Today RIM announced three new, yet very similar, Blackberry smartphones in the form of the Curve 9350, 9360 and 9370.
These smartphones are the first refresh to the Curve line since the hugely popular Curve 8520 was released over a year ago, and they take on the familiar Curve look and style.
The new Curve models all look the same, though are each slightly different and suited towards Europe, America and Canada.
Blackberry OS 7, the latest smartphone operating system from RIM, runs on all three new Curve models. After recently announcing the new Blackberry Torch 2, Torch 9860 and Bold 9900 with OS 7, the new Curve range completes the Blackberry line-up with OS 7 onboard.
As with previous models, the new Curve smartphones are still classed as “entry level”, and will be aimed at those looking to upgrade their feature phones to their first smartphone, or those looking to upgrade their existing Blackberry Curve.
With that said, the specifications make the new Curve range the best yet. For starters you get a 5-megapixel on the back with a separate LED flash, image stabilisation, face detection and digital zoom. Video recording is also possible, though only in VGA quality – don’t expect any HD here!
The classic Blackberry QWERTY keyboard is there, and above it a 2.44-inch HVGA display with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels, with a super-clear 246 pixels-per-inch ratio.
If you’ve used a Blackberry Curve before then the new models should feel familiar in your hand – they are exactly the same dimensions length and widthways. However, the new Curve range are a good 3mm thinner than the previous 8520 model, making them very sleek indeed.
Blackberry OS 7 runs the show and brings a host of features, ensuring you are as socially connected as possible. Social Feeds 2.0 brings together your Facebook, Twitter, Email and more, while the latest Facebook for Blackberry 2.0 is preloaded to give you ultimate access to The Social Network.
The new Curve models are all 3G capable, plus there is Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity onboard. The fantastic UMA feature is also available, meaning you’ll be able to hook the phone up to a Wi-Fi network to boost your mobile signal.
We should expect to see the new Curve hit the shelves during September in the UK and Europe. Canada gets first dibs though, with the new smartphones launching this month.
Time for an upgrade? What do you think of the Blackberry Curve 9350? Let us know by adding a comment below!
UPDATE: O2 and Three have confirmed they will be stocking the Curve 9360 in the UK next month.