Blackberry's on a roll

With the recent introduction of the Apple iPhone, Blackberry has had to catch up. Sort of, kind of, NOT!

Blackberry is in a league of it's own. It has been adopted by Corporations around the world. To break free of that stronghold will take a huge undertaking by Apple.

That said, RIM has announced a number of initiatives and new models over the last while. Here are just a few.

Blackberry Javelin
Blackberry Thunder
Blackberry Flip
Blackberry Bold

The most recent one that has been announced is the Blackberry Javelin. However, currently you will need to wait for the Blackberry Javelin release date.

Blackberry Announces Flip

Blackberry is launching the New BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 Smartphone which is a version of their Pearl Smartphone. They are doing this to capture some retail consumer marketshare.

This device will be no different than the current Blackberry Pearl in features. It will sport a video and music player, a suretype keyboard, a web browser.

70% of the mobile users in the US use a flip phone and RIM is looking to gain some marketshare by adding that feature to their line up.

The flip version of the Blackberry Pearl device should be available in the fall of 2008.

Mobile Wikepedia

If you are a Blackberry user and need access to information quickly you may want to open your mobile browser and check this out. It is the mobile version of Wikepaedia!

Visit www.wapedia.mobi and make sure you bookmark it.

Blackberry Thunder changes it's name to Blackberry 9500

RIM / BlackBerry officially announced that the BlackBerry Thunder will now be known as the Blackberry 9500.

The Blackberry 9500 is going to take on the iPhone head to head. It's 360 x 480 resolution will give it a crisp display. Watch for it later this year.

For more details on Blackberry Handsfree devices click here.

Blackberry vs iPhone Marketshare

The top 5 manufacturer Q1/08 marketshare numbers are in.

Apple iPhone marketshare dropped from 26.7% to 19.2%
Blackberry RIM marketshare rose from 35.1% to 44.5%
Palm marketshare rose from 7.9% to 13.4%
Samsung marketshare increased from 5.1% to 8.6%
Motorola marketshare dropped from 7.5% to 2.6%

This summer will continue to be a battle for marketshare as RIM and Apple launch their 3G product. RIM launches it's Blackberry Bold and Apple will launch it's 3G-capable iPhone.

Make cheap calls with a Blackberry

I came across an article recently outlining the background for Research in Motion. It talks about the Blackberry Pearl, the Enterprise Applications as well as some of the Blackberry handset benefits.

Take a read for more information on the Blackberry.

Blackberry with the "Touch" of an iPhone

I came across this article indicating some insiders at RIM are looking towards a 3rd quarter launch of a touchscreen Blackberry. They say that it will be available with Vodaphone and Verizon.

This devise is being touted at the Blackberry 9500 Thunder. You can read more about the launch here.

If you look at the feature of the new touchscreen and add the features of the Blackberry Bold released earlier this week, you have great competition for the Apple iPhone.

Would you prefer a touchscreen, Qwerty or Suretype keyboard?

Leave a comment and let me know.