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Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?

By | August 23, 2011, 6:19am PDT

Summary: Research in Motion revamp the BlackBerry Curve line-up of phones. Is a BlackBerry still a wise choice for the back to school season?

Research in Motion today introduced the latest in the BlackBerry Curve series — the 9350, the 9360 and the 9370.

The entry level phones will be BlackBerry OS 7 powered, and feature NFC technology — allowing users to make mobile payments through their smartphone.

Also included is 512MB internal storage for the 9350 and the 9360, while the 9370 will have 1GB.

The 9370 is a dual-mode phone, running GSM/CDMA — and will be more focused towards those who travel abroad.

Available in Canada later this month, the new phones will be widely available throughout North America and Europe in September.

Interestingly, unlike other BlackBerrys, Documents to Go Premium — the document editing software for the device — will be thrown in for free, meaning students can edit documents on the go.

The BlackBerry Curve is one of the favourite smartphones amongst students, past and present, offering a cheap phone with all of the apparel of the BlackBerry brand.

Set to be sold in the price range of £200 ($330), contracts could cost between £25 and £30 ($41) a month — still focused on the emerging developed market of younger people, and business folk alike.

It was only a couple of weeks ago where I urged students not to think twice about a BlackBerry for the back to school season.

Having said that, and while I still believe students should opt for something either they can afford or invest in for productivity and equally entertainment — the release of more phones shows Research in Motion may not be in as much trouble as we all think it is.

Or, of course, maybe it is, and is still throwing whatever it can out into the market to maintain a brave face.

What is clear after many conversations with Research in Motion, is that though the business market for its BlackBerry brand is crucial to maintain, students and younger people are a crucial focal point for the company.

BlackBerry enterprise email — the secure messaging component to BlackBerrys phones — is not going away any time soon. It is merely a businessfocused addition to the already established BlackBerry brand.

However, provided the BlackBerry brand can continue to maintain at least the student market, it can hold back from the inevitable downfall the company seems to be heading towards.

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Topics

Back to School, BlackBerry Curve, RIM BlackBerry, Smart Phones, Mobile Operating Systems, Handhelds, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Hardware, Zack Whittaker

Zack Whittaker, a criminologist who studied at the University of Kent, Canterbury, is a journalist, writer and broadcaster.

Disclosure

Zack Whittaker

I worked briefly with Microsoft UK in 2006 but no longer have any connection with the company. Regardless, I remain impartial and unbiased in my views.

I don't hold any stock or shares, investments or industrial secrets in any company, but have signed confidentiality agreements with a number of UK and U.S. organisations, whose names I am not at liberty to disclose.

I was involved with Kent Union, the University of Kent's student union, undertaking voluntary, non-salaried, elected positions between early 2009 and mid-2010.

No other company, body, government department, non-governmental organisation or third sector organisation employs me or pays me a salary in any capacity whatsoever.

As a freelance journalist, whenever expenses are given and taken by a company that is not CBS Interactive, these will be disclosed in each relevant post to ensure transparency.

I currently work with a UK law enforcement unit, but this is an entirely separate position which bears no connection to other work.

(Updated: 23rd October 2011)

Biography

Zack Whittaker

Zack Whittaker, criminologist who studied at the University of Kent, UK, is a journalist, writer and broadcaster.

After studying criminology at university, though still in his early-20's, he has already had a series unconventional work and voluntary positions. He has worked with researchers studying neurological illnesses like Tourette's syndrome (which he suffers from), has given lectures on the nature of disabilities in the public community, and occasionally ends up speaking on television and radio discussing the events of the day.

He first had academic work published at the age of 22, then still an undergraduate, and has been cited by a wide range of publications: from the Huffington Post, Business Insider, AllThingsDigital, The Atlantic Wire and CBS News.

