Cell Phone Hits! - Daily Phone Buzz

Vodafone UK and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8310 with built-in GPS*. The new smartphone includes Vodafone Sat Nav, a powerful and user friendly navigation application. The BlackBerry Curve 8310 is available now to order online and will be available from the 3rd September exclusively on the Vodafone UK network until 31st October 2007.

The BlackBerry Curve 8310 is a powerful and intuitive smartphone, making it easier for busy people on the move to make calls, email, surf the net, take and send photographs, listen to music, watch videos, and access their organiser, calendar and a range of business and leisure applications. Combining its built-in GPS functionality with Vodafone Sat Nav, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 becomes a powerful all-in-one navigation system packed into a very small and stylish design.

Vodafone Sat Nav, powered by Telmap, helps customers avoid getting stuck in traffic jams with instant access to live traffic alerts; and provides weather updates and a host of other useful information such as restaurant reviews. Customers also can be reassured that they have the most up-to-date maps and directions on their smartphone, as it quickly retrieves information over the Vodafone network refreshing maps every three months.

“With the addition of Vodafone Sat Nav to the popular BlackBerry Curve, we’re offering all our customers a feature packed device at a great price, helping them make the most of their working day, wherever they are.” comments Kyle Whitehill, Director of the Enterprise Business Unit, Vodafone UK.

“Vodafone’s customers in the UK will benefit greatly from the many features of this new smartphone, including email, multimedia, GPS and more,” said Charmaine Eggberry, Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA at RIM. “The BlackBerry Curve 8310 is an ideal tool for users who want to stay connected while juggling their busy work and personal lives.”

Customers who purchase the new BlackBerry Curve 8310 will have an exclusive opportunity to enter a draw to win the drive of a lifetime, around the Dunsfold race circuit with Lewis Hamilton at the wheel. In addition the winner will also take a tour the McLaren Technology Centre and be given their own race suit and helmet.

The new BlackBerry Curve 8310 is packed with distinctive BlackBerry smartphone functionality, including comprehensive email capabilities, fast web browsing, and premium phone features, as well as consumer-friendly features such as a built-in 2 megapixel camera, media player and a powerful desktop software suite for managing multimedia content. The BlackBerry Curve 8310 can be tailored to suit individual lifestyles through a wide range of applications, from currency converters and expense managers to fitness guides and games. Vodafone customers can also customise the home menu in order to have easy access to the applications they use most.

Pricing and Availability

* Free Vodafone Sat Nav (12 months subscription) is only available to customers connecting to the BlackBerry Internet Service bought in store, online or through Vodafone telesales. The BlackBerry 8310 Curve from Vodafone is available on either BlackBerry solution personal or business price plans with prices starting at free, dependant on price plan.