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03/23/10--13:40: Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th (chan 3116548)



We knew it was coming, and now we have a concrete date. Starting this Thursday, March 25th, Verizon Wireless customers with one of nine select smartphones (Motorola Droid and Devour, HTC Droid Eris, various BlackBerrys) and data plan will be able to use Skype over the 3G network. As we heard before, Skype-to-Skype calls will not affect your VZW minutes, and now you've got the option to use the app for cheaper international dialing using the mobile app. Full list of compatible devices after the break, a list we're hoping gets expanded in the not-so-distant future.

Continue reading Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th

Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/20/10--15:22: Nothing black about these berries: T-Mobile outs fuchsia Curve 8520, white Bold 9700 (chan 3116548)

We kind of already had a hunch on this one, but it's totally official now: the "fuchsia" version of RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 is now totally real and available on T-Mobile for $49.99 on a two-year deal (interestingly, you can get either the black or the white versions for free, so you'd better really want the red). Alongside that, the Bold 9700 is getting repainted in white -- a trick we've seen before with the original Bold 9000 -- on May 26 for $129.99 on contract. Oh, and that Bold will come loaded with BlackBerry OS 5.0.586, an update that's now available to existing customers as well. High fives all around -- at least until 6 drops, right?

Nothing black about these berries: T-Mobile outs fuchsia Curve 8520, white Bold 9700 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 May 2010 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/19/10--18:08: Research In Motion enters Chinese retail channel with BlackBerry 8910 Curve (chan 3116548)



Remember the mysterious BlackBerry 8910 Curve that showed up briefly back in January? Well, forget that -- this is the real 8910 here. RIM was at China yesterday to launch this familiar-looking device -- OK, it's actually just a 8900 sans WiFi, but it's also the first BlackBerry that'll be sold through Chinese retail channels -- carried by Digital China -- instead of just enterprise contracts. Nothing fresh from the rest of the specs: 2.4-inch 480 x 360 screen, quadband GPRS, 512MHz processor, 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, GPS, Bluetooth 2.0, and microSD expansion of up to 32GB. Press release and a couple more pics after the break, if you still care.

Continue reading Research In Motion enters Chinese retail channel with BlackBerry 8910 Curve

Research In Motion enters Chinese retail channel with BlackBerry 8910 Curve originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/25/10--21:59: BlackBerry Curve 9300 prototype gets handled on video (chan 3116548)



BlackBerry lovers, are you sitting at home on a Friday night itching for the latest device scoop? Or out but glued to your screen checking news sites in between BBM relays? Looks like TechnoBuffalo (with a little help from Negri Electronics) has you covered: hands-on time with the Curve 9300. This prototype 8500 replacement has T-Mobile UK bands and is actually working (although with OS 5 at the moment). Compared with its predecessor, the keyboard is apparently improved, the side buttons more flush with the device, and there are a few cosmetic differences as you can notice in the picture above. Video after the break... now get on with your evening, k?

Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 9300 prototype gets handled on video

BlackBerry Curve 9300 prototype gets handled on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/05/10--08:48: BlackBerry Curve 9300 gets FCC approval? (update: or just an AWS version of the 8500 series?) (chan 3116548)



Like many companies, RIM generally does a superb job of concealing model numbers of unannounced devices when it files for FCC certification -- but given what we know of Waterloo's product pipeline, we think it's safe to take a stab at what we're looking at here. In all likelihood, this is the upcoming Curve 9300, evidenced by the general shape of the rear and... well, the obvious "Curve" label up top. This particular unit appears to have triband CDMA including AWS, meaning we could definitely see it launch on some of the AWS-packing regionals like MetroPCS. Physically, it's a step up from the 8500 series below it -- but by all appearances, it's not a major redesign. How about that 9800, RIM?

Update: Wireless Goodness points out that this could simply be an AWS CDMA version of the 8500 series, since we haven't seen such a version launch yet on the regionals. Seems plausible -- but either way, the 8500 and 9300 seem like awfully similar devices.

BlackBerry Curve 9300 gets FCC approval? (update: or just an AWS version of the 8500 series?) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/06/10--18:20: HTC Gold with Windows Phone 7 in November, and more from a rumored UK roadmap leak (chan 3116548)



O, to see what Omio sees. The outlet has obtained what it claims to be "a huge UK mobile phone release schedule for the rest of the year... [from] all the manufacturers" (emphasis its own). So, from where would such an all-encompassing roadmap hail? We don't know, nor can we corroborate any of this, but the details are numerous so let's go through it -- albeit with cautious optimism and a few grains of salt. The biggest phone we can see of this baker's dozen of a lineup is the HTC Gold (sound familiar?), due in November and loaded with Microsoft's mobile OS newcomer Windows Phone 7. Unfortunately, that's all the information provided, but it's certainly enough to entice us. Also in November, we've got Samsung i8700 and Nokia E7 -- the latter being possibly a N8-esque QWERTY slider with AMOLED display and Symbian^3, and the former being a mystery (although Omio takes a gander that its aquatic Greek mythology might suggest a Bada-powered existence).

Going up the list Memento style, October purportedly brings across the pond-ers HTC Vision, the virtually unknown HTC Ace, Nokia N8, and Sony Ericsson's Xperia X8 and Yendo. September's a bit of a yawner -- SE Hazel and a Nokia X2 candybar -- as is August with the X6 8GB and BlackBerry Curve 9300. And July? Nokia E5-00, Sony Ericsson W20, and Samsung i5500. As is usually the case, the more you can wait, the better your options. Now, let's see if this supposed roadmap stays on course.


HTC Gold with Windows Phone 7 in November, and more from a rumored UK roadmap leak originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/20/10--19:59: BlackBerry Curve 9300 spotted in the wild again, gets examined in-depth (chan 3116548)



We've already seen what's purported to be the BlackBerry Curve 9300 out in the wild a few times, but Vietnamese site Mainguyen has now gotten its hands on a unit as well, and given us our most detailed look at the phone yet. That includes a better look at the slightly higher-end elements more reminiscent of the now-discontinued Curve 8900 than the Curve 8500 series it's apparently replacing, and confirmation of at least a few specs (including a 3.2-megapixel camera). Head on past the break for a video, and hit up the source link below

Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 9300 spotted in the wild again, gets examined in-depth

BlackBerry Curve 9300 spotted in the wild again, gets examined in-depth originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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07/24/10--15:55: RIM's BlackBerry Curve 9300 spotted in T-Mobile branding (update) (chan 3116548)



It's certainly not the first time we've seen this here BlackBerry (with "this here" meaning "Curve 9300"), but it's the first time we've seen it outfitted in carrier clothing. Notice that T-Mobile logo at the bottom? That's the clearest indication yet that this particular 'Berry will soon be headed to T-Mob, but given that it's unlikely to support an upgrade to BlackBerry OS 6, your off-the-chart excitement level may indeed be unwarranted. At any rate, we're also hearing that Rogers in Canada will be snagging this at launch, but we'll be passing along official details just as soon as we get them.

Update: As it turns out, this actually isn't the first time we've seen a magenta-scarved Curve 9300, just the one that has us most convinced it's got a date with destiny. Not to mention stateside availability.

RIM's BlackBerry Curve 9300 spotted in T-Mobile branding (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/03/10--17:09: Cricket launches BlackBerry Curve 8530, says Kyocera Zio is in the cards (chan 3116548)



We'd wondered what had happened to Kyocera's low-end Zio with Android after its March announce at CTIA... and lo, here it is. Cricket announced today that the phone is indeed in the pipe for 2010 -- a little later than earlier rumors that we'd see it in July -- marking just their second smartphone after their branded version of the BlackBerry Curve 8530, which ships later this week. Pricing for the Zio hasn't been announced, but the Curve 8530 will run $279.99 after discount -- pricey, yes, until you consider that you're getting that devoid of a pesky contract. Cricket's excited to trumpet that its unlimited BlackBerry plan runs just $60 a month in total, which means that voice, text, and data are all off the meter. Not bad -- but considering Cricket's positioning as a regional value brand, we'd expect no less.

Cricket launches BlackBerry Curve 8530, says Kyocera Zio is in the cards originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/05/10--03:01: BlackBerry Curve 9300 for sale on Rogers, still not announced (chan 3116548)



Uh, RIM ol' buddy, is there something you'd like to tell us about this unannounced BlackBerry Curve 9300 that's up and dancing on Rogers' website right now with a $79.99 Canadian price tag on a three-year contract? We're looking at a quad-band GSM and HSDPA 850/1900/2100 candybar with 802.11n WiFi, GPS, 256MB of RAM, a 2 megapixel camera, microSD expansion (2GB in the box), and 2.4-inch display throwing 320 x 240 pixels. And no, that's not the latest and greatest OS which makes us wonder about the possibility for a BlackBerry 6 upgrade. Maybe T-Mobile USA would like to say something, anything?

[Thanks, Samir A.]

BlackBerry Curve 9300 for sale on Rogers, still not announced originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/09/10--05:48: BlackBerry Curve 3G (9300) is officially BlackBerry 6 ready (chan 3116548)


The cart left the gate on Thursday and here comes the horse: the official BlackBerry Curve 3G (model 9300) announcement just landed in our inbox. So in addition to sporting (800/850)/1900/2100MHz or 900/1700/2100MHz HSDPA data, quad-band GSM, WiFi, and GPS, we now know that if you buy this BlackBerry 5 device today you can upgrade to BlackBerry 6 "in the coming months." Assuming your carrier can get its act together, of course.

Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 3G (9300) is officially BlackBerry 6 ready

BlackBerry Curve 3G (9300) is officially BlackBerry 6 ready originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/18/10--14:55: Verizon's remaining 2010 roadmap to be an Android-fest of phones and tablets? (chan 3116548)



Practically everything we've heard -- both officially and through tipsters -- lines up with information coming out of Phone Arena this week detailing a truly Google-heavy upcoming Fall and Winter release schedule for our friends at Big Red. Starting next month, it seems that we'll see a global version of the just-launched Droid 2, possibly with a white option (though it seems this could also be the R2-D2 model), and the Motorola WX455 we'd leaked has been named "Citrus" and will (as you probably could've guessed) target the low end of the market and the young'uns who are looking for an affordable way to get into Android; as WWAN-enabled laptops go, they'll be picking up the Dell Vostro V13 and the HP Pavilion DM1.

Follow the break for the rest of the action!

[Thanks, Steven C.]

Continue reading Verizon's remaining 2010 roadmap to be an Android-fest of phones and tablets?

Verizon's remaining 2010 roadmap to be an Android-fest of phones and tablets? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/23/10--19:44: Right on time: Verizon phasing out Pre Plus, Storm2, Curve 8530, others? (chan 3116548)



Judging from some documents we've received, Big Red is looking to clear out a lot of inventory right about now -- presumably to make room for some upcoming models, some of which we've already heard about through the grapevine. Specifically, the Pre Plus along with the BlackBerry Storm2 and Curve 8530 are apparently marked "Phase Out"; in the case of the Pre Plus, we know Verizon's site has had it marked out of stock for a little while now, while rumors of a Storm3 and Curve 9330 have been floating around for some time. Also on the chopping block are a couple netbooks, a USB modem, and the MiFi, a device we've heard would be replaced with the ZTE-sourced, dual-mode Fivespot in the near future. All makes sense, doesn't it? Follow the break for a second shot.

[Thanks, Wildkat]

Continue reading Right on time: Verizon phasing out Pre Plus, Storm2, Curve 8530, others?

Right on time: Verizon phasing out Pre Plus, Storm2, Curve 8530, others? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/26/10--20:33: BlackBerry Curve 9330's marriage with Sprint seemingly leaked by RIM (chan 3116548)



When RIM crafts a CDMA BlackBerry, you can bet -- well, usually bet -- that it's destined for both Sprint and Verizon, since there aren't many other carrier partners anywhere in the world where Waterloo can recoup the R&D costs. We've already heard plenty of rumors that Verizon's signed up to get it in the coming months, and now we've got information from none other than RIM itself that Sprint has its eyes on the 8530 successor, too. A knowledge base article on RIM's site (which has now been pulled, of course) referred to a "Sprint BlackBerry Curve 9330 smartphone," which pretty much says it all -- we suppose it's possible that the article's author was just preparing for the possibility that Sprint would be getting it, but we think the more likely scenario is that it was official info that went up a tad early. So, who's upgrading?

BlackBerry Curve 9330's marriage with Sprint seemingly leaked by RIM originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/30/10--07:55: BlackBerry Curve 3G hitting T-Mobile September 8 for $80 (chan 3116548)



Last we'd heard it'd be hitting shelves "in the coming weeks," and... well, "the coming weeks" have gradually become "now." You follow? Good, because the BlackBerry Curve 3G is hitting next Sunday in your choice of "smokey violet" and "graphite grey" for $79.99 on a new two-year contract -- which actually might make it the perfect back-to-school smartphone if you live and die by BBM, you're an optical trackpad fanboy / girl, or you're just looking for a solid portrait QWERTY keyboard. Of course, you'll need T-Mobile reception on campus -- and a willingness to suppress any lingering Bold 9700 envy.

