wow!! Looks awesome.

thanks kevin!

Dang, these pics were takin almost 2 months ago.

I like the optical trackball. I don't understand the removal of 3g. You add a great feature and remove another? strange. Otherwise, it's a good looking phone.

Wow, this is nice. I will get it just for the media options alone..

Looks nice with the CB logo

Looks nice with the CB logo

looks good :)
what carrier will it be on?

i neeeeeeed this

Much better looking than the leaked pics before. Kevin can you make a video of the Track pad or whatever the Trackball replacement is called and how it functions.

Not digging the look of the "TrackBall," but maybe its function will exceed its fashion

weird there isnt a flash

is this coming to t-mobile or...?

That looks awesome! I need a clean pair of shorts now!

Sounds like Tmobile, just like the 8900, No 3g, has WIFI and its GSM. Tmobile all the way. AT&T doesn't want 3Gless phones anymore.

i think the xx20 models are usually Rogers/AT&T but i have been fooled before. I can't help but think that the back of that phone looks awfully familiar to the iphone...but overall it's looking like a very seamless phone!

I'm liking the new "trackball", the analog one on my 8900 feels like it'll give out soon. Also like the extended "lcd protector" area, does look more polished.

I'm not crazy about the rubberized parts, reminds me of those bulky Telus phones, bit too "athletic/construction site" for my taste, guess to see it "in-person" will give me a different feel...heh.

Cheers!

This curve looks HOT!
I hope it comes out for T-Mobile.

Why is this coming out?
Why are they going backward from 8900 to 8520??

This looks like a BB that could go on TMO's Prepaid service phone lineup.

Do we have any indication on who the debut carrier will be?

Damn that's a hot phone, I know what my next phone will be when it comes to Rogers, hehe, can't wait!

"so long sticky balls"

haha sonds like a personal problem...lol

Its for t-mobile hence the xx20 series..
8120 pearl, 8220 pearl flip, 8320 curve, and the 8820

No 3G, no go.

the samsung epix also have the same optical pad. I've used it on the epix and it is quite nice! i prefer it over the trackball.

i am also disappointed no 3g. with most transitioning to 4G soon, edge is old news. 3g should be standard now.

the lack of 3g is crazy to me... 4G is already out in some area's for sprint, and verizon is going to starting up their LTE 4G tech end of this year early next ...

This looks NICE. Diggin the new trackball and the phone and keyboard look to be a step up in size compared to the 8900. Can't wait til this comes out in stores for a test drive!

I LOVE this, I am waiting for this instead of upgrading to the Bold

I agree with citi, it doesn't make sense to add a great feature then remove 3G. RIM needs to launch a phone that blows the competition away. Having different phones with a few nice features is ok, but why not create something spectacular? That's the Storm's problem; it's just mediocre. RIM has the innovation to pioneer something. Just make it happen!

It looks good. I am not really digging the media controls on top. It seems like RIM is going towards the non-office type people with this phone.

The trackpad looks ok, but they should just bring back the scroll wheel and be done with it!! I hear "retro" is back in!!

And where is the mute button?

they need this for nextel! if not the storm!

Im going to have to get a second job to pay for this one, thats the only way the wife will let me get another BB

Why no 3g most of the world is moving away from edge!! I like the optical ball. What is the screen resolution? Is it att bound?

Yes 3G is great because it is fast but it also sucks battery life. Everyone I know with a 3G phone gets just a day of use out of it and they are heavy. I can get an easy 2 full days out of a charge with my 8900 Cruve and 3 if I use it lightly and have good reception.

3G is great but it does have some huge drawbacks

I am surprised that RIM would debut their new technology on a non-flagship phone. Bad business move if you ask me...

I've googled it and it seems it could be att or tmobile as the both have the 8x20 curve/pearl and as far as 3g goes the bold is the only 3g BlackBerry with att for now anyway. Looks nice but being a Bold owner seems like a downgrade. Smaller lcd and no 3g.

OMG! I want! I want! I want! That is one sweet looking phone! I can't wait to play with it & push all its pretty buttons.

march 2nd 2006 is on a thursday that matches the date on the screen.

I think it looks great! I just hope they come out with a CDMA version so I can be done with my sticky trackball! :)

I rather have swine flu....

