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According to reports, RIM branded the new BlackBerry 8300 series Curve because of the smooth edges of the device.

The company is gearing Curve towards consumers and prosumers who prefer a full keyboard instead of the smaller keypad/keyboard hybrid of the Pearl. It has RIM’s new intuitive trackball navigation system; first introduced with the Pearl last fall.

Curve features a 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder. There is also no mention of being able to record video as originally rumored. RIM says Curve can play videos, however, and music, of course.

It features Bluetooth 2.0 for hands-free use with headsets, car kits and other peripherals, and with support for the Bluetooth audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP), for wireless stereo headsets. Dedicated volume controls are located on the side of the BlackBerry. There's also a 3.5-millimeter stereo headset jack.

Curves microSD slot supports up to 2GB cards that are available today and will automatically handle 4 GB cards when the become available later this year.

The quad-band smartphone measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches and weighs about 3.9 ounces.

AT&T will offer the Curve exclusively in the U.S. when it starts shipping later this spring. Rogers is rumored to be the Canadian carrier on tap for the smartphone.

Expect to find out more details about Curve availability RIM’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium in Orlando, FL next week.

As I was working on this story last night, I checked out the Web site www.BlackBerryCurve.com to find that it now has a lot more than a blank page. I surfed around it a little, and there was no mention of Wi-Fi for the new BlackBerry. Based on the BlackBerry Maps description it appears to lack GPS as well.

Although the only carrier mentioned on the site is AT&T, it does say Curve "will be available through wireless carriers around the world...beginning this spring."