BlackBerry Curve to be released May 31st? Whatever.
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Filed in AT&T, BlackBerry, EDGE, Exclusives, GSM, Handsets
I know what everyone is thinking, "Please stop!". We do have this on sort of confirmed authority: the BlackBerry Curve will be released this Thursday, the 31st of May. It should appear in all "distribution channels", and AT&T will have their usual 90 day exclusive in the USA. By now we all know the run down — AT&T Mobile Music, 2 megapixel camera, spell checker, and AT&T’s Mall feature to buy ringtones and other downloadable content. Anyone interested in pricing? It will run ya’ $449.99 to buy it outright, $274.99 with a one year agreement, and $199.99 for a 2 year agreement with a $39.99 voice plan. That’s about it, check out the full "press release" after the jump!
Thanks, Jamie!
BlackBerry Curve to Launch May 31
Exclusive to AT&T for at least 90 days after launch.
AT&T will launch the full-featured and much anticipated BlackBerry Curve on May 31 in all distribution channels. The BlackBerry Curve is exclusive to AT&T for at least 90 days after launch and is the smallest, lightest full QWERTY BlackBerry yet offered. It combines a compact design with many new features and broad international coverage.
With an exclusive, liquid silver finish and new trackball navigation system, the Curve is the first BlackBerry device to support AT&T Mobile Music, an enhanced media player, support for stereo Bluetooth headsets and a 3.5 mm headset jack. The device also features a 2-megapixel camera. The Curve is the first BlackBerry to offer spell-checker for e-mail, AT&T Push-to-Talk, TeleNav Maps and the AT&T Mall feature for purchasing ring tones and downloads.
The Curve offers support for phone, BES/BIS e-mail access, text messaging, Web browser, organizer, corporate data applications and more.
The quad-band BlackBerry Curve gives customers the ability to make phone calls in more than 190 countries and access e-mail and other data applications in 130 countries. All AT&T BlackBerry devices enjoy this advantage, giving the company the largest portfolio of BlackBerry products with global roaming capabilities of any U.S. carrier.
Special Note on Product Packaging at Launch
The BlackBerry Curve may also be identified as the BlackBerry 8300 on packaging and in-box materials for up to 30 days after launch.
Accessory packaging may have the BlackBerry 8300 designation for several months after launch. Please note these names refer to the same product. But in all customer-facing marketing materials (advertising, Web, merchandising), the BlackBerry Curve name will be used.
Other product highlights:
Dimensions: 4.21 inches x 2.36 inches x .61 inches; weight: 3.93 oz .
Excellent battery life: up to four hours talk time, up to 17 days standby time.
Supports expandable MicroSD memory.
Powerful 312 MHz processor.
BlackBerry Messaging ("IM-like" messaging to other BB devices).
Pricing
BlackBerry Curve will launch with a $100 instant rebate in BMG channels:
No Commitment - $449.99
One-Year Contract without $100 rebate - 374.99
One-Year Contract with $100 rebate - $274.99
Two-Year Contract without $100 rebate - $299.99
Best Price (two-year unlimited + $39.99 voice) - $199.99
Yeah, chill out. We all wanted an announcement and it’s finally here. They will be available in stores tomorrow and online, so that is all that matters.
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“what are these wm push email problems with gmail? i dont have any, other than the email needs to be forwarded to an exchange address? thanks”
I don’t have an exchange server
on my blackberry the gmail worked fine. On my new WM device - one gmail address did not work at all and the T-Mo help guy said sometimes “gmail doesn’t work right.” I got another gmail account and it works but poorly - deletes my mail on the phone everytime I send a new message.
So, blackberry seems to have a step or two up on WM devices as far as email is concerned.
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My wife just went to a Cingular store here in the Chicago ‘burbs, and saw the feeding frenzy as FedEx just delivered them.
It’s a go!
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press release from RIM… pretty much the same as the other one
http://rim.net/news/press/2007/pr-30_05_2007-01.shtml
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i work for them and no news was pushed out to us. but I have yet to go in and check in our morning inventory..so should know by 1 pacific time
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I just called a a store on 5th ave in nyc. Typical response “Some time next month”.
