You can’t really describe BlackBerry handsets as having a candybar shape. Not unless it’s a square-shaped candybar, anyway. But it’s a fact that Research In Motion hasn’t taken its smartphones down the clamshell path. Not yet, anyway. The latest leaked internetweb photos hint that this strategy is about to change, with a new BlackBerry codenamed ‘Kickstart’. There’s details too, including that it has a 240×320 internal screen, and a 160×128 external screen to be used when closed. It’ll be quad-band with support for EDGE data (no 3G?), and will have a BlackBerry Pearl-style numeric pad with two letters per key. Oh, and a two-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Naturally, all of this is still rumoured, but the spy shots look pretty authentic to me.
Tag Archive for 'research in motion'
Hurrah for phones named after washing powder brands. It’s surely only a matter of time before we see the Samsung Daz Ultra and LG Ariel, but until then we’ll have to make do with the BlackBerry Bold. It’s a new business-focused BlackBerry aimed at ‘power users’ (i.e. the sort of people who’d be unhappy if they weren’t answering emails from their boss at 3am). So, you get HSDPA for fast data speeds, GPS with built-in geotagging for photos, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and an impressive 480×320-pixel display. The Bold is expected to go on sale this Summer, although maker Research In Motion hasn’t given any details of pricing yet. Rest assured, with a fat business tariff, it should be fairly affordable.
Apple’s doing it for iPhone, and Google’s doing it for Android, so why shouldn’t Research In Motion do it for Blackberry? What’s ‘it’? Why, starting a venture fund for developers creating innovative new applications and services, of course. According to reports, RIM has got together with Canadian VC firm JLA Ventures, bank RBC Venture Partners, and Thomson Reuters to pump $150 million into the Blackberry Partners Fund, with an announcement due later today. It’ll focus mainly on developers creating Blackberry apps (obviously), but may have the freedom to invest elsewhere too. It’s certainly a good time to be a mobile application developer. Especially if you can find enough time and manpower to create (and seek funding for) apps for iPhone, Android AND Blackberry…
