For the most part, in recent years, RIM has been content to make modest improvements to the devices in its lineup, slowly updating product lines to add additional features. The BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 is the latest addition to RIM’s popular Curve range of phones, adding full 3G connectivity to the list of standard BlackBerry features of excellent physical Qwerty keyboard and leading email and messaging support.
In addition to its new 3G support, the BlackBerry Curve 3G also retains Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The phone features a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and has physical media controls along the top edge. In addition to the fantastic physical keyboard, the Curve 3G has an optical trackpad that makes navigation a joy.
The BlackBerry curve 3G features the usual BlackBerry push email account and also supports free instant messaging between BlackBerry owners. Buyers can expect a free upgrade to the new BlackBerry OS 6 in the coming months, keeping the phone up to date with RIM’s latest technologies. The current operating system comes with full Facebook and Twitter apps, plus access to the BlackBerry app store, where owners can download many free and paid apps and games.
RIM is starting to face some serious competition in the business phone market from other phone makers eager to squeeze money out of business users. Previously, only phones running the rather outdated Windows Mobile operating system could pose a threat in terms of business functionality, but the advent of push email and decent app support for iOS and Android phones is changing the playing field. Even the absence of a physical keyboard isn’t as cumbersome as it used to be, thanks to ever-improving virtual full Qwerty keyboards and responsive capacitive touchscreens.
Faced with these challenges, RIM will be forced to do more than make modest improvements to its phones. To be fair, recent revisions to the BlackBerry operating system and a greater focus on the non-commercial market with improved media playback features and dedicated social networking options will help, but additional issues will be harder to solve. A major selling point of today’s smartphones is their large and growing app stores, with Apple leading the way, closely followed by Android and Microsoft. The absence of strong third-party support for Nokia’s Symbian platform has created a major problem for the world’s largest phone maker, and if RIM doesn’t pay attention, it may run into the same problems in the long run with its own system. custom operating.