BlackBerry Curve 3G hitting T-Mobile September 8 for $80 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/14/10--07:26: BlackBerry Curve 3G launching on Verizon for $30 (chan 3116548)



We would've never figured on Verizon carrying over the "Curve 3G" name from this phone's GSM counterpart, considering all of its older Curve models have already had EV-DO -- but branding consistency trumps logic in this case, we suppose. Given what we know about the GSM model, you can probably guess the specs: 2 megapixel cam and BlackBerry OS 5 with upgradeability to 6 are both in the cards, though interestingly, Verizon's official specs just list 802.11b/g for WiFi -- there's no mention of 802.11n, which the current Curve 3G has under the hood. Regardless, perhaps the best feature is the price: $29.99 on contract after a $100 rebate, making it one of the most affordable brand new smartphones on the market -- assuming BlackBerry OS is your cup of tea, of course. It'll launch in business sales channels this Thursday, while in-store availability for us lay folk follows "in the coming weeks." Follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading BlackBerry Curve 3G launching on Verizon for $30

BlackBerry Curve 3G launching on Verizon for $30 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/15/10--08:56: Sprint gets a BlackBerry Curve 3G of its own, going for $50 on contract (chan 3116548)



Unless you're a huge fan of Sprint's Everything Data plan, it looks as if Verizon's BlackBerry Curve 3G is the one to get -- unless you enjoy spending $20 more (on contract) for the same thing on Sprint, that is. Just hours after Big Red announced that the 9330 would soon be coming its way, in flies Sprint to play copycat. The Curve 3G is the same as it ever was, boasting BlackBerry OS 5, a trackpad / QWERTY layout, two megapixel camera, 802.11b/g WiFi, GPU, dedicated media keys 512MB of Flash memory, a microSD / SDHC slot (2GB card bundled in) and a couple of color options (graphite gray and royal purple). Sprint's keen on you knowing that this here phone will be eligible for an upgrade to BlackBerry OS 6 in early 2011, but you can go ahead and grab one starting September 26th.

Continue reading Sprint gets a BlackBerry Curve 3G of its own, going for $50 on contract

Sprint gets a BlackBerry Curve 3G of its own, going for $50 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/28/10--05:39: Levytator claims to be the world's first bendy escalator, has the patents to prove it (video) (chan 3116548)



You've seen conveyor belts before, most probably at your local airport ferrying beaten-up luggage in circles, but for some reason the same tech doesn't seem to have been applied to people yet. Leave it to City University London prof Jack Levy to correct that oversight with his eponymous Levytator -- an escalator that follows freeform curves (but not convention!) and offers a better "cost per usable step" than your typical moving stairs. Patented in Europe, the USA, and even China, all this thing needs is the gentle push of a kindly investor -- see the video after the break to determine if it's worth your cash.

[Thanks, Conrad]

Continue reading Levytator claims to be the world's first bendy escalator, has the patents to prove it (video)

Levytator claims to be the world's first bendy escalator, has the patents to prove it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/05/10--00:19: TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on (video) (chan 3116548)



Remember the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness? At a list price of $1,000, it'd be hard to forget -- but with a monochrome see-through display, the whole transparency thing was little more than a novelty on a phone that served little practical purpose. TDK might have the solution with its new transparent QVGA OLEDs, available now to manufacturers in monochrome and in a lovely color variant by the end of the year. At two inches, they offer 200ppi pixel density and are more secure than you might think: the light only shines in one direction, so you actually can't see any data from the back even though you can still see through the display. At a glance, the display's didn't seem as vibrant as the best AMOLEDs on the market, but then again, these are passive matrix -- and you can really tell in our videos after the break where the refresh scans stand out. Guess that's the price you pay for transparency, right? We've also got some video of the 3.5-inch flexible OLED screens TDK's got on hand; they're not transparent, but considering the long, narrow resolution, we can't help but think they'd make for amazing wristwatches (or high-tech glowstick replacements at raves).


Gallery: TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on



Continue reading TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on (video)

TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/24/10--20:46: AT&T now shipping BlackBerry Curve 3G (chan 3116548)



The way AT&T announced the Curve 3G a few weeks back, they made it sound like prospective buyers could be in for a wait following the October 17 release of the Pearl 3G, but not so much -- it's already available. You'll pay $99.99 on contract after rebates and discounts for the privilege of putting the latest Curve model in your pocket, featuring a 2 megapixel camera, 3G support, and compatibility with BlackBerry 6 -- whenever RIM and AT&T decide that the update is ready for prime time. Of course, with a QVGA display, we think we might be tempted to go for a Bold 9700 instead or wait for the 9780 -- but seeing how AT&T is still charging $200 on contract for the Bold line, this bad boy will save you a Benjamin. Tough call!

[Thanks, Trey M.]

AT&T now shipping BlackBerry Curve 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/22/10--11:10: Boost Mobile drops BlackBerry Curve 8530 price to $199.99 (chan 3116548)



Yes, for one of the lowest-end BlackBerrys money can buy, $199.99 seems pricey, but there's something important to keep in mind here: Boost is a contract-free brand, and the Curve 8530 is no exception. The Sprint subsidiary has announced today that it's "permanently" dropping the price of the phone from $249.99 down to $199.99, after which you'll pay a continually-shrinking monthly fee for unlimited voice, messaging, and data that starts at $60. Not bad -- of course, you won't get the push-to-talk action that Boost historically has been known for with its iDEN network, but unless you're a construction worker or you're constantly dropping your phone from six feet onto concrete, we'll bet you can survive.

