We knew right when we exclusively revealed the BlackBerry Monaco and Monza back in January that the devices would likely shed the “Storm” moniker, and now it’s looking even more likely. BlackBerry enthusiast blog N4BB cites multiple sources in suggesting that RIM may have finally landed on a new brand for the full touchscreen smartphone it is preparing to launch later this year: “Volt.” The report is unsure at best however, suggesting that RIM might instead choose to slap the Torch brand on the Monaco 9850 and Monza 9860. We took a hands-on look at the BlackBerry Monaco/Monza — which features a 3.7-inch touchscreen, a 1.2GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera and NFC — back in March.

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With BlackBerry World 2011 coming to a close, you knew there had to be some unannounced news waiting to come out of the conference, right? We have been told by multiple sources that RIM is planning on releasing its followup to the BlackBerry PlayBook around the holidays this year. That’s clearly less than a year from the April launch of the original PlayBook — and the 4G versions aren’t even out yet — but there is a key differentiating factor here… the screen size. It’s entire possibly that RIM wants to play in both segments of the tablet market, and the PlayBook 2 could probably be thought of as an additional PlayBook model as opposed to the second-generation tablet. We have been told this tablet will be in the 10-inch range as opposed to the current model, which sports a 7-inch screen. The first model is selling pretty well according to some analysts, and a bigger version of the tablet along with an update OS that includes an email client, BBM and more could really hit the sweet spot. That’s all we have on the upcoming PlayBook 2, but hit the break for some details on BlackBerry OS 7.

This information is unconfirmed, but we have been told that the just-announced BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930 won’t be launching until mid-August at the earliest. We previously reported the device would launch in the June / July timeframe and it still looks like that was the original plan, but apparently the launch was delayed for reasons unknown. Additionally, we were told that the rest of RIM’s 2011 lineup we exclusively leaked and previewed won’t be announced until BlackBerry’s DevCon conference on October 18th. Apparently the higher ups at RIM have been vocally unhappy about the “disproportionate” reallocation of resources to the PlayBook away from the OS 7 lineup. We’ll see how this all shakes out soon enough.

We broke the news on practically all of RIM’s 2011 BlackBerry smartphones, and even scored some hands-on time with more than a couple of them. We wanted to take a minute to highlight the new products coming out of Waterloo now that all of the phones have leaked in some form. Remember, a lot of these are codenames that obviously won’t make it to retail — this is how the company keeps track of the devices internally and sometimes a single product can have multiple codenames.

BlackBerry Bold Touch (codename: Dakota)

This is the big boy from RIM this year — it’s the BlackBerry that BlackBerry users have always said they wanted, a BlackBerry Bold with a touchscreen and very solid specs. The BlackBerry Bold Touch (it’s possible the name will differ at launch) combines RIM’s latest industrial design with a viciously modern twist, and bakes it all together with a screaming 1.2GHz Qualcomm CPU, a 2.8-inch 640 x 480-pixel touchscreen display, 8GB of internal storage, 768MB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera with 720p HD video capture, and even NFC support. Any serious BlackBerry user will be picking this up when it launches, and we’ve heard it’s currently tracking for a global release in June or July.

BlackBerry Touch (codename: Monaco / Monza)

The BlackBerry Touch (the name may differ at launch) is the company’s flagship full touchscreen product and from what we’ve heard, it’s shaking off the BlackBerry Storm moniker that people associate with one of the worst ideas to come out of RIM — a half-baked product that featured a SurePress keyboard, which really only meant that you surely pressed the wrong damn letter. In any case, the BlackBerry Touch ditches any sort of complicated screen mechanism for something a little bit more straightforward — a big, beautiful 3.7-inch 800 x 480-pixel capacitive display. It’s also powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, has integrated NFC, and with RIM’s latest OS upgrade, BlackBerry OS 6.1, the device is incredibly speedy. OS 6.1 also provides enhanced graphics and gaming capabilities, so watch for this phone to be the most game-friendly BlackBerry of all time. The BlackBerry Touch is currently looking like it will be released in the second quarter globally. Verizon Wireless will also be getting a CDMA variant of the handset.

