Search
  • Videos
  • 5G
  • Windows 10
  • Cloud
  • Innovation
  • Security
  • Tech Pro
  • more
    • Apple
    • ZDNet Academy
    • Microsoft
    • Mobility
    • Hardware
    • Executive Guides
    • Best VPN Services
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
  • Newsletters
  • All Writers
    • Log In to ZDNET
    • Join ZDNet
    • About ZDNet
    • Preferences
    • Community
    • Newsletters
    • Log Out
  • Menu
    • Videos
    • 5G
    • Windows 10
    • Cloud
    • Innovation
    • Security
    • Tech Pro
    • Apple
    • ZDNet Academy
    • Microsoft
    • Mobility
    • Hardware
    • Executive Guides
    • Best VPN Services
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
      • Log In to ZDNET
      • Join ZDNet
      • About ZDNet
      • Preferences
      • Community
      • Newsletters
      • Log Out
  • us
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • India
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • ZDNet around the globe:
    • ZDNet China
    • ZDNet France
    • ZDNet Germany
    • ZDNet Korea
    • ZDNet Japan

BlackBerry Curve 9360 rounds the bend

1 of 5 NEXT PREV
  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 front

    BlackBerry Curve 9360 front

    Canadian smartphone maker Research In Motion has made a slimline addition to its Curve series of handsets, powered by its recently released BlackBerry 7 OS.

    The mid-range handset, introduced on Tuesday, comes in three models with connectivity for different regions. The Curve 9360 is set for launch in the UK in September, while the 9350 and 9370 will appear in other markets within the same time frame.

    The phones all have the curved mini-Qwerty keypad that marks them out from higher-end RIM handsets such as the Bold. As with earlier Curve models, they are aimed at people looking to progress from a feature phone onto their first fully-fledged smartphone, according to RIM.

    "The new BlackBerry Curve smartphones... offer a significant performance upgrade with [a] mobile social experience for the millions of feature phone users in the market, as well as [for] our existing Curve customers," Mike Lazaridis, co-chief executive of RIM, said in a statement.

    The 9360 handset is RIM's slimmest smartphone to date, measuring just 11mm thick. It comes with a 2.4-inch non-touch display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HSPA connectivity, GPS and a 800MHz processor. It has 512MB of storage on board, with support for microSD cards up to 32GB.

    Published: August 23, 2011 -- 14:48 GMT (07:48 PDT)

    Photo by: Ben Woods

    Caption by: Ben Woods

  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 side

    BlackBerry Curve 9360 side

    All the new Curves run on the BlackBerry 7 operating system, which made its handset debut on the Bold 9900, Torch 9850 and Torch 9810.

    The OS provides support for near-field communications (NFC) technology. This means the smartphone can be used with a NFC reader to make contactless mobile payments, for example, or to act as a secure entry card for a building.

    The inclusion of NFC in a mid-range handset such as the 9360 could prove an "alluring package for those who find price as important as cutting-edge features", Ernest Doku, technology expert at uSwitch, said in a statement.

    Published: August 23, 2011 -- 14:48 GMT (07:48 PDT)

    Photo by: Ben Woods

    Caption by: Ben Woods

  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 hand

    BlackBerry Curve 9360 hand

    Along with the BlackBerry 7 OS, the 9360 comes pre-loaded with a number of apps. These include the premium version of Documents To Go, BlackBerry Protect and BlackBerry Balance, for people who use the phone for work. It also has the recently updated BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) instant-messaging client, which comes with social-networking features.

    "BlackBerry phones have made the transition from the boardroom to the classroom in recent years, with a younger generation of customers attracted to social features like the BlackBerry Messenger service," Doku said. "Integrating Foursquare, Twitter and Facebook into BBM sends a clear message that RIM are flying ahead of the pack when it comes to making social media more accessible."

    BlackBerry 7 also brings an updated version of the BlackBerry WebKit browser, which RIM said brings a "significantly faster, more fluid browsing experience" to the Curve range. However, unlike the browser on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, it does not support Flash content.

    "Right now, we're focused on HTML 5," a RIM spokesman told ZDNet UK. "If you look at what you'd access from a Flash perspective on a screen like this, things like YouTube, that side is fully supporting HTML 5 and is able to run videos independent of Flash on mobilised sites. For the PlayBook, you get Flash because it's a larger display."

    Published: August 23, 2011 -- 14:48 GMT (07:48 PDT)

    Photo by: Ben Woods

    Caption by: Ben Woods

  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 back

    BlackBerry Curve 9360 back

    The curved rear of the device houses a five-megapixel flash-enabled camera, which is also capable of capturing VGA-quality video.

