Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11323 in Cell Phone Accessories
• Color: Silver
• Brand: BlackBerry
• Model: 8330 Silver
• Released on: 2008-05-30

Features

• Smallest, lightest BlackBerry with full QWERTY keyboard and packed with rich multimedia capabilities and services
• Fast 3G access using Verizon's EV-DO data network; GPS for VZ Navigator turn-by-turn direction service
• 2-megapixel camera/camcorder; Bluetooth for handsfree devices and stereo music streaming; MicroSD expansion up to 8 GB
• Up to 4.3 hours of talk time, up to 264 hours (11 days) of standby time
• Includes: handset, battery, charger, USB cable, wired stereo headset, quick start guide, VZ Access Manager CD, Blackberry Pocket case

Amazon.com Product Description
Adding a fashionable touch to Research in Motion's formidable arsenal of telephonic, PIM, and media tools, the BlackBerry 8330 Curve for Verizon is also the smallest, lightest BlackBerry phone that includes a full QWERTY keyboard. This amalgam of the svelte BlackBerry Pearl and the more business-oriented 8800 combines RIM's long-valued corporate 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). It also offers GPS navigation capabilities for accessing the optional VZ Navigator turn-by-turn direction service.

The Curve's full QWERTY keyboard and the innovative trackball navigation system (placed above the keyboard) makes accessing your data and writing email a breeze.

Verizon Service
Getting on the Internet is easy using Verizon's Mobile Web 2.0 package, which allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with this phone. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service.

Get to any location with audible turn-by-turn directions from the optional VZ Navigator service.

With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access Verizon's VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps.

With BroadbandAccess Connect (subscription required), you can use your smartphone as a modem for your notebook when you connect the two using a USB cable--or open a Bluetooth connection--enabling you to access the Internet or your company intranet. The tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check email, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with BroadbandAccess Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices. Staying Connected
With BlackBerry's push email technology, your email will find you without having to initiate a connection. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, notifying you as new email arrives. In addition to the text, you can also receive and view attachments in a wide range of popular file formats, including Microsoft Office, Corel WordPerfect, and Adobe PDF.

Browse the web with the integrated, full-featured browser, which quickly and efficiently displays HTML pages as well as enables you to set up RSS feeds to stay connected to up-to-the-minute news and blog posts. And keep up with your contacts using a variety of instant message (IM) networks, including the integrated Blackberry Messenger as well as downloadable clients for Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, and Lotus Sametime.

For corporate users, the Curve delivers all the enterprise email and messaging capabilities you've come to expect. It's supported on BlackBerry Internet Service, giving you access to up to 10 work or personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts), as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server, enabling advanced security and IT administration within IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments.

Phone Features
The Curve 8330 is fashioned with subtly curving corners and chrome highlights. Measuring 4.2 x 2.4 inches, the Curve is just as slim as the Pearl (0.63 inches) and weighs in at 4 ounces. 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 96 MB of internal ROM memory, and is expandable using MicroSD/MicroSDHC memory cards (up to 8 GB in size).

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 MP3 and WMA audio files, and dedicated volume controls are conveniently located on the side of the handset.

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. Other features include:

• Works with the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution (BES) to provide functionality such as single mailbox integration, remote address book look–up and more
• BlackBerry 4.3 Desktop Software. Integrated Email, Phone, SMS, Browser, Calendar, Address Book, and additional organizer applications
• Music playback: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
• 96 MB Flash Memory/32 MB RAM
• Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets)

Vital Statistics
The BlackBerry Curve 8330 weighs 4 ounces and measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.63 inches. Its 1150 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.3 hours of talk time, and up to 264 hours (11 days) of digital standby time. It runs on the 800/1900 CDMA/EV-DO frequencies (not Rev. A Upgradeable).

Customer Reviews

My third Blackberry and the best - pros and cons
This is my third Blackberry, it replaced a T-Mobile 8700g which replaced a T-Mobile 7230 before that.

Pros:
- Wireless broadband works well, easily connects to laptop via bluetooth and so far has been reliable with very good coverage (much better than T-Mobile)
- Seems physically well designed and well built, very good keyboard, smaller and easier to hold than the 8700 it replaced
- Mouse trackball makes for easy navigation
- Voice dialing good for bluetooth headset
- Improved Blackberry browser (although I still use Opera Mini most of the time)

Cons:
- High cost of service ($30/mo for Blackberry data plan plus ANOTHER $30/mo for laptop tethering)
- Locked GPS. The device has GPS built in but Verizon has "locked" it so that it cannot be used with Google Maps, photo geotagging, or any other third-party GPS program, because they want you to spend another $10 a month for the privilege of using THEIR GPS program.
- Poor quality camera
- No way to have the phone announce the caller/caller ID - so when I'm wearing my bluetooth headset I still have to dig the phone out to see who is calling
- Awkward delivery and registration. Amazon could not give me a straight answer on the unit's shipping/arrival dates. Verizon sent me a welcome email and invited me to register my online account, so I did, then at the end of the process they told me they'd just sent a text message to the phone that I must retreive with 24 hours to complete the process... which was impossible because I didn't have the phone yet!

Here's Why I'm A Crackberry Addict!
The Good:

* Clear, reliable calls
* Extensive messaging capabilities
* Excellent usability - very intuitive
* Good bluetooth support
* Easy to add new apps with many available for free
* Good media support

The Bad:

* No option for repeat notification on unacknowledged text messages
* SD card slot not accessible without removing the battery
* GPS usage restricted to VZW apps

Bottom Line:

The Blackberry Curve for Verizon hits the mark as a very solid smartphone with only minor drawbacks. My detailed usage based review follows.

Messaging: This is the main reason that people look to a Blackberry as their phone, and the Curve does not disappoint. After contacting my Exchange Administrator, I was up and running with push e-mail from my work account to my Curve. If your company supports this, it is the way to go because it does require your desktop computer to be on and connected in order to receive your e-mail. However you do have the ability to run the desktop software to sync your e-mail if a direct connection to your corporate e-mail is not available.

Messaging does not stop there. The Curve also flawlessly supports SMS and MMS messaging as well. One of the nice features on the Curve that is not on most regular phones is the grouping of related messages into threads or conversations.

The one drawback on SMS is that the Curve cannot simulate a pager. Most people have ditched pagers at this point in favor of SMS. However if you are not in the room when you get an SMS message, the Curve will not nag you until you read the message the way a pager would. My Lg phones had a feature where you could have repeated notification every two minutes, and it would be nice to see a similar feature on future Blackberry devices.

Call Quality: The great messaging capabilities would fall flat unless the Curve was also a good phone. While the sound is a little bit thinner than what I'm used to on my Lg phones, it is still more than good enough. This is true whether in normal or speakerphone mode. The speakerphone quality is quite good on the Curve.

Bluetooth: It was easy to pair my Motorola T305 Bluetooth Portable Hands-Free Speaker (Black) with the Curve. Once connected, pushing the multifunction button on the T305 brought up the voice command prompt for hands free usage. Call quality with the Curve and the T305 combination had no drop off in performance.

Additional Applications: There are plenty of freely available add ons for the Curve, and most support over the air installation by point the Curve's browser to the appropriate URL. I have added Google's mobile app, Gmail, and Google Maps. The Gmail app is a nice upgrade over the WAP interface available through the Curve's browser. The Google Maps app cannot be used as a GPS for navigation as Verizon has restricted access to the GPS. You are limited to VZNavigator or whatever other purchased app Verizon makes available. I have a Garmin Nuvi so this isn't a big deal to me.

You can find other apps on the Blackberry site or by searching for what you need in Google.

