Online reports this week suggest that Research In Motion (RIM) is to stagger the global release of its new HSPA-compatible BlackBerry Bold device. RIM has always said the device will launch this summer, but specific dates have not been forthcoming. BlackBerry News reports that business users in Canada will be able to buy the handset via Rogers tomorrow, with the operator reportedly planning a consumer launch on August 8. The same report suggests US operator AT&T now will not launch the device in retail stores until early September at the earliest, but European launches via Vodafone UK and T-Mobile Germany will reportedly take place on August 1 and 4, respectively.

Meanwhile, Australian IT reports that Telstra will offer the BlackBerry Bold for AUS$0 upfront to business customers from late September. Smarthouse claims that rival Australian operator Optus will launch the device on August 20. The touchscreen Bold device is seen by some as RIM’s answer to Apple’s new iPhone 3G.