The BlackBerry Bold 9900 recently passed FCC certification, but that’s not the only RIM device coming down the pipe. The Torch 2 9810 has also made its way through the testing rigamarole, which suggests that it’s one of the multiple devices RIM has promised in the next month.The bands tested line up with AT&T’s HSPA network, so that locks in at least one supporting carrier for launch.
Like most of the next-generation BlackBerry smartphones, the Torch 9810 will have a near-field communications chip built in for contactless payments and other neat applications. There will also be a magnetic compass included which will enable augmented reality appls like Wikitude. From what we’ve seen in leaked spec sheets, the Torch 9810 should have a 1.2 GHz processor, 768 MB of RAM, a 5 megapixel camera with 720p video recording and LED flash, and a 3.17-inch 640 x 480 touchscreen. Although the specs are a solid step up from the original Torch launched last summer, the slider form factor will remain more or less the same, based on what we’ve seen in early hands-on pictures.
I’ve been using the Torch 9800 full-time for awhile now (barring the odd review unit), and though it’s nice having both a physical keyboard and a large touchscreen, I’ll likely be switching to the Bold 9900 when it comes out; the larger keyboard and improved battery life are really hard to argue with. If you had to pick between one of the two OS 7 devices, which would it be? Maybe you’d prefer the bigger screen on the BlackBerry 9860…?
[via WirelessGoodness]