Sprint Delivers BlackBerry With Push To TalkSprint Delivers BlackBerry With Push To Talk

Sprint and Research In Motion announced Wednesday they were introducing a BlackBerry with push-to-talk (PTT) services.

The BlackBerry Curve 8350i will have all the all of the messaging capabilities one expects from a RIM device, but the PTT will give it another option, the companies said. The service uses Nextel Direct Connect to allow users to communicate nearly instantly with others, and to instantly set up group conversations with up to 20 other participants.

The 8350i smartphone has integrated Wi-Fi for Internet browsing and push corporate e-mail. There's also built-in GPS for navigational purposes, and DataViz Documents to Go software lets users edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents directly on the handset.

A 2-megapixel camera can be used to snap pictures and record video, and there's also a digital zoom and flash. The speakerphone has been optimized for the PTT service, there's Bluetooth version 2.0, and the device sports the largest capacity battery that RIM offers.

"Smartphones in general and BlackBerry products in particular, have become more important to both business people and consumers lately," said David Chamberlain, In-Stat's principal analyst, in a statement. "The BlackBerry Curve 8350i with PTT capability rounds out Sprint's options to fill communications needs of many industries particularly those in the blue-collar segment of the construction, field services, transportation, and manufacturing."

The smartphone can also be used to listen to music, watch videos, and display photos. A MicroSD ensures users will be able to store multimedia content.

The companies did not specify how much the handset will cost, but it's expected to be released before the end of the year.