BlackBerry Torch 2 Takes a Step Closer to Release

Although Research In Motion (RIM) has yet to officially announce it, the BlackBerry Torch 2 is an open secret. The FCC has now signed off on this smartphone, which will offer both a Touchscreen and a keyboard and run the latest version of the BlackBerry OS.

The original Torch launched last fall, and the full specifications of the Torch 2 leaked out early this year. BlackBerry fans have been waiting ever since. 

The wait might not be much longer: the Federal Communications Commission has put its stamp of approval on this model. This is a requirement before any wireless device can be released or even used in the United States.

The version the FCC signed off on has been designed for AT&T. This is no surprise, as the first-generation Torch is an AT&T exclusive.

Even an important step toward release is behind it, there's still no clear word on when this BlackBerry smartphone is going to be on store shelves. Some unconfirmed reports indicate that it will be released in the next two months, but RIM has given no sign of this.

BlackBerry Torch 2 Preview
According to the spec sheets and images that have leaked out, this upcoming model is going to use the same portrait-oriented slider design  but will include a 3.2-inch VGA (640 x 480) capacitive display -- twice the resolution of its predecessor.

And the improvements won't stop there: the Torch 2 will supposedly run BlackBerry OS 7 on a 1.2 GHz processor -- twice as fast as the one in the original Torch. Additionally, the Torch 2 will pack 8 GB of built-in memory, 768 MB of RAM, and a microSD memory card slot..

Other features will reportedly include 4G (HSPA+), Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, Near Field Communications (NFC) capabilities, a 5-megapixel camera with flash, and a 1270 mAh battery.