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Verizon Announces the BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone

by Kevin Michaluk on 5 Nov 2009 09:01 AM
35
 

Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8530

Ha! So it's not the Curve2. Looks like all that crazy Curve2 talk and Curve2 promotional material was just VZW being a little overzealous in branding the Curve themselves (in reality you'd think it should be the Curve 8550 now that it has WiFi). Whatever the case, Verizon has gone ahead and announced the BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone. It goes on sale November 20th and will be $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. GPS, Trackpad, WiFi... it's a nice little device. If you haven't yet, be sure to read our BlackBerry Curve 8530 Review.

Press Release

Verizon Wireless Introduces the BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone

New Smartphone Features 3G Connectivity, Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS, Touch-Sensitive Trackpad and Dedicated Media Keys

BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY and WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 5, 2009) - Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) 8530 smartphone, an exciting new addition to the BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone gives customers access to Verizon Wireless' 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on the go.

Available colors: Black and Smoky Violet

Key features:

  • Easy-to-use, highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation
  • 256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance
  • Supports voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth(R) (version 2.1), with support for hands-free headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals
  • 3G-enabled (EV-DO)
  • Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
  • GPS with support for location-based applications, including geotagging pictures and Verizon Wireless' VZ Navigator(SM) service
  • 2.0 megapixel digital camera with zoom and video recording(i)
  • Advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, with dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry(R) Media Sync, which makes it easy to quickly sync music from your computer to the smartphone(ii)
  • Access to BlackBerry App World(TM), featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry(R) smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, social networking and sharing, news and weather, productivity and much more
  • Access to e-mail, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and popular social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace)
  • Rich multimedia capabilities, including dedicated media keys smoothly integrated along the top of the handset, giving customers an easy, convenient way to control their music and videos
  • Support for BlackBerry services with access to up to 10 supported e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts such as Yahoo!(R), Windows Live(TM) Hotmail(R), AOL(R) and Gmail, and BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server support, which provides advanced security and IT administration features for corporate deployments
  • Expandable memory via hot swappable microSD(TM)/SDHC memory card slot, supporting up to 16 GB cards today and expected to support next generation 32 GB cards when available

Pricing and availability:

  • The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone is expected to be available from Verizon Wireless beginning Nov. 20 for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data plans for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

For information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

 

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35 Comments

Posted by Realist Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

finally... wifi

 
 
Posted by tae_254 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Pretty much title says it all.. Come on t-mobile step ya game up

 
 
Posted by sf18443 Saturday, Nov 14, 2009 922 days ago

Well not exactly... the 8530 features the new chipset that will allow the OpenGL

 
 
Posted by syb0rg Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

How can this be the official Curve 2 if it has been out for months with other carriers? doesn't make sense, sorta like wiping before you p**p.

 
 
Posted by dixonba Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

I thought that new ETF fees rising into the stratosphere were going to equate to lower device costs?

 
 
Posted by Grafixx01 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Now why would you ever think that? I mean, it's only $200 and it probably costs like $150.00 to make. I remember a while back seeing the cost analysis on another RIM device and it wasn't that much lower than what it was going for with a 2yr contract. Now the FULL retail, that's different! It's still not like a roll of Kodak film which costs $0.03 to make but sells for like $10+!

I'm trying now to see if my fiance wants to use her NE2 to get this since she has my old Curve and since I put OS 5.0 on it, she hates it but loves the BBM and Threaded Text messageing.

 
 
Posted by bandityo Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

how much without a contract?

 
 
Posted by Grafixx01 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

I'm going to ball-park guess and say probably about $400-$500.

 
 
Posted by bigtime2 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Probably 300-350. When tmo released it it was 350 at walmart and 299 at tmobile. So its likely that it will be close to that range at verizon.

 
 
Posted by AgentScribe Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Does this mean that Verizon will now support 3rd party apps that require GPS functionality and does it mean the end of A-GPS only?

 
 
Posted by Big Dawg 23 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Verizon has allowed 3rd party apps on GPS for about 2 years now depending on the Handset. It started with the update on the 6800. The Storm, Tour, and Storm 2 all have open GPS.

 
 
Posted by TheBrown Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

I wonder if it will have global capabilities..

 
 
Posted by Big Dawg 23 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

it is not Global. You are better off with the Tour or wait for the Tour 2 if Trackpad and WIFI is what you want.

 
 
Posted by skyboxer Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Can I assume this is going to launch with OS5 as well?

 
 
Posted by skyboxer Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Sweet, so unless the Tour gets OS5 soon, their low end blackberry will have a higher OS version than their flagship.

 
 
Posted by Smmrgrl Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

I was hoping for a better camera. Only 2.0 mpx?? Doesn't the 8330 have a better one?

 
 
Posted by Realist Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

no it doesn't... we have to hope for the new bold or the curve 8900

 
 
Posted by Smmrgrl Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

i'd love to have a new bold 9700, but it doesn't seem that Verizon is a carrier that will carry it - at least i don't see hints of it now....i just wish that carriers would all carry the same stinkin phones so we can have our choice.

 
 
Posted by esmitty225 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

I had been waiting for this phone to come out on VZW since T-Mobile got the 8520. Now that I hear the Tour 2 will be hitting stores soon, I have changed my mind. I love my Curve 8330 and it's been a trusty friend since the day I skipped work to pick it up (it was the first Curve that store sold on release day and it's still going strong!) The only disappointment I have with it didn't come until I used a friends Bold and was blown away by the display. I though about getting a Tour when they came out, but the lack of WiFi and people having problems with the trackball made me hesitant. The Storm 2 looks really cool, but I am still not sold on the touch screen.

I guess I can stick it out with my Curve 8330 for a little longer...

 
 
Posted by Hoagie52 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Finally big red is getting better phones I can't wait untill I can update in a year hopefully I will have even more options.

 
 
Posted by original00 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Why exactly would anyone get a tour or tour 2 over this curve 8530??? If I am not mistaken this curve is running on the same 528MHz processor that the tour is, has the same 256 memory,has a trackpad, gps and wifi and is cheaper. Who decides when these products get released? The Tour just came out a few months ago and now it is being made obsolete by a lower end device??????????

 
 
Posted by mkurz12 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

maybe not great reasons but there are a few.

Different MP cameras
Tour has a flash/vid light 8530 doesn't.
difference in keyboards are a very big deal for some.
Tour's display is higher quality

As for the Tour I can see your argument, but witht he Tour 2 (Essex) there is still time for things to change/improve.
Could get a better camera (5MP would be nice.)
could get a better processor
(BGR reported that the 9700 processor is faster then the 9000 but is still listed in the specs as being the same.)

 
 
Posted by nocturnal9 Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Why the two are being offered side by side? The keyboards are different, but the actual devices don't seem to be that different so far...

 
 
Posted by 318sugarhill Friday, Nov 06, 2009 930 days ago

Yeah, the next tour (essex) and the tour have a MUCH better screen than this. Camera is/will be much better on the tour line, as well as having a flash. If you're sold on the trackpad over the trackball, this is better than the tour for you, but the screen resolution on the tour is well worth it for me. I HATE the trackball on my curve 8330, and would take this phone now, but with a ne2 next April, it seems silly to waste the upgrade on this if the essex is coming out by then. Been UBER jealous of the speed of my brothers tour, but I can wait to get ALL the features I want in the essex (wifi, trackpad, fast processor and ram, better camera, and better screen) Hopefully they have a BOGO offer so I can get this for my wife.

 
 
Posted by knowledgethechef Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

Why would a carrier choose the 85xx model over the 89xx? Personally, I like the 89xx better but I am curious as my gf is wanting to move to a BB and I have the Tour so I am hoping Sprint gets the 89xx...

But please share what advantages one has over the other...

 
 
Posted by Berrydale Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

I just finished reading the 9700 review by Craig Johnston on this site. Great review, Craig. When I see what the 9700 has to offer and look at this 8530 it shows once again how VZW can be the biggest boneheads in the market in spite of them being the largest carrier(yet) in the US. The Bold 9000, Curve 8900, and now the Bold 9700, all going to other carriers and not a one being offered by VZW. All 'flagship' quality devices at their respective times of release but this 8530, the Tour (not of the quality it was promoted as) and the Storms (hopefully S2 proves much better over time) is all that Big Red can muster. Not a good showing by any standard of measure. How long can they stay number one at this rate?

 
 
Posted by 318sugarhill Friday, Nov 06, 2009 930 days ago

I'm sure the other carriers overpay to get the better phones since their service SUCKS! Been with them all. HATE big Red and their nickel and dime pricing but at the end of the day, the damn phone needs to work. Ask Howard Stern, he'll tell you. The sexiest 9700 is still a paperweight when the calls get dropped.

Sure would love a bold 9700 instead of waiting 6 months for the essex, but also enjoy clear never dropped calls too.

 
 
Posted by Berrydale Friday, Nov 06, 2009 930 days ago

Can't argue with you about call quality and data transmission. But it sure is disapointing to see the best US carrier have the worst selection of smartphones. Hard to understand, and harder to sit on the sidelines while inferior carriers offer better devices.

/end of rant.

 
 
Posted by 318sugarhill Friday, Nov 06, 2009 930 days ago

I'm sure the other carriers overpay to get the better phones since their service SUCKS! Been with them all. HATE big Red and their nickel and dime pricing but at the end of the day, the damn phone needs to work. Ask Howard Stern, he'll tell you. The sexiest 9700 is still a paperweight when the calls get dropped.

Sure would love a bold 9700 instead of waiting 6 months for the essex, but also enjoy clear never dropped calls too.

 
 
Posted by natedeezy Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

So hopefully this is on USCC by March when the GFs contract is up the 8330 needs to be retired

 
 
Posted by Button Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 932 days ago

The picture makes it seem so elegant with a nice high-res display but when you look at it in real life (I've seen the T-Mobile version) it feels so cheap and plastic-like. Plus the resolution is the same as the BlackBerry 8330 but only it looks worst because a modern 5.0 OS was meant for a high res display like on the Tour or Bold.

I was looking forward to this but I'm gonna have to wait for the Tour2.

 
 
Posted by MadSammyboy Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009 920 days ago

Man, that's so frustrating... when I first saw this, I figured I knew what my next phone was going to be- finding out that it's not the hi-res screen is a downer. I love everything about the Tour except the keyboard- I love the separated keys of the Curve- so when I thought I'd be able to score a hi-res Curve on Verizon (with a cool trackpad, no less)... oh, well. Maybe one day they'll just start putting the same phones with all the carriers, so we can take our pick.

 
 
Posted by eugd Thursday, Nov 05, 2009 931 days ago

Whats the SAR rating on it? hight or lower than the TOUR? or the original Curve?

 
 
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Posted by PMurray633 Friday, Nov 06, 2009 931 days ago

I think it looks better then the Tour, and the current Curve. I will be definitely upgrading to this phone from my Tour. Glad to see something sleek and sexy.