, we’d rather have the option than not, and it’s possible to turn Flash off altogether or set it to only load on-demand, making everyday browsing lag-free. There’s pinch-zoom and the usual Android extras, but the experience is underwhelming thanks to the smaller screen size.

Messaging, meanwhile, is the usual combination of a Gmail app and then a separate Mail app for everything else. You get Exchange support, together with POP and IMAP, and there’s a decent amount of granularity over which folders synchronize, how labels are handled and whether you view the full contents of your inbox or only certain categories of message. Unfortunately, there’s less flexibility in instant messaging, and while the Torch gets RIM’s popular BlackBerry Messenger service, the DROID PRO makes do with Google Talk. Still, there are various third-party IM options available in the Android Market (in comparison, the BlackBerry App World feels pretty sparsely populated).

Camera & Multimedia

At 5-megapixels, the DROID PRO’s camera isn’t exactly top-end for an Android device, but it comfortably exceeds the 5-megapixels the BlackBerry Torch offers. Motorola has tweaked the standard Android camera app, and though the UI is a little cramped on the smaller display, we’re glad to see the extra functionality. There are eight different scene modes as well as color effects, and of course more basic control over things like the flash. As with all LED flash units, you’re limited to the effective range, but the DROID PRO is certainly brighter than many cameraphones we’ve seen. It’s worth noting that, even if – like we did – you set the hardware shortcut button to trigger the camera, it won’t then also take the photo itself; you still have to use the on-screen button.

Image quality is surprisingly good for a 5-megapixel camera, better than the results we managed from the DROID 2. Decent automatic exposure and good color balance make for strong shots, and though poor lighting forces you to deal with the LED flash’s range sweet-spot, once you’ve got to grips with it we found it more useful than normal.

What you don’t get is 720p HD video recording, though the 720 x 480 30fps clips were smooth and well detailed. There’s no HDMI port for easy connection to an HDTV, and while we can see it being outside of the scope of most business users, the benefits in being able to show presentations or documents direct from the phone seems a missed opportunity.

Phone & Battery

Phone performance was average, though there’s no advanced DSP as we’ve seen on, say, the Motorola DEFY. The speakerphone was solid, and Android’s voice-control functionality is surprisingly flexible for hands-free use (you also get a dedicated voice-input button). Meanwhile mobile hotspot service is supported, sharing the DROID PRO’s 3G connection with up to five WiFi-tethered devices.

Motorola quote up to 390 minutes of talktime from the DROID PRO’s standard 1,420-mAh battery, or 330 hours of standby. With the smaller display requiring less power than some of Motorola’s larger devices of late, we comfortably managed a full day of use with push-email turned on and some calls, messaging and browsing. Nonetheless, RIM’s BlackBerry range still has the edge when it comes to power management.

Wrap-Up

There’s a lot to like about the DROID PRO, not least one of the best keyboards on an Android device today. That Motorola seemingly had to look to RIM’s design in order to achieve that may prompt a few fanboy arguments, but the end result is excellent provision for heavy emailers. Those who spend their time browsing, however, may want to look to other phones, given the cramped display and relatively low resolution on offer. It’s not a deal-breaker, especially if you’re used to the typical BlackBerry screen, but it’s a pain-point if you’ve come from another touchscreen-centric Android handset.

As for Motorola’s business ambitions, the DROID PRO is probably the most enterprise-friendly mainstream phone running Android, but despite the addition of a VPN client and QuickOffice it still falls short of what a well-provisioned BlackBerry offers. That’s undoubtedly down to RIM’s track record in catering for business use, and our expectations of preloaded software; Motorola could do worse than to load either a solid multi-platform IM client or develop one of their own, to take some of the appeal away from BlackBerry Messenger.

This is definitely a device for email and messaging addicts, however, and if you spend more time gaming or browsing on your cellphone, the compact display is unlikely to satisfy. Still, we’d opt for the DROID PRO over the BlackBerry Torch, the more compact phone giving up little when it comes to the keyboard and offering a larger breadth of third-party apps and an OS that feels more intuitive than BlackBerry 6.

Unboxing and hands-on with Droid Pro

The big comparison many are making is the iPhone 4, which Apple has claimed sold 1.7m units in its first three days of availability.  Analysts have blamed slow corporate client adoption for the Torch, together with the imminent arrival of the BlackBerry 6 OS for older devices; RIM has already confirmed that the BlackBerry Bold 9700, Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G will all get upgrades to the new version of their software, and that could be encouraging owners of those devices to stick with the hardware they already have.

Already, the Torch is down to $99.99 when bought through Amazon, though AT&T are still selling the smartphone for $199.99 (both with a new, two-year agreement).  For more on the Torch 9800, check out our full review.

That’s of course assuming you’re content signing up to a two-year agreement, with the usual data package and voice plan.  Alternatively, Amazon are selling the Torch contract-free, though you’ll need to find $599.99 if that’s your preferred option; we’re guessing it’s still SIM-locked to AT&T, too, though that’s not clear from the retailer’s listing.

The Torch has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard and WiFi b/g/n, along with triband UMTS/HSPA and Bluetooth.  It runs the latest version of RIM’s OS, BlackBerry 6, which you can see demonstrated in the video below.

[Thanks Toby!]