BlackBerry Torch 2 (codename: Jennings)

RIM’s BlackBerry Torch product line is interesting. On one hand, it combines the best of both worlds — a touch display and the tried and true BlackBerry keyboard. Unfortunately, the first BlackBerry Torch seemed like a product that was around three years too late. It was underpowered, featured a display with a terrible resolution, and its software was buggy, slow, and clunky. Good news, however — the BlackBerry Torch 2 morphs the Torch into a competitive product that should prove to be a worthy upgrade to the original Torch. We’re talking about a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor (noticing a trend, here?), a 3.2-inch 640 x 480-pixel capacitive display, 8GB of built-in storage, 512MB of RAM, NFC, and more. The BlackBerry Torch 2 should be available globally late this summer.

BlackBerry Curve (codename: Apollo)

The BlackBerry Curve, since it was introduced, has been RIM’s most popular lineup of BlackBerry smartphones. Gone are the days of having to choose between a Curve that only had GPS and didn’t have Wi-Fi, or vice versa, and the latest BlackBerry Curves have provided decent specs at relatively low prices. The new BlackBerry Curve refresh, however, brings the entire Curve lineup up to date, and in a sexy way. The device doesn’t shake the 480 x 360-pixel display, but it adds a 800MHz processor, 5-megapixel camera, 512MB of storage and 512MB of RAM, NFC, and more. This also looks like it will be a summer release.

BlackBerry Curve (codename: Orlando)

This is a little bit of a curveball, but there is a BlackBerry Curve with a touchscreen in addition to a QWERTY keyboard, more like a baby brother to the BlackBerry Bold Touch. We’re told this device will feature practically the same specifications as the BlackBerry Curve (Apollo), and will look almost, if not, identical. We’ll have to see how this shakes out and how the company plans to differentiate between the two — touch, and non-touch — Curve devices.

BlackBerry Curve Touch

You know what? This is the real curveball. Not content with stopping at a flagship full touchscreen handset, RIM is gearing up to release a phone known as the BlackBerry Curve Touch, and it’s a full touchscreen device with the proportions of the latest generation (unreleased) BlackBerry Curve. As far as specifications, we’re anticipating the BlackBerry Curve Touch will utilize the same internals as the other devices in the BlackBerry Curve lineup — 800MHz processor, 5-megapixel camera, NFC, and more. The BlackBerry Curve Touch should look like the image above with the addition of a trackpad for navigation, and the standard four BlackBerry keys beneath the display.

RIM certainly seems to have some big devices planned for 2011. With specifications that finally match up with the year of release and a reasonably decent OS upgrade before the company switches over to its new QNX-based OS, there’s plenty for BlackBerry lovers to be exciting about in 2011.

You remember the BlackBerry Touch — also known as the Monaco or Monza — don’t you? Of course you do. The device we brought you exclusive images of last month has been nabbed again, this time on video. The two-plus minute clip showcases the device running BlackBerry 6.1 and, from what we can see, it looks to be pretty snappy. The video’s narrator is speaking in Thai — which is not a language in our linguistic wheelhouse — so we’re just going to have to let you observe and pass judgement on your own. The video is waiting for you after the break. Enjoy.

[Via BBNews]

Part of RIM’s upcoming 2011 BlackBerry lineup we leaked in January contained the company’s latest evolution of a full touchscreen device, the BlackBerry Monaco / Monza. Both names are codenames that signify different carriers the phone will land on, we’re told — Verizon Wireless will get the Monaco while the BlackBerry Monza is the  global GSM version. In any case, the BlackBerry Storm is a thing of the past and RIM finally realizes that its SurePress innovation wasn’t innovative at all. In fact, it was probably one of the biggest complaints users had with the orignal BlackBerry Storm. Hit the break for more details and don’t forget to check out our photo gallery!

The new device, most likely not a member of the Storm family — it may launch as the BlackBerry Touch, though that’s not confirmed — is a thinner, faster and sexier BlackBerry handset. It will run BlackBerry OS 6.1 and as part of the new OS, users will need a BlackBerry ID to login to the system. This is something we’ve been throwing around in our heads for a while — the concept is that you have a BlackBerry ID as opposed to a PIN, which might help facilitate a cloud-type service for backing up data and restoring it, sharing contact information, switching devices, and so on — all tied to your BlackBerry ID. In any case, OS 6.1 looks to be pretty similar to OS 6.0, but we’ll have to see if RIM has any surprises left for us in the three to four months before the BlackBerry Bold Touch is released.

Finally, we’re also hearing that RIM will make all of the devices we exclusively leaked official at BlackBerry World in May — the BlackBerry Bold Touch, BlackBerry Curve Touch, BlackBerry Torch 2 and BlackBerry Touch (BlackBerry Monaco / Monza). Looks like it’s shaping up to be quite a show! Make sure to check out all the photos in our gallery!

