Earlier this morning Verizon announced the BlackBerry Curve 8530 and now Sprint has also announced it. While Verizon had pricing and date info but no web page, Sprint has a web page but no pricing or date info.

“BlackBerry Curve 8330 has been a tremendous success for Sprint. BlackBerry Curve 8530 continues that legacy with the addition of several important features that make it a winner for both entertainment and productivity,” said Kevin Packingham, Sprint Senior Vice President of Product Development. “This is one device that can really do it all with the email, calendar and contact synchronization BlackBerry is known for as well as the latest multimedia and social media features. We are anxious to bring it to our customers who also appreciate the strength of our network, the affordability of our rate plans and our Ready Now customer service experience.”

To pre-register for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 from Sprint visit sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530. More info in the press release after the jump.

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Verizon has announced the BlackBerry Curve 8530 with an availability date of November 20th.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone is expected to be available from Verizon Wireless beginning Nov. 20 for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan. Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data plans for the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

Among the features, the Curve 8530 will be 3G, WiFi and GPS enabled, will have 256 MB of memory and a 528 MHz processor, 2.0 megapixel camera, and Trackpad navigation. For more info check out the press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

A few days ago I told you about the free Vodafone Update client for BlackBerry that allows you to update your Twitter and Facebook statuses. Widgetlabs left a comment letting me know that they have released Vodafone Update v2.0.1 with the following features:

• Copy&Paste
• AutoText
• BIS Connections

Vodafone Update is currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Bold 9000. Visit vodafone.de/update from your BlackBerry Browser to download this app OTA.

Thanks to CellUnlock.net I have 100 BlackBerry unlock codes to give away!

Benefits of unlocking your BlackBerry include:

• No need to roam with your current sim when you travel. Purchase pre-paid sim cards when traveling. Many operators allow free incoming calls.
• Switch freely between service providers.
• Increase the resale value of your phone.
• 100% safe unlocking that does not interfere with the operation of your phone or warranty
• Absolutely no technical knowledge is required.

BlackBerry models this contest applies to: Pearl (8100/8110/8120), Pearl Flip (8220), Curve (8300/8310/8320/8520/8900), 8800, 8810, 8820, Bold (9000/9700), Storm (9500/9530/9550), Tour (9630). For more info visit CellUnlock.net.

CONTEST: For a chance to win 1 of 100 free BlackBerry unlock codes leave a comment on this post using a valid email address. Only leave one comment, duplicates will be ignored and will not increase your chances of winning. This contest will end at 11:59PM EST on Saturday, November 7th. Comments left after this time will not be considered. *

Vodafone has released Vodafone Update, a social network BlackBerry application that allows you to update your Twitter and Facebook profiles.

Features:

• See status updates from your Twitter and Facebook contacts at a glance
• What are you doing right now? Post tweets to one or both of your social networks
• Reply to your friends’ messages directly from your BlackBerry
• Search for real-time news in Twitter
• Share what you see with others instantly! Take photos with your BlackBerry and send them to one or both of your networks with just one click
• Easy to use – just download, start and you’re done

Vodafone Update is currently available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Bold 9000. Visit vodafone.de/update from your BlackBerry Browser to download this app OTA.

If you check it out let me know what you think in the comments, especially if you’ve used other BlackBerry Twitter apps.

Thanks @TorontoWireless!

T-Mobile UK has released OS 4.6.1.314 for the BlackBerry Curve 8520. This release contains a fix for the BlackBerry Browser bug I mentioned last month. For more info about this bug click here.

• Direct Download: OS 4.6.1.314 for the Curve 8520 from T-Mobile UK
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

This software version contain a fix for the BlackBerry Browser bug I mentioned last month. For more info about this bug click here.

Software For BlackBerry® Curve (TM) 8300 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.5.0.294 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 4.5.0.294
Consisting of:

• Applications: 4.5.0.174
• Software Platform: 2.7.0.105
• File name: 8300M_PBr4.5.0_rel294_PL2.7.0.105_A4.5.0.174_AVEA.exe
• File size: 90.07MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

• Download: OS 4.5.0.174 for the Curve 8300 from AVEA
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

REMEMBER: It is recommended that you make a backup before attempting to upgrade your BlackBerry just in case something goes wrong during the upgrade process. *

UPDATE This contest has been extended till tomorrow night, November 1st at 11:59PM. *

The extremely generous folks over at Powermat have provided me with a bunch of their products which I’ve put together as bundles to be part of the BBRocks! birthday celebration!

With the Powermat system, you choose a mat and then choose the receivers to match the devices you want to charge. Every mat comes with a Universal Powercube receiver with 8 tips to allow you to charge hundreds of devices, but we also offer slim Powermat receivers that are custom designed to fit on your devices and you don’t need to remove them to use your device.

The two bundles I am giving away each include the following:

• 1 Home & Office Mat
• 1 BlackBerry Curve (8300/8310/8320/8330/8350i) Receiver
• 1 BlackBerry Curve 8900 Receiver
• 1 BlackBerry Bold 9000 Receiver

Each bundle is valued at almost $200! You can expect a review of the Powermat and BlackBerry Curve 8900 Receiver from me soon. I’ve played with my Powermat a few times already and I am very impressed.

CONTEST: For a chance to win 1 of 2 of these Powermat bundles leave a comment on this post using a valid email address. Only leave one comment, duplicates will be ignored and will not increase your chances of winning. This contest will end at 12AM EST on Sunday, November 1st. Comments left after this time will not be considered. *

Yesterday I mentioned that the Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 might be getting OS 5.0.0.328 tomorrow. Since that post I’ve received a bunch of emails asking whether a certain BlackBerry model will get OS 5.0.

Up till now I could only base my answers on leaked information, but  thanks to a new knowledge base article posted by RIM we now know exactly which BlackBerry devices will get it!

List of the supported devices:

• BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8200 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8350i smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Storm™ 9500 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphones

Your BlackBerry must have at least 64MB of available memory in order to upgrade to OS 5.0 once it’s available.

According to the knowledge base article not all wireless service providers will support BlackBerry OS 5.0 for the devices listed above, meaning you might have to get it from another service provider. This isn’t a problem for those that don’t mind using an OS not issued by their carrier.

Here’s to hoping an OS 5.0 launch for all devices is just around the corner!

via KB17984

UPDATE Added alternate links. *

• Download via RapidShare:
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Curve 8900
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Bold 9000
• Download via MegaUpload:
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Curve 8900 (thanks ps360wiitv)
  • OS 5.0.0.314 for the Bold 9000
• How To:
  • Backup And Restore Your BlackBerry
  • Upgrade your BlackBerry Operating System (OS)

Please report any feedback/findings in the comments.

DISCLAIMER: Install at your own risk. This is Leaked/Beta software that is not guaranteed to be stable, and therefore will not be supported by RIM or your wireless carrier should you run into some problems. As a precaution, if you decide to upgrade, it is highly recommended that you make a backup before using this software. If you are not comfortable using Leaked/Beta software you should probably wait for the next official release. *