RIM Drops New BlackBerry OS 7 Smartphones in Indonesia

Photo: Kompas.com

BlackBerry is still fighting. Even though it keeps on losing market share to Android and the iPhone everywhere, the company still believes it can win more Indonesian users. To that end, it is offering three new handsets to the local market; Bold 9900, Torch 9860, and Torch 9810.

Those three new variants are powered by BlackBerry OS 7, the new operating system from RIM. Some enhancements have been made to deliver a more convenient user experience including a faster browser, a friendlier user interface, social feeds, and a new security feature. Unfortunately, the company only discloses the Bold 9900 price which is a hefty Rp6 million (US$703) while the other two remain unknown.

Among those new enhancements, the new browser and social feeds are more likely to be a draw for Indonesians. Why? Because the new browser is 40 percent faster compared to the previous version with shorter page-loading times. For social networking, the new social feeds make it easy to integrate all social media services into one application. Users can send updates for Twitter or Facebook with just a click.

As we’ve pointed out many times, Indonesia is a BlackBerry nation with more than three million users in the country. It is still the leader in Indonesia’s smartphone market. But with Android-powered phones growing rapidly, RIM has to work hard if it wants to retain its advantage.

Providing a newly upgraded operating system within new handsets could be the right move. Both new products and new features could help boost RIM’s market share once more. Whether Indonesians will dish out so much cash for the Bold remains to be seen. But we’ll keep our eyes peeled for prices on the Torch models, which are hopefully a little more affordable.

[Photo courtesy Kompas.com]