RIM’s 2012 Roadmap: Two BlackBerry 10s, Two Curves, One PlayBook

After getting a new Chief Executive Officer, Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion is looking forth to release some appealing new devices in 2012.

Rumor has it that the first BlackBerry 10-powered handsets from the company will arrive on shelves in the second half of the current year, and that they will be preceded by handsets in the Curve family.

Moreover, the company will make available a new PlayBook model, packing better hardware specs and more features than the original.

First in the line would be the said two new Curve handsets. Dubbed BlackBerry Curve 9230 and BlackBerry Curve 9320, they are said to be on their way to the market in the next couple of months.

The Curve 9230 device will feature EDGE capabilities when made available for purchase, while the Curve 9320 is expected to be an HSPA smartphone, BGR reports.

The next-gen PlayBook model will follow, and it should pack a 1.5GHz application processor inside, along with support for NFC (Near Field Communications).

The tablet PC should hit the market sometime in May or June, featuring built-in support for HSPA+ 42Mbps networks.

In fall, RIM should bring to the market its first BlackBerry 10-powered smartphones. One of them was previously potted on the web as BlackBerry London, set to hit the market in September.

The second BlackBerry 10 smartphone from the company might be included in the Bold family. It will feature the renowned Bold design, while packing a touchscreen display, similarly with the latest devices in the series.

Apparently, there might also be a QWERTY slider en-route to the market with the BlackBerry 10 OS on board, but it will not arrive before the first quarter next year.

RIM might also plan the release of minor upgrades in the Curve series, but there should not be too many changes from the currently leaked roadmap.