Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2462 in Cell Phone Accessories
• Color: Red
• Brand: BlackBerry
• Model: 8310

Features

• Smallest, lightest BlackBerry with full QWERTY keyboard--weighs just 3.9 ounces
• Compatible with AT&T Navigator GPS and Mobile Music services; AT&T exclusive push-to-talk (PTT) walkie talkie-style communication
• 2-megapixel camera with flash and 5x digital zoom; Bluetooth stereo music; MicroSD memory expansion to 4 GB
• Up to 4 hours of talk time, up to 408 hours (17 days) of standby time
• What's in the Box: handset, battery, charger, wired handsfree headset, USB cable, user manual, quick start guide

Amazon.com Product Description
Swelling the Blackberry Curve's already formidable arsenal of telephonic and connectivity tools, the red Blackberry 8310 Curve now adds an internal GPS receiver with support for AT&T Navigator turn-by-turn direction service and push-to-talk (PTT) capability--an AT&T exclusive. An amalgam of the svelte BlackBerry Pearl and the more business-oriented 8800, the 8310 Curve is the smallest, lightest BlackBerry phone that includes a full QWERTY keyboard. And it combines RIM's long-valued push email and messaging platform with a host of advanced multimedia features, including a 2-megapixel camera and stereo Bluetooth (for listening to music via wireless headphones). This quadband phone operates on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 networks and can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T's EDGE network, with availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. It also offers global voice roaming in over 190 and data roaming in over 130 countries.

Staying Connected

The svelte BlackBerry 8310 Curve in red (an AT&T exclusive) offers a full QWERTY keyboard, innovative trackball navigation system (placed above the keyboard) and large 2.5-inch screen.

The Blackberry 8310 Curve delivers the legendary BlackBerry email experience. With BlackBerry service plans from AT&T, you can receive emails instantaneously from up to 10 email accounts (personal and enterprise). With BlackBerry push technology, you don't need to retrieve your email. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new email arrives. Support is also built-in for viewing email attachments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and PDF formats).

If your company has a BlackBerry Enterprise Server installed, you can also take advantage of the power of wireless calendar synchronization. Your calendar events are exchanged wirelessly and automatically so that your desktop calendar and BlackBerry handheld calendar are synchronized. All your Outlook meeting requests, changes, and updates are instantaneously synchronized instantaneously with your desktop. Make meeting requests, invite new attendees and more, all on your Blackberry 8310 Curve. Users without BlackBerry Enterprise Server support can manually sync with their desktop calendars and contacts via Bluetooth or USB using the included BlackBerry Desktop Software.

BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) is complimentary with the activation of a AT&T BlackBerry service plan (additional charges apply) and provides customers with the ability to have their personal or work email pushed automatically to their BlackBerry phone from multiple Internet Service Provider (ISP) email accounts. BIS provides automatic wireless synchronization of read, deleted, and sent email from the your BlackBerry phone to their desktop email account. Users with multiple accounts can choose from multiple "sent from" addresses when sending an email. You can also download ringtones and other content via AT&T's popular MEdia Net service or browse the Web using the BlackBerry HTML Browser. Wireless text messaging and multimedia messaging (MMS) are also supported by the BlackBerry 8310.

AT&T Exclusive Features
Among the unique features of the Blackberry 8310 Curve are AT&T's Push-to-Talk (PTT) service and TeleNav GPS Navigator. AT&T Push-to-Talk boasts the largest push to talk coverage area in America. PTT features on the BlackBerry 8310 include "availability" icons, quick group calling, and the ability to easily convert a PTT session to a regular wireless voice call. You can use your 8310 Curve to Push-to-Talk to communicate with individual colleagues or friends, or set up groups for broader communication. The PTT button, on the left side of the device (noted by three raised dots), easily facilitates each PTT call (simply press and hold to talk after the chirp and release when finished). In addition, the AT&T service offers such standard PTT features as call waiting, contact alerts, as well as text, picture, and voice messaging to anyone in their contact list.

You can take advantage of the AT&T Navigator GPS software and service, a full-featured premium navigation application that includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options, and 3D moving maps (additional charges applicable). AT&T Navigator offers several other features to make your commute more enjoyable and reliable, including mobile access to Yellowpages.com. Additionally, AT&T Navigator is the only mobile phone-based GPS service that provides integrated speech recognition for address entry and points of interest search.

You'll also be able to access the AT&T Mobile Music service, which enables you access to the Napster and eMusic subscription music services.

Phone Design & Features
This 8310 Curve is fashioned in a red finish and subtly curving corners. Measuring 4.2 x 2.4 inches, the Curve is just as slim as the Pearl (0.6 inches) and weighs in at 3.9 ounces--just 0.7 ounces heavier than its predecessor. It features a bright 2.5-inch color TFT screen that provides 65,000 colors and a 320 x 240-pixel resolution, and it includes a light-sensing feature that automatically adjusts backlighting for indoor, outdoor and dark environments. Like the BlackBerry 8800, the Curve includes a trackball navigation system located on the top of the QWERTY keypad, and it also features an integrated spell checker with a customizable dictionary to help maintain accuracy while on the go. It has 64 MB of internal ROM memory, and is expandable using MicroSD memory cards (up to 4 GB in size). The battery provides up to 4 hours (240 minutes) of talk time and up to 17 days (408 hours) of standby time.

You can snap vivid photos (though no video) using the 2-megapixel camera on the back of the Curve, which also features a 5x digital zoom, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder. It can capture images in up to three picture quality and size resolutions that can be shared instantly by email, MMS or BlackBerry Messenger, or even uploaded to your Flickr account with the Yahoo! Go service. Photos can also be immediately set as a unique caller ID or Home Screen image. You can edit photos and create albums within the Curve using the PhotoSuite application. Pictures can be cropped, rotated and straightened, and flaws can be fixed by removing redeye or changing the brightness, contrast, and saturation levels.

Listen to your favorite music and watch downloaded videos using the included stereo headset, or use an optional wireless headphone thanks to the Curve's support for the Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP). The Curve is compatible with a wide variety of file formats, including MP3, WMA and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ audio and WMV, MPEG4 and H.263 video. Dedicated volume controls are conveniently located on the side of the handset. You can also subscribe to the AT&T Music service, which includes access to online subscription music content from eMusic, XM Satellite Radio and more.

With the Voice-Activated Dialing (VAD) feature, you can initiate a call just by telling the Curve who to call from your contact list--either via the integrated speakerphone or using an optional Bluetooth wireless headset. Other advanced phone features include advanced sound technology that cancels out background noise and echo, dedicated volume and mute keys, and the ability to customize the Curve with polyphonic and MP3 ringtones.

Vital Statistics
The BlackBerry 8310 Curve weighs 3.9 ounces and measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches. Its 1100 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 408 hours (17 days) of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Customer Reviews

More than just business
Like most tech-savvy professionals, I use and rely on a BlackBerry at work. In fact, I've been an addict for quite some time. I recently updated from an 8700 to this amazing phone. The email, calendar and address book are all what you expect and are accustomed to from BlackBerry. There are a ton of great improvements and I've outlined my likes and dislikes below.

Pros:

* The screen appears to be the same 320x240 screen that is found on the older 8700. It's outstanding and flat out huge. There are various levels of backlighting and there is a handy auto-DIM feature that adjusts the backlight according to room lighting conditions.
* The rollerball took a little getting used to, but after less than a day, I'm an expert. OK, not quite an expert, but I dialed in the sensitivity to suit my needs. I also turned off that annoying clicking sound. I guess that was supposed to simulate the audible "click" you would get from the old wheel.
* The keyboard is perfect. I was really scared about going to something new but the spacing and texture are dead-on. Typing is a breeze.
* Spell-Check; a warm welcome to something that has been missing for a LONG time. It's also super-easy to use. I get a prompt right before I send an email asking me to approve typos. Great job BlackBerry!
* The multimedia software is excellent; both on the device and on the desktop. You can watch movies, listen to MP3s and check out your photos on the handset. The Music software is not as good as what's on the Sony Walkman w580i phone, but it gets the job done. The Roxio-powered Media Manager software for the desktop offers super-easy drag and drop of MP3s and movies. It even converts files on the fly so they work with the Curve. This is one of the best additions to BlackBerry. The easy to use interface really turns this into a multimedia device.
* The camera is pretty good too. The LED flash is very bright and allows for a decent photo in low light. Full Screen view finder is a nice plus. There is even a little mirror on the back for self portraits.
* 3.5mm Stereo/Audio Jack is built-in. No adapter needed. Amen BlackBerry! Just plug my Shure buds in and I'm in audio bliss.
* Real GPS! This is awesome. I've just started to tinker with the TeleNav software. I don't like the fact there is a monthly fee, but the turn-by-turn directions rival standalone navigation systems I've used. It's awesome but pricey. I'll start hunting for alternative navigation software.

Cons:

* Doesn't record video
* No 3G or Wi-Fi
* Monthly fees associated with true turn-by-turn navigation software. The GPS does work great with BlackBerry Maps and Google Maps for location. Not quite the same as Telenav.
* Memory card is located under the battery. I find it very annoying that I have to power down the phone to remove and replace the card. Hey, at least it's MicroSD.
* It's a fingerprint magnet. Not iPod bad, but visible enough that I keep wiping down the body.
* No playlist support for the music software.

All in, this is the best BlackBerry I've ever owned. Highly recommended.

