BlackBerry creator makes Bold move

Research In Motion unveils new version as it competes with Apple iPhone

By The Wall Street Journal

Research In Motion unveiled the latest version of its BlackBerry on Monday, with enhancements aimed at protecting the popular device’s market share against competitors such as Apple’s iPhone.

Called the BlackBerry Bold, the new device:

• Runs on high-speed 3G wireless networks that carriers are rolling out to handle media-rich features.

• Has added processing power, which allows it to run more sophisticated business software.

• Allows users to more easily download music, browse the Internet and watch videos.

The company is trying to keep the momentum of its BlackBerry device, whose subscriber base has nearly doubled each year for the past three years and stands at more than 14 million users in 135 countries.

Despite the growth, RIM faces intensifying competition from Apple in the United States. While the iPhone’s strength has been with personal-use consumers, and BlackBerry has long been strongest among business users, Apple has recently taken steps to make the iPhone more appealing to corporate users.

In what appears to be a nod to the iPhone, the new BlackBerry has a stylish silver rim and its enhancements include the ability to sync more easily with Apple’s iTunes software.

The Bold will be available overseas this summer, which is when Apple is expected to release a 3G version of the iPhone.

AT&T has the U.S. exclusive on the Bold, which is designed to work on all 3G networks abroad and will be available later this year.