Boost Mobile drops BlackBerry Curve 8530 price to $199.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/30/10--09:59: BlackBerry Curve 8980 shows up in FCC, offers some glam shots (chan 3116548)



Despite the more recent releases of the Curve 8500 series and the Curve 3G, RIM has never really offered up a true successor to the venerable Curve 8900 -- a device some would argue remains the prettiest that Waterloo has ever manufactured. Indeed, with the QVGA display and meager cam on the 3G, there's a pretty magnificent gap between it and the business-class Bold 9700 / 9780... so we're pretty excited to see a new model called the Curve 8980 get FCC approval. Oh, and what's more, the filing's now got access to a user's manual and external shots where you can definitely picture this as being a proper optical pad-equipped follow-on to the 8900 of old, complete with a 3.2 megapixel cam with flash and -- if we had to guess -- a high-res display adopted either from the 9780 or the 8900. No word on a release, but here's the kicker: as far as we can tell from the filing, it's EDGE-only just like the device it replaces, which is pretty inexcusable for a device that'd presumably be released in 2011. Add 3G, though, and they've got a desperately-needed new model to slot in underneath the Bold.

BlackBerry Curve 8980 shows up in FCC, offers some glam shots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/24/10--11:42: Skype supports Verizon's not-yet-released BlackBerry 6 upgrades for Curve 3G and Bold 9650 (chan 3116548)

Verizon enjoys a tight relationship with Skype, so it makes sense that they'd want to make sure the Skype Mobile app is good and ready for upcoming products updates. To that end, Skype has already announced a refreshed app for two BlackBerry 6-powered models on Big Red that technically don't yet exist, the Bold 9650 and Curve 3G. At present, both of those handsets are still puttering along on version 5 -- but now that this is going down, we can't imagine the wait's going to be much longer.

Skype supports Verizon's not-yet-released BlackBerry 6 upgrades for Curve 3G and Bold 9650 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/13/11--10:44: BlackBerry Curve 'Apollo' leak provides image, details, no relationship status (chan 3116548)

"Lower-mid end of the lineup... decent specs... aggressively priced." Not exactly the descriptors which dreams are made of, but that's the wording BGR is using to describe its other leaked BlackBerry device today (Dakota being the other). A 480 x 360 resolution screen of unknown size, 800MGhz Tavor MG-1 CPU, 512MB RAM, a 5 megapixel camera with HD video recording, 1050 mAh battery, 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, NFC, GPS, and BlackBerry OS 6.1 to put everything in check. It all serves quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE and tri-band UMTS / HSPA 7.2Mbps. The keyboard, we'd assume, is pretty darn snappy. The price and release date, should this apparent leak come to fruition, is still unknown.

BlackBerry Curve 'Apollo' leak provides image, details, no relationship status originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/25/11--14:11: Verizon offering BlackBerry 6 upgrades for Bold 9650 and Curve 3G tonight (chan 3116548)



RIM and its partner carriers have been promising BlackBerry 6 updates for a number of recent models, and Verizon's getting a couple of the heavyweights out of the way today with the introduction of official upgrade packages for the Bold 9650 and Curve 3G 9330. In addition to universal search and an overall streamlined UI, one of the most important improvements here is the addition of RIM's WebKit-based browser that makes hitting your favorite pages moderately less painful than before. Look for the update to become available at 8:00PM Eastern this evening, both online (see the Source links for instructions) and over-the-air.

Verizon offering BlackBerry 6 upgrades for Bold 9650 and Curve 3G tonight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/27/11--16:15: BlackBerry Curve Touch leaks out (chan 3116548)



The BlackBerry Curve has always been our favorite 'berry because of its solid keyboard and lack of pretension to any functionality beyond great messaging, but it looks like things are about to change fast: you're looking at a leaked image of what CrackBerry says is the Curve Touch, codenamed "Malibu," and it's all touchscreen -- unlike the rumored Apollo, there's no keyboard in sight. We've only got specs on the CDMA version, and they're right in line with what you'd expect for a midrange device due out in late 2011 / early 2012: 800MHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor, 3.25-inch HVGA screen, 5 megapixel camera with HD video, 1GB storage with microSD expansion and 512MB of RAM, GPS, and NFC. Of course, CrackBerry says those are just "proposed specs," so anything could change, but man -- are we crazy for thinking an all-touch Curve definitely seems to redefine everything about what a BlackBerry is and is not?

