Hands-on with T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900

Yes, we wish it offered 3G data, too. But that doesn’t mean the BlackBerry Curve ($234.99) 8900 doesn’t have a lot going for it. It looks and feels more modern than your dusty old Curve, and it features a higher res screen (480 x 360 pixels), faster processor (512-MHz), and sharper camera (3.2-mP).

Now that we’ve had a little hands on time with the device, we can say that it doesn’t have the same ultra-premium vibe as the Bold, but we actually prefer the separated keys and more compact design of this smart phone. The 8900 weighs only 3.9 ounces and weighs 0.5 inches thick. It took longer than we liked to bring up NYtimes.com over EDGE, but we like that this phone has both Wi-Fi and GPS.Other highlights include T-Mobile Hotspot calling, support for up to 16GB microSD cards, and easy access to six instant messaging clients.

The Curve 8900 has potential, so check out the gallery and brief video below and stay tuned for a full review when this phone hits in February.