Research in Motion (RIM) has announced a fresh addition to its BlackBerry Curve mobile phone family: the 8520.

RIM's latest Curve: the 8520, which doesn't support 3G

First rumoured to have been in development back in May, the latest Curve model measures 4.2 x 2.3 x 0.5mm, weighs in at 106g and sports an optical trackpad for navigation – instead of the family’s established trackball.

The 8520 doesn’t – as previously reported – feature 3G connectivity. Instead RIM has opted to equip the BlackBerry with quad-band GSM and Edge. Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi support is also included on the phone, RIM said.

A 2.6in display will show off all the pictures snapped on the phone’s rear-mounted 2Mp camera – which can also record videos. A Micro SD card slot serves as your storage option on the Curve 8520.

The phone's battery will provide 4.5 hours of talk time, or sit awaiting orders for up to 17 days, RIM said.

An official UK launch date or carrier hasn’t been announced, but a Vodafone advert for the BlackBerry Curve 8520 has already been leaked online. The phone will be available through T-Mobile in North America from 5 August. ®