RIM Introduces BlackBerry Torch smartphone in Hong Kong

The model is first to feature BlackBerry 6 OS with rich WebKit Browser and Chinese handwriting software.

Research In Motion (RIM) on Thursday introduced the new BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone in Hong Kong. Designed to satisfy the mobile needs of socially connected consumers and packed with the tools business customers love, the new handset is the world's first smartphone to combine a BlackBerry® keyboard with a full touch screen experience. It is also the first to feature the new BlackBerry® 6 operating system and Chinese handwriting software, according to a RIM report.

“The new BlackBerry Torch is one of RIM’s most important product launches in Hong Kong. This powerful smartphone builds on the industry-leading strengths of the BlackBerry platform with a new handset design that offers top-of-the-line features and elegant styling,” said Norm Lo, Vice President of Asia Pacific, Research In Motion.

“With its new operating system, including an enhanced user interface and rich WebKit browser, the highly anticipated BlackBerry Torch smartphone delivers smoothly integrated and uncompromising capabilities for both business professionals and consumers. We are very excited to bring the BlackBerry Torch to customers in Hong Kong.”

The new BlackBerry Torch smartphone features an exciting combination of a large capacitive touch screen, optical trackpad and a backlit slide-out BlackBerry keyboard. It also offers support for high-speed 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) networks around the world, includes the latest generation in Wi-Fi® (b/g/n) connectivity, and features built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging. Its 5 MP camera takes exceptional pictures with continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes and zoom, and it also supports video recording. In addition, it comes with a combined 8 GB of media storage out-of-the-box and includes a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that can bring the total storage memory to 36 GB for users that want more.

BlackBerry 6
The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with BlackBerry 6, a new operating system that retains the familiar and trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that’s powerful and easy to use.

BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with the touch screen and trackpad, includes expanded messaging capabilities with intuitive features to simplify the management of social networking and RSS feeds (Social Feeds), and provides integrated access to BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™ and various messaging applications available on the BlackBerry Torch smartphone. Its enhanced multimedia experience rivals the best in the industry and includes a dedicated YouTube app.

BlackBerry 6 also integrates a new and rich WebKit-based browser on BlackBerry Torch that renders HTML web pages (as well as HTML email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, pinch to zoom for easy navigation and an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page's key elements (simply double-tap on the BlackBerry Torch).

Universal search allows users to search through email, messages, contacts, music, videos and more on the smartphone, as well as extend search to the Internet or to discover applications on BlackBerry App World™.

Chinese Handwriting
The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone that comes with Chinese handwriting software. With the character recognition technology, writing on the screen of the BlackBerry Torch is simple and straight forward. It even provides suggestions for different Chinese phrases, making input faster and easier. Users can also write using English, symbols and numbers within the same interface.

Apps At Your Fingertips and Wi-Fi® Music Sync
The BlackBerry Torch is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include BlackBerry App World pre-installed, making it easier than ever for customers to discover and purchase BlackBerry applications.

In addition, the BlackBerry Torch 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. 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.

The new BlackBerry Torch smartphone is expected to be available from RIM authorized carrier partners and retail channels in Hong Kong at the end of October.