Rogers Wireless and Research In Motion today announced the launch of the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone. It will set you back $179.99 with a 3 year plan and is already available online and in some stores
Read the full press release after the jump.
Rogers and RIM Launch the New BlackBerry Curve 8900 Smartphone in Canada
Thinnest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone joins Rogers’ lineup of innovative and stylish BlackBerry smartphones, on Canada’s most reliable wireless network
Toronto and Waterloo, ON – Rogers Wireless (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM, TSX: RIM) today announce the launch of the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphone. The new BlackBerry Curve 8900 delivers a sleek, new twist on a classic style, and it is the thinnest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone to date. It combines quad-band EDGE support with built-in Wi-Fi® and GPS, a 512 MHz next-generation processor and a dazzling 480 x 360, high-resolution display.
With an expansive feature-set including a powerful media player and 3.2 megapixel camera, as well as advanced phone, email, messaging, organizer and web browser applications, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone makes it incredibly easy to connect with family, friends and co-workers and to stay both productive and entertained while on the go.
“Rogers is thrilled to offer Canadians the exclusive BlackBerry Curve 8900, the smallest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone to enter the market,” said John Boynton, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Wireless. “With its ingenious design and stunning display, leading-edge mobile messaging system and compatibility with Rogers TalkSpot, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 strikes the right balance between serious business tool and social lifeline.”
“The new BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone packs an amazing range of useful features into a simply beautiful and compact design,” said Mark Guibert, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Research In Motion. “It delivers a winning combination for people who want exceptional phone quality, reliable email and messaging and great media features together with a well designed keyboard and renowned ease-of-use.”
How does the new Curve stack up to the Bold?
In a nutshell:
The new Curve has a slightly slower CPU and no 3G. The screen is also slightly smaller but has the same pixel count so the display will be gorgeous. There is also an improved trac-ball on the 8900. The CCD is upgraded to 3.2 Mega-pixels. Smaller and lighter, Wi-fi instead of 3G, this phone should make for a real “Stormy” decision for a lot of people.
I’ll say this…if the phone came out on VZW and had 3G, I’d take it over the Storm. Nice size, physical keyboard, good screen, etc.