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Yesterday, we got a chance to see the upcoming BlackBerry Bold Touch 9930 on video, and now it’s the turn for BlackBerry Touch 9860 (code-named Monaco or Monza) in action. This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve seen hands on with RIM’s next touchscreen slate phone, or even the second, but it’s nice to see just how snappy the touchscreen is. The video of the BlackBerry 9860 does a hardware comparison with the Torch 9800, where we can really appreciate the slim profile. The OS (presumably 6.1) is still a work in progress, as the video shows the media app crashing, and the main icon grid is missing the standard dark background for half the video.
We expect that the BlackBerry Touch wiill launch with a 1.2 GHz processor by Qualcomm, have 769 MB of RAM, a 3.7-inch 800 x 480 display, include a 5 megapixel camera capable of 720p video recording, and include 4 GB of internal storage on top of microSD. The usual stuff like 14.4 Mbps HSPA+, Wi-Fi b/g/n with mobile hotspot, Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS are on the BlackBerry 9860 as well, but the real signature additions will be the magnetic compass to support augmented reality apps, and a near-field communications chip so you can make contactless payments with your phone. You can find more detailed specs over here.
RIM has a whole slew of OS 6.1 devices coming down the pipe with AR app and NFC support, but the Touch 9860 sticks out by having the highest resolution and biggest screen on a BlackBerry smartphone to date. Unfortunately, with Android handsets eking past the 4-inch and 960 x 540 mark, I don’t think the 9860 will stand up in a side-by-side comparison by the time in launches. Speaking of which, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the BlackBerry Touch announced next month at RIM’s big conference and launched over the summer; we’ll keep you posted.
[via BBNews]
About The Author
Simon Sage
Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.
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