BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has unveiled new smartphone models – the BlackBerry Pearl 3G and the BlackBerry Bold 9650 – to rival the iPhone and growing Android base. The company has also unveiled new unified communications (UC) capabilities.
Measuring less than two inches wide (50mm) and weighing only 3.3 ounces (93g), the BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone includes support for high-speed 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) networks, Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and GPS, along with a powerhouse processor that drives visually stunning images on the sharp, high-resolution display.
It also features an optical trackpad for smooth navigation, dedicated volume and media keys for added convenience, a 3.2-MP camera with flash for quality pictures on the go, and support for up to 32GB of personal content.
The new Pearl boasts a 624Mhz processor with 256Mb of Flash memory and a 360×400 sharp-resolution display.
The BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone supports 3G (EVDO) networks in North America and (HSPA/UMTS) abroad and has a full-QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad and built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g), which makes it possible to talk on the phone while browsing the web or sending and receiving email.
The BlackBerry Bold 9650 also includes 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 32GB micro SDHC cards, with a 2GB card included.
About BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5
In addition to the new smartphones, RIM also launched its BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with voice over Wi-Fi calling.
BlackBerry MVS 5 works with Cisco Unified Communications Manager to provide a business user with the ability to use their regular desk phone number and extension from their BlackBerry smartphone.
With the new version 5, an employee will be able to use a single work phone number shared between their desk phone and BlackBerry smartphone and make and receive enterprise calls on their BlackBerry smartphone over a Wi-Fi connection, adding to the existing capability available over cellular networks.
“BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 effectively provides a wireless extension of the corporate phone system to allow voice over Wi-Fi calling at work, public hotspots and home,” Alan Panezic, VP, Platform Product Management at Research In Motion.
“It presents a great opportunity for companies to enhance the productivity of employees who are often away from their desks or working from home, such as workers in construction, hospitality, sales and professional services.
“This latest release enables businesses to better leverage their investment in the corporate phone system, adapt to the growing demand by employees for more flexible work arrangements, improve workforce productivity and save costs on long-distance and international roaming charges,” Panezic said.
By John Kennedy
Pictured: The BlackBerry Bold 9650
