Sprint lands BlackBerry 8330, 3.5G USB modem

Continuing its spate of releases at CTIA, Sprint today revealed its own version of the BlackBerry Curve 8330. Like the Verizon model introduced just a day ago, the 8330 is the first Curve for CDMA phone networks and adds both 3G Internet access over EVDO as well as true GPS navigation; an externally-reached microSDHC slot and a sharper 2-megapixel camera port over from the GSM version. In Sprint guise, the new Curve switches to a gunmetal gray and also supports USB tethering to supply Internet access to a notebook.

Sprint's Navigating mapping service is usable with the GPS receiver, while the faster Internet access assists with downloads from the Sprint Music Store or streaming Internet TV. The carrier sees its 8330 variant shipping later in April and will sell it for a relatively low $180 with a two-year contract and other discounts; the 8330 works with Sprint's $100 Simply Everything plan for both data and voice.

For pure data use, Sprint today also revealed its version of the Sierra Wireless Compass 597. The USB adapter provides EVDO Revision A across Sprint's network and also performs double duty as a storage device courtesy of a microSDHC slot that holds up to 32GB cards. Drivers automatically install for both Mac OS X and Windows systems on the card, which ships later this month for $50 with a two-year data plan.

Filed under: gadgets, networking
Other story tags: BlackBerry, sprint, Curve, Sierra Wireless