Sprint Delays BlackBerry Curve and Sanyo PRO Series Consumer Launch

The highly expected launch of the 8330 Curve has been delayed by Sprint for as yet unknown official reason, with speculation pointing to supply constraints due to the launch of the device on Canadian CDMA carriers Bell and Telus in the last two weeks, as well as other reasons pointing to possible software issues.

Sprint has confirmed through Engadget Mobile that the device will still launch this month, which points to a release next Sunday, April 27th as new Sprint devices usually launch on Sundays.

The launch of the highly expected EVDO Rev. A and QChat enabled Sanyo PRO-200 and PRO-700 clamshells today has also been hotly debated as Sprint employees had been recently informed that consumer availability of the phones would be delayed until June 1st, with business customers in certain markets currently receiving priority access to the devices.

The confusion stems from two past press releases by Sprint with the first press release stating the expected consumer price points for the devices during CTIA, and the release of another press release a week and a half later regarding availability for business customers in certain regions through direct sales being mistaken for general consumer availability, and led to inaccurate reporting by some.

Business customers are currently receiving priority access to QChat devices in order to stem the rate of churn to other carriers, as well as moving them away from the old and increasingly problematic iDEN network in order to ease growing complaints with the service.

Stores handling business accounts are quickly running though inventory and selling stock as fast as they receive it, according to various reports from employees.