AT&T to Announce New BlackBerry 6 Device Next Week
BlackBerry has been steadily losing ground in the smartphone market to iPhone and Android devices. The next generation of BlackBerry 6 devices is expected to halt that slide, starting with an upcoming announcement from AT&T.
BlackBerry maker RIM and AT&T have announced a joint press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 3 in which they are expected to announce that the BlackBerry 9800 will launch on the AT&T network as the first BlackBerry phone to run the new BlackBerry 6 operating system . The 9800 is said to have touchscreen functionality, akin to competitor smartphones, but retain a slide-out keyboard for a classic BlackBerry experience. That, along with new social media and browser features in BlackBerry OS 6 , is expected to make BlackBerry a stronger competitor against iPhone and Android devices.
Reuters is reporting experts are confident enough in the coming announcement that RIM shares have already risen in anticipation.
It's also the perfect opportunity for RIM to make a counter-attack because Apple is just barely moving past the Antennagate scandal and the public backlash from it. RIM leaders even had some choice words for Apple concerning the matter.
Analysts expect the BlackBerry 9800 to be announced on Tuesday and released some time in mid-August, just in time for the back-to-school buying period.
