RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are now official

RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 are the announcement many 'Berry fans have been waiting for – a powerful touchscreen candybar with the signature keyboard by RIM and an all-new BlackBerry 7 OS. Featuring a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor and a 2.8-inch "Liquid Graphics" VGA screen with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, the performance of the handsets should be excellent.While we're yet to decipher the Liquid Graphics part, it seems that it's the high-pixel density (287dpi) and expected framerates of around 60fps for graphical apps and games that justify the name.

Both models run the newest BB OS 7, but the BlackBerry Bold 9900 (AT&T, T-Mobile) comes with HSPA+ 4G (supporting 14.4Mbps on the downlink) on board, while the Bold 9930 (Verizon/Sprint) is a global device coming with quad-band GSM and dual-band CDMA to support virtually every network out there.

But most importantly, the new additions to the Bold lineup come with an improved QWERTY keyboard feeding on your texting addiction. The new handsets are very slim at just 10.5mm, easily becoming the thinnest by RIM so far, and look traditionally well-made with a brushed stainless steel frame and a high-gloss glass-weave back. In terms of functionality, RIM has added an NFC chip, that could be used for mobile payments, as well as support for Augmented Reality applications.

The handsets also feature a 5-megapixel flash-equipped camera capable of 720p HD recording and 8GB of internal storage. If all that sounds alluring, you won't be disappointed with the release date. While a specific date wasn't pointed out, the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930's release date should be sometime "this summer."

“The new BlackBerry Bold smartphones and BlackBerry 7 OS are inspired by millions of customers around the world who want the ultimate combination of performance, functionality and style,” RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said. A nice start to BlackBerry World in Orlando, but is this the next-generation of 'Berries you personally have been waiting for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

source: RIM (press release)