Research in Motion on Tuesday introduced two new smartphones based on the BlackBerry 7 operating system: the BlackBerry Bold 9790 and the BlackBerry Curve 9380.
The phones will be available in the coming weeks through various carriers around the world, according to RIM.
The BlackBerry Bold 9790 features a high-resolution touch display and a keyboard while the BlackBerry Curve 9380 is the first BlackBerry Curve smartphone with a touch display.
Both smartphones are powered by an operating system that includes improved browsing, near-field communications to enable mobile payments, the option to manage personal content separately from corporate information, and support for so-called Augmented Reality. The Augmented Reality function, RIM explained, allows users to do such things as find BlackBerry Messenger contacts in real-time, read reviews on restaurants near them or learn about an interesting landmark and points of interest.
The BlackBerry 7 OS comes with a number of preinstalled apps and integrated functionality, including Documents to Go, which offers document editing features and a native PDF document viewer. Some other features of the operating system enable users to back up and secure personal data in the cloud and easily connect with Facebook friends in real time, RIM said.
RIM hopes the new devices will help stop the bleeding. The company's OS market share continues to fall as Android, Apple, and even Windows Phone, take customers away from the phone giant.
