Amid falling tariffs and increasing popularity of 3G services, Canadian handset maker Research in Motion on Friday launched 3G-compatible BlackBerry Curve 9320 smartphone priced at Rs 15,990 in the country.

The new smartphone features all the core BlackBerry messaging and social-centric features that keep people connected and offers global 3G connectivity, RIM said in a statement. Based on the BlackBerry 7.1 operating system, the handset also comes with a built-in FM radio and a better battery life, which offers customers up to 7 hours of talk time. The integrated camera includes a flash and supports video recording.

Recently, Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular have slashed 3G prices by up to 70 per cent, while Reliance Communications also joined the league on Friday to cut prices by up to 61 per cent from their existing rates.