RIM working on an all-touch BlackBerry Curve

Looks like the winds of change are blowing hard at RIM headquarters and what you’re looking at here is the effect of that change. This is purportedly a full touchscreen BlackBerry device that is set to take a place next to the BlackBerry Curve as an entry-level offering from RIM. Bucking the trend, the unofficially named BlackBerry Curve Touch (codenamed Malibu) will have no physical QWERTY keyboard and is slated to be released towards the end of this year or early 2012.

Unconfirmed specs include:

• Processor: Qualcomm MSM 8655 800MHz CPU
• Radio: CDMA – EvDo Rev A
• Display: 3.25″ 480×360 HVGA
• Navigation: Trackpad & Nav Keys
• Keypad: Virtual QWERTY
• Camera: 5 MP (with HD Video recording)
• Memory: 1GB Flash + 512MB RAM, Hot Swap MicroSD slot
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• GPS: Autonomous & A-GPS
• Connectivity: NFC, Micro USB, Bluetooth 2.1
• Sensors: Ambient Light Sensor, accelerometer

Yes, its listed as CDMA for now but it is not wrong to assume that a GSM version will also be in the works. It only makes sense for RIM who’s major market lies in the predominantly GSM regions like Indonesia and India.

BlackBerry fans have always said that the major attraction to BlackBerrys have been the trademark physical QWERTY keyboard. It’s no surprise then that RIM’s first attempt at a touchscreen only device — the Storm — was a flop, but with the optimised BlackBerry 6 OS, will this rumoured all-touch BlackBerry win any fans?

We’ll just have to wait and see. What are your thought?

[source]