RIM announces new BlackBerry Bold smartphones, updates operating system

Canadian tech manufacturer Research In Motion has revealed a suite of updates for its BlackBerry devices overnight, including two new smartphones that are the company’s thinnest yet and a brand new version of its flagship BlackBerry operating system.

The announcements also come alongside some new updates for the PlayBook tablet, including a native Facebook app – a program that even iPad users don’t have yet – and a video conferencing feature.

The releases come just a day ahead of the start of BlackBerry World 2011, a new conference RIM is using to bring together developers and clients in the hope of drumming up more support in its ongoing fight for dominance in the tech sector.

At a major press announcement yesterday, RIM unveiled two new BlackBerry Bold smartphones – the 9900 and the 9930. It calls them the most powerful BlackBerrys yet, featuring the typical BlackBerry keyboard, a high resolution capacitive touch screen and new 1.2 GHz processors.

The phones also come with support for 4G networks – which are gaining prominence in the United States – along with liquid graphs screens and WiFi capability. Both are just over 10mm thick.

The two smartphones are essentially smaller, faster versions of the same device, but early reports from tech publications such as Engadget report they feel good and are easy to use.

“We’re excited to see what RIM does with the built-in NFC technology, and the faster processor should definitely open the floodgates to more robust applications in the future,” Boy Genius Report said.

However, Engadget also points out that “we can’t shake the feeling that we’re looking at the device RIM should have shipped last summer”.

The new phones also feature NFC technology, which is now being implemented within many of the Android phones manufactured by Nokia and Samsung. RIM says the NFC tech will allow users to send information between devices.

The BlackBerry 7 operating system was also announced, featuring a suite of new features including the ability to manage personal content separate from personal content on a device – something executives and privacy experts have been calling for, for quite some time.

This system is called the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution, and the company says it was designed in response to requests from various enterprise customers who want a “secure multi-platform device management solution”.

Security experts have said that because the BlackBerry combines both personal and executive data, the gadgets are at more risk of being stolen and hacked.

The browser has been updated as well, including support for more HTML5 elements, while features such as universal search and voice-activated search have been updated. RIM have also said users will get full versions of Docs To Go right out of the box.

But some of the more interesting announcements were reserved for the PlayBook tablet, which RIM is positioning as a more-powerful alternative to Apple’s iPad.

The first is that a new video chat system will be introduced for the tablet, making use of the gadget’s front-facing 5-megapixel camera. However, the feature will only work on a WiFi connection, just as Apple’s FaceTime does.

While the announcement has been welcomed by the tech community, some wonder whether the feature will bring any new customers. PCWorld points out that if RIM had used Apple’s FaceTime technology, it would have allowed users to chat with their friends and colleagues who own iPhones and iPod Touch devices.

“I think RIM missed an opportunity by not embracing FaceTime and letting the PlayBook connect with the millions of iPhones, iPad 2s, and Macs out there,” Tony Bradley said.

BlackBerry fans were also struck by another announcement – the PlayBook will receive a native Facebook app.

Other tablet owners, including those who use iPads, do not have access to a native Facebook app yet.