Canadian smartphone manufacturer RIM on unveiled five new BlackBerry handsets that will run on a revised version of its operating system, called the BlackBerry 7 OS.

RIM, which has been struggling to maintain its share in the worldwide smartphone market due to cut throat competition from rivals like Apple and Samsung, hopes that its new BlackBerry 7 OS will provide a much-needed boost to its sales.

Unveiled at an event in London, two versions of the BlackBerry Bold range, viz. the Bold 9900 and the Bold 9930, will allow users to use them for contactless payments.

The remaining three handsets are the revamped models of BlackBerry Torch, viz. the 9810, the 9850 and the 9860. The BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860 looks like an improvement from previous RIM handsets, but the handsets are just a catch-up to the iPhone and high-end Android handsets from previous season.

Of the announced five handsets, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the thinnest model at 10.5mm.

At the end of last month, RIM slashed its worldwide workforce by more than 10 per cent, and started reviewing its management structure as a part of its efforts to cut costs.