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Johannesburg - Details of a new BlackBerry device developed by Canadian company Research in Motion (RIM) have leaked ahead of a launch rumoured to be scheduled for August. Apparently called the 9800, this new BlackBerry clearly targets users of Apple's iPhone and other leading smartphone manufacturers.
Technology news website Engadget posted pictures of the device towards the end of June and more have since emerged. The device sports a large touch screen and slide-out keyboard combining the form factors of the BlackBerry Storm and Bold. The new device will run BlackBerry OS 6.
Speaking to Fin24.com at the company's Wireless Enterprise Symposium 2010 in Florida, chief technology officer for RIM David Yach said BlackBerry 6 would challenge the best of what other smartphones have to offer.
Some of the features he was willing to expose at the time included multi-touch technology similar to the iPhone's, complete with "pinch to zoom" in maps and photographs. He also said that BlackBerry has developed a new web browser that uses the Webkit platform as does Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome browser.
"We've really focused on creating a smooth flow in the user interface that intuitively guides you through the things you need to do," he explained.
"The experience of using BlackBerry 6 is more immersive. It has a single inbox for social feeds and takes you into the appropriate application when you click on a file," added Yach.
"The platform is getting a lot more social and there is a richer experience when using media (such as video or music)," he said.
Yach would not confirm whether BlackBerry plans to launch content services like Apple's iTunes, but rumours of such a development have also emerged online.
BlackBerry's chief competitor with its new device will be Apple. The group recently launched the iPhone 4, selling 1.7 million devices in the first three days despite a problem with the antennae that caused the device to drop signal if held in a particular way.
Competition has heated up between the two companies, spurred on by Steve Jobs using the BlackBerry as an example of other phones that apparently have the same antennae problem as the iPhone.
BlackBerry joint-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie responded to the Apple CEO's statements saying that Apple using the Blackberry as an example was unacceptable.
"Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable," they said in a statement.
"Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation," it continued.
"RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage."
- Fin24.com