Last month, BGR exclusively reported preliminary details surrounding an upcoming smartphone from Research In Motion codenamed the BlackBerry Monaco. Due for launch from Verizon Wireless in September of this year according to our report, the Monaco could be the third installment in RIM’s Storm series. Now, the Monaco has been caught on film for the first time. As expected, the front of the device appears to be similar in design to the BlackBerry Torch, minus the physical QWERTY keypad, of course. Like the Torch, the Monaco includes RIM’s optical trackpad beneath its touchscreen display, which is something seen as a bit peculiar for the Monaco’s full touchscreen form factor. This is the result of RIM’s continued efforts to turn the aging BlackBerry OS into a touchscreen-friendly platform. Results at this point have received mixed reviews, but the company will eventually shift BlackBerry smartphones to its new QNX platform — which will debut on the BlackBerry PlayBook next — as it was designed with touchscreens in mind. Until then, this is likely the best BlackBerry fans can hope for. Hit the jump for the video and see our original exclusive report for full specs on the upcoming BlackBerry Monaco, which include a 1.2GHz processor and NFC compatibility.

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Research In Motion Co-CEO Jim Balsillie on Wednesday confirmed that upcoming new BlackBerry smartphones will contain Near Field Communication chips in 2011. During a keynote shared with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop and NTT DoCoMo CEO Riuji Yamada at Mobile World Congress, Balsillie said “many, if not most” of his company’s smartphones released this year would include NFC capabilities. This confirms details from BGR’s exclusive report last month, which revealed several BlackBerry devices slated for release in 2011 and outlined specs that often included NFC capabilities. NFC is being promoted aggressively by cell phone makers, carriers, banks and other companies looking to profit from the new mobile payment systems NFC will facilitate. Google has already begun to show off Android’s NFC capabilities with its Nexus S smartphone, and Apple will soon unveil its next-generation iPhone with NFC capabilities as well.

Two weeks ago, BGR revealed several upcoming smartphones BlackBerry maker RIM had baking in the oven. Tonight, the CDMA side of the equation has been filled out following a leaked internal slide deck obtained by Crackberry.com. Joining the Bold Touch (Dakota), the next-generation Curve (Apollo), The Torch 2 and the Storm 3 (Monaco) are a swarm of CDMA handsets destined for U.S. shores. The Montana will launch in August of this year as the CDMA counterpart to the Dakota. Like the GSM Bold Touch, the Montana will feature a 1.2GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel camera and a touchscreen above its classic QWERTY keypad. The Sedona will line up with the Apollo as RIM’s entry-level CDMA device for the second half of the year, and will launch in August or September. Finally, the previously unknown Curve Touch (Malibu) appears to be a forthcoming entry-level full touchscreen device for the CDMA market. Due in late fall, the Curve Touch features the same 800GHz processor as the next-gen Curves, a 3.2-inch HVGA touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel camera with support for HD video capture, 1GB of flash memory, 512MB of RAM, microSDHC support and an updated version of the BlackBerry 6 OS. Additional slides in the deck detail upcoming tweaks to the BlackBerry 6 OS, new gaming features, new personalization options, A CDMA version of the Monaco, of course, and plenty more. Hit the break for some more key slides and then hit the read link for the rest of the deck.

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We unveiled nearly all of RIM’s 2011 lineup over the past day or so, and we wanted to highlight the devices as well as give you a bit more background and personal thoughts on them — and of course, more photos. For starters, though, let’s talk about RIM’s NFC implementation and its real world use cases… we have been told RIM is planning to use NFC for pairing and streaming control with accessories, in addition to peer-to-peer information exchange. What does that mean? Well, you’d hold up one BlackBerry to another BlackBerry to add that person on BlackBerry Messenger, transfer your vCard information, or even share files. Future NFC uses headed to BlackBerry devices, we’re told, include things as crazy as building access control (no more key cards!), ticketing, and of course, payments. Hit the break for the rest of our break down!

BlackBerry Bold (Dakota)

The BlackBerry Dakota is the creme de la creme of the 2011 BlackBerry family, and it will carry the Bold name. RIM has taken various shots at this form factor and the Dakota will be the first one to see the light of day. We’re glad the company took the time to get it right, because earlier prototypes we’ve seen definitely fell short. The Torch is a great phone for some, but those of us who live and die by the perfect QWERTY keyboard found on RIM’s Bold line had trouble dealing with the thin plastic keys and minimal tactile response on the Torch’s board.

