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RIM has just taken the wraps off its next smartphone model. The BlackBerry Bold will be the first from this company to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed 3G networks around the world. It will also come with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g), as well as a multimedia capabilities.

On the Inside

The Bold will run an updated version of the BlackBerry operating system (4.6) on a 624 MHz processor.It will have 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on-board storage memory, as well as a microSD/SDHC memory card slot.

In addition to the standard functions people expect from a RIM smartphone, the new BlackBerry software suite will include an improved Web browser. This will allow users to look at websites in “Page View” or “Column View” modes, or to zoom in on specific parts of a web page, while they will be able to choose between the full desktop-style layout or a mobile version. It will also allow users to download files from within the browser, and there will be support for watching streaming videos.

This will be a business-oriented device, but it will still include an enhanced media player that will be able to display pictures and slideshows, play movies in full screen mode, and manage the user’s music collection. It will even have dual stereo speakers, and the new BlackBerry Media Sync application will provide a way to synchronize iTunes digital music collections with this smartphone.

On the Exterior

The design isn’t going to be a radical departure from RIM’s current lineup. Like many earlier models, it will supposedly have a tablet shape with a QWERTY keyboard. However, it will have a curvier shape, with corners that are significantly rounder than any previous BlackBerry.

There will be one significant change on the exterior, though: this will be the first model from RIM with a half-VGA (480 by 320 pixel) display.It will have a 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, built-in flash, and 5x digital zoom.The BlackBerry Bold will be 4.5 inches tall, 2.6 inches wide, and 0.55 inches thick, and will weigh 4.7 oz.It will have a 1500 mAh battery, which RIM says will be good for 5 hours of talk time or 13 days of stand-by time.

Coming this Summer

The timing of today’s announcement was made to coincide with RIM’s WES 2008 conference, not because the BlackBerry Bold is ready to be released. RIM says this smartphone will be available from wireless carriers around the world beginning at some point this summer.It will eventually be available from all the top tier carriers in the United States, and there will even be a version for T-Mobile USA’s special version of 3G, according to PC Magazine.

“The new BlackBerry Bold represents a tremendous step forward in business-grade smartphones and lives up to its name with incredible speed, power and functionality, all wrapped in a beautiful and confident design,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.

Reliance Infocomm has slashed the STD tariffs of Reliance IndiaPhone, its Fixed Wireless phone (FWP) and Fixed Wireless Terminal (FWT) services for Intra-circle calls and Inter-circle calls to landlines by about 25%. The New Tariffs will come in to effect across the country from Tuesday..

The STD rates from FWP/FWT to landline phones within the circle in the distance slab of more than 100 KM have been brought down to Rs.1.65 for Plan 500, Rs. 1.50 for Plan 1000 and Rs.1.35 for Plan 1500 from Rs.2.2, Rs.2.0 and Rs.1.8 respectively.

Additionally, STD rates from FWP/FWT to landline phones outside the circle in the distance slab of more than 200 KM have also been brought down to Rs.3.30 for Plan 500, Rs. 3.00 for Plan 1000 and Rs.2.70 for Plan 1500 from Rs.4.4, Rs.4.0 and Rs.3.6 respectively.

The reduction in the call charges is due to the increase of pulse duration for Intra-circle calls from 30 sec to 40 sec and for Inter-circle calls from 15 sec to 20 sec in the above mentioned distance slabs. All other call charges remains unchanged.

“With this Reliance IndiaPhone will be one of the most economical telephone services in India with an unbeatable value proposition for all user segments. It also offers wireless Internet Access service (R-Connect service), which is not offered by any other basic telephony service provider,” says S P Shukla President (Wireless Products and Services), Reliance Infocomm.