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New BlackBerry to be launched ahead of iPhone's debut

Research In Motion Ltd plans to sell a smaller BlackBerry e-mail device this month, adding a new design before the debut of Apple Inc's iPhone.

The new BlackBerry Curve includes a music and video player, as well as a camera that is of similar quality to the one in the iPhone.

Carriers in North America, Europe and Asia will announce their prices later, Research In Motion chief executive officer James Balsillie said.

The Ontario-based company wants to fuel demand for the BlackBerry to hold on to its lead in advanced phones that send e-mails, before the iPhone comes out next month. The devices will fight for sales in a market that may grow 43 percent this year to almost US$6 billion in the US alone, according to researcher Strategy Analytics.

The Curve will be Research In Motion's smallest and lightest device with a full keyboard.

The product is for professionals who like consumer features such as cameras, instant messengers, media players, photo albums and music, Balsillie said.

The company is bolstering its offerings and adding video and music functions to expand beyond business users. The Curve follows the BlackBerry 8800 that was introduced in February and the 8830 unveiled last month.

The iPhone combines Apple's iPod music and video player with a mobile phone and wireless Internet access for e-mail. Apple's goal is to get 1 percent of mobile phone sales next year, equal to about 10 million units. Research In Motion shipped about 2 million devices in its latest quarter.

Research In Motion had 45 percent of the US market for phones with features such as e-mail in the fourth quarter, according to researcher IDC.
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