Claro BlackBerry Torch is here!

A new phone is like a new car. Everybody loves the look of one and can't wait to try it out.

And when that new phone happens to be a BlackBerry, the heads will surely turn. Cue the drooling techies. Claro officially launched the sleek, shiny new BlackBerry Torch at The Ruins at the Mona Visitors' Lodge on Tuesday night. The music pumping out over the university campus was indicative of the fun you will be having with this product.

Ian Persaud, representing Research In Motion (RIM), BlackBerry's creators, said the Torch had great new features, satisfying the public's demands. The phone has the same keypad (the 'it' factor that makes BlackBerry phones so popular) but this model also sports a touch screen that customers had been clamouring for. Wish granted! The tag line for the Torch is 'Act on Inspiration', and Persaud opined that this all-in-one design would enable you to do just that. Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, marvelled that the BlackBerry had revolutionised instant communication, and the Torch matched the successful ethos of Claro.

There were four booths, each with Claro and RIM representatives explaining various offerings of the phone, including the BlackBerry 6 mobile-operating system, revamped browser and improved media player. There were giveaways of two Torch phones (you had to get a welcome card stamped at each booth to qualify) as well as BlackBerry accessories.

Guests out included Milton and Christopher Samuda, Patricia Peart, Thasya Chin-Fletcher, Camille Fender, Garth Hinchcliffe, Brian Schmidt, Rohan Daley, Dennis Brooks and Allison Watson.