New York — Wi-Fi-equipped BlackBerry Curve smartphones are putting in an appearance for the first time on AT&T’s network and Sprint’s iDEN network. They join a Wi-Fi Curve available for the T Mobile network, RIM said.
The Sprint version, the Curve 8350i, is the first Curve for Sprint’s iDEN network and the only iDEN-network BlackBerry with Wi-Fi, Sprint said. AT&T’s version, the Curve 8320, joins AT&T’s 8310 Curve, which lacks Wi-Fi, AT&T said.
AT&T’s 8320 is available at $149.99 with two-year contract and mail-in rebate at http://att.com/blackberrycurve8320and through AT&T’s direct business-to-business sales channels. In early 2009, the 8320 will be available at select AT&T retail stores and national retailers. Subscribers with unlimited-use corporate or personal BlackBerry email service get free access to thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in the U.S.
For Sprint’s iDEN network, the BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone is available for as low as $149.99 with a two-year service agreement, an $80 instant savings credit and a $100 mail-in rebate. It’s available through www.sprint.com, (800) SPRINT-1, and the carrier’s business-sales channel. On Jan. 11 it will be available in Sprint retail stores nationwide.
The QWERTY-keyboard-equipped Curves use Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g to broaden data coverage to access the Web and email, and they enable subscribers to carry on a cellular conversation while simultaneously accessing the Web and email via Wi-Fi.
The BlackBerry Curve 8320 allows users to download attachments as well as edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the handset using the preloaded DataVizDocuments To Go software suite. In addition, it features Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel camera with zoom, flash and video recording, advanced media player with desktop media management software, and expandable memory of up to 16GB via its MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot.
On the AT&T network, the Curve adds AT&T Music subscription services, integrated Push To Talk (PTT) and, with a separate Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver, accesses the AT&T Navigator and YellowPages.Com mobile services.
On the iDEN, network, the Curve 8350i features Nextel Direct Connect PTT service and Group Connect, which enables subscribers to set up group conversations with up to 20 participants. It also features integrated business solutions, including GPS-enabled solutions and access to other mobile applications for jobs such as dispatch operations and fleet and workforce management.
