It’s been trickling into Verizon stores for a few weeks now, and it’s finally available! Verizon has officially launched the BlackBerry Curve 8530, in two color options – Black or Violet. Starting today you should be able to grab the Curve 8530 for $99.99 with two year term, after rebates. See verizonwireless.com for more details…

It’s no secret that the BlackBerry Curve 8530 is heading to Verizon, and now rumors have arrived that some Verizon stores have started to receive their accessories for the new Curve. It’s expected that Verizon will officially put the Curve 8530 on sale November 20th, therefore it only makes sense that accessories are starting to flow into stores now. Is anyone here interested in grabbing the new Curve with Wi-Fi and optical Trackpad from Verizon?

[via CrackBerry]

Look what came out of hiding! The BlackBerry Curve 8530 has just been announced officially by RIM. Not too long after it was announced we saw press releases from both Verizon and Sprint, in the United States. The new Curve 8530 sports a newer style body, with trackpad navigation, Wi-Fi, dedicated music keys and GPS. Sprint is yet to announce pricing or a release date, however Verizon says they will be launching it on November 20th for $99.99 with contract, after rebates.

Press  Release:

Verizon Wireless Introduces the BlackBerry Curve 8530 Smartphone

New Smartphone Features 3G Connectivity, Built-In Wi-Fi and GPS, Touch-Sensitive Trackpad and Dedicated Media Keys

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and WATERLOO, Ontario – Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry® Curveâ„¢ 8530 smartphone, an exciting new addition to the BlackBerry Curve series of smartphones. The slim BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone gives customers access to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as easy access to music, games and other mobile apps for entertainment on the go.

Available colors: Black and Smoky Violet

Key features:

• Easy-to-use, highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive trackpad for reliable, responsive typing and navigation
• 256 MB flash memory and 528 MHz next generation processor for enhanced performance
• Supports voice-activated dialing and Bluetooth® (version 2.1), with support for hands-free headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth peripherals
• 3G-enabled (EV-DO)
• Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
• GPS with support for location-based applications, including geotagging pictures and Verizon Wireless’ VZ NavigatorSM service
• 2.0 megapixel digital camera with zoom and video recording*
• Advanced media player for music, pictures and videos, with dedicated media keys and a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, plus BlackBerry® Media Sync, which makes it easy to quickly sync music from your computer to the smartphone**
• Access to BlackBerry App Worldâ„¢, featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry® smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, social networking and sharing, news and weather, productivity and much more
• Access to e-mail, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and popular social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace)
• Rich multimedia capabilities, including dedicated media keys smoothly integrated along the top of the handset, giving customers an easy, convenient way to control their music and videos
• Support for BlackBerry services with access to up to 10 supported e-mail accounts, including most popular ISP e-mail accounts such as Yahoo! ®, Windows Liveâ„¢ Hotmail®, AOL® and Gmail, and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support, which provides advanced security and IT administration features for corporate deployments
• Expandable memory via hot swappable microSDâ„¢/SDHC memory card slot, supporting up to 16 GB cards today and expected to support next generation 32 GB cards when available

Pricing and availability:

• 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.
• For information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

* Video recording requires microSD card, sold separately
** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies

Ronen from BerryReview has just posted some updates to the Storm 2 launch for both Verizon and Vodafone. Apparently Vodafone UK will be launching the Storm 2 (9520) on October 15th (just a few days away!), followed by Verizon launching the Storm 2 (9520) on October 25th or so. Now Ronen also goes on to say that he received a tip that RIM will not be launching the 9520, the 3G version of the Storm 2 in the USA. With any luck we might see the 9520 hit Canadian shores for a HSPA launch on Bell and TELUS? Although its kind of doubtful.

So I guess we will have to sit back and wait to see if these dates are true.

Nice! Look what has joined Verizon’s inventory system. It’s the BlackBerry Storm 2 (9550) which joins the unreleased / unannounced BlackBerry Curve 8530. This is one closer step for those looking to get their hands on a Storm 2! Looks like Verizon may have it in time for the holiday season. We’re still awaiting word on releases from the Canadian networks… Stay tuned for more details when we get them.

[via CrackBerry]

We just got word from Susan about the email alert sent out. Verizon has officially launched OS 4.7.1.53 for the BlackBerry Tour 9630. This is the first official update from Verizon and RIM for the Tour. We haven’t tried this update overselves yet, but some of you may have tried it out recently as it was leaked on to the internet. Anything can be better than the stock .40 found on the Tour’s Worldwide. Hopefully next up will be OS 5.0!

