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T-Mobile Offering New BlackBerry Curve Ahead of BB10 Launch

With an updated operating system and two new handsets expected for release before the end of the month, Research In Motion today announced a new BlackBerry device set for release under T-Mobile contract.

By Stephanie Mlot
January 3, 2013
BlackBerry Curve 9310

Just weeks before the launch of the BlackBerry 10 operating system, RIM today announced the BlackBerry Curve 9315, which will be available from T-Mobile.

The BlackBerry Curve 9315 is powered by the BlackBerry 7.1 OS and offers 3G connectivity, as well as the classic QWERTY keyboard.

Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity enables data accessibility on the go, as well as voice calls and messages over a Wi-Fi network. Additionally, there is a dedicated BlackBerry Messenger key and pre-loaded Facebook and Twitter apps.

The new Curve sports a 3.2-megapixel camera with LED flash and digital zoom, plus video-recording capabilities. It's remarkably similar to its predecessor, the Curve 9310 (pictured), which debuted in July on Boost Mobile.

The BlackBerry Curve 9315 will be available for pre-sale via T-Mobile starting Jan. 16 and is expected to be available by Jan. 23. It will be sold for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate card with a two-year contract.

RIM's U.S. managing director, Richard Piasentin, said the new Curve will appeal to first-time smartphone buyers, or might entice existing customers to upgrade for "a step up in speed and functionality."

Still, RIM plans to unveil new BlackBerry 10-enhanced smartphones by month's end, so it might not make sense to buy an older BlackBerry Curve at this point, unless you're looking for a cheaper alternative.

RIM recently RIM handed out the QWERTY BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha C for developer testing, before photos of the touch-screen BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha, dubbed the L-Series, showed up on a Vietnamese forum last month.

For more, see PCMag's Hands On With RIM's BlackBerry 10 and the slideshow above. Also, check out our list of 6 Intriguing Features in BlackBerry 10.

Meanwhile, RIM this week agreed to extend and expand a patent license agreement with InterDigital. The arrangement allows for the addition of 4G products, and extends the companies' agreement for several years.

For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag.

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About Stephanie Mlot

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Stephanie Mlot

B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)

Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)

Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

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