I think it looks great! I just hope they come out with a CDMA version so I can be done with my sticky trackball! :)

The ultimate phone would be the 9630 with optical trackball and Wifi... oh how i would love that phone

For some reason I'm still digging the Curve 8900 and the Bold more.

i think it looks OK. But going away from the trackball is INCREDIBLY smart. Its the most broken part of the BB. Constantly see people who have dirt get in there and it stop functioning. Heck, mine was already dirty and was locking up needing to be cleaned after 2 months. Who wants to take apart the phone every 2 months to clean this part. Less moving parts=more reliable.

This is a phone i am going to get when it comes out!!!!!!!!! This phone is hott

RIM doesnt seem to be slowing down any time soon lolz. Optical Trackball, I wonder how responsive it can be. Pretty enticing! My 8900 is sexier [*_*]

Is "sticky balls" the accepted term for what I think you're describing?

Both gone? One great deature on my 8900 that I wouldn't want to lose. And I agree that it seems to be set up for Tmo prepaid.

I always thought that the difference between the xx10 and xx20 was one had WiFi and the other had GPS.. From what I've seen between at&t and T-Mo, that's how it compares.

Yuck. If this is RIM's new design language...count me out. Looks like some cheap HTC device.

I agree with the comment earlier that this phone makes no sense in RIM's current and upcoming lineup. Don't get me wrong, it is a sweet looking device but what is up with RIM and missing features(no 3G). Why release this on Tmobile when you already have the 8900? Why would it come to any other carrier when we are all already expecting the Tour? Why not put these features in the Tour?Why?Why?Why?

Currently I'm rockin the Bold, but this is truly a thing of beauty! I hope ATT&T gets something close to it. I'm really lovin the optical trackball thingy.

All I can say is WOW!!! I want one of those. Perhaps I'll have to change carriers. Not a problem. No! Not a problem at all!

Peace!

The pics look good. The optical trackball seems interesting. I can't wait to get my hands on one of these!

no flash on the camera, no 3G (ummm, carriers are tooling up for 4G, WTF RIM!? get wiht the damn program)

the keyboard "looks" shorter, and the send/end buttons are HUGE. shrink those down, give us a bigger display, at near-VGA resolution, and a 5+ MP camera.

oh yeah, and get off your asses and make a browser worth a damn.

im really starting to get fed up with RIM.

LOOKS NICE CURIOUS ABOUT THE OPTICAL TRACK BALL. BUMMER NO 3G.

No way.... i hate plastic on my phones.... if anything, blackberry should take some tips from nokia E71 and make a metal blackberry, with wifi, GPS, 3G, bold's keypad, and this new trackpad. Now THAT would be a great blackberry

Very nice version(update?) of the GSM Curve series but why no 3G still?

I think the back resembles that of the first generation iPhones. Although the front looks like it is coming from 2006 :P

I'm as turned on as anyone else with the optical trackball. I love the fact there is NO crappy chrome paint on this phone, and it does look more rugged which is something lacking in the 8900. Looks like I would have to buy autostandby for this one. Does anyone know hardware specs ie mhz, GB, MP, res? I would expect this to release with a version 5 OS since it's coming out next year. Nice but it better be bringing more if it wants to get my 8900 away from me.

so do we know if theres built in GPS? :(

Is this touchscreen?

Ya. It does not look that attractive to me. I just don't like the look of it. I am hoping to hear some Niagara/Tour news from WES

is the form factor/cosmetics the same as the 8900 or the older generation curve?

I am tired of hearing new version of bb day after day...

The new baby looks stunning. But I can't see a flash for the camera. If it is not there it is no where compared to Javelin. Of course the CRUVE branding will increase owners pride but the media buttons are not appreciated since BB is not primarily meant for Media playback. Still a provision for TV Out could be included so that business people can simply hook on the an LCD Projector and give a presentation with the in built Documents to Go.

Still efforts of RIM to bring in new models is appreciated. Also they should try to reduce the SAR Ratings of the new models.

i dont like it looks ugly

very nice device but bad news is that 8530 does use 4.6 but not 5.0 which is most likely for storm , 8900, bold and pearl flip in later time.

Looks like a "blacked out" 8900 with a Nokia E71 trackball. I'm diggin' it. It looks like my wife's next phone. I hope T-Mo gets it!!

I want it, I want it now.

I like it and very nice BB device but very disappointing that OS is 4.6 but not 5.0.

This model seems to look like an updated 8700 Blackberry.

The button styling is the same...

Now who owns that tiger print run? lol. That rug was in the background when more leaked pictures hit of the blackberry tour lol

im sensing this is going to be renamed the curve 8920 and i have a feeling that maybe att will get it....you cant thing that the bold 9010,9020 are going to look the same if they are released...and the Gemini has already been reported as the curve 8930

wow. rimm sure knows how to make them sexy

Anyone notice the "Insert SIM Card" line on the screen in the first picture?

have i missed it or has rim taken it out? i love that i can set my notification to different colors so i know what kind of message i have while sitting across the room. why is is missing here?

Where the heck have I seen those rubberized media buttons before? OH RIGHT, the Aiwa walkman cassette player my uncle lent me back in '93 had them. Enough said.

I am quite curious as to how that optical trackpad will function though..
The Tour is still the one for me.

Definitely intrigued by that optical trackball thingy.

Yea, RIM ought ta rethink the 3g and the lack thereof on this one. I sense greed...c'mon, hook us up RIM. Go ahead and knock the competitors out of the box with the "ultimate" phone. Quit spreading sh!t around and procrastinating to ensure future sales...its obvious what's happening. None of us are stupid. Take over the game with this one. Add all that sh!t lol.

This phone looks absolutely gorgeous but how can it not include 3G. I dont get wifi at college with the protected network so I'm rocking 3G all the time. How can they leave it out?!

What the heck is RIM doing?!?!?!? I was with Nextel for years them SH*T I mean Sprint bought them out. I have owned a blackberry as long as blackberry has been out. I currently use the storm and tempted to stray but RIM did it again SH*T phone that could be #1 but they again lack the balls to give it it's all. When The hell is RIM going to wise up and remember they are the king of smartphones! They have IPhone stuck in the brain and it urks me to know end. They need to fix the bugs with the 9530 before releasing more garbage! Blackberrys were spot on 5 years ago! What the F*CK happened?

My company makes the optical trackball.

Same as the one Samsung uses.

It's more like a trackpad than a trackball.

I'll stick with my 8900.

I wonder how i will play brick breaker on this thing..
tiny trackpad... hmm..

Not sure if I like the nokia E-series resemblance this phone bears. Looks a bit odd.

Nice phone but no 3G? Is that chip so big that it can't fit. I love the new optical trackball. But I wonder if the BB buttons are touch sensitive only with the Lcd protector that low.

RIM keep them coming !!!!!!!!!

Optical trackball vs. standard curve-like keypad buttons?

The OPT tball is a nice and interesting feature, i'd like to get my hands on it too... but personally i've got to have a better keypad buttons, so i'm eagerly waiting for the 9630 Tour to come out on Sprint (prob Q2 2010... sigh).

Looks quite awesome (afac trackball, design)
the new trackball Is clealy a breakthrought to what we were used to till this day
(samsung's orientation towards this solution is a proven winner (i780, omnia etc etc))
The flash Is a somewhat a big turn off
and also no 3G (and no GPS(?)) also a big turn off
What about camera Megapixel sensitivity 2MPx or 3,2MPx or better(?)
Also screen seems more bigger and what about It's resolution (same as 8900, higher 640x480 or lower like the Bold's)

It seems like an entry Curve device with a more "media"/"low budjet"/"youth" oriented approach thanks to dedicated media buttons on the top and features that are missing..

for an existing 8900 user It's not quite a device that will move me/rock me as to leap to the newest curve addition

If there's planned another more feature rich device to match or top up the 8900 specs I think that It's gonna be a kiler!

Optical Trackball???? I vote Conservative thank you :P

Looks great! Can't wait to give the optical trackball a try. Feel pretty confident that RIM did did a great job.

