RIM's Leaked Lineup Features Curves, BlackBerry 10, And A PlayBook
According to a leaked product lineup, it would appear that RIM is slimming down its product line up in order to focus resources on its next-generation BlackBerry devices that are expected in the second half of this year. Even so, we could still see two BlackBerry Curve smartphones as well as a slightly tweaked new PlayBook tablet in the next few months.
The new Curve smartphones will likely be the BlackBerry Curve 9230 and the BlackBerry Curve 9320. The Curve 9230 will likely be an EDGE smartphone while the Curve 9320 is expected to be a HSPA device. The new PlayBook tablet is said to feature a 1.5GHz processor (an upgrade from the original PlayBook's 1GHz processor), HSPA+ connectivity, and NFC capabilities. The tablet could be available in May or June.
Reports on the web claim RIM will launch its BlackBerry 10 smartphone, currently codenamed London, in September. RIM is also said to be working on another BlackBerry 10 device that will be a part of the company's Bold line of flagship smartphones. Looking further down the road, RIM is supposedly planning a BlackBerry 10 device with a slide-out keyboard which could be available in the early part of 2013.
RIM has struggled lately to keep up with the competition brought by Android and iOS. In an effort to change things up, the company recently announced that the two men who founded the company would step down as co-CEOs and Thorsten Heins, the former COO of RIM, would take over as CEO. With the change in leadership, continued pressure and competition from Android and iOS, as well as the lack of any significant product launches in the first half of this year, RIM faces quite a few challenges. Can the company overcome these challenges and regain a strong position in the mobile market? Time will tell.