Vodafone has tied up a deal with Research In Motion that will see the mobile operator get exclusive rights to the new BlackBerry Curve 8310, which comes with built-in global positioning system (GPS) technology.
The new handset, available from 3 September and offered to the mobile operator's customers on an exclusive basis until the end of October, comes with a range of work and leisure applications, as well as calendaring, email and web functionality and a built-in 2-megapixel camera and media player.
The sat-nav part of the new device comes with technology provided by Telmap and will update users with live traffic alerts, weather reports and other information, such as restaurant reviews.
"With the addition of Vodafone sat-nav to the popular BlackBerry Curve, we're offering all our customers a feature packed device at a great price, helping them make the most of their working day, wherever they are," said Kyle Whitehill, director of Vodafone's enterprise business unit.
"Vodafone's customers in the UK will benefit greatly from the many features of this new smartphone, including email, multimedia, GPS and more," said Charmaine Eggberry, vice president and managing director, of RIM in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "The BlackBerry Curve 8310 is an ideal tool for users who want to stay connected while juggling their busy work and personal lives."
Customers signing up to the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) will also get a 12-months free subscription to Vodafone sat-nav.