BlackBerry Curve Touch leaks out originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/04/11--07:02: Mitsubishi creates giant curved OLED, probably won't fit in your living room (video) (chan 3116548)



Display companies like Mitsubishi still don't make a big-screen OLED we can buy, yet look at this, a curved display created by the company that looks to be about four feet tall and maybe 10 feet around. Okay, so a 3mm pixel pitch wouldn't look too great standing anywhere within about 20 feet of the thing, but that's why it's designed for malls and big stores, places where its 1,200 nit brightness can shrug off ambient light. It was unveiled at ISE 2011 and there's a video of it doing its thing after the break, but surely it won't be long before they're all over Las Vegas.

Continue reading Mitsubishi creates giant curved OLED, probably won't fit in your living room (video)

Mitsubishi creates giant curved OLED, probably won't fit in your living room (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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02/26/11--08:31: RIM, Bank of America partnering up for Mobile Wallet NFC trial (chan 3116548)



We've known for some time that RIM is going all-in on NFC (isn't everyone?), but we didn't realize they were going retroactive, too. A NFC payment trial coming up involving RIM and Bank of America will allow selected testers to get an NFC-capable back for their Curve 8520 or 8530, Tour 9630, or Bold 9000, 9650, or 9700 -- in other words, most of the company's portrait QWERTY models from the last couple years. You'll also need an active Bank of America account, at which point you'll be able to tap your 'Berry on NFC terminals to get your pay on. The trial starts this spring; no word on when it might be open to everyone.

[Thanks, Dylan]

RIM, Bank of America partnering up for Mobile Wallet NFC trial originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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04/08/11--19:41: BlackBerry Orlando leaks out: say hello to the touchscreen Curve (chan 3116548)



As if we needed any more signs of where Research in Motion was heading in terms of its 2011 device line, we've just caught wind of yet another touchscreen-equipped Berry. The BlackBerry "Orlando" is purported to be a variation of the Curve with touch capabilities, already being described as a mini Bold Touch. This yet again begs the question of why exactly RIM has so many different devices planned, especially when the spec differences are so minor. We wish the company would deviate from this approach it has relied on for years, but it seems to be more focused on its tablet strategy than it is on pushing the envelope with phones. Additionally, it could just mean that BB6 might be sticking around for a while and that RIM wants its users to get acclimated, or perhaps that it might take a little longer than we think for QNX to trickle down from the PlayBook.

BlackBerry Orlando leaks out: say hello to the touchscreen Curve originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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05/30/11--08:07: BlackBerry 'Apollo' gets manhandled on camera (video) (chan 3116548)



It's not exactly the most exciting device in RIM's pipeline, but the Curve "Apollo" is shaping a solid workhorse of a BlackBerry. The still-unannounced smartphone popped up on Tinh te, with the Vietnamese tech showing off some solid hands-on time with the device, putting it through its paces on video, and ending up genuinely impressed with the aesthetics and speed of the hardware. According to the site the new Curve is 11mm thick (a couple millimeters thinner than the 8900 it's juxtaposed with), packs a 800Mhz Marvell Tavor CPU MG-1 processor, and has a touch-insensitive 480 x 360 screen. Swipe that thumb touchpad after the break for a video tour of the phone, then dig the source link for more close up images.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Continue reading BlackBerry 'Apollo' gets manhandled on camera (video)

BlackBerry 'Apollo' gets manhandled on camera (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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06/15/11--06:10: Microsoft's ergonomically alliterative Comfort Curve Keyboard makes a contoured comeback (chan 3116548)



Like a vinyl record left out in the sun too long, Microsoft's Comfort Curve Keyboard has returned, albeit slightly more warped than before. The ergonomic peripheral is an attempt to improve the comfort and posture of users who just don't go in for the split variety. The 3000 features uniformly-sized QWERTY keys, offering up a similar layout to traditional straight keyboards. You'll be able to get your fingers on the input device in August for $20, to see if the comfort does indeed match the curves.

Microsoft's ergonomically alliterative Comfort Curve Keyboard makes a contoured comeback originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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08/23/11--00:49: RIM launches new BlackBerry Curve (video) (chan 3116548)



Want to get your BBM on in style without spending a fortune on RIM's latest trio? Say hello to the new 11mm (0.43 inch) thin BlackBerry Curve, now official in 3 variants -- the dual-mode GSM / CDMA 9370, the GSM / UMTS 9360 and the CDMA-only 9350. These long rumored handsets feature an 800MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, a tiny 2.44-inch HVGA+ (480×360 pixel) display, a five megapixel EDoF camera (with LED flash and VGA video recording), Bluetooth, WiFi b/g/n with UMA, GPS / aGPS and NFC. While there's no sign of that new-fangled touch screen technology, you'll find BlackBerry 7 under the hood, along with a 1000mAh battery to keep it ticking all day long, 512MB of built-in storage (1GB on the 9370) and microSD card support (up to 32GB). RIM is still mum on pricing, but the new BlackBerry Curve is "expected to be available from carriers in Canada this month and from other carriers around the world beginning in September" -- including Vodafone, based on the video (and PR) after the break. We'll have a hands-on later today so stay tuned for more.

Update: It's official, the BlackBerry Curve 9350 will be coming to Sprint on September 9th for a perfectly reasonable $80 -- provided you're willing to sign a two year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. We've tacked on the PR after the break.


Gallery: BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370



Continue reading RIM launches new BlackBerry Curve (video)

RIM launches new BlackBerry Curve (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/08/11--22:37: Sprint's BlackBerry Curve 9350 will be delayed until October (chan 3116548)



Well, it looks as if Sprint's going to miss tomorrow's launch date for the BlackBerry Curve 9350. A representative of the Now Network confirmed the news to us today, stating that the phone will not arrive until next month due to "unexpected circumstances." While the company has yet to announce a new target date, the anonymous tipster who initially outed the story tells Phone Arena to expect an October 2nd arrival. Seeing that Sprint already sells two BlackBerry models that are appreciably better than the Curve 9350, we hope you won't lose sleep over the revelation. Still, if you've got a personal grudge against touchscreens, you'd best reset that countdown timer, starting... now.

Sprint's BlackBerry Curve 9350 will be delayed until October originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/10/11--09:02: Mobile Miscellany: week of September 5, 2011 (chan 3116548)



This week, as always, was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of September 5, 2011:

• It appears that Sprint employees are being informed that vacation requests anytime between September 30th and October 15th won't be approved, due to "the possibility of a major phone launch in October." Vacation blackouts are typically used during certain times of the holiday season, so the timing on this particular memo is a bit striking -- as usual, we invite you to come to your own conclusions here. [via SprintFeed]
• Two BlackBerry devices breathed life on T-Mobile this week in the form of leaks. First, the Curve 9360 began showing up on marketing material focusing specifically on its prepaid campaign, which says the device will be offered for $230 without having to sign a new contract. It didn't mention the on-contract price, but if all goes according to rumors, it'll likely be out this time next week (September 14th, to be specific). [via TmoNews]
• Speaking of the Curve 9360, the phone will probably be hopping across the pond to a Carphone Warehouse near you (if you live in the United Kingdom, that is). It's ready for pre-order now on the retailer's site with a prepaid option for $200. Not bad for a brand-new BlackBerry at full retail cost. [via TechnoBuffalo]
• The second BlackBerry we saw leaked for T-Mobile this week was the Torch 9860, which may have been discovered in T-Mo's inventory system, according to a leaked screenshot. This doesn't help us know the date or pricing of the new Torch, but it does signify that it's likely just around the corner. [via TmoNews]
• It's possible that the Droid Prime and Nexus Prime have passed through Bluetooth and WiFi certification. Since names were not provided in the documentation, we're left to speculate using the devices' model numbers -- rumored to be the SCH-I515 and GT-I9250. We're naturally skeptical, but we'll keep a close eye on the FCC in hopes that we'll see these mystery devices pop up soon with at least a few revealing details. [via Droid-Life]
• We've been expecting the recently announced Samsung Galaxy W to arrive this month in the UK, but all of our sights have been set on Three as the only known carrier... until now. O2 placed a teaser page on its website this week, listing the Galaxy W as "coming soon: September." [via MobileBurn and AndroidCentral]

Mobile Miscellany: week of September 5, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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09/21/11--10:47: T-Mobile's BlackBerry Curve 9360 available for $79 on September 28th, swanks it up with merlot variant (chan 3116548)



Attention power users and devotees of physical portrait QWERTYs, RIM's outing yet another member of its Curve family this month. Running the Waterloo-based company's latest BB 7 OS, Magenta's BlackBerry Curve 9360 actually goes up for pre-sale today, but you'll have to count yourself amongst the enterprise set for the early access perks. For the rest of us, the carrier's set a September 28th launch for the standard black version of this 2.4-inch, touchscreen-less handset. But that's not all -- perhaps following up on the latest fashion-centric trend, the company's also releasing this mid-range entry in a wine-soaked hue of merlot on October 12th. Regardless of your style preferences, the phone'll be available for a wallet-pleasing $79.99 on a two-year contract (after a $50 rebate). So, were not sure if this was worthy of the 'Apollo' moniker, but at least our in-house Ms. Cleo was right on the money.

