Clove has dropped the price of the SIM-free Curve 8520 to less than £200. When I moved back to the Curve 8900 I was surprised at how much quicker the 8520 is, and of course the new trackpad makes a positive difference as well. This is a bargain!
“The Blackberry Curve 8520 will be the first Blackberry device to feature an optical mouse. This easy-to use navigation control goes hand-in-hand with the social media functions that the Curve 8520 also includes, so communication with family, friends and colleagues has never been easier on a Blackberry. The 8520 is compatible with your favourite social-networking websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter and also includes special instant messenger services designed specifically for the Blackberry platform.
With a full QWERTY keyboard, soft, rounded edges and a slim and sleek design, the 8520 has the traditional look and feel of a Blackberry design. The display on the Curve 8520 is outstanding, with a 320 x 240 pixel resolution and 65k colour display capability, ensuring that media playback and web browsing is of the highest quality. MPEG4 video is supported so that you can enjoy videos, while a range of image file-types can be viewed, including .bmp and .jpg. A wide selection of audio types are compatible with the Curve 8520, including MP3, which you can take advantage of using the 3.5mm audio connection.
Connectivity is another strong point of the Blackberry Curve 8520. WiFi and Bluetooth are built-in, while quad-band connection is available on GSM/GPRS and EDGE networks. Once connected to the web, you can connect to Blackberry App World to get the latest news updates, play games, or enjoy live radio. The 1150mAh Lithium cell battery offers 4.5 hours talktime on the Curve 8520, or 17 days stand-by time, meaning you can make the most of your Blackberry all day, every day.”
I found the 8520 for $48 at Wal-Mart this morning here.