BlackBerry Torch Price Cut in Half

AT&T has give the BlackBerry Torch a significant price cut, dropping the cost of the model by 50%.

This is the first in RIM's popular line of smartphones to offer both a touchscreen and a sliding keyboard. It also has BlackBerry OS 6.0, which includes much improved software.

The Torch debuted this summer at $200 with a two-year wireless service contract, but as of now is selling for $100 with contract. It costs $500 without a contract.

Giving a 50% price cut to a smartphone that debuted just three months ago is an unusual move. It is sometimes a sign that the product is not selling as well as the companies behind it had hoped. 

BlackBerry Torch Overview
This device broke new ground in a couple of ways: it was the first in RIM's popular line of smartphones to offer a touchscreen and a sliding keyboard. It was also the first with BlackBerry OS 6.0.

The design for the Torch 9800 starts with a 3.2-inch 360 x 480 capacitive touchscreen. Behind this sits a portrait-oriented sliding keyboard with 35 keys. 

Naturally, this model support AT&T's voice and 3G network, and it also includes Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, and a GPS receiver.

It includes 4 GB of built-in storage plus  a 4 GB microSD memory card. This smartphone also has a 5 megapixel camera with flash, auto-focus, image stabilization, and geo-tagging, and it offers a 1300 mAhr battery and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

The Torch was the debut of BlackBerry OS 6.0, which includes really significant changes, including an updated user interface that's been designed for touchscreen devices and a much enhanced web browser.

In the U.S., it is exclusively available from AT&T.