Continue reading T-Mobile's BlackBerry Curve 9360 available for $79 on September 28th, swanks it up with merlot variant

T-Mobile's BlackBerry Curve 9360 available for $79 on September 28th, swanks it up with merlot variant originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/16/11--12:54: RIM tells devs to get ready for BlackBerry Curve Touch and Bellagio (chan 3116548)



If you're going to give your devs a nugget of info about some of your unannounced devices on a publicly available site, we hope you won't be so surprised that word actually gets out about them. That's exactly what happened to Research in Motion, as the company let it "slip out" to devs that two future BlackBerry OS7 smartphones -- the Bellagio 9790 and Curve Touch 9380 -- are inbound. The whole point in the message was to inform developers of what kind of resolution to expect in the new phones' displays. From the bits and pieces we're given, it appears that the Bellagio will have a 2.4-inch screen using 480 x 360 resolution to produce a respectable 245 PPI; the Curve Touch, on the other hand, will feature an identical res on a larger 3.2-inch display, resulting in a PPI of 189. The probability of hearing an official announcement this week is pretty high, but we'd say the intended (and likely unintended) message has come through loud and clear for now, wouldn't you?

RIM tells devs to get ready for BlackBerry Curve Touch and Bellagio originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10/19/11--06:41: Spotify releases preview app for BlackBerry users, but not all of them (chan 3116548)



BlackBerry users haven't had a whole lot to celebrate in recent days, but at least they now have Spotify. Today, the Swedish startup unveiled a preview version of its music streaming app, available to download from its Previews page. At this point, the app is compatible with the 9780 Bold, 9700 Bold, 9300 Curve, 9000 Bold and 8520 Curve handsets, though the Torch 9800 has been left in the cold. It's also worth noting that the service only supports GSM networks (no CDMA, as of yet) and requires a Premium subscription of $10 per month. No word yet on when Spotify will arrive on App World, or whether it'll add extra support when it does, but early birds can grab their worm at the source link, below.

[Thanks, Daniel]

Spotify releases preview app for BlackBerry users, but not all of them originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/01/11--08:41: BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9860 coming to AT&T November 6th, Curve 9360 inbound November 20th (chan 3116548)



It's been a few months in the works, but the BlackBerry 9900 and Torch 9860 have finally received AT&T's stamp of approval and will be available this coming Sunday. And as an added bonus, the Curve 9360 isn't too far behind, jumping onto the lineup November 20th (though if you're a business or government customer, you'll be able to snag one on the 14th). Pricing? With two-year commitments, the Bold 9900 will wind up costing $200, the Torch 9860 can be yours for $100 and the Curve 9360 will be a mere $30. The Torch appears to be destined only for virtual shelves right now, though we're not certain if it'll be making a physical appearance in retail stores any time soon. Get all of the deets in the presser after the break.

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9860 coming to AT&T November 6th, Curve 9360 inbound November 20th

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and Torch 9860 coming to AT&T November 6th, Curve 9360 inbound November 20th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/24/11--14:04: BlackBerry Curve 9380 hits the FCC, talking the T-Mobile talk (chan 3116548)



RIM's first all-screen Curve has sashayed over to the FCC. Two models of the BlackBerry Curve 9380, the REA70UW and REB70UW, are included in the latest filing, which goes into typical laborious detail on radio frequencies and the like. Thankfully, those myriad charts and graphs reveal support for WCDMA band IV, meaning that the phone plays nice with T-Mobile's 3G network. Let's just hope that, if given the chance to strut its stuff in the US market, it follows the Curve family tradition of arriving keenly priced. We'll have to wait and see if it hits our wallet's sweet spot, but for those more interested in the phone's internals, the source link beckons below.

BlackBerry Curve 9380 hits the FCC, talking the T-Mobile talk originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/09/12--12:15: Verizon launches BlackBerry Curve 9370 (chan 3116548)

If all the Windows Phone and Android news isn't really striking your fancy and iPhones hold no appeal then, perhaps, your interest will be piqued by the BlackBerry Curve 9370 which was just announced. Verizon unveiled the latest budget-friendly RIM device for CES and it doesn't depart too much from the QWERTY, candybar mold. In addition to CDMA radios it's also got GSM for globetrotters and NFC for those that want to hop on the next wave of mobile payment tech. Around the back is a 5-megapixel camera, probably not capable of shooting 1080p. The 9370 will run you $99 with a two year contract after a $50 mail-in rebate. And, most importantly, it'll be upgradeable to BlackBerry OS 7.1 -- the most advanced in 20th century smartphone technology.

Continue reading Verizon launches BlackBerry Curve 9370

Verizon launches BlackBerry Curve 9370 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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