Verizon Blackberry Curve

Blackberry Curve Features

Before we move on, it might be worthwhile to investigate the BlackBerry Curve a little further. Like the Palm Centro and other popular smartphones, the Curve comes equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard. This makes it an excellent tool for sending text messages, writing emails, and composing brief notes. Contrast this to the SureType keyboard, which maps two letters to each key, found on the BlackBerry Pearl.

As it stands, there are at least three different versions of the BlackBerry Curve on the market. They all fall under the Curve 8300 series, but their features are a little different. The three models are the Curve 8300, Curve 8310 and Curve 8320. Generally speaking, the higher-numbered models are newer and thus, typically more powerful.

Common features found on all three models include:

• Quad-band GSM radios
• QVGA display with 65k colors
• Trackball navigation
• Custom Blackberry wallpaper
• Memory card expansion slot
• Stereo Bluetooth
• Two megapixel camera

Some of the differences are that the Curve 8310 has integrated GPS, whereas the Curve 8320 has built-in WiFi. The color scheme is also a little different, but all three units are functionally identical when it comes to core features like personal information management, push e-mail and regular voice calls.

CDMA vs. GSM

At its core, the reason why there is no Verizon Blackberry Curve at this time is the difference in cellular technology. The existing BlackBerry Curve models make use of GSM technology for their voice calls. This is the standard that is used in most of the world, as well as with local providers like T-Mobile and AT&T. By contrast, Verizon Wireless relies on CDMA-based technology.

There are advantages to either technology, but because a larger portion of the world uses GSM, Research in Motion -- the company that makes BlackBerry devices -- is more motivated to focus their efforts on creating GSM cell phones. For example, the BlackBerry Pearl was released on GSM well before it was made available on CDMA. The same phenomenon seems to be happening with the Blackberry Curve for Verizon Wireless.

Where's the Verizon Blackberry Curve?

Good question! As the time this article was written, Verizon Wireless has neither confirmed nor denied that the BlackBerry Curve will be joining its lineup. We do know that the Curve is currently available through the new AT&T and some subscribers might be leaving Verizon for AT&T simply so that they can use the Curve.

It's difficult to predict when a Verizon Blackberry Curve will become available, but rumors on the Internet are pointing toward the first half of 2008. This may or may not come to pass and even if the Curve launches with Verizon, it will not be identical to the version sold by AT&T, simply because of the difference between CDMA and GSM.

The closest thing to the Curve available through Verizon today is the marginally larger BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone. This too has a full QWERTY keyboard and one added advantage is the inclusion of a SIM card slot, allowing subscribers to use the 8830 with international GSM providers.