Research In Motion takes on Apple with new touch-screen BlackBerry, operating system

The smartphone wars continue. Research In Motion unveiled its latest BlackBerry Torch handset overnight to a packed crowd in New York, as it moves to fight back against Apple’s growing dominance in the sector with a more enterprise-focused gadget.

But the most anticipated announcement of the day was the unveiling of BlackBerry OS 6, the company’s new operating system designed to be simpler and faster for more mainstream users. RIM hopes more developers will jump on the platform and add apps to the BlackBerry App World.

The BlackBerry Torch, or the BlackBerry 9800, is a touch-screen handset featuring a 3.2-inch 480×360 touchscreen, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and 4GB of internal storage, coupled with a 4GB microSD card.

RIM has also caught on to the social media bandwagon, with the phone able to integrate various messages from services like Facebook and Twitter.

It also comes with a 5 megapixel camera, integrated social networking feeds into the user-interface and, one of the most important improvements, increased battery power even when using Wi-Fi and 3G data. GPS is also included, along with voice-activated dialling and support for a variety of Bluetooth headsets and car systems.

But while the phone itself has been labelled a solid improvement over previous BlackBerry models, the BlackBerry OS 6 is the biggest focal point of the day.

The software brings a load of improvements, including a more user-friendly graphic interface, the ability to group apps by category and personal preference, a new navigation bar, universal search incorporating sites like YouTube and a completely new media player.

This media player is a key feature of the new system, with RIM hoping to capture a more mainstream market. It features podcast subscription features, and is taking lead from Apple by placing album and artist artwork in various places on the display.

“It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes or Windows Media Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists, as well as select music for download,” RIM said in a statement.

“When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes or Windows Media Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone.”
Users swipe left or right to see different view different screens, moving from the Home Screen to pages like “Favourites” and “Recent”, for items such as apps. The universal search also allows users to type in a word, like “weather”, and receive results from websites, apps and contacts.

Commentators have also highlighted the universal mailbox as a nice touch, with email, social networking messages visible in the one inbox. Users can also access RSS feeds by swiping a screen from their inbox.

Whether or not the phone itself is an iPhone killer, analysts are definitely impressed.

PC Mag wrote the gadget feels “Like a good BlackBerry, it feels rock-solid and like a premium device in the hand”. ComputerWorld said the device will appeal to business users who want “something lightweight and practical, but with the multimedia and apps featured in the newest generation of mobile devices”.

The company’s statements indicate it is continuingly focusing on the enterprise market, which has always been a stronghold for the BlackBerry brand. Features like a powerful universal inbox and sophisticated app navigation indicate BlackBerry is keeping its eye on business.

But on the other hand, RIM is having to follow the pack. The emphasis on a clean, simple touchscreen and a powerful media player all point to Apple’s iPhone, and the multiple home screens is a feature Android phones are known for.

The BlackBerry App World was also a prominent talking point overnight, with RIM hoping more developers will add to the marketplace.

However, the BlackBerry App World only has about 6,000 apps, and trails behind the Apple App Store’s 200,000 . However, this may not be the big problem it appears. The average app on the BlackBerry App World is over $US8, and they are usually more comprehensive and sophisticated, indicating users are paying for more detailed and useful apps rather than one-hit wonders like games and gimmick apps.

RIM hopes its new gadget will attract a more widespread audience. Analysts say while the company holds a 19% market share, it needs to bring in more mainstream buyers in order to stop losing any more ground to Apple and Android.

Both releases come as RIM is hoping to take on both the smartphone and tablet sectors, with rumours suggesting a “Blackpad” slate will hit shelves this November.