RIM's Reason For BlackBerry Bold Delays: iPhone 3G

RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said the new high-end smartphone, which has been released in a host of other countries already and supposed to hit the U.S. in the summer, is still undergoing testing in the U.S. to ensure AT&T's network is up to snuff.

Lazaridis implied the latest round of testing is RIM doing its due diligence to ensure the 3G BlackBerry Bold 9000 doesn't get caught in the same web of complaints that plagued the Apple iPhone 3G when it was released in July. iPhone buyers were peeved about the device's poor performance on AT&T's 3G network, which, as one of the iPhone 3G's main selling points, promised breakneck Internet speeds—but fell short.

"There's great scrutiny, as you might know, on that network and a certain device," Lazaridis told the Associated Press. "So I guess everyone wants to be sure on every last test."

Lazaridis said the Bold is still undergoing certification processes to make sure it operates as expected, and promised, on AT&T's next-generation high-speed network, the same that supports the iPhone 3G. While the Bold was originally supposed to be made publicly available last week, the release date was delayed. Currently, there is no firm date when the Bold will reach users' hands stateside.

RIM and AT&T are being meticulous with the Bold 9000 after the iPhone flap this summer, during which iPhone users cried out over slow data rates and dropped calls. Apple has issued a software update to improve the problem.

"We're very meticulous about what our product does," the RIM co-CEO told the Associated Press.

Since it was announced in May, the Bold has been hit with several roadblocks, mainly due to software and operating system issues. The device, RIM's first to support 3G, has already earned favorable reviews and, possibly because of the hang-ups, has become one of the most hyped and coveted smartphones in the BlackBerry's 10-year history.

The first time the Bold was delayed was in June, with RIM and AT&T citing software issues and problems with battery life and overheating. Then, last week with just a few days before the smartphone's supposed public availability launch, RIM and AT&T pulled the plug, with AT&T sending out an internal memo notifying employees that the date has been pushed back indefinitely.

The continuing stalling of the Bold is also bringing attention to the next BlackBerry smartphone expected to hit the streets, the BlackBerry Storm. The Storm, formerly known as the BlackBerry Thunder, is expected to be released by Verizon by year's end and will be the first touch-screen BlackBerry, marking RIM's first slap back at the Apple iPhone.