Research In Motion (RIM) has announced the launch of its most affordable BlackBerry 7 smartphone for customers in the UAE.

Designed to be both easy to use and easy to own, the compact and sleek BlackBerry Curve 9220 smartphone offers customers a combination of features and apps to help them stay connected to the people and information that matter most throughout their day, a statement from RIM said.

Sandeep Saihgal, managing director, Middle East, RIM, said: “The new BlackBerry Curve 9220 is a great upgrade for current feature-phone users looking for their first smartphone. It delivers all the unique messaging and social-centric features that people love about the BlackBerry solution and at a wonderfully affordable price.'

Running on BlackBerry 7.1 OS, the Curve 9220 supports the full complement of BlackBerry services. It features a dedicated BBM key, which brings RIM’s popular mobile social network up in an instant.

The Facebook and Twitter for BlackBerry apps are included, as well as Social Feeds 2.0, which allows customers to post updates to multiple social applications simultaneously and capture updates from news sources (RSS), social apps and instant messaging apps all in one consolidated view.

It also includes a built-in FM radio, allowing users to tune into their favourite local stations without incurring any data charges.

The user experience with smartphone is further enhanced with the longest lasting battery life yet in a BlackBerry Curve model, offering up to 7 hours of talk time or up to 28 hours of FM radio listening or music playback on headphones.

The BlackBerry Curve 9220 is now available from authorised retailers and distributors in the UAE. – TradeArabia News Service