RIM is set to release it’s first launch into the touchscreen smartphone market with their Blackberry Thunder 9500. The device will be exclusive to Verizon Wireless in the US and to Vodafone in the European market, both carriers apparently with a lifetime agreement. The device is rumored to launch in the 3rd quarter of 2008, undoubtedly to compete with AT&Ts recent release of the 3G version of the iPhone.
RIM has yet to release any official information on the Thunder’s specs or features, however it will more than likely have limited access to GSM signal frequencies, meaning it will work in Europe, but here in the US it will only connect to Verizon’s CDMA network. This makes unlocking the device pointless as it will not have the ability to connect to AT&T or T-Mobile networks in the US.
Development is still in very early stages (the above image is a rendering, not an officially released photo) and even the name is not set in stone. It’s buzz is undeniable, however if it’s OS is able to match the groundbreaking slickness and control of the iPhone remains to be seen.
