ATT Inc. (NYSE:T) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) have announced the availability of the BlackBerry(r) Curve(tm) 8310,
which adds the power of built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) to the popular BlackBerry Curve, which was first introduced in the U.S. through ATT. In addition to GPS, the new BlackBerry Curve 8310 advances the original design with two new eye-catching colors for ATT customers.
With the BlackBerry Curve 8310 handset’s built-in GPS capabilities, customers can take advantage of location-based applications and services such as TeleNav(r) GPS Navigator(tm), which provides GPS-enabled turn-by-turn voice and on-screen directions that feature colorful
3-D moving maps and traffic alerts with rerouting. Customers will find TeleNav GPS Navigator useful in vehicles as well as while walking.
Building on its incredible visual appeal, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 from ATT is available in two new eye-catching colors – titanium and red. The red model is available in the U.S. exclusively from ATT.
‘The introduction of exciting new handsets, such as the BlackBerry Curve 8310 with GPS, helps enhance ATT’s position as the world’s leading provider of BlackBerry services with one of the most compelling BlackBerry handset portfolios in the industry,’ said Michael Woodward, vice president, Business Voice/Data and Wireless Products, ATT. ‘Earlier this year, ATT was the first carrier in North America to introduce the BlackBerry 8800 with built-in GPS, followed by the BlackBerry 8820 with Wi-Fi and GPS. Both handsets have an enterprise focus. Now, through the BlackBerry Curve 8310, ATT is bringing GPS capabilities to a much broader audience of not only business users but also mobile professionals and consumers.’
‘GPS navigation and location-based services add a powerful new dimension to the mobile user experience,’ said Mark Guibert, vice president, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. ‘The addition of GPS functionality, together with industry-leading communications applications, advanced multimedia capabilities and ATT’s value-added navigation and media services, makes the BlackBerry Curve 8310 an exceptional phone for both business and personal use.’ 
The BlackBerry Curve 8310 from ATT – featuring a large, ultrabright 320-by-240 pixel display that supports more than 65,000 colors – measures just 4.2 wide by 2.4 inches long by 0.6 thick and weighs approximately 3.9 oz. It combines the renowned BlackBerry e-mail and messaging capabilities – including a built-in spell-checker with user-customizable dictionary – with premium phone features, a comprehensive organizer, fast Internet browser and other applications. It also features impressive multimedia capabilities, including a 2-megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom, an advanced media player, new desktop media manager software, a
3.5 mm stereo headset jack, a microSD memory slot for additional storage and Bluetooth(r) 2.0 with support for the Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP). The BlackBerry Curve 8310 also supports ATT Mobile Music(tm) subscription services and ATT Push to Talk for walkie-talkie-like communications.
The BlackBerry Curve 8310 from ATT is enabled for the broadest domestic and international coverage area for wireless data services of any U.S. carrier. The BlackBerry Curve 8310 is powered by ATT’s nationwide* EDGE network – the largest high speed national wireless data network in the U.S. – with availability in more than 13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. The BlackBerry Curve 8310 can keep users who are abroad connected with wireless e-mail, Internet access and other mobile applications through data services in more countries – more than 135 – than any other U.S. carrier. Customers can also use the BlackBerry Curve 8310 to make or receive wireless phone calls in more than 190 countries.
The new BlackBerry Curve 8310 from ATT is available now for as low as $199.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate in all 1,800 ATT retail stores nationwide, online at http://www.wireless.att.com and through select national retailers and ATT business-to-business sales organizations.
Customers who want personal e-mail access and Web browsing with BlackBerry(r) Internet Service can choose the BlackBerry Personal Unlimited plan for as low as $29.99 a month with a qualified voice contract. Unlimited corporate e-mail and data access via BlackBerry(r) Enterprise Server is available for as low as $44.99 a month when a qualified voice plan is also chosen. Customers who travel overseas can select the BlackBerry International Unlimited data plan for as low as $64.99 a month with a qualified voice plan.
TeleNav GPS Navigator monthly service is available for $5.99 for 10 trips or $9.99 for unlimited trips. As features within ATT Music, XM Satellite Radio and MusicID require monthly subscription fees of $8.99 and $3.99, respectively. Unlimited ATT Push to Talk service is available for an additional monthly charge of $9.99 for each device and $19.99 for Push to Talk Family. ATT Push to Talk also features a pay-per-use option of 15 cents a minute.
For more information about the BlackBerry Curve 8310, visit http://www.att.com/blackberrycurve or http://www.blackberrycurve.com.
Written by Gary