Research In Motion (RIM) today announced three new BlackBerry Curve smartphones, all of which are based on the new BlackBerry 7 Operating System (OS).

BlackBerry said the new models are designed to address those customers looking to upgrade their existing feature phone or existing BlackBerry Curve with an affordable alternative to its higher-end handsets like the recently announced Torch and Bold.

“These new models will build on the incredible success of the BlackBerry Curve line and further expand the largest global launch of BlackBerry smartphones in our history,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion, in a statement. “

The new BlackBerry Curve smartphones feature the traditional BlackBerry form factor, including the iconic keyboard and an optical trackpad. Additional features include GPS, Wi-Fi, 5-megapixel camera with flash and video recording and microSD/SDHC slot with support for up to 32 GB of extra memory.

In addition to supporting the new BlackBerry 7 OS, the new BlackBerry Curve smartphones also boast upgraded processors, displays and memory and include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications).

Sprint was the first to announce availability this morning. The carrier will offer the Curve 9350 for $79.99 with a 2-year contract. RIM said additional availability dates and pricing for specific devices from specific carriers will be announced in conjunction with RIM’s partners.

Check the video below for a look at the Curve 9360 from Vodafone: