Sprint Introduces the BlackBerry Curve 8350i

Sprint has introduced the BlackBerry Curve 8350i, a smartphone for its Nextel Direct Connect customers who depend on push-to-talk.

This device uses the iDEN technology Sprint acquired with Nextel, not CDMA. It offers the Direct Connect PTT service, and also sports Group Connect, which allows customers to quickly set up group conversations with up to 20 participants.

This device also offers Wi-Fi, GPS, and a built-in keyboard.

More about the BlackBerry Curve 8350i

This smartphone runs the latest version of RIM's operating system, BlackBerry 4.6, and comes with a suite of productivity and entertainment applications. This includes DataViz Documents To Go for working with Microsoft Office files.

It's the first push-to-talk BlackBerry to offer Wi-Fi, allowing iDEN users to send and receive emails or browse the Internet while talking on the phone.

The 8350i uses a tablet shape, with a QWERTY keyboard below its QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) display. This device measures 4.4 inches tall, 2.4 inches wide, and 0.7 inches thick. It weighs 4.7 ounces.

It includes a 1 GB microSD card and the required slot for storage of files.  It also has Bluetooth 2.0, a 2.0 MPx camera,

Sprint says its 1400 mAh battery is good for 4 hours of talk time.

Pricing and Availability

The BlackBerry Curve 8350i is available now at sprint.com or 1-800-SPRINT-1 or from a Sprint business sales representative. It will be available in this carrier's retail stores nationwide on Jan. 11.

It sells for $150 with a two-year service agreement, an $80 instant savings credit, and a $100 mail-in rebate.

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