Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:48 pm
Verizon Wireless plans to launch the BlackBerry Curve 8530, a smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad -- instead of the traditional trackball -- on November 20 for $100.
The Basking Ridge, N.J.-based carrier said the Curve integrates an optical trackpad -- similar to a laptop -- to let users scroll through menus and icons by gliding a finger over an item and pressing and clicking to select it.
It also features dedicated media keys along the top to control music and videos.
The handset can take photos and videos with its 2.0-megapixel camera, then upload them to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Additional features include a large color display, music player with a 3.5mm stereo headset jack and built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities.
In July, RIM released a similar device, the Curve 8520, for T-Mobile. Verizon released the BlackBerry Storm 2 -- a smartphone with an improved "clickable" touch screen and Wi-Fi connectivity -- earlier last week.
Verizon said the BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available starting November 20 for $100 with a two-year contract.
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