Aesthetically, the Torch won’t scare the BlackBerry faithful. It’s a well-constructed and sturdy handset, with plenty of RIM’s existing style elements dropped in, and points where other manufacturers still struggle – we’re particularly thinking about the slider mechanism – feel rock solid. At 4.37 x 2.44 x 0.57 inches (when closed; 5.83-inches long when open) the Torch is pretty close to the Bold 9xxx in size, though it’s a heavier handset (5.68 oz versus 4.8 oz) and in contrast with (non-QWERTY) rivals like the iPhone 4 or DROID X it’s chunky in the hand.

Still, those rivals generally don’t have a hardware QWERTY, and RIM has produced another seriously thumbable ‘board for the Torch. In comparison to the candybar format devices in the company’s range, the keys themselves are lower profile – so as to allow for the sliding mechanism – but still have decent travel and, after a few minutes of acclimatization, we were back up to speed. The slide itself lacks the spring-loaded flick of rivals, and demands something of a conscious effort to open it, but that’s probably in the Torch’s favor when it comes to longevity of build.

Hardware controls include a row of buttons along the front, for call, menu, back and end/power, along with the chrome-rimmed optical trackpad. The microUSB port is on the left edge, while the volume buttons, programmable shortcut key and 3.5mm headphones jack are on the right; lock and mute are on the top edge. Up front is the 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, and here our first complaint comes to the fore. At 480 x 360 resolution, the Torch’s display simply falls short when it comes to pixels. Held next to WVGA rivals and the panel looks gritty and underwhelming; side-by-side with an iPhone 4′s Retina Display, the Torch feels ancient.

Keeping things moving is a 624MHz processor paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage; there’s also a microSD slot under the ribbed battery door (RIM supply a 4GB card in the box, but the Torch can handle up to 32GB). Connectivity includes quadband GSM/EDGE, triband 3G/UMTS for AT&T, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, plus there’s GPS. No front-facing video camera – only the 5-megapixel autofocus shooter on the back, with an LED flash – but there are light and proximity sensors to control the display.

In use, despite RIM’s momentum in BlackBerry 6, the Torch can feel worryingly laggy at times. Pinch-zooming in the new, Webkit based browser is particularly important when you consider the low resolution display can leave text blocky, but on all but the busiest pages we found it could be frustratingly jittery. Flicking between apps should be painless but, frankly, it’s not. When rivals are delivering 1GHz chips in their smartphones and already looking to faster versions, RIM’s decision to stick with the 624MHz Marvell CPU smacks of either mindless frugality or a blinkered attitude toward the current mobile market. Yes, if BB6 had run smoothly then adding extra megahertz would have been overkill, but at the end of the day the Torch doesn’t.

It’s a decision that undermines the rest of the OS, overshadowing the improvements that have been made. BlackBerry software always felt very text-heavy, but RIM has pulled in some of Android’s tricks with a sliding app drawer – that can be pinned to show one, two, three or four rows of shortcuts on the homescreen, rather than the traditional one, and swiped across to show different groups of apps like media, downloads or favorites – and a pull-down notifications menu that lists unread messages, missed calls, alerts and other activity. Meanwhile settings pages tend to use more finger-friendly icons than the text lists of before, and while it’s unlikely to be as intuitive to first-time users as, say, iOS is, RIM has certainly struck a balance between familiarity for the old-guard and eye-candy for the newer recruits.

Like others manufacturers, RIM has recognized that social network integration is something consumers are actively seeking, and so they’ve baked in Facebook, Twitter and AIM/Yahoo!/Gtalk IM alongside their BBM, SMS, email and RSS support. All get funneled into RIM’s usual unified inbox, as well as – for the social networks – a new Social Feeds inbox and individual Facebook, Twitter and other apps. Choice is fine, welcome in fact, but there’s no way we could find to set defaults once you’ve decided on your preferred mode of interaction. If you tap a Twitter alert in the notifications bar, for instance, it will take you to the Social Feeds inbox to read it, but you have to cross over to the dedicated app in order to reply. Then, of course, you fall foul of the sluggish app switching, making the whole experience less than ideal.

For most, BlackBerry is synonymous with email, and the Torch – and BB6 – certainly hold up their end of the bargain. It’s obviously easiest if you have a corporate account on RIM servers, but the Gmail experience is strong too. There’s support for labels, threaded conversations and flagging, among other things, and it also syncs contacts and calendars to the Torch. There’s two-way sync, as on an Exchange account, but phone-to-browser changes are faster than browser-to-phone. As with the various social networking apps, email messages show up in both the unified inbox and the account’s own individual inbox; tapping an alert in the notifications bar defaults to the unified ‘box, and there doesn’t appear to be a way of changing that.

We’ve complained about the browser’s pinch-zooming, but the general online experience is good. The faster WiFi support is welcome, though there’s no HTML5 or Flash support at present and navigation is generally happier if you wait for the page to load fully first. Rather than the separate address and search bars of previous versions, there’s now a single combined box that does both. That same underlying Webkit engine is used for email rendering too, which makes a significant difference to the reading experience.

Where RIM do things well, though, they really improve usability. Universal search is familiar as a concept from other platforms, but BlackBerry 6′s combination of caching and flexibility lifts it shoulders ahead of rivals. Results are shown as fast as you can peck in search terms, and it covers everything from local contacts, messages, notes, apps and multimedia before offering online queries for general searches, YouTube videos (which are the only streaming videos the Torch can cope with at present), software in BlackBerry App World and more. Ironically, while we were desperate for granularity of control for message behavior, Universal Search allows you to pick and choose which content is indexed despite being speedy enough to handle everything the Torch could throw at it.

Multimedia playback looks more inviting than on previous BlackBerries, with the Torch making heavy use of album art and the UI being both finger and trackpad friendly (handy, since BlackBerry 6 will have to cater to both touchscreen and non-touchscreen devices in RIM’s lineup). Supported formats include MP3, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMV, Flac, Ogg Vorbis and AMR-NB for audio, together with MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and WMV3 (including Windows Media DRM10 encrypted files) for video; that’s certainly a longer list than stock Android or iOS can manage. RIM has also introduced WiFi sync: as long as you have a Windows PC running RIM’s BlackBerry Desktop client software, you can wirelessly send audio to the Torch. Unfortunately, despite the long list of supported formats for locally-stored tracks, the same doesn’t appear to apply to the fussier WiFi sync app, and there’s no synchronizing across mobile networks. Instead, you can choose playlists or individual tracks that are in your desktop library via the Torch’s UI, and then have them automatically sync across to the smartphone whenever you’re in range of WiFi or have a USB connection hooked up.

The camera, meanwhile, ticks many of the same spec boxes as rivals do, but falls short in a few fashionable areas. There are various shooting modes, including a decent macro setting that reproduced crisp text, but video recording tops out at VGA 640 x 480 resolution rather than the 720p HD we’re seeing on many smartphones of late. Without touch-focus it’s a case of half-pressing the shutter release to lock the focus in, as on a dedicated point-and-shoot camera, while the end results vary broadly. Daytime or brightly lit photos are show reasonable exposure balance but could do with a little more saturation in their colors, while low-light images – even with the LED flash in play – are murky and underwhelming. To be fair, that’s a criticism we could level at many cellphone cameras.

If RIM’s phones are known for their email abilities, they’re also famed for their battery life. Happily the Torch doesn’t disappoint, with a hefty day’s use – including push email, calls and browsing – making a far smaller dint in the battery gauge than you’d expect to see on rival devices. The uncompromising executive will get through their full day with no complaints; the rest of us with more moderate use could potentially stretch to two days between recharges. As for call quality, audio was loud and lacked hiss or buzz. Antennas are headline news these days, but we had no problems with the Torch’s ability to hold a signal.

It’s hard to understand RIM’s positioning with the Torch. While the plurality of input methods, new OS and general hyperbole would suggest the smartphone is the new BlackBerry flagship, the underwhelming screen resolution and processor leave the Torch lacking in comparison with what’s top of rivals’ ranges. The company is also making minimal noise regarding their enterprise customers, with a distinctly consumer-focus to the Torch launch event last week. Undoubtedly the Torch – or, more accurately, BlackBerry 6 – has the same sort of business savvy as earlier versions, but RIM seem to be hoping to pull in more mainstream consumers with the new handset and platform.

Our fear is that the Canadians have done too little to do that, given the state of the highly-competitive smartphone market today. Even if we could put aside the screen resolution, the Torch’s CPU is obviously struggling with what’s on the agenda today: that doesn’t bode well for future upgrades. It’s a shame considering the solid hardware; not exactly fashion-forward, true, but appealing in a sturdy, functional way. Twelve months ago, the Torch would be a strong contender. Now, with Android 2.2 looking slick even without manufacturer skins and the iPhone 4 dominating mindshare, the Torch’s flaws are all the more undermining. It’s not a bad smartphone, by any means, and RIM aficionados will likely find plenty of appeal in BlackBerry 6 if not the Torch itself. Nonetheless, RIM has fallen short of the goal to create an all-round compelling alternative to today’s smartphone glitterati.

Unboxing and hands-on video

The Torch 9800 has now been torn down so we can gander at its innards. The Torch has a magnesium tray for the display and a slider mechanism rated for 150,000 slides.

The tear down includes a nice video of the slider mechanism in action if you ever wondered what the slider looks like on the inside. If you managed to miss the Torch so far the smartphone has a 3.2-inch screen, runs the Blackberry 6 OS, and has lots more. Check out the video below.

The Torch 9800 has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, sliding QWERTY keyboard, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and GPS, along with UMTS/HSPA and GPS.  There’s also a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash, microSD card slot and the newest version of RIM’s platform, BlackBerry 6.  For more details, check out our hands-on report from yesterday and analyst Michael Gartenberg’s first-impressions.

While RIM met the bar, they didn’t do much to raise it higher or push the envelope in either hardware or software design. In world where every vendor is working to up their game, raise the bar and drive new innovation in hardware and software, it felt RIM barely stepped up. Among the things I’d have liked to seen would be a widget architecture for glanceable information, a front facing camera for video conferencing (which I expect to be table-stakes on leading edge devices by year end), hotspot capabilities, and a much larger and higher-res screen.

I spent some hands on time with the device this morning but haven’t had the chance to fully put it through its paces. Consider this more of a hands-on first take than a formal review. First, the hardware. The Torch is going be immediately familiar as a BlackBerry, albeit without a visible keyboard. Fortunately, RIM has shelved SurePress, the input mechanism for the BlackBerry Storm and Storm 2 in favor of a vertical slider. The screen slides up smoothly and quickly to reveal a standard BlackBerry keyboard. It’s nicely balanced and feels good. The screen looks a little on the small side compared to devices like the Samsung Galaxy S, the HTC EVO or the Motorola DROID X. It also feels lacking in resolution next to the iPhone 4. In short, the hardware is nice but it’s not pushing the bar in a major way.

Tied closely to the Torch is the platform it runs on, BlackBerry 6. There were a few key features touted at the event this morning. First, universal search. You can search anything on the device as well as get information from the cloud as well; it works as soon as you start typing. There’s a universal inbox that not only aggregates your email but your social networks as well. Drill into the message, Twitter for example, and then that message will get out of the way in your inbox. It’s a good way to balance the desire for integration and making sure the inbox stays usable.

BlackBerry Torch 9800 hands-on:

On the media side, photos can be managed on the device with folders and are geo-tagged with the actual place location. Media now has album art and can be synced via WiFi. There’s also a revamped home screen that allows for more customizations (and sadly comes pre-populated by apps selected by AT&T) along with a very nice detailed notification screen. Finally, perhaps noticing how far behind their users are when it comes to mobile browsing, there’s a webkit browser. In short, BlackBerry 6 offers table-stakes functions. Everything they showed for the most part already exists on other devices or is on the way.

If you’re wondering about security, manageability or other Enterprise IT features, well, they may be there but there was no word from RIM about them onstage. All the features shown, along with their new commercials previewed, were aimed directly at the consumer, not the business user. BlackBerry has always been known for instant access push email and the ability to seamlessly sync my inbox on the go with my corporate mail. Combined with the recent viral growth of BlackBerry Messenger, I was surprised that RIM didn’t mention either of them on stage with the Torch.

According to RIM, this is the best BlackBerry ever and I don’t dispute that. Users who require a Blackberry for work standards will find the Torch the object of their desire. The question is, will the Torch be bright enough to lure users away from the latest and greatest Android devices, iPhone 4 and a newly re-invigorated Microsoft Windows Phone 7? At the moment, if you’re a diehard BlackBerry user, there’s a lot to love but in terms of the state of the art, RIM hasn’t quite caught up to the leaders of the pack in terms of either device or platform. Was this the right move for RIM? I think it was the move RIM needed to make to at least be on par with most of the features we’ve seen in modern mobile platforms, even if they weren’t the first ones there. With the foundations in place, what RIM needs to do now is move quickly to raise the bar even further with more compelling hardware and software features; not merely be satisfied following the leaders but once again taking the pole position.

The Torch may be primarily plastic – with some chromed highlights like the fascia bezel – but it’s high-quality and creak free.  Some sliders, like the Palm Pre, show notable wiggle in their mechanism, but the Torch 9800 clicks open and closed neatly.  Shut, it’s smaller face-on than an iPhone 4 – helped by the 3.2-inch screen, which is compact and bright but short on pixels in comparison to rivals – though it’s longer than the Apple smartphone when opened.  Still, the balance in your hand is good, with the weight in the lower section and little feel that the smartphone might topple over while you thumb-type.

The touchscreen – which uses a capacitive panel – is responsive and, while RIM isn’t talking CPU MHz, what’s happening on-screen keeps up with your taps and swipes.  Although RIM’s presentation stuck primarily to consumer-centric functionality, the company’s enterprise users should be satisfied with the keyboard response and the optical trackpad, as well as the overall business aesthetic of the device.

BlackBerry Torch Hands-on

As for BlackBerry 6, the updated OS is certainly an improvement on previous iterations, though arguably that wouldn’t be too difficult to achieve.  The homescreen is more usable, with stacks of icons rather than the traditional single row, and everything has been sized to suit finger-control.  We’ll have to spend more time with the OS to know how well the universal search, social networking aggregation and boosted media functionality hold up to everyday use, however.

Overall, though, there’s a sense that the BlackBerry Torch 9800 would have been a sure-fire hit if it had been released twelve months ago.  The hardware, while solid and likely reliable, pales in comparison to the current fashion for sizeable touchscreens running at high resolution, and the spec sheet in general fails to push ahead in any particular area.  Given the state of the smartphone market, while the Torch is certainly sufficient to keep existing BlackBerry users within the RIM family, we’re not convinced it’s enough to cause Android and iPhone users to defect.

BlackBerry OS 6 User Experience demo

The smartphone is yet to show up on Vodafone’s “Coming Soon” page, at least at time of writing, and nor are the carrier talking about when the Torch 9800 might be hitting their network.  AT&T in the US expect to start shipping the handset on August 12th, but all Vodafone can say is that they’ll soon be accepting pre-registration of interest ahead of the Torch’s UK debut.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 has a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and a flash, and quadband UMTS/HSPA.  There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a microSD card slot, together with the latest version of RIM’s home-grown OS, BlackBerry 6.  More hardware specs here.

