Pricing & Reception
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2026-06-29T16:33:27+00:00
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 stood out from the Bold series in several important ways. While the Bold was marketed as a high-end device with a premium feel, the Curve aimed to be a more budget-friendly option. One of the most notable differences was the absence of 3G connectivity, as the Bold targeted power users who needed faster data speeds. Furthermore, the Curve featured a more compact and lightweight design, appealing to those who prioritized portability over top-tier specifications (Ling, 2008).
The Blackberry Curve 8900 releasing in 2008, with the current display model available being from 2012, presents a unique history for the phone as it launched onto the market with a standard contract of three years for $179.99-$199.99 CAD, with a one-year contract for $549.99, and a no-term contract for $599.99 (Spoke, February 2, 2009).
Compared to the year’s Bold, a standard contract was $299.99, the Curve seems to have been the much cheaper alternative. To put this into perspective, utilizing their standard, cheapest plans, the Curve cost around $250.77 while the Bold cost a hefty $417.95 when adjusting for inflation. The lower price was alluring in comparison to the Bold’s price, however, the three-year contract length on the Curve specifically would end up getting criticized. In a review published by Yahoo Finance, Engadget—an internet review website pioneer founded in 2004—would call the three-year contract “pathetically lengthy” (Murph, 2009) Scrutiny would continue, with the same review calling the use of the Rogers TalkSpot and the lack of 3G support a definitive “deal-breaker” in regards to it, with other review websites openly recommending the Bold over it (Hanlon, 2009). The lack of 3G hurt, especially in an environment where 3G use was becoming widespread, but this didn’t stop the Curve 8900 from having positive reviews from outlets overall, despite the constant comparisons made to big brother Bold, due in prominence to its lightweight nature and high screen resolution (Johnston, 2009) (Hardy, 2008).
Online reviews and forum discussions in a growing, early internet culture would continue to surface, just as newspaper and magazine reviews would, connected by a view that praised the Bold by often recommending it over the Curve 8900. Some reviews, however, do praise the Curve 8900 for its unique qualities. Digit magazine tells that they “prefer the Bold 9000’s slightly larger, less spaced out keys” while still praising the Curve for its “fast and responsive” nature (Browne, 2009). This reception and difference put the Bold and Curve against each other, and this contrast seems to have been intentional, judging not just by its price point and reviews but also through its specific architecture and advertising.
