Smallest and Lightest Full QWERTY BlackBerry Handset Features Enhanced Multimedia Capabilities With AT&T’s Industry-Leading Coverage for Wireless Data Services
Atlanta and Waterloo, ON - AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the introduction of the BlackBerry® Curve™, the smallest and lightest full QWERTY BlackBerry handset. AT&T will be the first wireless carrier in North America to offer the BlackBerry Curve in wireless retail and business channels beginning tomorrow, Thursday, May 31.
Available in the U.S. exclusively from AT&T, the BlackBerry Curve can be used by AT&T customers within the broadest domestic and international coverage area for wireless data services of any U.S. carrier. The BlackBerry Curve measures just 4.2” x 2.4” x 0.6”, weighs approximately 3.9 oz. and builds on the proven and popular BlackBerry handset experience to offer innovative features and enhanced multimedia capabilities while maintaining exceptional battery life. The BlackBerry Curve is the first BlackBerry handset to offer a 2 megapixel camera and spell checker for e-mail. It gives AT&T customers the personal productivity and flexibility they want and keeps them connected to the important people and content in their lives with messaging, music and other capabilities.
Fashioned in a liquid silver finish with chrome highlights, smooth edges and soft curves, the BlackBerry Curve strikes a unique balance of features, usability and design. It combines the renowned BlackBerry e-mail and messaging capabilities, premium phone features, comprehensive organizer and fast Internet browser with a new 2 megapixel camera with zoom, enhanced media player and new desktop media manager, microSD expandable memory slot and RIM’s intuitive trackball navigation system. The BlackBerry Curve from AT&T also includes AT&T Music™ subscription services, TeleNav® Maps™ to provide users with maps and driving directions and integrated Push to Talk (PTT) for enhanced communications.
“The BlackBerry Curve has all of the qualities of a winner that will resonate with a broad segment of AT&T customers,” said Kent Mathy, president of AT&T’s Business Markets Group. “Business professionals and consumers alike will gravitate to its iconic look, industry-leading coverage both here in the U.S. and abroad, robust e-mail and Web browsing capabilities, and powerful entertainment offerings.”
“We continue to make BlackBerry handsets smaller, thinner, lighter and more powerful while staying focused on delivering a quality user experience,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and Co-CEO of Research In Motion. “The BlackBerry Curve, with its full QWERTY keyboard and sleek new design, is a perfect choice for people who want enhanced multimedia features together with an uncompromising communications experience.”
The BlackBerry Curve represents another first for AT&T, which is the leading provider of BlackBerry services worldwide. AT&T was the first carrier* in the world to introduce the BlackBerry wireless solution in 1999 and has since continued to lead the way with the introduction of groundbreaking BlackBerry handsets, including the BlackBerry® 8700c, BlackBerry® 8800 and the red BlackBerry® Pearl™.
The BlackBerry Curve is powered by AT&T’s nationwide** EDGE network, the largest high-speed national wireless data network in the U.S. with availability in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. The quadband BlackBerry Curve from AT&T keeps users who are abroad connected with wireless data services in more countries — more than 130 — than any other U.S. carrier. The new BlackBerry Curve from AT&T also features:
- A large, ultrabright 320-by-240 display that supports more than 65,000 colors, complete with light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts backlighting for indoor, outdoor and dark environments.
- The first BlackBerry handset to offer a built-in spell checker with user-customizable dictionary to help ensure the accuracy of e-mail and other text entries.
- Premium phone features, including noise-cancellation technology to offset background noise, Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), dedicated Send, End, and Mute keys, low-distortion speakerphone, and Bluetooth® (2.0) support for hands-free use with headsets, car kits and Bluetooth peripherals.
- AT&T Push to Talk (PTT), running on the largest PTT network in the U.S, so customers can use the service to stay connected with individual colleagues, friends or family or to set up groups for broader communication.
- A 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and a full screen viewfinder. The camera can capture images in up to three picture quality and size resolutions that can be quickly shared by e-mail, MMS, BlackBerry Messenger or Bluetooth. Photos can also be set as a unique caller ID or home screen image.
- A powerful new media manager application, which is included as part of the BlackBerry Desktop software. The Roxio® Media Manager for BlackBerry, which was developed with Sonic® and based on the award-winning Roxio Easy Media Creator® 9, introduces a new level of simplicity, allowing users to easily search for media files on their computer, view and organize them; create MP3 music files from CDs; add audio tags; create playlists; and automatically copy or convert pictures, music and videos for optimal playback on the BlackBerry Curve.
- A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, support for Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP) and dedicated volume controls.
- AT&T Music, an integrated, on-the-go music experience that delivers “your music, your way” by providing simple access to a robust collection of music content, including access to online subscription music content from eMusic, XM Satellite Radio and more.
- TeleNav Maps™, a free mapping application that can help users find addresses and provide step-by-step directions with the ability to upgrade to TeleNav GPS Navigator™. TeleNav GPS Navigator can be used with a Bluetooth–enabled GPS accessory to provide audible turn-by-turn driving directions, local points of interest or the latest traffic information — all for a low monthly subscription.
- Support for polyphonic, MP3 and MIDI ringtones.
- BlackBerry Internet Service support that allows access to up to 10 personal and corporate e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts.
- BlackBerry Enterprise Server support for enterprise deployments, integrating with IBM Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange and Novell® GroupWise® environments and features a new set of IT policy controls for managing the handset’s features and usage.
- A variety of in-the-box accessories, including stereo headset, travel charger and USB cable. Additional accessories for BlackBerry handsets, including premium leather holsters and totes, an automotive charger, and Bluetooth headsets are available online and through retail outlets.
Pricing and Availability
The BlackBerry Curve will be available for as low as $199.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate beginning May 31 in AT&T (formerly Cingular Wireless) retail stores, online at www.cingular.com, through select national retailers and various AT&T business channels. Customers who want personal e-mail access and Web browsing with BlackBerry Internet Service can choose the BlackBerry Personal Unlimited plan for as low as $29.99 a month with a qualified voice contract. Unlimited corporate e-mail access via BlackBerry Enterprise Server is as low as $44.99 a month when a qualified voice plan is also chosen or when customers who travel overseas can have unlimited e-mail access internationally for as low as $64.99 a month with a qualified voice plan. Unlimited Cingular Push to Talk service is available for an additional monthly charge of $9.99 per device and $19.99 for Push to Talk Family. AT&T Push to Talk also features a pay-per-use option of $.15 a minute. TeleNav GPS Navigator monthly service is available for $5.99 for 10 trips or $9.99 for unlimited trips. As features within AT&T Music, XM Satellite Radio and MusicID require monthly subscription fees of $8.99 and $3.99, respectively.