RIM and AT&T announce the new BlackBerry Bold 9700

This article has been updated.

We knew this was about to happen, and so the new RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 is now announced and ready to go on sale sometime in November. RIM and AT&T have just officially confirmed the existence of the device with a press release, putting some focus on the features and qualities of the new high-end smartphone. As it was already expected, the new Bold is smaller and lighter, thus easier to use with one hand only. It is said to be just as stylish as the original, featuring a dark chrome frame and leatherette back.

Due to the more compact dimensions, the Bold 9700 has a smaller, 2.44-inch screen, which however sports a pretty high resolution for its size – 480x360 pixels. Below it you’ll find a trackpad, which we hope will prove at least as handy as the original Bold’s trackball. Other hardware features include, of course, a full QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi, 3G, GPS, 3.2-megapixel camera, 3.5mm jack, as well as a faster 624MHz processor.

On the software front, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 will introduce the new BlackBerry OS 5.0, which should bring some email and calendar enhancements, as well as an updated web browser. Check out the video below for a closer look at the Bold 9700!

AT&T has scheduled the new Bold for release in the following weeks at a price of $199.99 with a smartphone data plan and after a $100 mail-in rebate.

RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700 Specifications

Check our gallery for official images of the BlackBerry Bold 9700!

source: RIM via Marketwire and AT&T

*UPDATE*: T-Mobile has also announced the upcoming availability of the BlackBerry Bold 9700. It should be available "in time for the holiday season". (via BusinessWire)