I think it is a step in the right Direction with the optical mouse. I just think that they should have went 3G and not put out a device with edge.

what a great idea. less pressure put on your fingers while clicking the ball constantly, which definately ends up being a sore. i think the optical trackball will definately catch on to further future models

Im in love i was goona upgrade my 8310 to the 8900 but hmmm i might just wait for the 8520

Don't really like it, don't like that they got rid of the trackball, don't like that it's all black, don't like the rubber around the sides (looks too cheap), the media player buttons are a good idea but I don't like how they are positioned on the device. I also don't like the keys on it, they look too.. hard and stick out too much. I'm going to pass on this one.

My 8900 still sexier looking. The rubber at the top and all black bezel doesn't look as classy. If it had 3G I might consider upgrading but for now 8900 will do.

wow its a decent looking device!

but i hope it doesnt come out too soon, i dont want my 8900 being considered 'out of date'...i just got her 3months ago lol

Storm today plus L

It's ok... I think I like the look of my 8900 more. But the atomic trackball thingy seems nice.

Come on RIM...get it together. If this curve had 3G for GSM and a 3G CDMA version, Verizon and ATT would crank these babies out! 8520 w/ no 3G = useless!

The optical pad on the Samsung phones does not work well in bright sunlight.

I wished they took off that plastic to take pics without it. I am not sure about the appearance/lack of 3g on this phone.

nice phone...but R.I.M. needs to come up with a desighn that beats all the other phones...

WHATS UP WITH THE RUBBER! CRAPPY, PLUS NO FLASH!?!???! WHY IS THERE NOT THE SIGNATURE TRACKBALL! IT CANT BE A BLACKBERRY W/O IT!

Optical Trackball!!

I'm currently using the curve 8900 and it is such a great and versatile device! I am sure that the 8520 would be a good device, if not a better one.. especially having the new optical trackball replacing the roller ball, which seems cool. I guess it depends on the user preference of the optical trackball, but it definitely seems interesting having it on blackberry!

I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that this device is coming to T-mobile....this will be a great addition. I loving my 8900!

I would get this if I could!

whats the difference between this and 8900? its a waste to even buy another blackberry if it doesnt have 3g or some new upgraded type software other than that its just like all the other bb's

Imho, the 8900 looks better.

Jesus, please come down and slap someone at Sprint and tell them we need a Blackberry, Amen!!! I am so done with Sprint its not funny, this is another beautiful device from RIM that will never be seen on Sprint

This Curve lives up to its name cant wait to get one now!

mmm Not sure about this one, as mentioned before its beginning to look like a Nokia E71 with its squarish track pad. Ok i see the point of replacing the ball as some people had problems with it (i personally didn't) but why not make the pad round to match the other models ? & make it look like the trackball....or is the trackball going to be phased out with all new device updates & the optical trackpad the way forward ?

Also dint understand why they put a new fancy trackpad in but use an old style keyboard, it look cheaper than the 8900

Not the greatest looking BB Ive seen but I'm sure it'll do the job RIM want it to do.

Looks too much like a palm Treo. If I needed the keyboard I'd rather have the Bold.

Is it just me or does that look like the E71???

Meh, not bad.. but it ain;t Blackberry

I like the idea of the rubberized components, especially if they help make it more shockproof; I wonder if Colorware is looking at some way to colorize this material. Since my BOLD & I are going to be together through July, 2010, I am wondering what improvements will find their way into the BOLD's successor.
As the population is graying, (Myself included) I would like the option of a keypad more easily read even without my reading glasses. (Translucent white background w/dark - Red/Black/Navy/Green Characters?) even as an option or aftermarket upgrade.
Though I will admit that the black look IS very cool.

i acrually like the way it looks without the track ball. looks sweet

I absolutely love this phone because it's so easy to use and plus it's fast on speed. I have the 8530 with sprint service. It's mainly the same as this phone. I don't regret getting it at all. However, I wish the camera was better but I can live with it for now. Texting is very cool! Oh yeah I can't forget about twitter & facebook! Now the app for these two are right on point I have no complaints about that.

The setup is convenient and texting is the da bomb...lol! But seriously the phone is nice and I would definitely recommend it to anyone especially the first time blackberry customer. Try it! I don't think you can go wrong with it.

If you will buy Gemini 8520, I suggest at here it off more 30% www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon...