Phone News: BlackBerry unveils the BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900

Research in Motion has been long regarded as the go-to manufacturer for enterprise and business mobile phones. However, in recent years the consumer shift towards touch screen devices and the increased emphasis on multimedia features has left the company having to rethink its key strategies.

Devices such as the Apple iPhone and the HTC Desire have left RIM scrambling at the last minute to offer devices such as the BlackBerry Storm and its controversial SurePress touchscreen. The company recently launched the BlackBerry Torch, a touchscreen/keyboard hybrid phone though the technology press provided the phones less than glowing reviews.

Rumours of a completely new device to their line-up had been predicted by many, as their current generation of devices had left BlackBerry diehards defecting to other, more widely adopted smartphone platforms.

Last month, the Canadian mobile phone giant used the BlackBerry World conference in London to announce their latest set of pay monthly mobile phones: the BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 and 9930.

BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900
With images of the fabled device having leaked to technology news websites weeks before BlackBerry World 2011, the Bold Touch 9900 was no surprise. Finally bringing together the ease of touch screen technology, together with the functionality of a device with a physical keyboard, a key feature of BlackBerry phones.

Packing a 640X480 capacitive touchscreen together with a 287ppi high resolution display, the Bold Touch 9900 finally allows the on-board BlackBerry 7 operating system the chance to shine. RIM have finally acknowledged the importance a good touch based interface has on a user’s experience with the device, and BlackBerry 7 allows you to access the latest downloaded app at the swipe of a finger.

The Blackberry Bold Touch 9900 also brings a completely new design to Research in Motion’s flagship device. At 10.5mm, a hair deeper than the current iPhone, no businessman will have to worry about carrying around a bulky mobile phone. The phone also features a stainless steel bevel running around the whole device, meaning the display and the device has an added protective shield against the accidental drop here or there.

Research in Motion has yet to announce how much the phone will cost, but its announcement at Blackberry World 2011 has already generated a record amount of interest. The added capabilities of the BlackBerry 7 operating system also will please many users who have grown frustrated with the lack of improvement BlackBerry 6 brought them.