RIM BlackBerry Event: It'd Better Be Good

Even when it's down and out BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) has always been able to get gaggles of geeks excited.

And this week is no exception.

A cryptic invitation to a press event next week in New York has industry watchers and pundits predicting the next big thing from the long-time smartphone king, which of late has taken a backseat to the likes of the Apple iPhone and the smattering of Google Android devices that are dominating the market and gaining on the one-time leader. AT&T will co-host the New York event.

The August 3 event with AT&T, coupled with the lack of information about what's in store, has sparked rumors that RIM may unleash the BlackBerry 6 operating system or even a new smartphone, most likely the BlackBerry Bold 9800. There has also been speculation in recent months that BlackBerry is prepping its own rival to the Apple iPad with a BlackBerry tablet.

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Despite what RIM and BlackBerry have up their sleeves, the anticipation has been a boost for the Canadian device pulling its stock up 15 percent since it bottomed out at a 52-week low earlier this month. RIM has struggled to compete against Apple and Android, as its two chief rivals continue to eat away at its market share.

It appears speculation is breathing new life into BlackBerry. So, whatever the company plans to pull the curtain off of next week, it had better be good if BlackBerry wants to maintain its relevance in a market where iPhone reigns supreme and Android is beefing up its arsenal seemingly on a daily basis.

Could BlackBerry 6 do the trick? Maybe. RIM faithful have been eagerly awaiting a new operating system since RIM gave a select few a sneak peek at BlackBerry 6 earlier this year, highlighting some of its Android-esque features. But RIM has cautioned that BlackBerry 6 isn't due until September.

If not the new OS, is it a new BlackBerry smartphone RIM has planned? That could be it too. RIM hasn't dropped a must-have handset yet this year, which could partly be to blame for its downward spiral at the hands of Apple and Android. RIM used to release a hot new BlackBerry on a much swifter pace, but lately it seems its innovation well has dried up; meaning that it's smartphones have been out of sight and out of mind. The Bold 9800 would lift up both the BlackBerry maker and AT&T, both of which have suffered recent bruises, with AT&T taking flack over its poor handling of Apple iPhone 4 pre-orders, changes to its wireless data plans and other public snafus.

While RIM hasn't offered up specs for the upcoming Bold 9800, rumors suggest it will tie in a physical, slide-out keyboard, a touch-screen display, a 5 megapixel camera and 4 GB of memory. It is also expected to be the first BlackBerry based on BlackBerry 6.

Or, RIM and BlackBerry could forgo BlackBerry 6 and the BlackBerry Bold 9800 altogether and hit the ground running with a RIM BlackBerry-branded tablet. Anything is possible, but that is the least likely, considering RIM tablet rumors are fresh and AT&T has allegiance to Apple's iPad. Though, like AT&T's iPhone exclusivity, its iPad ties could also break someday.

Whatever RIM has up its sleeve and whatever it has planned for BlackBerry's future, one thing is certain: BlackBerry needs to get back on the innovation train, because it's leaving the station and the Apple iPhone and Google Android already have seats in first class.