Revealed: Next-Gen BlackBerry Pearl and Curve Smartphones

[BESadmin]

Revealed: Next-Gen BlackBerry Pearl and Curve Smartphones
16th August 2008
APC

If you like the sweet new BlackBerry Bold but can do without 3G HSDPA, don’t think that RIM has left you behind. The next fruit on the company’s mobile email vine is a Bold-inspired update to the Curve, codenamed Javelin.

Spy shots show the Javelin has a similar shape and keyboard to the Curve, although it borrows design cues from the Bold such as the larger control keys integrated into a darker fascia (although it appears more charcoal grey than black). It’s also said to be thinner than the Curve.

On the inside it’ll run BlackBerry OS 4.5, which is almost identical to the Bold’s 4.6 but designed for a lower screen resolution. This means the Javelin will enjoy HTML support in email, better Web browsing and multimedia playback, enhanced Office document compatibility (for viewing and editing using the preloaded Documents to Go) and of course a more stylish UI.

However, the leaked specs show several points of differentiation from RIM’s flagship smartphone. The Javelin’s screen is reported to be 480 x 360 – a little more than the Bold’s 480 x 320 HVGA (Half VGA) display, and far richer than the Curve’s 320 x 240 panel. Likewise, the 512MHz processor is amped up from the Curve’s 312MHz engine but remains a little shy of the Bold’s 624MHz Xscale powerplant.

And while the GSM radio (no 3G here) is complemented by Wi-Fi and a GPS receiver, the digital camera is boosted to 3.2 megapixels (up from the Bold’s 2 megapixel snapper) with auto-focus. The microSD slot moves from under the battery to an externally-accessible bay on the Javelin’s left side panel. You may wonder why RIM would still be making 2G handsets after having released a killer 3.5G one, and it's a valid question, but we imagine the answer is battery life: 2G allows for days of use between recharges, while the Bold does need to be recharged about every day and a half or so, in our testing.

Interestingly, it’s rumoured that the Curve will adopt a micro USB port for sync/charge operations. All of the current BlackBerry crop use a mini USB jack for this purpose. If the Javelin does adopt micro USB we’re tipping the next-gen Pearl will follow suit (and may a plague of locusts ravage the lands of RIM, for changing the ubiquitous charging connector...)

As for the Javelin, RIM has something very different in mind from the current ‘candybar’ form factor. While the Pearl 8200 model is expected to remain on the shelves, it’ll be joined by a new flip-phone sibling. RIM developed this under the catchy codename of KickStart but the more mainstream market and SureType keypad will see it rolled into the Pearl family as the model 8220.

This GSM phone will also come with OS 4.5 and all its associated goodness, plus WiFi and GPS. Spy snaps show a redesigned keypad which looks less cramped and more user-friendly than that of the Pearl 8100 and 8200, along with an external display. This will display the inbox and can automatically open the highlighted message once you flip up the KickStart’s screen.

RIM has adopted Apple’s PR policy, meaning that the company doesn’t comment on unannounced products, but we’re expecting to see both these handsets hit in Q4.