By now I’m sure you all have seen the recently announced BlackBerry Curve 8520. It’s the new entry level addition to the Curve family, which sports RIM’s new Trackpad navigation, 2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and dedicated media keys. Well Boy Genius is confirming that a CDMA variant will defiantly be on its way to Verizon within the next little bit. This is expected to be Verizon’s first CDMA BlackBerry with Wi-Fi! Most likely other CDMA networks such as Bell, Telus and Sprint will see the 8530 (Code-named Aries) as well. Stay tuned for more details when get them…

Here’s a rundown of features expected on the Curve 8530:

• 320×240 resolution screen
• 1xRTT, EV-DO
• QWERTY keyboard
• 2 megapixel camera
• OS 5.0
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi b,g

[via BGR and CrackBerry]

It look as though another screen shot of Verizon’s system has surfaced, this time it’s a name we haven’t heard in a while. It seems that the BlackBerry Thunder name might be making a return internally. Some sources think it may be a place holder for the upcoming BlackBerry 9950 (Storm 2). Is that in fact what it is? What do you think? Maybe it is a device we haven’t even heard of yet. The possibilities are endless, we can only hope more information is soon to follow.

[Source: CrackBerry]

Over the next few days, Verizon Wireless customers will start to receive an icon for Slacker Radio on their BlackBerry Storm. Verizon has just announced that they have signed an agreement with Slacker Radio to provide free radio to all their customers who currently own a Storm. If you haven’t tested out Slacker before it features nearly 100 expert-programmed Slacker stations, over 10,000 artist stations, and nearly unlimited custom stations, designed by listens. If you don’t have a Verizon Storm and want to check out Slacker visit Slacker.com/BlackBerry from your device.

Verizon Wireless Delivers Slacker Radio to BlackBerry Storm Smartphones

Slacker Radio Application Lets Music Lovers Play Personalized Radio Everywhere and Buy Songs from V CAST Music While They Listen

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SAN DIEGO, July 16 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon Wireless has made it easier for music lovers to not only listen to their favorite music on the BlackBerry(R) Storm(TM) smartphone, but has also given customers the ability to purchase and download those tracks — while enjoying the songs at the same time.

Over the next several days, customers using the BlackBerry Storm smartphone will see the Slacker Radio application icon appear on their handsets’ home screens as it is pushed over-the-air. The Slacker Radio icon gives customers one-click access to a free version of one of the most popular personalized radio services available today.

This version of Slacker Radio also connects to V CAST Music, combining this exciting music application with Verizon Wireless’ industry-leading mobile music service. When a song is being played using Slacker Radio and is one of the more than 4.5 million available in the V CAST Music with Rhapsody catalog, a V CAST icon will appear on the screen that will let customers easily purchase that track while it continues playing on the smartphone.

“Verizon Wireless is making it even easier for customers who want to experience music on their smartphones to find Slacker Radio, then connecting them directly to V CAST Music so they can take that music with them wherever they go,” said Ed Ruth, director of partner management for Verizon. “This combination is great for both serious music lovers and casual fans who want to listen to music when the mood strikes them.”

“With the largest music library of any personal radio app, Slacker Radio makes your BlackBerry Storm smartphone the ultimate music player,” said Jonathan Sasse, senior vice president of marketing at Slacker. “By integrating with V CAST Music, Slacker listeners will now have the ability to easily purchase music as they listen to their favorite stations.”

The Slacker Radio application provides BlackBerry Storm smartphone users in the United States with a personalized music discovery and listening experience, pulling from more than 100 expert-programmed Slacker stations, over 10,000 artist stations or a nearly unlimited number of the listener’s own custom-created stations. Features include station caching to storage memory, an intuitive interface optimized for touch operation with support for vertical and horizontal orientation, as well as “peek ahead,” allowing the listener to see a preview of the next artist and album in their stations’ rotations.

Customers who don’t want the Slacker Radio icon on their home screens can hide it or move it to a folder.

Slacker Radio is included with Email and Web for BlackBerry plans, which begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan. For more information about products and services from Verizon Wireless, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com

[Source]

I somehow missed this story on the weekend. Boy Genius is reporting that the BlackBerry Storm 2 will be modeled 9550, and will be heading towards Verizon, Vodafone, Bell and Telus. The new Storm 2 is said to bring RIM’s next generation “SurePress” touchscreen with CDMA/Rev. A radio, Quad-band GSM, HSDPA, plus Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. It’s going to be a feature packed device sporting OS 5.0 and a high resolution 360×480 display. But wait there’s more! Boy Genius is reporting that the North American GSM model (9520) will be part of the Storm 2 family, and make its way to AT&T and Rogers with a 3G radio. Both models (9550 and 9520) should be heading across the World later this year.

Specs on the Storm 2 “9550″:

• CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO Rev. A
• Quad-band GSM/EDGE
• Single-band UMTS/HSDPA (2100MHz only)
• Wi-Fi b,g
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• 360×480 resolution capacitive screen
• OS 5.0

What do you think? Will you try out the Storm 2, after the mixed reviews on the orginal Storm?