Verizon gets official with BlackBerry Torch 9850 launch date and pricing

No more waiting on details for the Verizon BlackBerry Torch 9850 we spotted earlier this summer. As expected, RIM's latest all-touch smartphone will be available online starting on September 8, and will be in stores on September 15. Pricing will sit at $199.99 on a two-year contract, which is a bit pricier than what Sprint's asking, but I'm sure that cost will go down quickly enough.

The BlackBerry Torch 9850 lines up with the other new OS 7 devices from RIM, packing a 1.2 GHz processor, 768 MB of RAM, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p video recording, a solid 3.7-inch 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen. Augmented reality is finally a go on the newer devices, but this one does not have NFC, and the rumoured inclusion of mobile hotspot sadly did not pan out. As far as connectivity goes, the 9850 plays on both GSM and CDMA 2G and 3G networks, ensuring solid world roaming. The software nicely polished and responsive, but more or less the same experience you have come to expect on a BlackBerry. I reviewed the Sprint model, if you are thinking about picking up the Verizon one.