RIM Unveils New BlackBerry Phones

WATERLOO, Canada (TheStreet) -- Research In Motion (RIMM) has just announced two new BlackBerry smartphones, but it's not exactly being forthcoming in providing details about them.

There are no new blockbuster designs; the two new phones, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the BlackBerry Pearl 3G, are slightly updated versions of existing models.

BlackBerry Bold 9650

According to the specifications sheet sent by RIM's public relations team, the Bold 9650 is a candy bar smartphone with a 3.2-megapixel camera, a "large, high-resolution screen, GPS and Wi-Fi (802.11b/g). It's made to work as either a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS or dual-band CDMA/EV-DO (Rev A) phone.

BlackBerry Pearl 3G

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G, meanwhile, is strictly a GSM phone (said to be a quad-band device with tri-band, 3G UMTS capabilities). It too has a "large, high-resolution screen," a 3.2-megapixel camera and GPS, although it has better Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n).

Both designs have RIM's new Track Pad in place of the older (and somewhat finicky) trackball design. Both are said to be able to handle voice and data at the same time (on the EV-DO model?), both can handle downloaded apps from the BlackBerry store and, of course, both excel at handling your email and appointments in the time-tested BlackBerry style.

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That said, there's not much else to tell you. I asked the RIM media relations department whether it was ready to announce wireless carriers for these new models and whether there was a press release available with more details.

I was told there was no draft press release yet. As for carriers, here was RIM's response:

"The BlackBerry Bold 9650 will be available next month from Sprint (S). The BlackBerry Pearl 3G will be available in Canada on Bell, TELUS (TU) and Rogers (RCI). You'll need to check with U.S. carriers for availability."

So, there you have it! Research In Motion is announcing two new BlackBerry models. We know one will be sold by Sprint and the other will be sold in Canada. As for pricing or availability dates, you're on your own.

I hope RIM is planning to offer a little more information when it announces its much-anticipated, completely redesigned BlackBerry models in the near future.

Gary Krakow is TheStreet.com's senior technology correspondent.