RIM

This week Research In Motion announced the release date of the BlackBerry PlayBook. Available on April 19, 2011, it will come in three models -16GB ($499), 32GB ($599) or 64GB ($699). Best Buy is the first retailer offering preorders of the device – you can head to your local Best Buy store or preorder it online at www.bestbuy.com/playbook beginning today.

The BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi is billed as "the world's first professional-grade tablet" with features including support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment.

BlackBerry PlayBook specs:

• 7" 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen
• Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1” x 7.6” x 0.4” (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
• Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)
• 1080p HDMI output
• Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)
• 1 GB RAM memory
• Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)
• GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
• Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support

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Research In Motion is jumping into the Tablet game with its "professional-grade" BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Fueled by a 1 GHz dual-core processor and the new BlackBerry Tablet OS, the PlayBook has a 7-inch display, dual HD cameras that can both record HD video at the same time, stereo sound, a media player and an HDMI-out port. It supports Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Mobile AIR and HTML-5 and is compatible (out-of-the-box) with BlackBerry Enterprise Server. The PlayBook can also be paired with BlackBerry smartphones via Bluetooth. Read more

Last week RIM introduced the BlackBerry Torch. This week, Research in Motion brings us the new BlackBerry Curve 3G. Supporting 3G coverage around the world, the BlackBerry Curve 3G will be available later this month from T-Mobile. Additional providers will also be carrying the device.

The BlackBerry Curve 3G features a QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, and a 2 megapixel camera that shoots stills and video. It ships with a 2GB microSD card, supporting up to 32 GB cards for media storage. Additional features include dedicated media keys, pre-installed social networking apps and a range of messaging options, including personal and Exchange email, BBM, SMS, MMS, and IM.

Available in either smoky violet or graphite grey, the BlackBerry Curve 3G (model 9300) ships with BlackBerry 5 and is BlackBerry 6 ready. BlackBerry 6 is expected to be available for the BlackBerry Curve 3G in the coming months. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Research in Motion this week announced its first smartphone featuring the BlackBerry 6 operating system. The BlackBerry 9800 (known as the BlackBerry Torch) features a 3.2-inch touch screen, along with a full slide-out BlackBerry keyboard, support for AT&T's next generation messaging for SMS and MMS, and integrates a new WebKit-based brower for viewing HTML web pages and email. The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include BlackBerry App World pre-installed with AT&T billing support.

"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."Read more

T-Mobile this week announced that for one day only – Saturday, June 19 – every phone in every T-Mobile store is free. Starting at 8 a.m., go to a T-Mobile retail store and switch to any family plan, or add a new line to an existing family plan, and walk out of the store with a new phone for every new line with a two-year agreement.

No phones are excluded from the promotion. Over 30 devices are offered, including the new myTouch 3G Slide, HTC HD2, and Garminfone. Additional phones are available from Motorola, Nokia, RIM, Samsung, SonyEricsson, and Sharp. All phones will be available while supplies last, so you better arrive early to get the phone you want!

T-Mobile's free phones promotion is one day only, June 19, 2010 in every T-Mobile store across the country. For additional promotion details and a list of participating stores, visit www.t-mobile.com/celebratefamilies.

Research in Motion (RIM) yesterday introduced two new BlackBerry smartphones – the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the BlackBerry Pearl 3G.

Coming to Sprint on May 23, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 is a CDMA smartphone which operates on Sprint's 3G Network in the U.S., and roams on other wireless networks around the world. It features a full QWERTY keyboard, touch-sensitive trackpad, built-in Wi-Fi, a 3.2 MP camera, media player, Internet browser and built-in GPS.

The BlackBerry Bold 9650 will be available from Sprint on May 23 for $199.99 with a new two-year service agreement (after a $100 mail-in rebate). Read more

RIM just announced a new accessory that allows you to project and manage PowerPoint presentations wirelessly from a BlackBerry device - the BlackBerry Presenter.

Using the BlackBerry Presenter you can navigate presentations, view speaker notes, loop presentation slides and even reference information on one slide while displaying another. Thanks to a Bluetooth connection between the BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry Presenter, you can even walk around while presenting (up to 30 feet between the devices).

The BlackBerry Presenter will be available later this month on ShopBlackBerry.com for $199. For more information about the BlackBerry Presenter, visit www.blackberry.com/presenter.

Please note that the BlackBerry Presenter is not compatible with the BlackBerry Curve 8300 or BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8200 series but should work with any other models running BlackBerry software v4.6 or higher.

Verizon Wireless announced today that the BlackBerry Storm2 will be available beginning Oct. 28 at Verizon Wireless stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The BlackBerry Storm2 gets an upgrade with the BlackBerry OS 5.0, including new SurePress "clickable" display technology and built-in Wi-Fi.

The Storm2 features a 3.25-inch display at 184 ppi, 3G and global connectivity support, Wi-Fi, 256 MB of Flash memory, 2 GB of onboard media storage, a microSD/SDHD memory card slot with a 16 GB card (included). A 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, Image Stabilization, flash and video recording, 3.5mm headset jack, built-in GPS are also included.Read more

Research in Motion (RIM) has a new accessory for your BlackBerry that lets you listen to your favorite songs over your car's stereo – the BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone (model VM-605). This Bluetooth-enabled device also helps you keep both hands on the wheel by streaming calls from your BlackBerry through your car's stereo system. It supports voice activated dialing, caller ID, and gives you verbal notifications of who's calling.

It's easy to use, too. Just clip it to your car's visor with no installation required. The BlackBerry Visor Mount is available at www.shopblackberry.com for $99.99.

Today, RIM and Verizon Wireless announced that the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 will be available through Verizon Wireless beginning June 19th.

Features of the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 include:

• Two high-resolution color displays -- an external LCD lets you preview incoming messages without opening the handset
• 2.0 megapixel camera with zoom, flash and video recording capabilities
• Large SureType QWERTY keyboard
• microSD/SDHC card slot with support for up to 16 GB of memory per card
• Support for BlackBerry App World
• Rich multimedia capabilities and an advanced media player for music, videos and pictures
• Easy mobile access to Facebook, MySpace and Flickr, as well as instant messaging services (e.g. Yahoo! IM, AIM, Google Talk and Windows Live Messenger)
• BlackBerry Media Sync allows for easy syncing of music collections to the BlackBerry Pearl Flip (certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies)
• Visual Voice Mail ($2.99 monthly access)
• VZ Navigator-capable ($9.99 monthly access)

The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8320 will be available for $129.99 from www.verizonwireless.com after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.