I think you mean UAE..not UAR...

For corporations, ithe Blackberry is still the device to have because of it's capacity for centalized policy control. But, more and more people that I know who use their Blackberry for both business and personal use have stopped using their Blackberrys for personal use and are buying iPhones and walking around with two devices. Totally agree that AT&T exclusivity is a very dumb move...are they too dumb or argoganr that they read the papers and the blogosphere?

Now, if only the "Man Bag" would become fashionable, I'd have a place to put my two (second phone...a droid on Verizon) phones, keys, wallet, etc... :-))

Incredibile device. From a true production standpoint, BB OS 5.0 was the best. Now 6.0 really, really improves it from a consumer's standpoint.

I'll be leaving my iPhone for this. Tried it out but just miss my BlackBerry.

Great work, RIM.

"RIM has 50 million active users, many of whom are fanatically devoted to the brand," said Greengart. "The Torch and OS 6 should make this group very, very happy.

Really? I am a Verizon client and will not be switching to AT&T any time soon. Which means when I upgrade my BB Storm in October it will be to an Android device, not to the Torch.

Well done, RIM, you just lost another customer by making me very, very sad.

—Miserere

EnticingTheLight.com

Oh come on now, AT&T. Apple and now BB on the kickback scheme. What a waste bringing a new phone to market then only using AT&T. Wake up.

I sold my iPhone because I had to carry my Blackberry as well for phone calls, since I need the coverage that Verizon offers. If I get an Android I can't use it in Europe (have to keep the BB for that)and I can't transfer any of my apps. NOW it comes out with a good browser and better software but only for AT&T which DOES NOT WORK IN SAN FRANCISCO and MARIN! What is it with these people?!!

I was all excited about this cause of the actual keyboard and the touchscreen but once I saw AT&T as the only provider I was disappointed. Did blackberry not see the reaction of the Iphone on AT&T's network? As much as I've grown to like Blackberry's software I dispise the storm because of the touch only keyboard this looked promising. Looks like I might be upgrading to a android when my upgrade is due on Verizon.

Disappointed! Was very excited, but I have TMobile (I know, not very popular these days)...so I'd have to switch contracts and I really don't like AT&T...oh well...I might in the market for a new phone AND a new cell provider....I hear Droid and Verizon calling....

I'm, honestly, very disappointed in RIM. One is simply because they are only offering the new phone via ATT. I have absolutely NO PLANS, nor a good enough reason to go through the trouble of switching carriers for a phone that really doesn't offer anything cutting edge. The phone seems nice, but probably not near worth the hassle.

The second reason is that the iPhone offers the Face-time, which is what is drawing many people to Apple. Without that, to me at least, any new phone that debut's is, well...just a phone. And that what RIM introduced. Just another phone. If I'm going to go through the trouble of switching carriers then, the phone should have something new.

I've been an avid Blackberry user for years, and I was really hoping for the Facetime, but...I may be going to the iPhone. Sorry RIM.

I am curious as to the canadian carriers of this phone!!! I need an upgrade and am with telus so i hope that this phone comes to telus in canada.

Since I will never switch to AT&T, this is useless to me. I currently have a blackberry but since I'm staying with Verizon, I guess the Droid is where I'll go. How stupid and short-sighted to limit this to one provider.

I'm guessing that AT&T was able to prove to RIM (in private, of course) that the 'dropped calls' issue is a problem with the StevePhone and not the voice network. The data network, that's a different story. Because the BB web browser sucks so bad, no one uses it for web apps, and most of the 'business' data is xfered in the background, BB users don't notice the overcrowded data network as much. Either RIM's execs ride the same 'short bus' as Apple execs, or AT&T delivers truckloads of money to both Apple and RIM

Wow... So now I will wait to see how this new phone compares to the Android X, which is my next choice. I chose Blackberry for my first smartphone because the iPhone is just over rated and this was the beginning of the smartphone era in the US. Only time will tell which phone I go with next.

I seem to echo all of you. I currently have a BB but on the sprint network. They ofefer THE BEST plans when it comes t black berrys and i REFUSE to switch to AT&T. I was so excited about this phone only to be let down. Limiting this phone to one provider was a very stupid and thoughtless move.

Unbelieveable...when is the govt going to break up these phone monopolies with exclusive contracts? AT&T? Are you kidding? Don't they already have iPhone issues? I would love to upgrade to the new software and phone, but not with AT&T! Get a clue Blackberry!

Alright! A new phone with hardware that is inferior across the board to what is already available on the market, and as an added bonus, is only available on an inferior network! Yippeee.

I agree with so many others. I have Verizon, with no intention of leaving the best wireless company out there, so I can't have this device. Guess it's time to start looking at phones other than BB's. Really sad that a company the size of RIM doesn't seem to care who they lose by limiting the availability of phones by carrier.

Agreed.  I will never switch to AT&T - cell coverage is lousy.  Looks like a Droid for me.  Doesn't seem smart to me that they wouldn't offer to Verizon first and stop the flood to Droid since Verizon doesn't have the iPhone.  I don't see how BB can really compete with the iPhone.

Why one carrier? Well since it usually goes to the largest carrier, I would say it has something to do with the marketing support (co-funded marketing $$$). I'm sure the exclusivity agreement has a clause that demands a mass amount of marketing funds to be spent on the launch and post-launch campaigns. You can imagine how tough it would be to get that kind of funding from all carriers simultaneously...

Unfortunately for us, it's really our fault for being slaves to media that we inevitably are faced with a market full of exclusivity. Want companies to change the way they sell? Change the way you buy... Change the sources that effect your buying decisions... Easier said then done... which is why you won't do it.

Why on Earth would RIM give this to AT&T?? Their network can't handle all the iPhone traffic as it is, so why would RIM think a new Blackberry won't get caught up in that mess??! Really dumb move, if you ask me. I would be interested in a new B'berry but not if I have to deal with AT&T to get it!

I've had AT&T for 6 years now and have never had a dropped year, or any other problems. I like their service, especially because I travel quite alot overseas and have never had a problem calling home. I'll have to see some user reviews before buying the new BB.

With all of the government snooping and surveillance going on these days that people seem to ignore, such as google's recent sweetheart deal with the cia (see http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/30/google_teams_up_with_cia_to), I'm more happy with the fact that blackberry's encryption is hard to crack and that makes it the preferred phone for me, and without a camera that the NSA and other agencies can activate without the user's knowledge. Granted AT&T has been in bed with the NSA for a while, only to be ramped up by the bush and obama administrations, but at least my texting and emails with be somewhat private as opposed to all the automatons out there who are like "look at me, look at what i'm doing, look at where I'm at, listen to my calls, read my texts, i'm a movie star on my dumb phone!!!

Let's investigate why" horrible ATT" buys its way as the first (and in this case again only) in the market. Shame on Verizon not to challenge ATT's cheats! ATT is the worst phone company ever yet I suppose the reachest so it buys it ways., I've been abused by this F company (ATT) for 20 years and finally woke up, thanks Vonage and Verizon to making my phone lines so much better and cheaper!

Wonder if the quality will be subpar like the rest of their phones? As for me, I'm done with Blackberry and buying a new phone every 9-10 months because they're pieces of garbage.

I'm sure they will be coming out with a phone for Verizon. Our company with hundreds of employees/users uses Verizon only, due to the outstanding coverage. I know many other companies in my industry with the same Verizon only accounts for their employees.

I'm sure they analyze Business Intelligence reports showing their customer base by provider. They make most their money on Verizon users. Why would they get away from that?

But again, this could be a move from Verizon/Google protecting Droid. They want to milk that before they tap into anything that could demage their new baby.