Just when we're all geared up to get crazy corporate with a bunch of Bold purchases, RIM has to go and make our lives difficult by reminding us that the Javelin / Curve 8900 is out there -- lurking -- just waiting to make a grand entrance sometime in the next few months. A new video posted to CrackBerry goes through the 8900's finer points, noting that the handset clocks in just a bit more compact than its big brother, features a slightly smaller, higher dot pitch display, and carries over an original Curve-style keyboard with spaced keys rather than the flowing design employed on the Bold (for what it's worth, the narrator seems to like both styles equally). Interestingly, it's noted that this prototype employs an older trackball design that'll allegedly be replaced with a more bulletproof design by the time it launches. The lack of 3G is going to be a dream killer for many, but we could see this one getting some retail legs underneath it if the price is right -- it's got WiFi, after all.

In fact, T-Mobile Germany is saying that it'll have the 8900 next month -- a claim we actually believe, since Germany is from the future. The trackball shown on its version of the handset is distinctly different than CrackBerry's, so it's looking like the claim of a redesign might hold water.

[Thanks, Alex]

Read - CrackBerry's Curve 8900 hands-on video
Read - T-Mobile Germany's Curve 8900 product page

If you've been jonesing for a few more shots of that trippy Samsung a637 that's starting to trickle into AT&T stores... well, here you are. We also have additional footage of Nokia's carrier-branded 6650 and 2600 classic, and new to this photo batch is the Curve 8320, one-upping AT&T's existing 8300 with WiFi (not to say you'd really know it from a dummy model). A little something for everyone here, really.

[Thanks, Andy C.]

There's an old saying in the wireless industry: "As AT&T goes, so goes Rogers." Actually, that's not a saying, we just made it up -- and it's not terribly accurate, either. But in the case of RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8320, there's at least a little bit of truth to it. New documents floating around indicate that Rogers intends to add the WiFi-packin' version of the Curve to its Talkspot lineup, giving users yet another smartphone option after the 8120 launched earlier this year. It'll apparently be offered in "Sapphire Blue" for $149.99 CAD (about $140) with a launch expected before the month's out.

Who ever said the WiFi-laden BlackBerry Curve 8320 had to be a T-Mobile exclusive? AT&T certainly ain't hearing that, according to some colorful paperwork outed by Boy Genius Report, which should give BlackBerry upgraders and first-timers alike a less expensive alternative to the Bold when it launches stateside in the next handful of weeks (or so we all hope). Launch on this one is targeted for the last week of September, presumably replacing the 8300 dressed up in a rather conservative "sapphire blue" that should satisfy suits and personal users alike -- and we're willing to bet that a handful of current Curve owners are going to see the addition of WiFi as reason enough to take the plunge. There's no pricing on this one yet, but somewhere between $0 and the Bold's sticker is definitely a safe guess.

For better or worse, it turns out GSM networks aren't the only ones to enjoy the BlackBerry Curve in a decidedly pale shade of red. The pink Curve 8330 has now been confirmed for Verizon, with sales starting as soon as this Friday for $99.99 after rebate on a two-year contract. We still want that mythical near-black version that Sprint had originally showed off, but this has to be a close second. Or third. Or definitely in the top five.

Wild colors are something we're used to seeing on the Pearl range, but the Curve? The red one seemed to work out alright, so bring it on, RIM. The WiFi and HotSpot @Home-equipped Curve 8320 has now made its grand entrance on T-Mobile in "Sunset," a color we'd suspected would probably happen once stores started... you know, getting them. Always seems to be a good indicator. Look for it starting today for $149.99 on the standard two-year deal.

Don't get us wrong, the 8320's just great in both titanium and pale gold -- in fact, pretty much anything is made better when cast in pale gold, now that we think about it -- but RIM's lineup can always use a little more color, and T-Mobile's about to add its WiFi-enabled Curve in "Sunset." Looks like the new shade is starting to filter into the wild, and while we don't think its going to steal one ounce of attention from the Bold, that bright-ass shell is definitely a great way of silently screaming "I'm checking my email, dammit" to the world about you. Not bad.

