Research in Motion (RIM) has announced three Blackberry Curve models – 9350, 9360 and 9370, with connectivity being the difference: the 9350 is CDMA-only, 9360 supports GSM and UMTS while 9370 supports both GSM and CDMA. All three of them run RIM’s latest Blackberry 7 OS.
Unlike yesteryear’s Curves, the new Curves now sport a higher resolution screen. Each of the new models has a 2.44 inch, 480×360 pixel screen. Also on-board is an 800 MHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, and a 5-megapixel Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) camera with LED flash and VGA video recording functionality. EDoF will be great for having everything in focus beyond a certain distance, but will do poorly for macro shots.
They also feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and the near field communication (NFC) capabilities, which are slowly turning into a standard for new smartphones. Other features include zooming and panning plus optimised HTML5 performance for better gaming and video responsiveness.
RIM said the new gadgets are aimed at updating the existing Blackberry Curve with “an affordable, easy-to-use, full-featured and socially-connected smartphone”.
“These new models will build on the incredible success of the BlackBerry Curve line and further expand the largest global launch of BlackBerry smartphones in our history,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO of RIM. “The new BlackBerry Curve smartphones are absolutely stunning and offer a significant performance upgrade with an unmatched mobile social experience for the millions of feature phone users in the market as well as our existing Curve customers.”
The phones are expected to be offered in Canada beginning this month and will most likely make their way across the globe soon after in September.
