It’s the natural progression of CDMA BlackBerry devices in the US (or so it seems) – Verizon and Sprint pick up the device at around the same time, followed by the regional CDMA carriers in the coming months.  Thanks to a tip received by BlackBerry Rocks!, the Curve 8530 could be headed to US Cellular on or around December 10th.

Complete rumor at this point, but worth pointing out that it will be RIM’s first trackpad-equipped device on US Cellular.  Is it worth waiting for?

Via: CrackBerry

One day before its retail launch, UPS delivered Verizon Wireless’ BlackBerry Curve 8530 to my doorstep.  I’ve been working with it all morning, and as the replacement to the Curve 8330, I’m very pleased with it.  It’s a needed stepping stone in the BlackBerry line, and I’m excited that it’s joining the ranks at Verizon (with Sprint picking it up soon).

Admittedly, I was a bit upset that I didn’t get the “smoky violet” color.  Just kidding.

It’s the third retail unit to ship with an OS 5.0 build (after the Storm2 and Bold 9700), and the third to feature a trackpad (after Curve 8520 and Bold 9700), both of which symbolize RIM’s new design direction.  Like the other two, threaded text messaging is now a regular feature, along with small changes (revamped icons, a refreshed “home” screen, and more).  Aside from threaded text messaging, the improved boot time should please most users (especially BlackBerry users that are familiar with the 4-5 minute boot times of the past).

My favorite improvement comes in the form of a small optical square.  I can’t say enough positive words about the implementation of the trackpad.  For those that don’t know, I’ve spent years in the wireless industry, working for various companies in various capacities (vague, I know).  The trackball was a bit of a dirt magnet over the years thanks to constant finger contact, and as such, it would often require cleaning or replacement (I’ve replaced many in my days in the field).  The trackpad eliminates all of that in one swoop.  There’s a learning curve (we’re talking an hour or so), but once you’ve used it, I doubt you’ll want to go back.

As a testament to the price point of the phone ($99.99), packaging was sparse – besides the device and battery, a microUSB cable and AC adapter are the only two accessories that come in the box.  Just like its GSM counterpart, the 8530 comes in at 4.29-inches tall x 2.36-inches wide x 0.54-inch thick.  It weighs 3.73 ounces, making it light enough to carry in a small pocket or purse.

I’ll argue the same thing with the 8530 that I did with the 8520 when it launched: whether it’s deliberately marketed as such or not, the device is an entry-level BlackBerry.  There’s no flash on the camera, the screen resolution is lower, and there’s a tremendous difference in overall build quality when holding the Curve 8520/8530 and high-end BlackBerry devices such as the Tour and Bold 9700.  Not to say that it’s a bad thing, but my impression is this: while it’s great for first-time smartphone buyers, first-time BlackBerry owners, and those migrating from a BlackBerry Pearl, it’s not the optimal choice for the die-hard smartphone user.  That being said, I do like the fact that the CDMA version (8530) offers 3G connectivity, making it far better in the data department.  What remains to be seen, however, is the toll that EVDO will take on the battery life.  I’m still testing it, and will report back with my findings.

As with all of my demo units, I’ve been testing the Curve 8530 in the Charlotte area, and call quality is very good.  When visiting a Verizon fringe area this morning, I was able to get one bar of service, and calls retained their clarity.  In typical BlackBerry fashion, the speakerphone was very loud.  The Curve 8530 is an EVDO Rev. A device, and data speeds were very good.  The PhoneDog page loaded in about 38 seconds, and other data-intensive tasks like VZ Navigator and BlackBerry App World loaded quickly.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available at Verizon Wireless on November 20th (tomorrow) for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate debit card and new two-year customer agreement.  Enjoy the pictures below, and be sure to stay tuned for an unboxing, video review, and written review!

Guys, if black isn’t your color of choice, you have another option: lavender (and we’re really talking lavender here – it’s bold).  Thanks to tipsters reporting to PhoneArena, we get an up-close picture of RIM’s latest CDMA device.  November 20th isn’t too far away – who’s storming the doors of their local Best Buy/Verizon store?

Not to be left in the dark, shortly after the official Verizon Wireless announcement regarding the BlackBerry Curve 8530, Sprint came out with an announcement of its own.  Though no firm date or price point have been established, the nation’s third largest wireless carrier confirmed that it will launch in the future.  My guess is that the price point will be somewhere in the $99.99 range after a $100 mail-in rebate, however with the Tour available at Best Buy for $99 out the door, I’m hoping that the carrier offers it at an enticing price point.

The full press release is below.  Sprint BlackBerry users, is it worth the upgrade?

BLACKBERRY CURVE 8530 SMARTPHONE COMING TO SPRINT FEATURING AMERICA’S MOST DEPENDABLE 3G NETWORK AND AFFORDABLE PRICE PLANS

Next generation of popular BlackBerry smartphone adds Wi-Fi, external multimedia buttons and BlackBerry App World; visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530 to pre-register for BlackBerry Curve 8530 from Sprint

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Nov. 5, 2009 – Sprint (NYSE: S) announced today it will add the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone to the wireless industry’s best lineup of devices. Beginning today, customers can visit http://www.sprint.com/blackberrycurve8530 to pre-register for this next generation of the popular BlackBerry wireless device on America’s most dependable 3G network1 with the affordability of Sprint’s Everything Data plans featuring Any Mobile, AnytimeSM. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone makes it even easier to enjoy music on-the-go with dedicated keys to skip to the next song on a playlist, pause or play. It comes preloaded with several multimedia applications including BlackBerry Media Sync, Sprint Music Store™, Sprint TV™ and Pandora™. It also boasts dedicated applications for a smoothly integrated social networking experience with Facebook®, MySpace™ and Flicker™. BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available in three color options – Black, Royal Purple and Red.

“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.”

Sprint’s BlackBerry Curve 8530 will offer BlackBerry App World™ for instant access to thousands of applications. Sprint has employed an open Internet approach, and the Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers, since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.