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Today, AT&T launched the BlackBerry Pearl 8110 with built-in global positioning (GPS) capabilities to support location-based services, such as AT&T Navigator and YELLOWPAGES.com, both of which are available to users directly from the new BlackBerry Pearl's home screen.

So for example, GPS support allows AT&T Navigator to provides users of the new BlackBerry with turn-by-turn voice and on-screen directions with moving 3D maps that can be used in vehicles or while walking. It also alerts users through voice and on-screen prompts to traffic slowdowns and incidents along their programmed travel route, and it provides them with the option to choose an alternative route.

The Pearl 8110 joins the recently announced BlackBerry Pearl 8120 in AT&T's handset lineup. Rather than GPS, the Pearl 8120 includes Wi-Fi for high-speed access to hot spots and WLANs.

Both models top out at 2.5G cellular-wireless EDGE technology, which is far slower and less functional (can't do voice and data at the same time) than AT&T's 3G network.

Like all of RIM's BlackBerry Pearls, the two new models nix the traditional BlackBerry QWERTY thumb-keyboard for a keypad/keyboard combo that merges numbers and text onto each button. Predictive text technology, called SureType, helps users accurately input words.

The Pearl 8110, like the Pearl 8120, sports a 2-megapixel camera and a microSD/SDHC to greatly increase the smartphone's storage capacity.

Watch video on the 240 x 260 pixel display and listen to music in stereo; by plugging a wired headset into the new Pearl's 3.5mm stereo jack or wirelessly through support for the Bluetooth 2.0 standard.

With both new Pearls, RIM's kept the series small and compact, 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches, and light, 3.2 ounces.

The Pearl 8110 goes for $150 with a two-year agreement and if you sign up for an unlimited data plan with $40 per month voice service. Meanwhile, the Pearl 8120 has been selling for $200 with the same purchase requirements.