This year, vendors (Motorola, Nokia, Hewlett-Packard, etc.) announced a number of new smartphones that feature Wi-Fi in addition to cellular communications. Notably, Research In Motion (RIM) wasn't one of those manufacturers.

Well, it looks like RIM will enter the Wi-Fi fray after all.

Here's the story:

RIM is demonstrating a new BlackBerry handheld today at the Gartner ITXPO Symposium. The BlackBerry 7270 operates on 802.11b networks and incorporates both Voice over IP (VoIP) and data capabilities. According to the company, the 7279 provides on-premises workers with the capability to stay connected when they're away from their desk, wherever their organization has deployed WLAN coverage.

So it looks like the new BlackBerry won't be cellular-enabled (GSM or CDMA) as with all other Blackberries from the last few years, while bypassing the issue of Wi-Fi/cellular convergence at the same time (see Seamless WLAN/Cellular Convergence on the Far Horizon). Like these other handhelds, however, the BlackBerry 7270 will operate with RIM's BlackBerry Enterprise Server for wireless e-mail and enterprise data applications.

The company's President and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said, "We are extending the key benefits and differentiators of the BlackBerry wireless platform to WLAN networks and enhancing on-premises mobility for our enterprise customers. "

With VoIP telephony, the new handset aims to extend desktop phone functionality to a BlackBerry wireless handheld, allowing the user to place and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network. (It uses SIP-based call control to deliver standards-based interoperability with IP PBX and traditional corporate telephony equipment.)

Lazaridas asserted "the inherent advantages of the BlackBerry platform such as security, back-end integration, manageability, ease-of-use, power management and push technology will provide a uniquely strong foundation for customers that want an integrated wireless VoIP and data solution."

RIM said it is testing functional prototypes internally and will begin external customer trials with select organizations starting next month. It should ship early next year.