Usability: This is a real strong point for the Curve. I have had various Palm and Windows Mobile devices - not all phones - and RIM beats both of these hands down. First, it is refreshing not to have to reset the Curve regularly or have it reset itself spontaneously. The crown jewel, though, is the trackball. It is such a better user experience to be able to scroll rather than have to hold down a sluggish five-way D-pad to navigate. It is very smooth and natural feeling by way of comparison. The Curve does not have a touch screen, and therefore has no stylus. Personally I prefer the non-touchscreen as this limits fingerprints and smudges on the screen. The keyboard is of adequate size. I occasionally hit the wrong key, but his is fairly rare. The menus and options are also fairly intuitive, and it is easy to set up folders and move things around to your liking.

Media Support: The Curve comes with a fairly standard media player capable of playing music and video, and it supports the use of microSD cards up to 8 Gb. The placement of the card slot is a bit annoying because you have to take the battery out to get to it. If you don't have to access the card that often, it's probably not that big of a deal. The speaker is not going to win any competitions, but the included headphones are pretty good. If you decide to upgrade the headphones, it is important to get the right kind. Even though the Curve has a 3.5mm jack, the plug needs to have three stripes rather than the two that come on most earbuds. If you use the ones from you iPod that only have two, you will eventually short out the jack.

You can also stream media from Slacker or view video clips on web sites. YouTube mobile worked without issue.

One thing that would have been nice is access to V-Cast music. For whatever reason, Verizon chose not to make this available although they did do so on the Storm which makes the decision on the Curve that much more puzzling.

Conclusion: There is a lot to like - if not love - about the Blackberry Curve from Verizon. It performs very well on its core functionality with a few minor annoyances, but these are not new to longtime Verizon customers. I highly recommend this for those seeking a good phone that integrates well with corporate e-mail. Using it can be addictive to the point that it could be called a Crackberry!

Mixed Bag
This is my first Blackberry--I've had it about a month so far. Here are the pros and cons for me:

Pros:

-Great at Email-- easy to set up your accounts, and pushes it to your phone instantly.
-Works well as an actual phone.
-I like the full qwerty keyboard with actual buttons, vs the touch screen of the iPhone or Storm.
-I have service through Verizon and have been happy with the coverage. This is the main reason I didn't get an iPhone.
-So far, battery life seems very good
-The unit itself is slim and lightweight. It's comfortable to carry in a pants pocket w/o the included pocket protector.
-Plays mp3s, but only if I USB transfer them from my computer (see below).
-The maps app (and Googlemaps, which you can download for free) is pretty useful, if you don't want to pay Verizon extra to use VZ navigator. However, it triangulates your current location, rather than using the unit's gps, so it does not pinpoint you exactly. I turned on the phone's option to allow GPS locator for maps, but it doesn't work. Maybe I'm missing something... At any rate, you can still use the map, search for local stores and restaurants, etc.

Cons:

-Syncing with my Mac Powerbook G4 does not work, period, with the included pocket mac software. Nice.
-If I download a file, a PDF for example, from a webpage, I cannot open it unless I attach it to an email, email it to myself, and open it from there.
-If I have been listening to an mp3 that I've paused--even hours ago--and put the phone in standby mode from the home screen, the mp3 I was listening to will play loudly through the speaker for about 2 seconds while it's going into standby, drawing lots of attention.
-Frequently, brick breaker will cause the entire phone to lock up. I'll have to remove the battery, reinsert it, and wait several minutes for the thing to boot back up again.
-From the blackberry browser, or opera mini, I cannot download files, such as mp3s, to my phone. The only way to get them onto my phone is to download them to my computer, connect the usb cable to my computer, and transfer the files that way.
-When I connect the USB cable to my Powerbook, I'm not able to see any pictures or video that are stored on my phone.

Conclusion:

This is a tough call...I was so excited about getting a Blackberry... The thing works great for email, but I have found it very frustrating for most other things. They are advertising it as a productivity tool and multimedia powerhouse...maybe a little misleading. Maybe I was expecting it to do too much. The price was great compared to the iPhone and the HTC phone that my friend has. So I guess you get what you pay for. If you just need to do email, text, and occasionally surf the web, it would be a great phone. In fact, I think I'd be fine with it, if it would sync with my Mac like it claims to be able to.