AT&T To Get BlackBerry Curve 8900 This Summer

The smartphone heralded as one of the best in Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd.'s BlackBerry arsenal, the BlackBerry Curve 8900, is expected to come to AT&T early this summer.

First released on T-Mobile in February, RIM's Curve 8900 was the first major BlackBerry release of 2009. The Curve 8900 received rave reviews and is often said to be better than the original line of Curve smartphones that preceded it.

While AT&T didn't offer an exact release date, its version of the BlackBerry Curve 8900 is expected to pack the same functionality as T-Mobile's, while also lacking 3G connectivity. Rumors have circulated since January that AT&T would also get the Curve 8900.

The Curve 8900 takes RIM's popular Curve model and updates it, adding in Wi-Fi and GPS, a next-generation processor, multimedia capabilities and a stockpile of memory.

The Curve 8900, dubbed the thinnest BlackBerry on the market, features a full QWERTY keyboard, a high-resolution 480-x-360 screen, video playback and premium phone features. It also wraps in a 3.2-megapixel camera with auto-focus and image stabilization, and features a microSD/SDHC expandable memory card slot to support up to 16 GB of storage for music, pictures and video.

AT&T said that users who select an unlimited data plan for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 will also receive AT&T Wi-Fi access at nearly 20,000 U.S. hotspots, such as retail stores, restaurants and airports.

"This new smartphone has a stunning design that builds upon the success of the BlackBerry Curve with more features for applications, all in a high-quality handset," said Chris Hill, vice president, AT&T Business Solutions, in a statement. "Add to it free access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi network, and the BlackBerry Curve 8900 from AT&T delivers unmatched value and performance for personal and business use."

The Curve 8900 is also a world phone, meaning it can access data in more than 170 countries and make voice calls from more than 200 global locations through quad-band EDGE support. The 8900 also features a powerful battery that can offer up to 5.5 hours of talk time and 15 days of standby time.

On the GPS front, the smartphone supports location-based applications and services, including AT&T Navigator, which offers turn-by-turn directions and traffic monitoring. The device also features access to Yellowpages.com and XM Radio Mobile.