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I couldn’t be more excited! Woohoo!!! With earlier posts I was pissed off because AT&T kept so damn quiet but now, I am very happy! I’m definitely going to buy this tomorrow and renew my contract with AT&T.
On that note - I called AT&T yesterday to get my upgrade fee waived when I upgraded to the 8800 but since I returned it due to the Curve’s release, the girl on the phone was very helpful and credited my account immediately. Also I’ve never had any problems with their service so I could’t be a happier customer right now. :0)
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Wow… you gotta hand it to this carrier though. They are getting both the Blackberry Curve and Apple IPhone in the same month! Yet I still have to come to BGR just to get info on these hot phones! WHY!?!
One would think hype + knowledgeable customer service is a good thing for business! Silly carrier, tricks are for kids!
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VOTE FOR PEDRO!
GOOOOOODDDDD!
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I got sick of the carriers constantly yanking my cr@nk. I have TMO, and there was no way I was going to wait until August. I went for the 8800. It works better than the 8700g, and the GPS is pretty cool…
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Billy tickets had this one nailed to THE DAY …
http://tixxalert.blogspot.com/2007/05/att-to-launch-new-blackberry-curve-may.html
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It seems that the IM messaging will only connect to other blackberries. Has this been confirmed? I think it would be kinda stupid to limit the messaging.
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Well the Cingular employee from my local store kind of gave it away that the Curve will be out tomorrow. He said, “We won’t know anything about the phone until we have it in stock tomorrow. Call back tomorrow to see if we have it in stock.”…lol Yeah, they’re geniuses working at these stores.
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yea corporate stores will be getting selling them for sure but they dont know the price yet which will probably be tomorrow more than likely. I’m so tempted on getting one but might wait for TMO to release there version.
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jaydub,
Best post of the day! Any other info? I just hope your wife doesn’t have any reason to play with our hearts. My 8700 wants to be put out of it’s misery and its looking like 5/31/07 will be the day. (virtual picture of curve rising over tropical island at sun rise)
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Ok here’s an honest question for the 8800 users and non-users alike. We know the curve is the NEWEST SMALLEST LIGHTEST blackberry available, but how many people REALLY prefer a 2MP camera over GPS?
One vote for GPS..
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One vote for the 2MP camera AND the GPS together….and they can keep their WiFi for all I care….don’t need it on a BBerry…!
But seriously - I think I will miss the GPS on my 8800…..handy feature - BUT - I’m positive I would use the camera more…so my vote would be the 2MP camera.
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Gotta go with the GPS. I had a Pearl and PEBL. I used the camera once or twice. But I’ve used the GPS on average of 2 times a week.
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Rim website press release
http://rim.com/news/press/2007/pr-30_05_2007-01.shtml
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Camera All The Wai! I will hardly use it, but I need it
I will download live search again if I need directions. . .
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I’d prefer the GPS over the camera, but I’m waiting for the Curve for it’s better keyboard.
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Called 4 Att&t/Cingular Corporate Stores in the Reno, Nevada area, and no one had any idea what they were talking about, as expected. One lady, said the ususal,”iphone? oh you mean the pearl?”. they had already received the shipments for the day, and said nothing had arrived, they had not even seen the press release, or had any launch info. Can everyone post their findings in their respective makets, so we can see where the Curve is landing tomorrow?
Cheers
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I called 2 stores near me in the Dallas area. One said they did not have any in stock. The other said they had some but could not sell them until tomorrow. Basically, I think some have them and have gotten their shipments and some don’t. We’ll see if I can actually get one tomorrow. I won’t be waiting in line when they open, that’s for sure.
Good luck.
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Well, my local corporate AT&Tingular store rep at least knew what it was and stated that they had a PO for “sometime next week.” I hope it’s tomorrow. I think I’m finally going Crackberry, because I want more e-mail and messaging functionality. I cannot use webmail at work.
I’m a diehard Nokia fan, and was REALLY looking forward to the N75, but the botched launch, lack of OTA, and a few other things finally turned me off. Gimme a Curve!
My vote is for the camera, because I actually use mine quite a bit, and I can Google Maps on my Curve if I need to. I usually get directions BEFORE I go somewhere…
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That’s in Merritt Island, Florida, btw.
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