Orange and RIM Introduce the New BlackBerry Curve 8900 Smartphone in Romania

Why does it seem like everyone but the USA is getting this awesome BlackBerry? Granted, we’re getting it within the next three weeks, but that’s three weeks of reading how everyone else already has it!

Anyway…

Some highlights from the press release:

• Orange Romania and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today launched the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900.
• In a commitment to bring the latest BlackBerry smartphones to the Romanian market, Orange Romania now offers the BlackBerry Curve 8900 in its extensive BlackBerry smartphone portfolio.
• Sporting a sleek new style, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone incorporates video, text and maps, a full QWERTY keyboard and an intuitive trackball navigation system that gives users an exceptional mobile experience.
• The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone is available in all Orange shops and partners’ stores in Romania. Prices range from 229 EUR to 329 EUR depending on the BlackBerry smartphone tariff plan chosen.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

Press Release

Thinnest BlackBerry smartphone

Bucharest, Romania and Waterloo, ON, Canada – Orange Romania and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today launched the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900.  In addition to exceptional phone, email, messaging, organizer, web browser and multimedia applications, the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphone features global connectivity support, built-in Wi-Fi® and GPS, a next generation 512Mhz processor and a stunning hi-resolution display.

In a commitment to bring the latest BlackBerry smartphones to the Romanian market, Orange Romania now offers the BlackBerry Curve 8900 in its extensive BlackBerry smartphone portfolio. The choice for customers has never been wider in the BlackBerry smartphone portfolio from Orange Romania, which includes the BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8120, BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8220, BlackBerry® Curve™ 8320, and BlackBerry® Bold™ smartphones, as well as four dedicated service plans starting from 5 Euros per month.

Sporting a sleek new style, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone incorporates video, text and maps, a full QWERTY keyboard and an intuitive trackball navigation system that gives users an exceptional mobile experience. The full-featured smartphone lets you take your favorite songs and videos with you and with its new 3.2 megapixel camera — including auto focus, digital zoom and flash — you can take sharp, print-quality pictures and send them to friends or post them on the Internet. The microSD/SDHC expandable memory card slot supports up to 16GB per card, giving users plenty of easily interchangeable storage.

”We believe that in 2009 this new BlackBerry smartphone will play a significant role in the smartphone market in Romania. Customers will easily recognize the optimal combination of price, design, functionality and services. Orange smartphone sales have grown by 20% in 2008 comparing to 2007 and we are positive that launching smarpthones such as the BlackBerry Curve 8900, which combines industry leading email and Internet access services with rich multimedia capabilities, will greatly appeal to our customers,” stated Razvan Sturza, Product Manager Orange Romania.

“The BlackBerry Curve 8900 lets you stay easily connected with work, family, friends and the web – all on a beautifully designed phone that looks and feels great,” said Mark Guibert, Vice President, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. “The combination of features is perfect for people who want the renowned functionality and usability of a BlackBerry smartphone in a beautiful and compact design.”

Enhanced web browsing and multimedia features

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is a quad-band smartphone with EDGE network support, providing global connectivity, fast data access and powerful web browsing. The smartphone can be used with both BlackBerry® Internet Service and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server.

At approximately 110 grams and 109 x 60 x 13.5 millimeters, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone to date and comes in a sleek and refined design that feels comfortable for either one-handed or two-handed use. Its large, striking 2.4 inch HVGA+ display (480×360 resolution) projects vivid color and makes information easier to read. The BlackBerry Curve 8900 also provides flexible connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g) support and helps people find their way with its GPS capabilities.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone is available in all Orange shops and partners’ stores in Romania. Prices range from 229 EUR to 329 EUR depending on the BlackBerry smartphone tariff plan chosen.

About Orange Romania
Orange is market leader in Romania with over 10.2 million customers and is part of the France Telecom Group, one of the largest communications company worldwide, with over 177 million customers on five continents.

At the end of September 2008, Orange Romania had revenues of EUR 349 million, showing an increase by 7% compared to the third quarter of the previous year. In order to be closer to its customers, Orange developed a large network of stores, counting 97 locations throughout the country.

Orange Romania stands out through its network that provides the widest coverage and through excellent performance in the assistance services offered to its customers. Orange means the desire to create a better future and to offer a communication experience as simple and as intuitive as possible. Orange means more than technology, mobile telephony or GSM networks, it is a brand created to facilitate communication among people and add value in the communities where it operates. The France Telecom Group has a well-defined strategy for corporate social responsibility that helps us make sure our activity is conducted responsibly.

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’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ 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 www.rim.com or www.BlackBerry.com.