RIM debuts new BlackBerry browser

Research In Motion on Monday debuted a new, long-awaited Web browser for its BlackBerry devices, touting the Webkit-based application as easier, faster and better at rendering Web sites.

The new browser, which will be available this year, was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

RIM has long been criticized for its browser, which reviewers (including this one) have said is out-of-date compared to competing handsets that use Apple, Google and Palm operating systems.

The new browser is key to preserving the company’s large consumer adoption base, which has been growing thanks to two-for-one carrier deals and despite an overall lack of innovation in software from the company.

Four months ago, RIM debuted the Storm2, an update to its fully touchscreen BlackBerry, which made all the right moves on the hardware front but still felt behind in terms of software.

The Canadian company last year bought browser specialist Torch Mobile in a bid to revamp its browser.