TORONTO, Ont. — Telus has launched the new BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone, featuring support for the Direct Connect Push To Talk service – a popular feature for truck drivers on the go.

The new smartphone, available only on the Telus Mike Network, is designed for professionals in the field who need instant communication with their companies along with instant access to their e-mail. The device includes built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, and combines BlackBerry communications and multimedia capabilities with the push-to-talk service, all in one.

“The BlackBerry Curve 8350i combines the convenience of our Mike Direct Connect Push To Talk technology and the trusted BlackBerry solution,” said Jim Senko, vice-president of mobility solutions at TELUS. “It’s a fantastic new addition to our extensive selection of business-ready smartphones operating on our Mike or PCS networks.”

The new smartphone supports GPS tracking and dispatch solutions and also has Bluetooth-enabled support for accessories such as wireless headsets or hands-free kits. For truckers looking for ways to fill downtime, the device also includes a media player, a 2MP camera with video recording and the capacity to store up to 16GB of music, pictures, video and documents per memory card.

“The BlackBerry Curve 8350i is a communications powerhouse that makes it easier than ever to stay connected,” said Mark Guibert, vice-president of corporate marketing at RIM. “We are very pleased to be working together with Telus to bring this innovative and stylish smartphone to Canadians.”

Additional features include:

-High-resolution, 320 x 240 colour display

-35 key backlit full-QWERTY keyboard;

-Premium phone features including voice-activated dialing, enhanced background noise cancellation and a low-distortion speakerphone;

-Expandable memory via microSD/SDHC memory card slot supporting cards of up to 16GB for additional storage (1GB microSD card included);

-USB connectivity for charging and data file transfers between the smartphone and PCs;

-Removable, rechargeable battery;

-Messaging capabilities with support for popular instant messaging, multimedia messaging (MMS) and text messaging services;

-DataViz Documents To Go preinstalled for editing Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the smartphone;

-Support for thousands of applications, including business, lifestyle and entertainment titles;

-BlackBerry Enterprise Server support, providing tight integration with Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, and Novell GroupWise and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based, wireless access to e-mail and other corporate data;

-BlackBerry Internet Service support for smaller businesses and individuals, designed to allow customers to access up to 10 supported e-mail accounts from the handset.

The BlackBerry Curve 8350i smartphone is available from Telus for $249.99 on a three-year contract or $599.99 without a contract. For more information about Telus’ full suite of Mike services on the BlackBerry Curve 8350i, visit www.noordinaryphone.com.