It’s been a hard year for Canadian-based Research In Motion (RIM). The company attempted to turn things around with the release of the Blackberry Playbook, but that didn’t pan out so well. Bad reviews and no response from the general public buried the high hopes that RIM had for the Playbook.

After a good thrashing by Apple and Android devices, Research In Motion has made various attempts to re-enter the smartphone market. The latest attempt comes in the form of a RIM announcement. RIM has stated that the company plans to release five new smartphones this year. Two of those smartphones will be updated versions of the ever-popular Blackberry Torch.

Some Still Backing RIM

It’s hard to ignore headlines such as “RIP RIM,” but Research In Motion isn’t done yet. In fact, there are lots of consumers who’d rather have a Blackberry than an iPod. These select few are not as strong in numbers as those who support Apple and Android, but they are holding strong and fast to the notion of a better Blackberry.

For some, all that was really needed was an updated version of the beloved Blackberry lineup. Now that RIM plans to release a number of new Blackberry smartphones, those who have been waiting for news from the company will wait a few more weeks until the new devices hit the market. Thus far, device reports have been promising.

The BlackBerry Torch 9810

The BlackBerry Torch 9810 will be the RIM new release to turn heads. This phone will be RIM’s first 4G device. RIM has stated that the Torch 9810 will run exclusively on AT&T’s HSPA+ network. Something that AT&T is very excited about. In addition to being RIM’s first 4G phone, the 9810 will also come with some nice features.

If you can’t wait for the new Torch, you can look forward to RIM’s signature QWERTY slide-out keyboard, a 3.2-inch touchscreen, and a 1.2-GHz processor – not a bad lineup. The Torch 9810 (in addition to all the other smartphones that RIM will release) will run on RIM’s new OS 7 platform. While the Torch will gain the most press, RIM has also announced that the new Bold will be the “thinnest smartphone” ever created.

Expected Release Dates

Research In Motion announced that the new Torch is expected to rear its shiny head during the month of August. So far, RIM has not announced a release date for the other phones in the new RIM smartphone lineup, but one can assume that the other phones will quickly follow the Torch’s release – just in time for the holiday season.

RIM will be going up against some tough smartphone competition this year. Apple’s new iPhone5 is set to debut sometime in October or September, and some Android phones are about to hit the market as well. Smartphone manufacturers are banking on students heading back to school, business people looking for an upgrade, and holiday season shoppers. It will, to say the least, be an interesting smartphone battle.