BlackBerry 9800 Torch Coming to AT&T
The guys over at Engaget have gotten their hands on a near-release version of Research In Motion Ltd.’s (RIM) most anticipated smartphone of the year. The markings on the phone give it all away. It is official: the BlackBerry 9800 Torch is coming to AT&T.
While some of you all sigh, and others cheer, rest assured that a Verizon Wireless version has to be somewhere in the works. With all of the rumors of the iPhone 4 appearing at a Verizon store near you sometime around the end of the year, RIM would have to be crazy to keep this new gem on only one carrier. Then again, Verizon is getting the BlackBerry Storm 3 , so maybe this is going to be AT&T’s baby for at least a little while.
Reports say that the BlackBerry 9800 is running BlackBerry OS 6 in a pre-release form, but we still have gotten no official word on the name. “Torch,” “Bold” and “Slide” have all been circulating as possibilities. With support for WCDMA bands I, II, V and VI, the new phone will be operable over most of Europe and Japan—excellent news for business travelers.
Since the 9800 is expected to be out by August, here is a quick rundown on the specifics that are known:
- A Webkit-based browser (like the iPhone)
- BlackBerry OS 6
- A touch-screen
- Slide-out keyboard
- WCDMA bands I, II, V and VI for international travelers
- An expected price range of $199 to $299
Little is known about the processors in the Torch, RAM or storage, but the Storm 3 will allegedly have a 1 Ghz processor and 1GB of RAM, so do not expect the Torch to disappoint.
Are you excited and ready to pick up one of these sometime in August? AT&T as the network going to discourage you? iPhone 4 killer anyone? Let me know.
Tags: BlackBerry 9800 Torch, Torch, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 9800 Slide, Bold
What about the Internet speed? I heard it was slow compared with the other smartphones?
Adios,
Jay
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I have my BB Torch and I’m loving it!. I also bought an insurance fo it from Ensquared Phone Insurance, they offer the best accidental damage plus lost and stolen coverage around.
Visit them at ensquared.com/BlackBerry_Torch_Insurance for more information.
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I have my own Bb Storm 1 from Verizon, and a work-issued Bb Curve on AT&T. The Storm’s GUI is a little clunky, I’d like a real mouse (the touchscreen web browsing is not accurate enough for me), more processor power, and the real QWERTY keyboard. But… I refuse to use AT&T’s network. It absolutely stinks. There have been times I’ve called into meetings on my work-issued Bb, even with 4 bars of reception, the sound was so crappy I couldn’t begin to understand the folks on the other end. I have hung up, called back using my personal Bb on Verizon, and the call was perfectly clear. I won’t be buying a phone on AT&T’s network.
RIM & Verizon: please bring the 9800 Torch to Verizon’s far superior network!
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Congrats on your multi million dollar company. Did you post this from your iphone. If you did you might want to use the spell check feature, assuming it has one. This is how your comment started out…”Obviously your to retarted to realize…” I agree, the guy you were commenting on was special, no doubt about that, however, I just thought it was funny you started out with two spelling errors.
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the comment that follows this breif statement is for the dumb-a** that posted this ignorant comment ” This phone looks great can’t wait to get it. I have at&t now and they try to push that new iphone such much I was scared they wasn’t trying to come out with any new real smart phones. Iphones is not for real men it for the dude that downloads all type of dumb apps just to say you got it. Plus Apple has everything on lock so all you do is send money to them app,music etc” ..
Obviously your to retarted to realize that the iphones technology is so much before its time . Can a blackberry function as a universal remote control or video chat ..hmm dont think so .. can it print directly to a printer how bout voice recognition software stilll no …. and as for the stupid real man statement. Im the sole owner of a multi million dollar productions agency and each one of our employees are issued a company iphone because of how much it increases productivity and we all know the more productive we are the more money in the bank. Now most REAL men would want one device that does it all so kinda like their penis haa
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I personally cannot wait for this beast.
I am on the VZW, but my contract has run out & I am looking foward to the AT&T network. I live in a great location for AT&T signal.
If VZW gets the phone by the end of the year I will switch back & sell the AT&T model. Man that phone looks great doesn’t it?
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the phone would have nicer if it slide to the side instead of up.but hey its a touch screen.i have the storm working on the at&t.some thing don’t work .that why i would like to get the 9800.i need my mms to work
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This phone looks great can’t wait to get it. I have at&t now and they try to push that new iphone such much I was scared they wasn’t trying to come out with any new real smart phones. Iphones is not for real men it for the dude that downloads all type of dumb apps just to say you got it. Plus Apple has everything on lock so all you do is send money to them app,music etc
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you better check you information a second time, the 9800 is listed as a gsm phone, for att, with 512 megs of ram, 4 gigs of storage a 5 mega pixel camera
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I can see it now… “Is that a Torch in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”
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I really hope they officially name it the Torch. It’s a catchy nomenclature.
And I really, really hope that Verizon gets it before the end of the year.
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I am sooooo glad that there is an answer for this iphone craze. Like the other gentleman said if they improve the browsing it a wrap! Thank you BB!!!!
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My daughter and I are both getting one as soon as they are released.
I’m waiting patiently.
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I am a long time Blackberry user. I was curious and picked up an iPhone back when the first model came available. While web usage was a big plus, the device quickly fell into poor favor due to typing difficulties and email and contact application short coming. I was not impressed, and web browsing alone could not hold my attention. The Blackberry is much better for managing email and contacts and has enough cool apps to satisfy me. In my humble opinion the Blackberry only lacked when I have deep reading of what I browse on the web. For the record I have owned and used the BB 72something, 8700c, 8820, 9000, and I currently have the 9700. All devices were purchased by me and not company issued. Meaning, I had a choice and spent my money on the device I felt best met my needs. Oh and I have/had an iPod which I have eliminated because I have downloaded all my music to my BB and have the benefit of blue tooth stereo headsets which work extremely well with my MLB and free radio applications. If RIM/Blackberry improves the browsing experience through the touch screen I will be extremely satisfied. Now how about a RIM/BlackberryPad to go with my BB super-smartphone?
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I know people have been looking for an “iphone killer” for years now…Well I think I have finaly found it……my left hand
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I live in Canada and I can’t wait till this comes out! I hope they dub it ‘Torch’.
My only doubt is the fact that Palm tried this form factor and it just didn’t work…..so I’m hoping things work in RIM’s favour for this risky move.
Here’s to hoping!
P.S. – Please stop saying the widely overused [mainstream product]-killer line.
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Ok, I am in serious need for a new phone. Having been a BB fan, the iPhone has some attraction. But this new BB is very interesting. Is this 9800 or Bold or Torch really coming in August … for sure?
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I somewhat always preferred blackberry to iphone. Don’t know why. This is great news. Can’t wait to see and feel the real deal.
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What will the differences be between the Storm 3 and the 9800?
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I know first hand that it is infact called the new “bold” whilst on the back of the phones housing it reads torch as I have held several dozen of these in my hands. To clarify, the new Bolds nickname is Torch.
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