Update: You can pre-register here

The new SDK is part of RIM’s play to pull in more third-party developers, since they’re lagging behind Android and iOS when it comes to app selection.  Part of their approach is to make a lot more of the underlying system available for integration, including the Universal Search and improved location-awareness (such as reverse geocoding and a new Travel Time API that calculates ETAs).  There’s also HTML5 support in the new WebKit-based browser, and devs can create widgets and web-apps that tie into the phones’ core abilities.

Developers keen to try out the new tools can download the BlackBerry 6 Java SDK here; there’s also more information for developers on the new OS here.

SlashGear is at the RIM press event in New York today, and will be bringing you a full hands-on report with the Torch 9800 as soon as we grab some time with the new smartphone.  Until then, check out all the details here.

Press Release:

BlackBerry Torch Smartphone First to Feature New BlackBerry 6 Combines New Touch Screen Experience with Easy-To-Use Keyboard and Rich WebKit Browser First Smartphone to Support AT&T’s Next Generation Messaging Experience, and First to Offer Locations Feature New BlackBerry App World Pre-installed with Carrier Billing Support

Dallas and Waterloo, ON – Joining forces to offer the first smartphone to feature the highly anticipated BlackBerry® 6 exclusively on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T* and Research In Motion (RIM) today introduced the new BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone. Adept for socially connected consumers and packed with the tools business customers love, the new handset is the world’s first smartphone to combine a BlackBerry® keyboard with a full touch screen experience. Whether users choose to type out messages on the capacitive touch screen or easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard, browse the Internet using pinch to zoom or fluidly navigate with the optical trackpad, the BlackBerry Torch allows them to communicate any way they want.

“We were the first to launch the BlackBerry solution in 1999 and have a rich history of innovation and collaboration with Research In Motion,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “The two companies that brought the first BlackBerry smartphones to market have teamed up again with the new BlackBerry Torch, creating a true generational shift in hardware and operating system for this enormously popular service.”

“This is one of the most significant launches in RIM’s history and we are proud to introduce the new BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 together with AT&T,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion. “With a new user interface, new browser and new handset design, the highly anticipated BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 deliver integrated and uncompromising capabilities for consumers and business professionals that preserve the industry-leading strengths of the BlackBerry platform while adding exciting new dimensions.”

BlackBerry 6
The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with BlackBerry 6, a new operating system that retains the familiar and trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that’s powerful and easy to use.

BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with the touch screen and trackpad, includes expanded messaging capabilities with intuitive features to simplify the management of social networking and RSS feeds (Social Feeds), and provides integrated access to the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™ and various instant messaging applications available on the BlackBerry Torch smartphone. Its enhanced multimedia experience rivals the best in the industry and includes a dedicated YouTube app and Podcasts app.

BlackBerry 6 also integrates a new and rich WebKit-based browser on BlackBerry Torch that renders HTML web pages (as well as HTML email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, pinch to zoom for easy navigation and an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page’s key elements (simply double-tap on the BlackBerry Torch).

Universal search, always accessible from the Home Screen, allows users to search through email, messages, contacts, music, videos and more on the smartphone, as well as extend search to the Internet or to discover applications on BlackBerry App World™.

Advanced Messaging
Messaging has always been a core element of the BlackBerry smartphone experience and the BlackBerry Torch smartphone expands on RIM’s popular messaging solutions with the support of AT&T’s advanced messaging features for SMS and MMS. RIM’s new Text Messages application is especially exciting for users who communicate most via SMS and MMS, providing support for AT&T’s next-generation messaging experience, which includes group messaging with “reply all” functionality for up to 10 contacts. And for the first time, AT&T’s platform includes a new Locations feature.

Locations lets users easily search for points of interest, businesses, and even the user’s own location, and insert this information directly into a message, all without leaving the messaging application. Using group messaging and locations together, users can arrange to meet a group of friends easily by sending one message to all of them, discussing together where to meet and then sending a map – all in one threaded conversation. AT&T designed the service based on research that revealed customers want features that help facilitate social planning, improved message organization and location sharing.

Apps At Your Fingertips
After powering up the BlackBerry Torch smartphone for the first time, users will notice a set of pre-loaded icons which allow them to download and immediately begin using a variety of rich entertainment and social networking applications to access Bloomberg, ESPN, The Weather Channel and Slacker Radio content in addition to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and more. Also available is AT&T’s Web Video Search, a unique new app that searches video content from over 70 major Internet video websites.

In addition to searching the Internet for video, the BlackBerry Torch smartphone also features more multimedia apps that let users download TV shows and watch live TV, as well as create video content and upload it to YouTube. The new Podcasts application makes it easy for users to find and manage audio and video podcasts.

Another application that puts a key function of a phone at your fingertips is Visual Voicemail, which benefits customers by allowing them to select the voicemails they want to hear first.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include BlackBerry App World™ pre-installed, supporting carrier billing through AT&T, making it easier for customers to discover and purchase applications.

