BlackBerry and iPhone get ready to rumble

The smartphone smackdown is on, with Apple polishing its newest iPhone just in time to take on the latest version of the BlackBerry.

Apple is working on a software update for the iPhone that would address problems causing the handset to drop some calls, according to The Wall Street Journal. Users of the iPhone 3G, released July 11, have complained about disconnected calls.

The Mac maker plans to make a software fix available in coming weeks, according to reports, which said the glitch may be caused by a chip made by Infineon Technologies.

AT&T, the exclusive provider of iPhone service in the U.S., declined to say whether the device drops more calls than other phones that work with its network.

Meanwhile, Research In Motion's latest BlackBerry, called the Bold, is expected to be available on Sept. 15, according to analyst Peter Minske of Canaccord Adams.

The phone is expected to sell for around $300 with calling plans. AT&T will be the exclusive U.S. carrier for the Bold.

The device is currently selling in Germany and Chile and will debut in Canada next week.

The first major new BlackBerry model in more than a year, the Bold is a high-end device that has twice the screen resolution of current models made by RIM. It matches the resolution, but not the screen size, of the iPhone, which has emerged as a potent competitor in the category.

New York Daily News