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RIM launches BlackBerry Torch 9800

Abe Olandres November 20, 2010 · 2 min read

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Announced back in August 2010, Research in Motion formally launched the BlackBerry Torch 9800 in the Philippines yesterday.

The BlackBerry Torch comes with a sliding full qwerty keyboard and touch screen. Consider it a sort of an upgrade to the BB Bold 9700 with a touchscreen treatment.

BlackBerry Torch 9800 specs:
3.2â€³ display @ 360Ã—480 pixels
512MB RAM, 512MB ROM
4GB storage (up to 32GB via microSD, 4GB included)
3G @ 384Kbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1
5MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash + video
BlackBerry OS 6.0
GPS w/ a-GPS support
1300mAh Li-Ion battery

RIM would not say what the retail price of the BB Torch would be since they usually leave that to the partner telcos to decide. It’s not un-usual considering BlackBerry handsets rely on a data plan (BIS) which is tied up with the carriers.

We’ve already spotted the BlackBerry Torch in the gray market as early as last week of August and were selling for Php38,500.

Also saw one selling in mobile phone stores this afternoon at Php36,990. Still pretty steep, IMO. I’d estimate a Php29k SRP for locked pre-paid kits just like what Globe offered before with the Bold 9700. We’ll find out once they appear on the telco’s Business Centers by end of this month.

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Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

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jazz · 15 years ago

Balckberry Torch is nothing here in abroad. Blackberry phones keep coming and go so whatever Blackberry u have, just treasure it and be glad coz they are all the same phone.

Kath · 15 years ago

I totally agree with u Jazz. I’m in Europe and I got how many Blackberry phones already yet i get tired of following the latest model. I need to settle with my Blackberry Torch and who cares about Blackberry Bold if its all the same.

JuneBox · 15 years ago

i â¤ my blackberry phone! I have a bold right now and it serves it’s purpose even do more…it’s handy and very easy to use! Haters can hate, we dont give a damn! :P

nihs · 15 years ago

how much na lang BB torch ngayon?

mark · 15 years ago

i just bought my new bb torch pls someone help me how to activate all the things that i need on the phone. i cant use fb and ym on wifi.. im really clueless, i was an iphone user just switched to bb.. :)

blackberry · 15 years ago

“wipe” (type ‘wipe’ on your home screen, universal search will lead you to the ‘security wipe’ option)your blackberry then do a new OS install

Torched · 15 years ago

Hey guys! BB newbie here. I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on my problem —

– Bought a BB Torch last Nov 15 from a store in Greenhills
– Activated the Globe BIS plan, which was working perfectly fine from Nov 15 until it suddenly conked out on Nov 23
– The GPRS/EDGE and BB icon were still there (ergo, still activated) but now unable to make RIM-related apps work (can’t log on to FB/YM using the FB/YM app, no non-wifi browsing, no push email, BBM won’t work)
– Did countless battery pulls/SIM card removals to no avail
– Finally went to a Globe Business Center, where the CSR told me that my BIS was still activated from Globe’s standpoint but Blackberry itself “blocked” my unit because it was “stolen”

My phone was brand new, and if it was ever “stolen”, then I shouldn’t have been able to access all the BIS-fueled programs the first time I applied for it, right?

I’d really appreciate your insight. This is driving me nuts, since I can’t maximize my BB’s potential Maybe it’s a blocked/unreleased PIN problem? Thanks in advance!

Jason · 15 years ago

You will never know Blackberry until you use one.
The phone is cheaper than iPhone but the Data plan, that can be a setback for some people.

I find Blackberry as a phone for lazy people, for those who does not want to carry a netbook or laptop all the time and for people who are always on the go.
Imagine, all your emails will be “pushed” to your phone, unlimited facebook, twitter and YM. More so if you are connected to your corporate server, exchange emails and microsoft communicator on your phone.

Drawback for corporate users, “wala kang lusot para di magtrabaho,”

J-

J-Lee · 15 years ago

If u want the best of both worlds, get a BB and iPhone at the same time just like me…

Judging from BB and iphone i must say:

iPhone is still the best in terms of web browsing, and Multimedia experience, and they have amazing apps…

and for BB, well their BBM function is still the best, and their push email is faster compared to iPhone…

I use my iPhone if there’s a wifi signal, other than that i rely on my BB coz of its Blackberry internet service which u have to pay monthly…

Saimon Apor · 15 years ago

I totally agree with you Al. I so love my Blackberry Bold 9700 but Torch 9800 is too much already. :) You can do almost everything with the 9700. And I must say that it is indeed one of the smartest mobile phone ever built. :) (sorry for being such a fan boy too) But I can’t find the services that a Blackberry gives on most of the top Android and iPhones today.

Push emails, Facebook, Twitter, and loads of wonderful apps for business is on its best service.

al · 15 years ago

Agree!
gotta ad true multitasking…

blackberry · 15 years ago

“fastest and most secure true push email”
priceless!
can’t buy this on apple’s app store

air-kobe · 15 years ago

P24,500.00 is the optimum price for this phone.