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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
Haberkusagi 30th Oct
ultimately add, please don?t hesitate to
contact me via e-mail. All e-mails I receive are haber as confidential ? unless you want a mention/credit line, of course.) check out and ultimately add, please hesitate to contact me via e-mail. All e-mails I receive are gebelik as confidential ? unless you want a mention/credit line, of course.)
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
m3kw9 23rd Aug
A sign of revival is increasing app support from 3rd parties.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
NO_CARRIER 24th Aug
@m3kw9 they just added OpenGl support for BB7 and in early 2012 their QNX powered smartphones will come pre-shipped with Android-app support according to Bloomberg.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
tiderulz 23rd Aug
I think you mean to say UK Students. I havent seen any students around US universities with a blackberry. They are all iPhone or Androids.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
dimonic 23rd Aug
Way to go "5 reasons to forget Blackberry" and "it?s time to face facts. The BlackBerry is on its last legs", ...

Oh, wait a minute - that phone looks really useful!

At least you aren't shoring up past misteps, but boldly recognizing that perhaps the obituary was a touch premature. I think the key here is that no-one (other than teenagers) cares about 40 gazillion apps. Real people doing real communications and getting real work done care about a mere handful of apps. Fact is, Blackberrys give you 3 extras that will save you $25 right off. Fact is, Blackberrys also have every app you are likely to REALLY need.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
powerphrase@... Updated - 23rd Aug
IFUN,ITOYS and TOYPAD is responsible for Economic disaster in US and around the worldwide. Playing with Toys all the time bad for Economy, no productivity. Buy BB9930/9900 One of the best phone ever Built, Grow yourself and help the Economy.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
jolynuk 23rd Aug
The appeal of the Curve is something all you pseudo-tech writers have been missing while focusing on BB's demise. Something has been supporting RIM's earnings (they still are very profitable you know) and it is in large part due to the availability of all the traditional BB features in an affordable, appealing little phone called the Curve. Not every US student can afford an Iphone (sorry tiderulz, I see a lot of teens with Curves) and android phones are great if you don't mind spending money on a throw away, cheap piece of plastic (HTC should be launching another dozen phones any minute). So with the latest launch, it seems to me that RIM has covererd the bases in terms of consumer demand for type vs. touch phones and business versus personal use. All I can say is take a look at at BBM and from my point of view as the typical, business user, the social networking that is going on there ain't my world.....
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
kris_stapley@... 24th Aug
@jolynuk
Blackberry hardware is crap and has been since they replaced their original devices. I've been supporting them for years, and the hardware is very unreliable.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
Leroy Farted 26th Aug
@kris_stapley@... wha? surely you jest. BB is the best and most durable hardware out there.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
jolynuk 23rd Aug
Oh and by the way, they launched the phones just in time for school.......
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BB favorites? What school do you go to? Old geezer school?
wackoae 23rd Aug
Everybody I know that owns one hate them .... and only use them because they are FORCED too (by their work).

Nobody with 1/2 a brain would pay for a BB out of their own packets.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
NO_CARRIER 24th Aug
@wackoae Using a BB as a work device (locked down) and a personal device are two very different things. I'd hate if work issues an iPhone to me and locked down the apps, camera, and made it so I can only use it for communications or word processing. Remember, a BB for work is NOT the same as BB for personal use. They have different security policies on them.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
Leroy Farted 24th Aug
"Is BB a wise choice for the back to schools season?"

Does a phone make you a better student? Your anti-Rim articles are petulance at it's finest.
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
meetesh.kothari 29th Aug
I believe it is a sign of recovery - you can read my own piece about it here - http://fastgush.com/mobile/watch-out-for-berry.html
0 Votes
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RE: Student favorite BlackBerry Curve revamped: Signs of RIM's recovery?
Haberkusagi 30th Oct
ultimately add, please don?t hesitate to
contact me via e-mail. All e-mails I receive are haber as confidential ? unless you want a mention/credit line, of course.) check out and ultimately add, please hesitate to contact me via e-mail. All e-mails I receive are gebelik as confidential ? unless you want a mention/credit line, of course.)

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