AT&T (formerly Cingular) and Research In Motion (RIM) 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 Thursday, May 31.

The BlackBerry Curve offers innovative features and enhanced multimedia capabilities while maintaining exceptional battery life. It 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, a 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 and integrated Push to Talk for enhanced communications.

The BlackBerry Curve is powered by AT&T’s nationwide EDGE network. The quadband BlackBerry Curve even keeps users who are abroad connected with wireless data services in over 130 countries.

Additionally, the new BlackBerry Curve 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, 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(R) 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.

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. For more information, check out the official Blackberry Curve website: http://www.blackberrycurve.com/.

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