Next in line

Research In Motion's new BlackBerry Curve smartphone is touted as the smallest and lightest, full-keyboard BlackBerry handset, measuring 107mm x 60mm x 15.5mm, and weighs about 111 grams.

It combines BlackBerry's e-mail and messaging capabilities, premium phone features, a comprehensive organiser and an internet browser with a 2-megapixel camera (an improvement on the Pearl's 1.3 megapixel offering) with digital zoom, desktop media manager software, a spell-checker for e-mail, a microSD expandable memory slot and Chinese character display and input.

The gadget's wireless options, however, are limited. It supports GSM, GPRS and Edge cellular networks but not 3G and Wi-fi systems, unlike other high-end smartphone brands. Its camera does not record video.

Prices for the BlackBerry Curve, with a service-provider contract, start at HK$3,280.