Glenn | Glich’s Life · 15 years ago

Saw a Torch in Theatre Mall being sold at 31,000. The width is the same as that of a 9700, but longer due to the bigger screen.

al · 15 years ago

by the way my friend despr8tly need a 9700 ryt now, she needs it befor wednsday…anyway we can buy it from u?

al · 15 years ago

too bad for you, what was the problem with it?maybe i could help…

Dodi · 15 years ago

I regret the very moment I bought a Blackberry 9700, its just sitting on its ass in my cabinet…just realized that my fingers are way too large for its keys! At some point, I took it back to Globe coz of a festering application glitz and no one there knows how to fix it and they told me they will get it fixed in Singapore pa! WTF!!! They did not tell me about that when I bought it! Better get the new iPhone guys, I bought one and it’s amazing!

al · 15 years ago

i guess i was being a fanboy with my above statement. I do buy and sell then post them online like ebay and i depend on blackberries email system its incomparable to iphones thats proven.. i receive orders and answer questions on my phone thats why physical keyboard s a must(plus the led light) and our current browser is finaly faster(os6.0.358). Call my phone ancient or dinasour but this device just ahppend to be filling up my bank account. Plus its unlimitd intrnet for my laptop.(make use of its expensive dataplan,its unlimtd tethrng)

manibela · 15 years ago

how is the blackberry a more capable phone than the others? I never really did read much about the new blackberries (and the last I actually had interest was for work before, and years ago when Oprah gave them away haha). Is it the push email? Can’t everything else do that already? Is it the security? It’s not that I don’t like them, I just really don’t understand because I never experienced the platform extensively and based on what I’m seeing it really isn’t worth it. Especially here in the Philippines where I (without really researching) would like to say started way too late in penetrating companies where they would actually make the most sense. If you’re an individual owning a small business, or maybe an employee of a small scale company, how’s a blackberry worth your money?

Sorry kung long and winding hehe…

blaze · 15 years ago

blackberry being phase out in some countries, no service center in the philippines, just me but i think blackberry is dying..i would still choose between android or ios phone. even the technician cum hackers in greenhills could not figure blackberry out.:D

kumag · 15 years ago

not worth for its price!

manix · 15 years ago

saw one, and it is nice. very good upgrade for the storm2.

and yes, i know most people dont like blackberry, and its ok. its not designed for everybody, to do everything.

mr. bogus · 15 years ago

may maninira nanamang fanbois dito!!!!?? for sure!

E · 15 years ago

too expensive for a low spec phone… only the name “BLACKBERRY” made it expensive…

peeyaj · 15 years ago

Apple passed RIM as the 3rd largest smartphone vendor on the planet. Apple also become the 4th largest phone manufacturer edging RIM which in the 5th place.

It’s incredible considering Apple launched only 1 handset per year, yet they passed RIM who sells variety of handsets.

When you are using Blackberry, you need to shell money every month for Blackberry service. If not, you’re handset is just a glorified talk and text phone like the previous commenter said.

The Torch is the attempt of RIM to lure ordinary consumers in the Blackberry world. They knew that BB is losing their hold in the corporate market because of increased competition from Microsoft Active Exchange, which was present to all Android and iOS phones.

I am waiting for the date when RIM would be gone kaput in the market.

whatif · 15 years ago

denial stage… lol. more capable ba talaga? sample nga kung bakit? :)

john doe · 15 years ago

torch will cost around 28-33k in greenhills. average of 30k on most. with around 7 stores i asked only one offers 1 year warranty. most dont have and a couple will offer only one month.

al · 15 years ago

You guys will never understand why blackberry is expensive and worth its price unless uv used one and actualy experienced blackberry internet service…my dad has iphone 4 and my sistr has galaxy s but its not as worthy as my 9700, f al u do with ur phone is kill time like play games and watch videos then blackberry s not for u..but for ppol like us who do business with our phones blackberry s way more capable..

leon · 15 years ago

well, the blackberry isnt targeted for the budget conscious, and its primary use is still corporate and business, not fun.

peeyaj · 15 years ago

According to the reviews, this phone is an extremely capable Blackberry handset. That’s it, it’s a capable Blackberry handset.

But..

Users of Android, iOS and even WP7 would not touch it with a 10 feet pole. Even though Blackberry OS 6 is an improvement in OS 5, it is still miles behind on usability, user friendliness and experience on other competing platforms. The reason why AT&T slashed it’s price because it’s not particulary selling well. The stab of RIM in the consumer market thru this phone is not particulary successful.

They should fix this:

* Add a larger screen, 3.2 inch wouldn’t cut it. A bump on resolution would be nice.

* Why on God’s name, RIM decided to use a slower processor. It’s a Marvell, 624 mhz and the reviews said it’s laggy when multitasking.

* Fix the Blackberry App World.

* The camera and video recording sucks.

* Integrate it with QNX platform.

In the end, Blackberry is becoming the newest WinMo, if they failed on exciting consumer interests. Some companies in US are testing iphones and androids to replace blackberry handsets. RIM’s hold in corporate, had been fading and their service had been competing with Microsoft Exchange.

VERDICT: If you’re a Blackberry fan, this handset would be your newest friend. For everyone else, go to Android, WP7 or iOS.

Jhay · 15 years ago

Ang mahal! LG Optimus One na lang, mura na, Android Froyo pa. :D

Marcus · 15 years ago

I agree with Wakocoke.. aside from dinosaur OS, it relies on BIS plan. So if you really want to fully enjoy its features you have no choice but to subscribe monthly on it. Otherwise features will just be as good as a Nokia 3210 good only for call and text (colored + with touchscreen one that is! ;p)