BlackBerry Curve 9360
C Spire Launches PTT Service
C Spire Wireless today launched its next-generation push-to-talk service for business customers. The PTT service runs on Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G LTE data connections and provides sub-second call set-up times, support for larger contact databases, and business-class security to protect companies. C Spire's new PTT service is managed by Kodiak, which also powers AT&T's PTT service. C Spire is offering a selection of older handsets with the service, including the Samsung Galaxy S II and S III, the BlackBerry Bold Touch and Curve, and the Unimax 680. C Spire's PTT service costs $6 per month when added to an existing voice plan, or $30 per month for PTT-only plans. C Spire's new PTT service follows the recent shut-down of Sprint's iDEN network.
NXP Sues RIM Over Patents, Wants Triple Damages
Research In Motion was hit with a lawsuit by NXP, which alleges that RIM's BlackBerry Torch, Curve, and Bold smartphones infringe on six of its patents. NXP wants sales of the devices halted, and compensatory and triple damages. It's not immediately clear to which technologies the patents pertain.
RIM Announces BlackBerry OS 7.1, Adds Mobile Hotspot
Research In Motion today took the wraps off a new version of its BlackBerry operating system. BlackBerry 7.1 adds a range of new features to RIM's smartphone platform, including a native mobile hotspot client. With the mobile hotspot feature, BlackBerries will be able to share their internet connection via Wi-Fi with up to five other devices. BlackBerry 7 also bolsters the functionality of Universal Search with new auto-complete software and Bing results. Other new features include BlackBerry Tag, for sharing contact details via NFC; carrier-based Wi-Fi calling (if supported by network); it brings an FM radio to the BlackBerry Curves 9360 and 9380; and special offers, coupons, and discounts from nearby vendors have been added to the BlackBerry Maps application. RIM said that carriers around the world will begin to roll out BlackBerry 7.1 starting today, though U.S. carriers have not announced any such plans of as yet.
Spotify Releases App for GSM BlackBerries
The Spotify music application for RIM's BlackBerry platform has left beta and is now available to the GSM models, including the Bold 9780, Bold 9700, Curve 9300, Bold 9000 and Curve 8520. The client does not yet support CDMA-based BlackBerries, and Spotify hasn't said when the app will be available for the Bold 9900, Torch 9810 or 9800. Spotify costs $9.99 per month to use on BlackBerry smartphones, though the service is free to PC users (ad supported).
AT&T Announces BlackBerry 9900, 9860, 9360 Availability
AT&T today announced that it will begin offering the BlackBerry 9900 Bold and the 9860 Torch on November 6. Both will be available in stores and online that day. The 9900 Bold will cost $199.99 with a new agreement and the 9860 Torch will cost $99.99 with a new agreement. AT&T also announced that the 9360 Curve will be available starting November 20 for $29.99 (government customers will have access to the 9360 starting November 14) with a new agreement. All three devices will the newest BlackBerry 7 platform. The 9900 and 9360 will have access to AT&T's fastest HSPA+ speeds, but not LTE. The 9360 Curve will be able to access a slower version of HSPA+, though AT&T didn't specify at what speeds.
RIM to Add NFC-Based 'Tag' App to BlackBerries
Research In Motion today announced a forthcoming update to its BlackBerry 7 platform that will add an application called Tag. The application makes use of the near-field communications chip on recently released BlackBerry smartphones so users can share contact information, documents, URLs, photos, and other multimedia content by tapping their BlackBerry smartphones together. BlackBerry Tag will also let people add one another as contacts on BBM. The application will work on handsets such as the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and Curve 9350/9360/9370. RIM didn't say when the update is scheduled to arrive,
T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 9360 Hits Stores September 28
T-Mobile USA today announced the availability and pricing details for the BlackBerry Curve 9360. The new smartphone from Research In Motion is available to business customers via T-Mobile's web site starting today, and will reach store shelves on September 28. The 9360 will cost $79.99 after $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year agreement. The 9360 runs BlackBerry 7, and features a 2.44-inch display with 360 x 480 pixels and RIM's Liquid Graphics; optical trackpad; 800MHz processor; 5-megapixel camera with flash, face detection, and VGA video capture; and built-in near-field communications. It also includes GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 512MB of RAM, and support microSD cards up to 32GB.
RIM's Latest BlackBerrys Can Use NFC to Access Buildings
Research In Motion and HID Global today announced that the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and the BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360 will add support for HID's iCLASS digital keys and readers within the near-field communications chip. By including support for HID's digital key readers, users of these BlackBerry devices will be able to use their phone as an identity card, such as those used to access office buildings and other controlled locations. The companies believe businesses and universities will find this feature appealing, as it may allow them to offer alternatives to key cards for entering buildings. The companies are piloting the technology now, and it should be available in the Curve and Bold lines by early 2012.
Hands On: BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360
The latest version of the BlackBerry Curve is the smallest yet, but offers many of the same features found on its bigger BlackBerry brothers.
RIM Debuts the BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360, 9370
Research In Motion today announced a new line of BlackBerry Curve smartphones, the 9350, 9360, and 9370. All three devices offer identical hardware and run the new BlackBerry 7 operating system with the latest version of BlackBerry Messenger and the new BlackBerry browser. They each feature a 2.44-inch display with 360 x 480 pixels and RIM's Liquid Graphics; optical trackpad; 800MHz processor; 5-megapixel camera with flash, face detection, and VGA video capture; and built-in near-field communications. They also include GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 512MB of RAM, and support microSD cards up to 32GB.
- 9370: The 9370 is a dual-mode world phone that has quad-band EDGE for roaming and CDMA/EVDO for use in the U.S. It has 1GB of internal storage.
- 9360: This version includes tri-band UMTS and quad-band EDGE support, and offers 512MB of storage.
- 9350: This version runs CDMA only and has 512MB of storage.
