RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile) photos

The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 replaces the Curve 8300 series and brings a number of notable improvements. T-Mobile is the first carrier to offer the smartphone, with retail availability starting February 11.

The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 holds the distinction of being the thinnest full-QWERTY BlackBerry to date, and packs in a number of features, such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. The one thing missing? 3G support.

While style is subjective, we have to say we dig the look of the Curve 8900 over the previous Curve 8300 series. It has tapered edges like the BlackBerry Storm and the metallic paint gives the 8900 a fresh, modern look.

The right side of the smartphone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a volume rocker, a microUSB port, and a customizable side button (assigned to the camera by default).

The BlackBerry Curve 8900's thin profile makes it possible to slip into a pants pocket, and it also feels comfortable to use as both a phone and a messaging device.

The Curve 8900 features a 2.4-inch TFT LCD that supports 65,536 colors at a 480x360 pixel resolution. It's a better screen than the BlackBerry Bold, offering an extra level of sharpness and brightness that's quite impressive.

Below the display, you have your standard navigation array that includes Talk and End keys, a menu shortcut, a back button, and the trackball navigator.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900's QWERTY keyboard is similar to the one found on the BlackBerry Bold. Since the Curve is smaller, the keys aren't as big or roomy, but we still found it easy to compose messages.

The Curve 8900 is equipped with a 3.2-megapixel camera and a flash, which are located on the back, and also features video recording, auto focus, 2x zoom, and image stabilization.

The Curve 8900's camera took decent photos. However, it had some problems in darker environments and there was a bit of shutter lag.