Great Phone and so much more
They don't call it a "CrackBerry" for nothing. I send and receive e-mails from both my personal and professional accounts, monitor bank account activity, check the weather, read the newspaper, organize my time with the calendar, wake up in the morning with the alarm clock, and listen to music (currently 3.6 gigabytes worth = 900 songs) without worry of missing a call, calendar event or e-mail. If you're listening to music on the earbuds when a call comes in, the music pauses while the phone rings. Press the button on cord and you answer the phone using the same earbuds; no need to remove the phone from the holster. When the call is done press the button again and the music resumes. What could be better? It's even got voice activated dialing that recognizes the names you put into your address book. Also watch for the new operating system 4.5 which is rumored to be released soon, which will allow you to record video and use a larger 8GB memory card, along with many other improvements (right now with the 4.2OS the phone will support a 4GB card). All in all a fantastic device...couldn't recommend it more; this phone's a winner. All flip phones are hereby obsolete.

Not for the new users of Blackberry
Set the scene and then I can base the critism on my user profile. Note, this review is about the phone and not the service.

I get 200-250 e-mails a day and in 4-8 meetings a day. I am 35 years old. I spend 10-12 hrs a working day around a computer. I just used a small laptop for my organiser and e-mail. I have never used a PDA. Blackberry seems an obvious choice to make me more productive?

Why did I buy?
-Many people around me had PDAs either iPhone or Blackberry. I felt I was being left behind.
-Computing magazine review rated this phone the highest for e-mail
-I wanted easier access to my Outlook calendar and e-mail
-It's cool for my friends to see me with one?!

What's good about it?
It was easy to link to my Outlook exchange server and get e-mails. But the goodness stops there. It may be easy to put gas/petrol in the car but if the car is slow, incredibly difficult to steer and drive, what's the point of having easy filling?

What's bad?
-It crashes once a day.
-The keys are so rediculously small that writing text fast will not happen. You hit multiple and wrong keys. You often need the delete key and it is burried at the bottom under your thumb. Someone needs to think about usability!
-Usability is appauling!!! I expect to invest some time in learning new technology but the whole thing has been designed without a primary audience. I want a Blackberry to phone, see my calendar and read and answer short e-mails. I have an iPod for music.

You start the device and you have by default 20+ icons. I want 3!!! The first thing you need to work out is how to get rid of the usless items to make it quick to navigate to your primary use cases. (Blackberry, give me a set up wizard!)

When you want to dial a number you have to use the 9 '2' font keys on the screen. Doing this with one hand is painful. The numbers are also on the left hand side. Most of use will use our right thumb!

Then to chnage any settings most items are burried in very un-intuitive text on a 'left click' button. Further more, what you are after is often burried deep in the navigation. Read on for an example...

-The Noises!!!! The defaults drove me crazy!! 200 e-mails a day. I could have danced to the music the phone made. Every e-mail, every calendar invite the things buzzed beeped and chirped! It was killing the battery. I just needed to know if a phone call was coming in. The fun part was then turning the bleeps off! Read on for an example of crazy usability.

-Turning off beeps
I write this as an example of how bad it gets in places to do simple tasks
It took me about 15 minutes to find out how to do an obvious function.
1) Navigate to item 15 using the roller ball
2) Click using the roller- ball. This opens the drop down menu with 4 big items, normal, vibrate, Quiet and Loud. You would think you then use that 'left click' button to edit. Wrong.
3) Carefull observe there is a tiny indicator that you can scroll beyond these basic options- not obvious. Select at the very bottom 'Advanced' option. Click using the roller ball
4)Observe a new list of profiles which you just saw in just a smaller menu this time!!!
5)Navigate to the profil you wish to edit- say 'Loud'. Now click with the roller ball.
6)If you didn't realise, the 12 different items on this screen from 'Browser' to 'Tasks' are all individual functions on the balckberry with their annoying beep associations. Get this, you need to edit each one to set your desired noise. Here's how
7) Select the functionality you wish to change the noise on, say 'Messenger- New Message'. Who named it 'messenger'!!!
8) You now have a dialogue with 11 options per beep function!!! Change volumne, tune, number of beeps, LED, vibrartions and number etc
9) Click 'Out of Holster' using the roller ball, None, vibrate, Tone or vibrate plus tone.
10) Select an option by clicking with the roller ball.
11) Change any of the other 11 options per function by going to step 9)
12) Use the navigate back button to force a save. Save dialogue then pops up.
13) Select the save or discard button using roller ball.
14) Now go back to step 7 and repeat to 14 another 11 times for the other default beep and tune settings for the default 'Loud' profile!!!

...another 15 minutes later...

-The e-mail text you get back has lost all formatting so often you loose context and it is impossible to read.

-The synchronization software using default installs on XP was slowing my machine start-up by 2 minutes, locking all access to the machine! It was the first thing I uninstalled.

- I can go on but hopefully you guys get the drift and won't make the same mistake as me


Final conclusion
For new users I would wait until a decent user interface comes along that hooks up with Outlook and addresses primary needs. Also a user interface that tries to do core jobs well and not everything from navigating the internet on a 2 inch screen, playing games, GPS, music and so on. For BlackBerry, they need to clean up their usability, software performance and stability. If iPhone get easy sychronisation and backup with Outlook and Lotus Notes, Blackberry will die as soon as their contracts expire.