Beyond the heaven-sent full QWERTY / touchscreen combo, the Dakota will feature specs that are definitely a solid bump over today’s Bold devices. By 2011 standards they’re not going to blow anyone away, but higher display resolution, RAM upgrade, NFC, mobile hotspot capability and thin form factor are sure to please the eager BlackBerry-toting masses. Toss HD video recording and OS 6.1 into the mix, and we’re looking at the likely king of Waterloo in 2011.

BlackBerry Curve (Apollo)

The BlackBerry Curve sits lower than the Bold on RIM’s device lineup totem pole, but with the newest Curve ready to debut later this year, people will be in for a treat. With a decent screen, HSPA, a 5-megapixel camera, and an 800MHz CPU, the brand new BlackBerry Curve definitely won’t be a slouch. The styling flows very well on the Curve pictured above with smooth angles and… curves. The phone also appears sleek and perfectly proportioned. RIM’s Curve line is by far its biggest, and we think this update will definitely help keep RIM’s enterprise sales moving in the right direction.

BlackBerry Torch 2

RIM called the first Torch its best BlackBerry ever, though many would take issue with that statement. The Torch did nothing for me, personally. In fact, all it really did was make using a BlackBerry device more clunky and painful. Part of this is the hardware’s vertical slide out design, but part of it was due to the slow processor and weak internals. But if all goes according to plan, one of the Torch’s two big strikes will soon be taken care of. The BlackBerry Torch 2 should scream with its 1.2GHz CPU, VGA-resolution screen and large built-in storage. Again, these specs aren’t going to make anyone’s head spin in Q3 2011, but they’ll definitely give the Torch the shot of adrenaline it so desperately needs.

BlackBerry Storm 3 (Monaco)

We have not confirmed that the BlackBerry Monaco will launch with the “Storm 3″ moniker, though if it did, it would be practically nothing like the first device in the series. The first BlackBerry Storm, internally referred to as an “Apple Killer” and arguably one of the worst handsets ever to created by Research In Motion (remember how we reported it would be terrible before release?), shares nothing with the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 3 — no SurePress screen, no clunky hardware, no slow processor. This new full touchscreen device will be powered by a 1.2GHz CPU and feature the highest resolution display to ever ship on a BlackBerry — 800 x 480 pixels. We’ll have to see how it plays out in the marketplace, though, because by the time it is released in Q3, there will be much, much more advanced handsets with much more robust operating systems.

We hope you BlackBerry-lovers out there are excited with the information we have shared over the past two days. RIM is definitely moving towards better-spec’d devices — we’ll just have to see if it’s going to be soon enough, and if it’s going to be enough to compete with the iPhone and Android juggernauts.

Back in September we got our hands on some official AT&T documents which indicated that the LG Monaco, now being called the IQ, would be hitting AT&T’s lineup sometime in late November. However, as November draws to a close, we have yet to see any signs of said handset on Ma’ Bell here in the States. Enter, Canada. It appears as though our friends from Telus are preparing to roll out the LG IQ just in time for the holiday season. As previously reported, the specs on this full-QWERTY slider are pretty darn good: GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz), 3.2″ WVGA touchscreen, 480 x 800 screen resolution, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, WiFi (b/g), GPS, fingerprint scanner, and 5 megapixel camera. This nice little package will be wrapped in LG’s S-Class user interface, run Windows Mobile 6.5, and, allegedly, be powered by the oh-so-tasty Snapdragon processor. Any of our Canadian peeps going to give the IQ a test? Did you see what we just did there? We have the video all queued up for you after the bounce.

[Via Engadget]

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As you might have imagined, the unending leakfest continues today with information about two more handsets headed AT&T’s way. First up is the Pantech Aladdin, a QWERTY slider with HSDPA connectivity, 2.2-inch QVGA display, 1.3 megapixel camera, aGPS, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, microSD expansion, threaded SMS, and support for Napster, eMusic and other forms of Windows DRM. This entry-level handset will fall in line with the Pantech Matrix / Matrix Pro and is expected later this year. Also expected to drop at AT&T is the LG Monaco, a high-end Windows Mobile side slider. The Monaco will feature a 3.2-inch WVGA touchscreen display, 3.6Mbps HSDPA, 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, microSDHC support and a sweet-sounding Pico projector accessory. The Monaco will reportedly run Windows Mobile 7 which likely pushes the launch date of this phone well into 2010. Hit the jump for the associated slides.

Read (Pantech Aladdin)
Read (LG Monaco)