BlackBerry Pearl 3G Smaller, More Powerful

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G will be RIM's smallest model yet, but the consumer-focused smartphone will still have a lot to offer, including mobile broadband, Wi-Fi and GPS, among other features.

The updated version will look like previous Pearl models, with a "candy bar" shape and a small screen. RIM is going to offer two versions: the Pearl 9100 will include a 20-key SureType keyboard like its predecessors, and the Pearl 9105 model is going to feature a 14-key traditional phone keypad.

Both models will weigh 3.3 ounces (93 g), and offer a 360 x 400 pixel display and an optical trackpad.

It's a BlackBerry
The Pearl 3G is going to run BlackBerry OS 5 on a 624 Mhz processor. Of course, it will come with RIM's typical suite of entertainment and personal productivity applications.

It includes email, messaging and social networking software, as well as access to BlackBerry App World, an on-device software store for third-party titles.

It will also have a player for videos, pictures and music, and dedicated media keys along the top of the handset.

Wireless and More
With "3G" in its name, it's unsurprising that the next-generation Pearl will be a quad-band GSM phone with support for tri-band UMTS/HSDPA mobile broadband. It will also have Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and stereo Bluetooth. 

The BlackBerry model will include a 3.2 megapixel camera with zoom, auto-focus, flash and video recording.

Its GPS receiver will support location-based applications such as BlackBerry Maps, as well as photo geo-tagging.

In addition, the Pearl 3G is going to have microSD/SDHC memory card slot that supports up to 32GB cards and a 1150 mAh battery.

Overall, it will be 4.3 x 2.0 x 0.5 inches (108 mm x 50 mm x 13.3 mm).

Coming Next Month
Despite today's unveiling of the BlackBerry Pearl 3G, RIM hasn't revealed its price or which carriers will be offering the new model.

However, according to RIM, the smartphone is expected to hit the market in May.

Source: Research In Motion