One month before Apple is set to release the iPhone, Research In Motion (RIM) has introduced a new BlackBerry smartphone it calls Curve. Also called the 8300, the device s expected to be released this spring (individual carriers will announce prices as the roll out the phone).
The Curve is the latest in RIM’s series of QWERTY keyboard-equipped BlackBerry smartphones. It comes with a 320 x 240 LCD display, Bluetooth 2.0 support, quad-band operation, Web access, and RIM’s vaunted e-mail support and Enterprise Server connectivity. The Curve is differentiated from other QWERTY models by a “liquid silver” finish and a more lightweight design — it measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 ounces, slimmer than the 8700 and 8800 models, and weighs less than either at 3.9 ounces.
Like the 8800 series and the Pearl, the Curve sports a mini trackball in its center instead of the jog wheel found on older BlackBerry smartphones. It also includes a 2.0-megapixel digital camera with built-in flash. It can play multimedia files including music and videos, and supports A2DP/AVRCP Bluetooth profiles so you can use the Curve with a Bluetooth stereo headset. The Curve also sports a microSD expansion slot you can use to hold up to 2GB of additional data, including music, videos and pictures.