The new GSM/GPRS/EDGE BlackBerry Curve (aka 8300) has been available on the carrier formerly known as Cingular (AT&T) for some time now. How does it stack up for a deaf or hard of hearing user?

The Curve (thank goodness for that name, it’d be confusing to try to remember if it’s a 8830 or 8300!) brings us a full QWERTY keyboard BlackBerry that also has a built in camera like the Pearl. Reviews on the internet describe the Curve as being a cross between a 8800/8830 and the Pearl, size wise. It’s the smallest QWERTY BlackBerry yet, and comes with a nice rubberized coating on the sides for a better grip. It also obviously incorporates the new trackball that is found on the Pearl and 8800.

Click below to see a photo of the Curve, the 8800, and the Pearl

(Photo credit: BoyGeniusReport.com)

Changes in the Curve that impact deaf and hard of hearing users would include the new built-in spell checker, a built-in 2 megapixel camera (but it doesn’t do video!), and a more standard 3.5 mm audio jack (for HATIS or loop devices). Some commenters mentioned that they liked the Curve’s keyboard better, being more like the 8703’s than the 8800’s. This may make a difference for those who are sensitive to keyboard designs, etc. Unfortunately, there is no specific information regarding any sort of HAC (Hearing Aid Compatibility) ratings for the Curve. The last couple of BlackBerry devices had HAC ratings, so it’s possible this one may get rated later on.

It’s rumored that an upgraded version of the Curve, possibly called the 8320, will be available from T-Mobile. It is said that this T-Mobile version of the Curve will have an upgraded 3+ megapixel camera (hopefully it’ll be able to take video too!), and will also incorporate WiFi connectivity, allowing for faster speeds in any location with public WiFi services (like the iPhone does). We shall see if this is true. RIM has already announced a GSM BlackBerry that also uses WiFi (called the 8820), and has GPS built in.