BlackBerry Torch Smartphone Features
• Elegant styling, measuring approx. 4.4″ (5.8″ open) x 2.4″ x .57″ and weighing 5.68 ounces
• 3.2″ 360×480 capacitive touch screen display
• 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, designed to feel optimally balanced when opened for typing
• Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth
• Powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory
• 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8 GB of storage out-of-the-box
• 5 MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to 640×480 resolution
• Built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging
• Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n); qualifying smartphone customers can enjoy seamless connectivity to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional cost
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack
• Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories
• New BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 with integrated media sync for easily syncing music, photos and videos**. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes or Windows Media Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone
• Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE support for the option of voice service in more than 220 countries, data service in more than 195 countries and 3G connectivity in more than 125 countries, including Japan and South Korea
• Removable, rechargeable 1300 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback

Pricing and Availability
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone will be available only for AT&T customers on August 12 in AT&T company owned retail stores and online at www.att.com/blackberrytorch, as well as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and RadioShack stores.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be available for $199.99 with 2-year service agreement on a qualifying rate plan and smartphone data plan required. New smartphone customers may choose from two AT&T monthly data plan options, $15 for 200 MB of wireless data or $25 for 2 GB. Enterprise and small business customers should contact their account representative for pricing details.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

AT&T imposes: a Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge of up to $1.25 to help defray costs incurred in complying with obligations and charges imposed by State and Federal telecom regulations; State and Federal Universal Service charges; and surcharges for government assessments on AT&T. These fees are not taxes or government-required charges.

**Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo and video syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

Limited-time offer. Other conditions & restrictions apply. See contract & rate plan brochure for details. Subscriber must live & have a mailing addr. within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area. Up to $36 activ. fee applies. Equipment price & avail may vary by mrk & may not be available from independent retailers. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to $35 restocking fee may apply to equipment returns; thereafter up to $325. Some agents impose add’l fees. Unlimited voice services: Unltd voice svcs are provided primarily for live dialog between two individuals. No additional discounts are available with unlimited plan. Smartphone Data Plan Requirement: Smartphones require a DataPlus (200MB) or DataPro (2GB) plan. If you exceed your initial data allowance, you will automatically be charged an additional $10 for each additional 1GB provided on DataPro or an additional $15 for each additional 200MB provided on DataPlus. All data allowances, including overages, must be used in the billing period in which the allowance is provided or they will be forfeited. An Enterprise Data Plan is required for corporate email, company intranet sites and business applications. For more details on Data Plans, go to att.com/dataplans. Offnet Usage: If your mins of use (including unltd svcs) on other carrier’s networks (“offnet usage”) during any two consecutive months or your data use during any month exceeds your offnet usage allowance, AT&T may at its option terminate your svc, deny your contd use of other carriers’ coverage, or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for offnet usage. Your offnet usage allowance is equal to the lesser of 750 mins or 40% of the Anytime mins incl’d with your plan (data offnet usage allowance is the lesser of 24 MB or 20% of the KB incl’d with your plan). Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots- Based on non-municipal company owned and operated hotspots. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for additional services, restrictions and locations. Visual Voicemail – Data plan required for AT&T Visual Voicemail. Data used in replying to and forwarding voicemail messages via SMS, MMS or email is counted against your data plan. Applicable data charges apply if data plan limits have been exceeded. International data charges apply to receiving, replying to and forwarding voicemail messages while roaming internationally.

Press Release:

RIM Unleashes BlackBerry 6

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced BlackBerry® 6, a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with a touch screen and trackpad, expanded messaging capabilities that simplify managing social media and RSS feeds, an advanced multimedia experience that rivals the best in the industry, a convenient new Universal Search tool, and a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience.

“BlackBerry 6 is the outcome of RIM’s ongoing passion to deliver a powerful, simplified and optimized user experience for both touch screen and keyboard fans,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion. “Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone.”

Visual, Fluid Interface
BlackBerry 6 has been redesigned making it easier and more intuitive, with clean, sleek visuals and natural, fluid navigation. Designed to be both fresh and familiar, the new interface enables a productive, fun and highly satisfying user experience whether using a touch screen or trackpad and keyboard.

BlackBerry 6 offers multiple views that help users better organize their applications and content. Icons are arranged on the Home Screen in 5 customizable views (All, Favorites, Media, Downloads and Frequent) that are navigable with simple swipes. Users can organize where they want their icons to appear, and can add contacts or web page shortcuts directly to the Home Screen.

Also new to BlackBerry 6 are visually-rich, context-sensitive Action Menus. Within a given application, by clicking and holding the trackpad or through an extended touch of the display, users can bring the most common actions or tasks of an application to the surface. In addition, users can seamlessly multitask by holding down the Menu key, which pops up a visual grid of all the applications currently running, so users can instantly switch between applications.

A powerful Universal Search tool is also accessible from the Home Screen. By simply clicking or tapping the Universal Search icon, users can search for any content on their handset, the web or in the new BlackBerry App World™, which is also integral to BlackBerry 6.

Fast Rich Web Browsing
BlackBerry 6 integrates a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages (as well as email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page’s key elements, and pinch to zoom.

Social Feeds and Text Messaging
The new Social Feeds application simplifies the management of social networking and RSS feeds and provides integrated access to the native BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™, AOL® Instant Messenger™, Google Talk™, Windows Live™ Messenger and Yahoo!® Messenger applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Social Feeds streamlines the user experience, provides an integrated view of friends’ activities across multiple social networks, and let’s users post updates across multiple networks simultaneously. Users can also easily add their favorite RSS Feeds from the Social Feeds application or directly from a website while browsing.

