The first new BlackBerry devices for 2010 will be upgraded versions of RIM's popular BlackBerry Bold and Pearl smartphones. Both the Bold 9650 and the Pearl 3G include Wi-Fi and 3G internet connections. They are faster, more compact models that offer little change in the BlackBerry design except in one area - the trackball. The little glowing ball used to move the cursor and navigate through menu screens has now been replaced by a tiny optical trackpad, similar to the ones featured on many laptop computers. Both models will be launching in May although only the BlackBerry Pearl 3G has a Canadian release with Telus carrying it either pink or black for $30 on a three-year contract. 

BlackBerry fans hoping for more revolutionary news should stay tuned as RIM may have more announcements to make this week, including details on the next BlackBerry Operating System, 6.0. 

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is very small, just 4.25 inches tall and 1.96 inches wide and yet manages to fit in both a 3G and Wi-Fi internet connection. There will be two different models for carriers to choose from; the Pearl 3G 9105 uses a keypad with just 14 keys while the Pearl 3G 9100 (the model grabbed by Telus) will have an alphanumeric keypad with 20 keys. 

 Here's a list of it's main features:

Elegant candybar design measuring 4.25" x 1.96" x 0.52" (108mm x 50 mm x 13.3 mm) and weighing only 3.3 oz (93 grams)

624 Mhz processor with 256 MB Flash memory

360x400 sharp-resolution display (238 ppi)

Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth, plus a comfortable keyboard that enables quick and accurate typing

Media player for videos, pictures and music (music plays up to 30 hours), plus dedicated media keys integrated along top of the handset

3.2 MP camera with zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording*

Built-in GPS for location-based applications such as BlackBerry® Maps, as well as photo geotagging

Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) - first BlackBerry smartphone to support 'n'

microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards

Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the emerging Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories

Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones

Support for BlackBerry® Media Sync for easily syncing photos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone**

BlackBerry® OS 5

Support for tri-band UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks

Removable, rechargeable 1150 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.5 hours of talk time on 3G networks

 The BlackBerry Bold 9650 is designed to be a global handset for wireless carriers that are still operating CDMA networks like Sprint in the US (Canada no longer has any CDMA networks). In features it's very similar to the BlackBerry Tour, but with the much-needed addition of Wi-Fi. 

Here's a list of features:

Stylish design (4.4” x 2.4” x .56” and 4.8 oz.) with glossy black finish and chrome highlights

Large (2.44”) high-resolution display (480 x 360 resolution at 245 ppi), able to display pictures, videos and web pages with impressive contrast and detail

3.2 MP camera with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording

Advanced media player for videos, pictures and music, a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and support for the Bluetooth® Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP)

BlackBerry® Media Sync for easily syncing photos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*

Easy mobile access to Facebook®, MySpace and Flickr®, as well as popular instant messaging services including BlackBerry® Messenger

Support for BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones

Full HTML web browser, streaming audio and video via RTSP

Built-in GPS with support for geotagging, BlackBerry® Maps and other mapping applications

Premium phone features including voice activated dialing, speakerphone, and Bluetooth (2.1).

Support for high-speed EV-DO Rev. A networks in North America, as well as UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad

Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery for 5 hours of CDMA talk time