OPTUS LAUNCHES BLACKBERRY CURVE 8520 SMARTPHONE ON PRE-PAID MOBILE

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone is now available from Optus

Optus announced today the launch of the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 smartphone on Pre-Paid mobile, making BlackBerry services accessible and affordable to more customers.

"Research shows that our Pre-Paid mobile customers are technology savvy and want the latest technology at their fingertips, so they are sure to be keen to connect to the new BlackBerry Curve 8520 on Pre-Paid Mobile," Jim Jaques, Consumer Marketing Director, Optus said.

With a Pre-Paid service, customers are in control of their spend and with the generous additional value available with the Optus BlackBerry Turbo Caps customers can enjoy 12 months of unlimited access to BlackBerry email, popular instant messaging services, social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, and internet browsing, valued at up to $235.

"With the increasing popularity of BlackBerry smartphones, we are focused on getting the latest handsets into our customer's hands. We have also tailored our pricing to suit their needs by including substantial data allowances so our customers can make the most of their BlackBerry smartphone and mobile internet experience," Mr Jaques said.

"Optus is a leader in the Pre-Paid mobile market, offering a range of recharge offers that allow customers to stay in control with no monthly bills or long-term contracts, and can spend as little or as much as they want to," he said.

The new BlackBerry Curve 8520 is the first BlackBerry smartphone to feature an innovative touch-sensitive trackpad and includes dedicated media keys, which give users a simple and convenient way to control their music and videos.

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 also provides easy access to email, messaging (IM, SMS, MMS) and social networking sites and features a highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard for comfortable, accurate typing. It is Wi-Fi®-enabled, and includes rich multimedia capabilities with easy access to music, games, and other mobile applications for entertainment on the go.

Pricing and availability
The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is available in selected stores and online for only $399^. Customers can connect to an Optus Pre-paid BlackBerry Turbo Cap for as little as $30 and receive 12 months of UNLIMITED* data with access to BlackBerry email, IM, social networking & Internet browsing (valued at up to $235) upon activation.

Media contact:
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850

^Terms & Conditions: BlackBerry smartphones are locked to the Optus network. $120 fee applies if network locking is removed within 6 months of activation. If recharges have exceeded $120, no fees apply. Limit 1 per customer (except SA). No Rainchecks. Not all handsets available at all outlets. While stocks last. BlackBerry Turbo Cap only offer available. Customers can not use their own BlackBerry® device with Blackberry Turbo Cap.

BlackBerry® Unlimited Offer: Available only to new customers who activate the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 with BlackBerry® Turbo Cap. BlackBerry Unlimited offer includes unlimited POP3 email and Internet access using the BlackBerry® Browser and/or BlackBerry® Internet Browser. Optus Mobile Fair Go™ policy applies. Some exclusions & PAYG rates apply. Standard rates apply after 12 months. Offer discontinued unless minimum MyCredit call balance maintained. Offer may expire or be withdrawn. Visit www.optus.com.au/prepaidblackberry for more detail.

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