RIM’s new Text Messages application also adds exciting new features for users who communicate mostly via SMS and MMS, including the ability for users to now view a conversation in one threaded ‘chat’ as well as share photos, videos and other rich content.

Engaging Multimedia Experience
The multimedia experience in BlackBerry 6 is designed to give users a more engaging and streamlined experience with album art everywhere in the new music and video players. The new BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 integrates media sync for easily syncing photos and videos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists, as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes® or Windows Media® Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone.

BlackBerry 6 also gives users access to a range of camera modes that can help them capture better images. Editing, organizing and sharing shots is amazingly simple, with intuitive options for grouping pictures.

The new Podcasts application makes it easy for users to find and manage audio and video podcasts. Users can view all the podcasts saved on their smartphone, browse a catalogue of podcasts available for download, subscribe to them, and wirelessly download the content directly onto their smartphone. There is also a dedicated YouTube® application, so viewing and sharing videos is easier than ever and users can also easily search for videos using the new Universal Search tool in BlackBerry 6.

Compatibility with Existing BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry 6 will debut on the new BlackBerry® Torch™ smartphone (announced today) available from AT&T on August 12 and it is also designed to run on select BlackBerry smartphones already in market. Subject to carrier certifications in the months ahead, the new OS is expected to be available for the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 and BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G, as well as future BlackBerry smartphones.

Research In Motion is releasing an SDK for BlackBerry 6 (also announced today). Developers can find additional details at www.blackberry.com/developers/blackberry6.

For more information on BlackBerry 6, visit www.blackberry.com/6. To view screen shots, visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog: www.blackberry.com/blog. For more information about the BlackBerry Torch smartphone from AT&T, visit www.att.com/blackberrytorch.

* Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo and video syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

Press Release:

RIM Announces Java SDK to Support New BlackBerry 6

User Interface Enhancements, Web Kit Browser Support and New Services Make it Easier to Build Compelling and Fresh Applications for BlackBerry Smartphones

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced a new Java SDK to support BlackBerry® 6, a highly anticipated new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones. BlackBerry® Java SDK v6.0 takes advantage of new UI features, offers deeper integration with BlackBerry smartphones, access to new and enhanced services and support for rendering and porting content to the new WebKit-based browser.

BlackBerry Java SDK v6.0 focuses on providing developers with powerful tools that enable them to create rich, visually appealing applications on the BlackBerry® Application Platform and make it easier to integrate capabilities that have traditionally been difficult for developers. The BlackBerry developer community can now access more than 40 new APIs that allow them to build visually rich and deeply integrated applications that take advantage of the new features in BlackBerry 6.

“The opportunity for developers to create applications that tie to core applications and features of the BlackBerry Application Platform has never been greater,” said David Yach, Chief Technology Officer, Software at Research In Motion. “Our veteran developers, as well as those who are new to the BlackBerry platform, are going to be thrilled with the new APIs as well as the sleek and powerful user interface.”

Richer User Interfaces
The BlackBerry Java SDK v6.0 supports the fresh new look in the BlackBerry 6 user interface (UI) with new pre-built UI elements including contextual menus, tables, lists, inertial scrolling, activity progress indicators, pane managers, tool bars, title bars and sub menus.

BlackBerry Browser with WebKit
The new browser in BlackBerry 6 leverages a WebKit rendering engine and developers will be able to build dynamic web sites and rich mobile applications as well as advanced widgets that can be seamlessly integrated with the browser and core native applications. BlackBerry Widgets and web applications designed for the BlackBerry Browser v 5.0 will be forward compatible to the new browser.

HTML5 Support
With the added support of HTML5 in the new BlackBerry 6 Browser, web developers will be able to create content for BlackBerry smartphones that is run through the web, including compelling games and interactive media with 3D graphics in real time and more.

Native Feature Integration
Developers can use new APIs to more deeply integrate their applications with various aspects of a BlackBerry smartphone’s core functionality. The Unified Search Framework API will allow developers to register their application and their content partners to be searchable, as well as provide a mechanism for in-app search. The Mapfield API has been redesigned to provide enhanced features including panning, zooming, my location and convenience toolbars. Developers can call the Mapfield API to customize the look of location data and can use multiple mapfields simultaneously on the same screen for added user benefits.

Location Service Enhancements
The Location Service has been enhanced with a Wi-Fi® Geolocation API, allowing developers to build applications that leverage a handset’s location based on its proximity to Wi-Fi networks. The API builds on the LBS features already available to developers through cell tower location and GPS. Reverse Geocoding now allows applications to leverage zip/postal codes to obtain local information. The Travel Time API brings estimated time of arrival (ETA) information into applications. The ETA is based on anonymous real-time crowd sourced data combined with historical traffic information.

BlackBerry Java SDK v6.0 is available for download at www.blackberry.com/developers/java. More information about BlackBerry 6 can be found at www.blackberry.com/developers/blackberry6 .

Don’t expect it immediately, however.  RIM says the updated OS is subject to carrier certification and other testing, and as such will be released “in the months ahead”.  The first device with BlackBerry 6 preloaded, the Torch 9800, will be an AT&T exclusive in the US; no word on when Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile may get their hands on a phone.

