Changing of the guard

The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 replaces the Curve 8300 series and brings a number of notable improvements. T-Mobile is the first carrier to offer the smartphone, with retail availability starting February 11

Slim, but packed with features

The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 holds the distinction of being the thinnest full-QWERTY BlackBerry to date, and packs in a number of features, such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The one thing missing? 3G support.

BlackBerry Curve 8900 vs. BlackBerry Curve 8310

While style is subjective, we have to say we dig the look of the Curve 8900 over the previous Curve 8300 series. It has tapered edges like the BlackBerry Storm and the metallic paint gives the 8900 a fresh, modern look.

Right side

The right side of the smartphone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a volume rocker, a microUSB port, and a customizable side button (assigned to the camera by default).

Thin is in

The BlackBerry Curve 8900's thin profile makes it possible to slip into a pants pocket, and it also feels comfortable to use as both a phone and a messaging device.

Beautiful display

The Curve 8900 features a 2.4-inch TFT LCD that supports 65,536 colors at a 480x360 pixel resolution. It's a better screen than the BlackBerry Bold, offering an extra level of sharpness and brightness that's quite impressive.

Navigation controls

Below the display, you have your standard navigation array that includes Talk and End keys, a menu shortcut, a back button, and the trackball navigator.

Bold-like keyboard

The BlackBerry Curve 8900's QWERTY keyboard is similar to the one found on the BlackBerry Bold. Since the Curve is smaller, the keys aren't as big or roomy, but we still found it easy to compose messages.

Upgraded camera

The Curve 8900 is equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera and a flash, which are located on the back, and also features video recording, auto focus, 2x zoom, and image stabilization.