    During a launch event in London, RIM executives focused heavily on the design of the handset, talking about its "soft-touch paint finish" and how the frame "adds to the design language but also gives integrity and strength".

    In a departure from its predecessors, this Curve moves the headphone socket from the side to the top of the phone, making it easier to access when in a pocket.

    Published: August 23, 2011 -- 14:48 GMT (07:48 PDT)

    Photo by: Ben Woods

    Caption by: Ben Woods

  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 pair

    BlackBerry Curve 9360 pair

    The Curve 9360 will launch first in Canada, arriving sometime in August. It will then head to the UK in September, RIM said. Pricing and precise release timings were not disclosed, though Three and Vodafone have already announced they will stock the device once it arrives.

    "If these phones are pitched at the right cost by the networks, BlackBerry could well have a strong line-up against Android and the iPhone this winter," Doku predicted.


    Get the latest technology news and analysis, blogs and reviews delivered directly to your inbox with ZDNet UK's newsletters.


    Published: August 23, 2011 -- 14:48 GMT (07:48 PDT)

    Photo by: Ben Woods

    Caption by: Ben Woods

1 of 5 NEXT PREV
  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 front
  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 side
  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 hand
  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 back
  • BlackBerry Curve 9360 pair

A hands-on look at the Curve 9360, a slimline, BlackBerry 7-powered addition to RIM's non-touchscreen handset that places near-field comms and social-networking alongside business features

Read More Read Less

BlackBerry Curve 9360 front

Canadian smartphone maker Research In Motion has made a slimline addition to its Curve series of handsets, powered by its recently released BlackBerry 7 OS.

The mid-range handset, introduced on Tuesday, comes in three models with connectivity for different regions. The Curve 9360 is set for launch in the UK in September, while the 9350 and 9370 will appear in other markets within the same time frame.

The phones all have the curved mini-Qwerty keypad that marks them out from higher-end RIM handsets such as the Bold. As with earlier Curve models, they are aimed at people looking to progress from a feature phone onto their first fully-fledged smartphone, according to RIM.

"The new BlackBerry Curve smartphones... offer a significant performance upgrade with [a] mobile social experience for the millions of feature phone users in the market, as well as [for] our existing Curve customers," Mike Lazaridis, co-chief executive of RIM, said in a statement.

The 9360 handset is RIM's slimmest smartphone to date, measuring just 11mm thick. It comes with a 2.4-inch non-touch display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HSPA connectivity, GPS and a 800MHz processor. It has 512MB of storage on board, with support for microSD cards up to 32GB.

Published: August 23, 2011 -- 14:48 GMT (07:48 PDT)

Caption by: Ben Woods

1 of 5 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

Mobility Smartphones Mobile OS Security Hardware Reviews
LOG IN TO COMMENT
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
| Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

  • 1 of 3
  • Old flames: Products that keep the retro fires burning

    It's no fun when lovers play mind games, but there's no shortage of ways to celebrate one's love of old video games, not to mention other tedh products carrying brands that once flamed ...

  • Top 10 'must have' apps for iPhone users

    I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I too many apps on my iPhone. But while many are ones that I turn to occasionally, and other were flash-in-the-pan apps that I used for a bit and then ...

  • Valentine's Day gifts: Tech for lovers and friends

    If your partner or friend is tech-obsessed, we've rounded some cool items we think they'll love this Valentine's Day.

  • Last-minute tech gifts and gadgets for your Valentine

    Chocolate and flowers are not the only options this Valentine's Day.

  • Olloclip iPhone XS clip and Connect X lenses: Take your mobile photography to the next level

    Olloclip recently released new lens mounting clips for the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. With support for nine Intro, Essential, and Pro lenses there isn't anything you can't capture ...

  • Crowdfunding projects that left backers jilted at the altar

    Crowdfunding offers products such as smartwatches, smartphone accessories, and smart printers. Backing them, however, may not always be a smart move. Whether it be to malice, or ...

  • Apple products you shouldn't buy (February 2019 edition)

    Apple products are expensive, so it makes sense to avoid buying anything that's nearing the end of its lifecycle, or when you can buy something of equivalent quality from another vendor. ...

ZDNet
Connect with us

© 2019 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Cookies | Ad Choice | Advertise | Terms of Use | Mobile User Agreement

  • Topics
  • All Authors
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Sponsored Narratives
  • About ZDNet
  • Meet The Team
  • Site Map
  • RSS Feeds
  • Reprint Policy
  • Manage | Log Out
  • Join | Log In | Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Site Assistance
  • ZDNet Academy
  • TechRepublic Forums