Rumors persist that RIM has another BlackBerry planned for Nextel's iDEN network -- a network that's aging rapidly, no question, but it still has gobs of relevance in the business world where RIM just happens to keep its bread and butter. Last we'd heard there would be a WiFi-compatible Nextel BlackBerry by the end of the year, and it looks like that window is still basically on track -- though it may slip to early 2009 -- and when it does finally launch, it'll take the form of a Curve with model number 8350. Don't get us wrong, the Curve is a great device by 2007 and early 2008 standards, but if it really does launch early next year, it'll be staring down the barrel of at least one entirely new stablemate, the Bold, and possibly several others as well. 'Course, there are probably plenty of faithful push-to-talkers out there that are thankful just to have any reasonably recent BlackBerry in the pipeline, so three cheers for that, we suppose.

There's been a lot of chatter the past few days that the Motorola Q9c, a Windows Mobile phone launched on Sprint to little fanfare late last year, has gone up to that great Windows Mobile 6.1 build in the sky now that it's disappeared off Sprint's online store. That'd really be something, considering that Verizon and others have just launched it in the past couple months -- but not entirely out of the question, particularly if it's a dead-slow seller or is earning more than its fair share of tech support calls. For what it's worth, though, we touched base with Sprint on the matter and were informed that it's just "out of stock for direct ship" -- that's the stuff you see on Sprint's site -- but that it should still be readily available in retail stores.

On a related note, the Curve is out of stock as well, but no need to panic there, either. Sprint tells us that they're experiencing some pretty crazy demand for the thing, but that they're replenishing inventory on a daily basis and it should be back online within a few days.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Inventory paperwork coming out of Sprint suggests that the launch date for the Treo 800w has actually moved up about a week from the last rumor, pegging general availability of the latest Palm kit for July 13. That will likely beat Verizon's launch -- just as Sprint did with the Centro -- and position it for the rather unenviable task of trying to score some modicum of fanfare in the midst of Apple's July 11 iPhone 3G onslaught. It's hard to argue that these two are competing for the same target audience, but even so, it seems like there's a healthy buffer around the 11th that most carriers are going to want to avoid for launching important devices (as any Treo inevitably is, no matter how lukewarm the styling may be).

Also notable on the inventory sheet is a mention of a red BlackBerry Curve launching on the same day, giving chronic emailers an option that's just a little more playful than the titanium trim currently available. Two devices from legendary lineages renowned for the quality of their keyboards launching on the same carrier on the same day? Yeah, no complaints here.

[Via WMExperts]

Well, what do you know? This week's How Would You Change question hits home in the Mobile world, so we figured we'd give you all a fair shot at chiming in. For those who've coughed up the requisite coin to procure a BlackBerry Curve 8330 on one of our nation's CDMA carriers, how on Earth is it treating you? Found any annoyances you'd like to see changed? If so, head on over to Engadget Classic and drop your comments there.

Late's better than never -- usually, anyway -- and a rumored release date finally stuck long enough for the BlackBerry Curve 8330 to make an appearance on Sprint's online store. In fact, as "mid-May" goes, May 9 is actually on the early side of things if you want to get technical about it, so we guess some kudos are actually due here. Sprint's asking $179.99 on contract with rebates for the pleasure of indulging in its latest mobile productivity tool, which you'll ironically be using to respond to emails during meetings that you're supposed to be listening in on. Funny how the world works, isn't it?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

After the April slip-up -- which we're hearing might be more RIM's fault than anything else, a thought validated by the fact that Sprint, Verizon, and Alltel have all slipped -- it looks like Sprint customers and would-be customers might finally be able to get their hands on some sweet, sweet Curve lovin' tomorrow. Boy Genius Report has netted what appears to be a page out of Sprint's internal Playbook, showing "direct ship" availability as of May 9 for a mere $179.99 on contract after the full menu of rebates has been applied. Not bad, all things considered (the price, that is, not the delay we've been suffering through).