14 DAY TRIAL // Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion and wireless carrier China Mobile Hong Kong announced on Friday the launch of a new BlackBerry IM & Email Service Plan in Hong Kong, as well as the availability of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone for the operator's customers. The new service plan from China Mobile is said to be the “most affordable entry-level option in the market,” as it offers unlimited email and Instant Messaging (IM) for only HK$68. At the same time, the wireless services provider also announced that the new handset features the price tag of HK$2480.
The new BlackBerry IM & Email Service Plan from China Mobile Hong Kong offers users the possibility to enjoy unlimited access to email and Instant Messaging services, and it offers support for Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk and BlackBerry Messenger. This means that BlackBerry users can stay connected at all times with their family or colleagues, no matter where they are. According to China Mobile, new customers who chose the BlackBerry IM & Email Service Plan and also opt for a specific voice plan can benefit from a rebate of around HK$2,400 when purchasing a Blackberry device.
“The new HK$68 BlackBerry IM & Email Service Plan will cater to the broad base of individuals and enterprise customers who want the benefits and value of being connected on email and IM, with an inexpensive option,” said Mr. Willie Wong, director & vice president of China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited. Norm Lo, vice president of Asia Pacific, Research In Motion, added: “We are pleased to collaborate with China Mobile Hong Kong to launch this exciting BlackBerry service plan. The BlackBerry solution is renowned for its industry leading messaging capabilities and this new plan now makes it more affordable than ever.”
The BlackBerry Curve 8520 comes to the market with quad-band EDGE connectivity, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capabilities, email and messaging (SMS, MMS, IM) features, as well as Internet browsing capabilities. The new mobile phone also includes a 2-megapixel photo snapper with video recording, as well as dedicated media keys at the top of the device, so as to offer a convenient way for users to control their music and videos. At the same time, the handset includes a new touch-sensitive trackpad, as well as a QWERTY keypad for fast messaging.