The BlackBerry Torch 9800 has mass appeal

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is one of RIM’s best efforts yet, combining enhanced multimedia with excellent online and messaging features including social networking and GPS. Users can enjoy a new user interface thanks to the BlackBerry 6 operating system that debuted on the device and the inclusion of an advanced digital camera that includes a pretty impressive list of specifications.

On sight, the Torch is very pretty; Modernized design is combined with robust build quality to deliver a reliable smartphone device for fashionistas. The phone’s styling is luxurious and futuristic, aesthetically probably better suited to business users, but the phone’s features tell a different story.

RIM has been accused of targeting its BlackBerry phones at upper-class, business users, while making them less accessible to everyone else. But the Torch 9800 is a step in the right direction, the new BlackBerry 6 OS looks and feels a bit similar to OS 5, but there have been some tweaks to incorporate the touch UI. The device features a gorgeous 3.2-inch touch screen that can produce more than 16 million colors in 480 x 360 pixel resolution. The screen has been loaded with multi-touch technology that allows users to operate with multiple digits, this also incorporates pinch and zoom.

Internet can be accessed through Wi Fi and there is also coverage for 3G and cellular networks. The browser houses intuitive controls and a very reliable search engine. Saving bookmarks and uploading images and videos can be done with sites like YouTube and Facebook.

A messaging app covers all the basics; SMS, MMS, email and IM with all the big names from Google, Yahoo and Microsoft supported. The BlackBerry Torch 9800 comes preloaded with dedicated apps for Facebook and Twitter, but you can also manage other networks like Flickr. One of the hon’s many key features is the sliding QWERTY keyboard; It can be cleverly dropped from behind the screen, it has good sized keys for precise typing.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, RIM has included a good digital camera system. The 5MP camera is well supported with setting tones, image editing and sharing tools. It is capable of shooting in high resolution and the still image comes out clear and sharp.

Along with the basics like playing music and videos, the Torch also supports FM radio and GPS, you can expand the phone’s memory via a microSD slot, and as society now dictates, you also get a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can use the phone. as a portable entertainment device as well as a phone. BlackBerry App World is accessible directly from the phone and provides a long list of downloadable applications to enrich the user experience.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 has a lot of mass appeal as it is now accessible to more than one type of buyer. The phone covers all fields of mobile technology reasonably well and the addition of a high capacity camera will be a major selling point.