RIM unveils new BlackBerry Pearl, Bold

Research In Motion unveiled a 3G version of its popular BlackBerry Pearl smartphone and a new Bold model that supports code division multiple access (CDMA) networks.

The Monday announcements came as the company opens a three-day annual showcase on Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.

The Waterloo, Ont.-based RIM touts the BlackBerry Pearl 3G as its smallest model to date.

The handset measures 50 millimetres wide, weighs about 94 grams and includes 3G network support, a 3.2-megapixel camera, GPS, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and an optical trackpad.

The new Pearl offers a 360 x 400 pixel high-resolution display, an improvement over the Pearl 8100's 240 x 260 pixel display, and a faster processor.

RIM said the Pearl 3G may appeal to consumers who want a powerful smartphone with the feel of a more traditional mobile phone, as opposed to touchscreen models like Apple's iPhone.

"We expect the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G will appeal to a broad range of mobile consumers, including many customers who want to upgrade from a traditional phone without giving up a highly compact and fashionable design," said Carlo Chiarello, RIM's vice-president of handheld product management.

Telus Mobility and Rogers said they will offer the Pearl 3G beginning in May. Bell Mobility also said it would carry the new model.

Telus announced that pricing for the Pearl 3G would start at $29.99 on a three-year plan. Rogers and Bell have yet to release details about availability and pricing.

RIM also announced it would be launching the BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone, the first Bold model designed for customers on CDMA networks, which are popular in the U.S.

The Bold 9650 also supports 3G networks in North America and abroad, and features a full QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad, 3.2 megapixel camera, and built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g).

RIM said the smartphone is expected to be available from U.S. carriers beginning in May.

RIM stock rebounds

The company's stock went up by $3.09 to $72.87 on the Toronto Stock Exchange Monday as of 4 p.m. ET, after trading at $69.78 in the morning.

The rebound happened amid reports that RIM's co-CEO Mike Lazaridis offered a preview of a new BlackBerry operating system, which includes a revamped web browser, to an investor conference in Orlando prior to the showcase.

Critics say RIM has been slow to develop a new web browser for its devices that can compete with some of the more user-friendly designs on the market.

In the past year, both the iPhone and Google's Android smartphones have gained notable share in North America's smartphone market, an area that was once dominated by RIM's BlackBerry products.

According to Gartner, Inc., an international technology advisory company, the Android and iPhone increased their market share the most among smartphones from 2008 to 2009, by 3.5 and 6.2 percentage points respectively. 

RIM, meanwhile, gained 3.3 percentage points in the global smartphone market, maintaining its position as the second-largest smartphone company in the world behind Nokia.

The iPhone's performance in 2009 has placed it third overall.

In an interview ahead of the conference, RIM's other CEO Jim Balsillie defended the company's position in the market.

"Wind the clock back and I can give you 10 other companies that were put forward that were just overwhelmingly formidable for us to even consider competing against," Balsillie said.

The new BlackBerry operating system is slated to be released in the September quarter, according to MarketWatch.