BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry 6 OS-powered smartphone

RIM and AT&T have introduced the new BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone. The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with BlackBerry 6. The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include BlackBerry App World pre-installed, supporting carrier billing through AT&T, making it easier for customers to discover and purchase applications.

BlackBerry Torch features the latest BlackBerry OS 6, a 3.2-inch 360x480 capacitive touch screen display, 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, 5MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to 640x480 resolution, built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth, and 3.5mm stereo headset jack.

BlackBerry 9800 Torch comes with powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory, 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8 GB of storage out-of-the-box. Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE are supported. The removable, rechargeable 1300 mAhr battery provides approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback.

BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone will be available only for AT&T customers on August 12 in AT&T company owned retail stores and online at www.att.com/blackberrytorch, as well as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and RadioShack stores.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be available for $199.99 with 2-year service agreement on a qualifying rate plan and smartphone data plan required. New smartphone customers may choose from two AT&T monthly data plan options, $15 for 200 MB of wireless data or $25 for 2 GB. Enterprise and small business customers should contact their account representative for pricing details.