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.
posted July 24th 2010 5:55PM
1st!!!!!
@Blippy0524 First fail comment in this article? I can run with that.
I'll paraphrase the next few pages of useful comments for everyone else:
1) Blackberry handsets are boring.
2) Of all Blackberry models, the Curve is a turd. And no, it's not able to be polished.
3) People that _have_ Blackberry phones are _required_ to carry one. They always carry another phone of their choice, which is an Android or iOS device.
4) Non-enterprise consumers that own a Blackberry are closed-minded pricks that've never tried another phone in their life.
DIAF RIM
@s2m0
1) You're passing your opinions off as facts.
2) You're passing false statements off as facts.
3) You're an idiot.
4) Number 3 is an opinion, but a pretty obvious one.
@s2m0
1. They may be boring looking but they are very functional/highly productive.
2. No manufacturer makes only high end devices. The Curve is an entry model into the BlackBerry world.
3/4. I only carry a BlackBerry and it is by choice. I have owned many other devices prior to going to a berry.
From one prick to another, have a good day.
@s2m0 1) I agree with your summary, I don't know what phone you have, but I would say most other smartphone are "better".
2) I Lol'ed at your # 2.
@Blippy0524 I believe there should be a new category in the phone section. I would say a BB is a smartphone and an android or iphone would be something else? I'm not sure what other category that could be.
I own an iTouch and they are fun, probably and iPhone would be a little since there are some apps that require a camera, but I previously owned a BB Curve and I loved that phone.
@s2m0
As much as RIM isn't offering anything new, you can't say only enterprise users have it.
As a student, almost everyone i know either has a blackberry or wants one. As much as we hate on rim, people are freakin addicted to bbm. And the curve is one of the more popular models... because its f-ing cheap. So while this may not be the product for you, i think they are gonna keep pushing it as long as people buyem.
@s2m0
You three morons do understand what paraphrasing is right?
@s2m0 i know they are boring and stupid but what i really like is the bbm which almost everyone that i know use, so i want a blackberry for now
@kenny goo They are still boring ass phones. By the year 2020 BB users are still browsing on a small ass screen.
@anotherworld
Right. Just because *you* want a gigantic screen, the lack of a physical keyboard, or both, that means that Blackberry's are "boring ass phones". Silly me. I didn't realize that you dictate the tastes of every person in the world or that every person wants a giant screen, no one wants a keyboard, and no one likes the portrait candybar form factor.
And you do realize that RIM makes a Blackberry with a HVGA 3.25" touchscreen that's much better for web browsing and watching videos right? And that they're coming out with a slider with a similarly sized screen *and* a portrait sliding keyboard for those who want the best of both worlds? Jackass.
@kenny goo
Ok so this is what I never got; as an ex three year blackberry user, what is all this "email and productivity" and other enterprise hype about?
Really, I found the phones to have a horrible interface or any sort of productivity. I don't see any particular advantage.
And big screens aren't hype. Large screen phones are like the jump from 12" VGA computers to what we have today. It's not a style or feat of opinion - it's a damn clear advantage.
@vstican
This. Lots of students have BlackBerrys--I think lock-in with BBM is a huge factor. People look at their iPhone's SMS capabilities, then at their friend's BlackBerry with BBM... and well, BBM blows SMS out of the water (other than, you know, being proprietary).
Combined with the fact that BlackBerrys are offered without big data add-ons (e-mail/BBM/unlimited social networking usually runs $15 on top of your plan) and the fact that BlackBerry plans are usually cheaper (networks love them because they use less data)... well, you can see why they still remain popular.
The Curve is cheap because it uses old hardware. Why would RIM revolutionize it and price themselves out of the Curve's market? They'd much rather wait for technology from the Bold series to become cheaper and have it trickle down.
1st
Is it me but most BB looks the same. They need to jazz it up a bit for us consumers
@honjoe300
It does look sorta familiar... You might be on to something...
@honjoe300
Guess you haven't seen the new flip or the slider...
@bighap
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
@Azlo Change is life...in order to stay competive you need to at least appear as though you are making advancements.
If it aint broke, dont break i
I was hoping for the slider. :(
seriously. right now, blackberry = boring shit.
step up, RIM. you need to up the ante at this stage of the game.
Ive been waiting for a Curve with 3G and usable software for about 4 years now, looks like im still waitin..
RIM is going bankrupt, better dump the stock
This is NOT the first time we've seen the Curve 9300 in T-Mobile branding (RE: http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/07/08/blackberry-curve-9300/). That was on July 8th, over TWO weeks ago.
What's Engadget Mobile for anyways? Does anyone that doesn't read the Mobile news care about this?
E71 anyone? :)
T-Mobile is terrible.
@trey992
T-Mobile is awesome.
@trey992 FYI Tmo has some of the best Customer service and prices in the industry.
@PathogenX
in the US maybe, T-Mo over here in Holland is terrible...
@trey992 I'm gonna bite and rank them as such
1. Verizon
2. T-Mobile
3. Sprint
4. AT&T
Argue if you will
@Dafrety TM in Miami sucks soo much ass. And broward county even worse. Reception wise.
Nice looking hardware. BLACKBERRYS are made for productivity, professionalism and functionality. If you want to play videogames and download apps, go get an android phone or an iPhone. Blackberrys are in a category all their own....they arent in competition with the android phones and iphones.
