Research In Motion (RIM) on Friday announced availability of BlackBerry 7 devices in the region. The devices were launched at an event held at Alliance Francais in Nairobi. The devices include the BlackBerry Bold 9900 Bold and Torch which offers both touch and type, the Torch 9810 with a larger touch screen and a slide out keyboard , the Torch 9860 which is all touch and the low priced Curve 9360.
Announcing the launch of the devices, Wadi Wepener, RIM Regional Director East, Central and West Africa said the devices include features such as Liquid Graphics and augmented reality. Liquid graphics offers better user graphics on the devices including better reaction and response.

Augmented reality uses the compass, camera, GPS (location) functionality to highlight points of interest around you, including BlackBerry Messaging (BBM) contacts around you. This include 150 million points in more than 175 countries and in 32 languages. In augmented reality, from the camera view, one is able to see the locations such as restaurants in a building, BBM contacts in a building, or event and even perform actions like check in to a building.

The devices come with a new browser that Wepener says is 40% faster over previous browsers and better HTML 5 and Javascript performance. This allows enterprises and developers to write apps in one language for multiple smartphone ecosystems making their work easier.

Enterprise users can control devices better with BlackBerry Balance. "This allows IT administrators to separate corporate information from private information. You keep what is private, your Google, your Facebook from the corporate information and they can only wipe the corporate information from your device," says Rui Brites , RIM Director of Africa Product Management.

Wepener says that RIM is focussing on applications and local content for the BlackBerry ecosystem. RIM has already held one developer day in Nairobi this year and will be holding more events with the aim of informing developers on how the can develop for BlackBerry.

Developers also get the ability to price their applications by country to country, a feature not available in other smartphone ecosystems.

Blackberry has also removed charges that were required to publish applications on the BlackBerry App World in an effort to encourage more apps. In addition, the BlackBerry App World is available in 23 countries in Africa and expects to cover all countries in the country next year. Brites added that Canalys, a market intelligence and analysis firm has rated  BlackBerry as the number one smartphone in Africa.

RIM is opening an office in Nairobi and is in the process of hiring staff.