Advancing its march into the consumer market, Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) has unveiled the BlackBerry Curve smartphone, model number 8300. Intended to blend work and play, the device sports traditional BlackBerry features, such as a QWERTY keyboard, voice features and email. But it also includes a 2-megapixel camera, audio-file playback, and a Sonic Solutions Roxio media manager designed for BlackBerry, which simplifies file search and organization on users' computers, RIM says. The Curve follows the Pearl, RIM's inaugural foray into the consumer market. Both devices coincide with industry observers commenting that the line between consumer and business communication devices is disappearing. Update, May 4: Rogers Communications Inc. has announced that it will carry the Curve.

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