BlackBerry 6 includes a new, WebKit based browser, a Universal Search tool that delves through not only local but internet and BlackBerry World content, and and new Social Feeds app which pulls together BlackBerry Messaging, Facebook, Twitter and various IM services.  There’s also a new UI, complete with a customizable homescreen, new gesture support and a special “Action Menu” contextual system for further options.

Press Release:

RIM Unleashes BlackBerry 6

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced BlackBerry® 6, a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with a touch screen and trackpad, expanded messaging capabilities that simplify managing social media and RSS feeds, an advanced multimedia experience that rivals the best in the industry, a convenient new Universal Search tool, and a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience.

“BlackBerry 6 is the outcome of RIM’s ongoing passion to deliver a powerful, simplified and optimized user experience for both touch screen and keyboard fans,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion. “Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone.”

Visual, Fluid Interface
BlackBerry 6 has been redesigned making it easier and more intuitive, with clean, sleek visuals and natural, fluid navigation. Designed to be both fresh and familiar, the new interface enables a productive, fun and highly satisfying user experience whether using a touch screen or trackpad and keyboard.

BlackBerry 6 offers multiple views that help users better organize their applications and content. Icons are arranged on the Home Screen in 5 customizable views (All, Favorites, Media, Downloads and Frequent) that are navigable with simple swipes. Users can organize where they want their icons to appear, and can add contacts or web page shortcuts directly to the Home Screen.

Also new to BlackBerry 6 are visually-rich, context-sensitive Action Menus. Within a given application, by clicking and holding the trackpad or through an extended touch of the display, users can bring the most common actions or tasks of an application to the surface. In addition, users can seamlessly multitask by holding down the Menu key, which pops up a visual grid of all the applications currently running, so users can instantly switch between applications.

A powerful Universal Search tool is also accessible from the Home Screen. By simply clicking or tapping the Universal Search icon, users can search for any content on their handset, the web or in the new BlackBerry App World™, which is also integral to BlackBerry 6.

Fast Rich Web Browsing
BlackBerry 6 integrates a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages (as well as email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page’s key elements, and pinch to zoom.

Social Feeds and Text Messaging
The new Social Feeds application simplifies the management of social networking and RSS feeds and provides integrated access to the native BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™, AOL® Instant Messenger™, Google Talk™, Windows Live™ Messenger and Yahoo!® Messenger applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Social Feeds streamlines the user experience, provides an integrated view of friends’ activities across multiple social networks, and let’s users post updates across multiple networks simultaneously. Users can also easily add their favorite RSS Feeds from the Social Feeds application or directly from a website while browsing.

RIM’s new Text Messages application also adds exciting new features for users who communicate mostly via SMS and MMS, including the ability for users to now view a conversation in one threaded ‘chat’ as well as share photos, videos and other rich content.

Engaging Multimedia Experience
The multimedia experience in BlackBerry 6 is designed to give users a more engaging and streamlined experience with album art everywhere in the new music and video players. The new BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 integrates media sync for easily syncing photos and videos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists, as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes® or Windows Media® Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone.

BlackBerry 6 also gives users access to a range of camera modes that can help them capture better images. Editing, organizing and sharing shots is amazingly simple, with intuitive options for grouping pictures.

The new Podcasts application makes it easy for users to find and manage audio and video podcasts. Users can view all the podcasts saved on their smartphone, browse a catalogue of podcasts available for download, subscribe to them, and wirelessly download the content directly onto their smartphone. There is also a dedicated YouTube® application, so viewing and sharing videos is easier than ever and users can also easily search for videos using the new Universal Search tool in BlackBerry 6.

Compatibility with Existing BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry 6 will debut on the new BlackBerry® Torch™ smartphone (announced today) available from AT&T on August 12 and it is also designed to run on select BlackBerry smartphones already in market. Subject to carrier certifications in the months ahead, the new OS is expected to be available for the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 and BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G, as well as future BlackBerry smartphones.

Research In Motion is releasing an SDK for BlackBerry 6 (also announced today). Developers can find additional details at www.blackberry.com/developers/blackberry6.

For more information on BlackBerry 6, visit www.blackberry.com/6. To view screen shots, visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog: www.blackberry.com/blog. For more information about the BlackBerry Torch smartphone from AT&T, visit www.att.com/blackberrytorch.

* Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo and video syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

Update: Official RIM product page for the Torch 9800 is now live.

As for connectivity, there’s quadband UMTS/HSPA (2100/1900/850/800 MHz) and quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz), while memory includes 512 MB RAM, 512 MB Flash, 4 GB of storage and a 4 GB MicroSD card in the box.  While there have been plenty of changes in BlackBerry OS 6, one of the most anticipated is the new WebKit based browser which should significantly improve the mobile internet experience.

RIM has also thrown in “Media Synch” which apparently can stream your home audio content to your BlackBerry Torch via a WiFi connection, as long as it’s DRM-free.  The Torch 9800 will arrive on AT&T on August 12th, priced at $199 with a new, two-year agreement; AT&T are taking email sign-ups for those who want more details when they’re ready.  Considering the first OS 6 device in the US will be an AT&T exclusive, if you want the new platform then it looks like you’re headed to AT&T; no word on when Verizon might get a version of the 9800 or their own OS 6 handset.