Alltel Wireless gets the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone

The latest Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry smartphone, the Curve 8330, is now on its way to three different US mobile phone networks on May 1, the latest addition being Alltel.

Operating on Alltel's EV-DO network, the BlackBerry Curve 8330 features a full QWERTY keyboard, trackball navigation system, instant messaging, GPS, 2 megapixel camera with video, Bluetooth 2.0, and an added MicroSD slot. It measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 and weighs just four ounces.

The Curve 8330 will cost $229.99 after a mail-in-rebate, for customers who agree to a two-year service contract, and Alltel is taking pre-orders now on its Web site. It will also be available on the Verizon Wireless and Sprint phone networks after its public launch next week. Sprint will offer the phone for $179.99 with a contract, while Verizon will sell the phone for $270 after a $50 mail-in-rebate and two-year phone contract.

Alltel claims the largest wireless network coverage compared to other US service providers. With coverage in all 50 states, Alltel's own network covers 34 states plus limited service in Canada and Mexico.