@Jokool7777 right, but the thing is, the 'other guys' are able to do the things BB can. It's losing it's ability to stand out...
@Jokool7777 This is the type of mentality that ends empires.
They better start competing then. Most people these days(including business professionals) are moving more towards multi media smart phones like the iPhone or droid. They better get in the game before they are out of it completely.
over all these years blackberry designs haven't changed that much apart from colors, keypad, trackballs, optical pads, the basic design and principle has remained; if it ain't broken, why fix it. OS6 might probably be released in a bold flavor, but you won't be able to tell any physical difference between it and the 9700 for example. unlike other manufacturers like htc or samsung and the rest, blackberries will always look like blackberries.
now what design you think RIM can pull off that will shout freshness and modern style but not upsetting their business clients or core users who without a doubt enjoy the phone the way it is. the design works for them, cause if it didn't i don't think they would be at number 2 in market share numbers
just an observation with my university classes. of all the phones I see out in class, I would say 50-60% are Blackberries.
They aren't going anywhere no matter what people think. There will always be a market for them. Actually, if it's not a Blackberry, it's an iPhone. I have barely seen any android phones.
Do we actually need a second version of the Curve? The Curve 8500 is enough in my opinion. If you want a higher end phone than that just buy a Bold 9700. We already have the Pearl 9100, the Flip 9600, the Torch 9800, and the Storm 3 coming down the pipe. We don't need a seventh phone from RIM.
And people, stop hating on the Blackberry line. They sell well, they're quality devices, and they have a large demographic that's obvious not the Engadget audience. Yes, they're big on doing multiple refreshes and yes they don't vary much from their core design style. That doesn't mean they're all shit.
@kenny goo This is actually the 4th curve.
The original 8300 was for a time the headliner model until the Bold 9000 came out and they decided the curve was better suited towards the entry-level market.
The 8900 was sort of an in-between model that was closer in specs to the Bold but had the curve-style clicky keyboard that they released before realizing they wanted to low-endify the brand and as such never got any derivitive models (like an 8930 for CDMA)
The 8500 was the true successor to the 8300 firmly cementing the Curve brand in the budget tier leaving the Bold (and Tour) brand for the higher-end models.
This one, the 9300 is the successor to the 8500 and while it seems early, by the time it launches the 8500 will have been out a year already.
@KeegdnaB
I said second version not second model. I know that this will be the fourth model under the Curve brand, but there are two series of the Curve: the 8300/8500 and the larger, higher end 8900/9300. If you want a higher end Blackberry then you should buy a Bold, not a Curve. The Curve is made for the more pocket friendly low end. I think having two version, especially under the same name is just redundant.
The CDMA Tour was finally dropped in favor of the technically superior GSM Bold (which also has a higher name brand recognition), and now there's a CDMA Bold 9600, which was a start to simplifying their brand. I was glad to see the Pearl die in favor of the Curve, but now that's back. And I thought we saw the last of the Pearl Flip, but now the Flip 9600 is back and it's as ugly and unnecessary as ever. Add this to the existing Storm and the new Torch slider and I think the brand is being spread a little thin, rather then appealing to new markets.
@kenny goo Well the point of the Curve 9300 update is adding more RAM for support for OS6 my guess. Same with the Bold 9780 that's coming.
@Toneglaso
Well I know the Bold 9780 is just a minor upgrade to put it on par with the 9650 and to get ready for OS 6.0. But the Curve 8900 isn't produced or sold anywhere anymore. This isn't a minor upgrade, the 9300 is a full on update, just like the Bold 9700 or Curve 8500. Either way, my point is that I don't see why you need *two* versions of the Curve with the smaller, lower end version and slightly larger, slightly higher spec one when you have a Blackberry Bold which should replace the latter of those two.
I don't know about you guys but I think it looks nice. Granted it looks like the last 5 BB that came out but if it aint broke why bother?
I wonder if apple is gonna get there hands on this phone to do a death grip signal test.
I never owned a BB.. But agree that they have their own audience that loves em. Why change? We have enough of iPhone/ Droid/ and similar looking smartphones in the market...
So a new blackberry, wait what's that...sorry, Lawrence Welkom is on. Only so much excitement at once ;)
Ever since the Curve line came out I have been in love with Curves. First a 8300, now a 8900, and I will be buying this on launch. Why you may ask, is that I love Blackberries. They are reliable as hell. Never had one break on me. BBW may not have the selection of appworld, or app market, but the apps are good, and very useful. There's about 900 games, and about 25 really good ones. Games I play on the computer anyways. I love a physical keyboard. Blackberries have the best. Storm is a no go for touch only. Bold is too bulky for my liking. Pearl has that stupid layout, and is too narrow. Tour is just like the Bold. Don't like flips, or sliders. So the Curve is my cup of tea. I will most likely buy on launch day, if not launch day about a week or two after launch. I love the Curve, and T-Mobile always offers the best Curve, with amazing service here in Dallas, TX. It's good to hear that I won't have to switch for this one either. It's a great day for me. By the way my little sister has the iPhone4, my mom has the MyTouch Slider, my step-dad the HD2, and my older sis has the G1. From all that, Blackberries are still the best. So not ever using another phone? LOL, phones are a preference bud.
Blackberrys r like Madden games. Same thing with a couple new features