BlackBerry Tour added to RIM range

Research In Motion (RIM) has added a new mobile to its range of branded handsets, it has emerged.

The BlackBerry Tour joins other handsets in the manufacturer’s line-up that includes the Pearl, Curve and Storm – the Vodafone-exclusive model representing the firm’s first foray into the full touchscreen market.

RIM has equipped the new gadget with 3G connectivity, a 3.2-megapixel camera, integrated media player, Bluetooth A2DP support and 256 MB of onboard Flash memory – which can be expanded to 32 GB with a microSD card.

Mike Lazaridis, president and co-chief executive officer of RIM, said the feature-rich handset was a welcome addition to the firm’s catalogue of smartphones.

“With its striking design and exceptional performance, the new BlackBerry Tour will offer a compelling choice for the growing number of wireless customers looking to upgrade their existing cell phone to a smartphone,” he added.

However, one of the company’s fiercest rivals has also been promoted this week as the company behind the Apple iPhone 3G issued an email advertising the feature set of the recently-announced S model of the phone.

Particular attention was paid to the speed of the upgraded handset, which Apple claimed promises double that of its predecessor – making internet access and multimedia features a more enjoyable experience.

“Launch and switch between applications quickly,” it said. “Render web pages in a fraction of the time. Shoot, edit and share video right on your phone. Make a call or play a song using just your voice.”

The Apple iPhone S also has a landscape onscreen keyboard, as well as cut, copy and paste facilities.