Hot BlackBerry Curve 8320 Warms the Cold Winter Blues With Seamless, Free Wi-Fi Hotspot Access From AT&T
December 16 2008 - 11:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
New BlackBerry Curve 8320 Builds on Popular BlackBerry Platform
Features With Integrated Wi-Fi Capabilities DALLAS and WATERLOO,
Ontario, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T is turning up
the heat with the ever-popular BlackBerry(R) Curve(TM) smartphone.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Research In Motion (NYSE:RIMM) announced
today the immediate availability of the BlackBerry Curve 8320
smartphone with built-in Wi-Fi(R), which gives AT&T customers
with unlimited corporate or personal BlackBerry service plans free
and seamless access to thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in the
U.S. Available in sapphire blue, the BlackBerry Curve 8320
smartphone makes it easy to connect to home or campus Wi-Fi
networks and to automatically connect to any of the more than
17,000 AT&T Hot Spots nationwide. These include Starbucks,
Barnes & Noble and thousands more restaurants, airports, hotels
and other convenient locations across the U.S. Those customers who
subscribe to unlimited corporate or personal BlackBerry service
plans can access these AT&T Hot Spots at no charge. The
BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone -- with 802.11 b/g -- provides
broader data coverage, and customers also can carry on a telephone
conversation on the cellular network while simultaneously accessing
data via Wi-Fi. The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone also gives
AT&T customers the ability to access Wi-Fi hotspots
worldwide(1). These global Wi-Fi capabilities complement AT&T's
industry-leading wide area wireless international coverage with the
ability to perform data functions in more than 150 countries and
make or receive a phone call in more than 200 countries. "The
BlackBerry Curve 8320 provides AT&T customers with yet another
outstanding global solution that comes with a unique Wi-Fi feature
that automatically connects to AT&T Hot Spots," said Michael
Woodward, vice president, Smart Devices, AT&T. "AT&T
customers can also use their BlackBerry Curve smartphone to connect
to a Wi-Fi hotspot both in the U.S. and abroad, and when they do
so, they can carry on a phone conversation while they're checking
e-mail, browsing the Web or performing other data functions. This
allows our customers to be even more productive and get greater
value out of their BlackBerry smartphone, particularly when they
can connect free of charge to an AT&T Hot Spot in the U.S."
Mark Guibert, vice president of corporate marketing at RIM, said:
"The BlackBerry Curve is one of the most successful smartphones in
the world -- customers love its communications and multimedia
features, easy-to-use keyboard and compact design. With the
BlackBerry Curve 8320, AT&T customers will enjoy easy access to
Wi-Fi networks whether they're in the U.S. or traveling abroad."
The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone packs numerous new features
including an enhanced HTML browser that supports a Web browsing
experience with desktop-style depiction. The smartphone's trackball
acts like a computer mouse, allowing users to quickly scroll
through a page, zoom in and out or click on hotlinks. The
BlackBerry Curve 8320 also has an improved user interface and
support for HTML e-mail, and it allows users to download
attachments as well as edit Microsoft(R) Word, Excel and PowerPoint
files directly on the handset using the preloaded DataViz(R)
Documents To Go(R) software suite. The BlackBerry Curve 8320
smartphone retains the features that have made it one of the most
popular smartphones in the world. It combines the renowned
BlackBerry(R) e-mail and messaging capabilities with a full QWERTY
keyboard, built-in spell checker, premium phone features and
comprehensive organizer, and it sports a large, ultra-bright,
320-by-240 display that supports more than 65,000 colors and comes
with light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts
backlighting for optimal viewing. In addition, it features
Bluetooth(R) 2.0 support, a 2 megapixel camera with zoom, flash and
video recording(2), advanced media player with desktop media
management software and expandable memory of up to 16GB via its
microSD/SDHC memory card slot. The BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone
also includes AT&T Music(TM) subscription services, integrated
Push To Talk (PTT) and, when used with a separate Bluetooth-enabled
GPS receiver, provides access to the popular AT&T Navigator and
YELLOWPAGES.COM mobile services. Pricing and Availability The
BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone with built-in Wi-Fi is now
available online at http://att.com/blackberrycurve8320 and through
AT&T's direct business-to-business sales organizations for as
low as $149.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate. In
early 2009, it will be available at select AT&T retail stores
and national retailers. Customers who want personal e-mail access
and Web browsing with BlackBerry(R) Internet Service can choose the
BlackBerry Personal Unlimited data plan for as low as $30 a month
with a qualified voice contract. Unlimited corporate e-mail and
data access via BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server or BlackBerry(R)
Professional Software for small businesses is available for as low
as $45 a month when a qualified voice plan is also chosen.
Customers who travel overseas can select the BlackBerry
International Unlimited data plan for as low as $65 a month with a
qualified voice plan. Small business customers also can couple
their BlackBerry(R) data plans with new AT&T BusinessTalk(R)
voice plans, which start at $60 a month for five users and 700
Anytime Minutes and can be expanded for $9.99 a line to accommodate
up to 40 users and 20,000 Anytime Minutes. When combined with
BlackBerry Professional Software, AT&T BusinessTalk provides
small businesses with a complete voice and data solution. Companies
may also choose BusinessTalk with either unlimited Mobile to Mobile
or Push To Talk features. (1) Local Wi-Fi charges may apply. (2)
Video recording requires microSD memory card, sold separately.
About AT&T AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications
holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T
operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the
United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the
world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and
the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice
services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory
publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and
YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed
to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part
of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its
TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on
Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company
list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company
list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products
and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is
available at http://www.att.com/. About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer
of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile
communications market. Through the development of integrated
hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless
network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for
seamless access to time-sensitive information including email,
phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM
technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and
manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless
connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products,
services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of
organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry(R)
wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) product line,
software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware
licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo,
Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia
Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and
the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit
http://www.rim.com/ or http://www.blackberry.com/. (C) 2008
AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the
AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks
of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of
their respective owners. Forward-looking statements in this news
release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
When used herein, words such as "intend" and similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-
looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information
available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned
that such forward- looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible
product defects and product liability, risks related to
international sales and potential foreign currency exchange
fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or
potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant
fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian
and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM's
products, increased levels of competition, technological changes
and the successful development of new products, dependence on
third-party networks to provide services, dependence on
intellectual property rights, and other risks and factors detailed
from time to time in RIM's periodic reports filed with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory
authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. The BlackBerry and RIM
families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive
properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM,
Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in
other countries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi
Alliance. All other brands, product names, company names,
trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective
owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no
representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to
any aspect of any third party products or services. Note: This
AT&T news release and other announcements are available as part
of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. For more information and
detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in
the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom. DATASOURCE:
AT&T Inc. CONTACT: John Kampfe of AT&T, Office,
+1-732-420-9035, Mobile, +1-908-432-3473, ; or Marisa Conway of
Brodeur Partners, PR Agency for RIM, +1-212-515-1924, ; or RIM
Investor Relations, +1-519-888-7465, Web site: http://www.att.com/
http://www.rim.com/
Copyright