The BlackBerry Curve (8320) from T-Mobile fuses the functionality of a BlackBerry with a full QWERTY keyboard and a compact form factor. While the introduction of the Pearl offered a smaller, more convenient device for the masses, BlackBerry filled the void in its product line with the Curve - a happy medium between the Pearl and 8800. A 2.0 megapixel camera, music player, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity round out the Curve's feature set. Perhaps the most interesting feature is T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home. Harnessing the Wi-Fi connectivity of the device, for $19.99 a month, T-Mobile allows the user to make unlimited calls from their cell phone while in a Wi-Fi network.
BlackBerry successfully departed from the flawed keyboard on the 8800 series by returning to a raised keyboard with plenty of space between the keys. Typing is awkward at first, but within a week of use you can master it and be typing quickly and effectively.
Web browsing is usually quick and convenient, and no other device can beat the BlackBerry's "push" e-mail service. Messages sent to a customer's phone are instantly received - not just when e-mail is checked by an e-mail client.
The operating system is easy to use, but the "day" view offered (showing messages and calendar) is easily rivaled by that of Windows Mobile. You cannot add your tasks list to this view, and it only displays the next two events on your calendar.
During review, the phone froze at times, especially when using pre-installed Java applications such as Google Talk. While this was frustrating, it only happened twice over the review period.
The form factor is small, only slightly larger and thicker than a Motorola Razr. While the chrome around the camera and screen looks nice, it scratches easily. While there is no screen on the back of the phone for taking "self-portraits," Research in Motion smartly added a mirror on the back to mitigate the lack of display.
The media player works exceedingly well, and the device comes equipped with a MicroSD slot. The only unfortunate design flaw here is the fact that the card sits under the battery - which makes swapping a card a bit more of a project than it needs to be.
Voice activation recognizes names and commands very well without any need to train the device. While driving, it makes dialing a lot easier - and safer.
One user assignable button on the left initially activates voice dialing, and the one on the right activates the camera. Service around the Boston College campus was fair.
BlackBerry and T-Mobile both advertise that the phone offers "Real Web Browsing" with higher quality pages than the mobile versions. While the feature does offer some rich browsing, it is nowhere near the quality of Apple's iPhone.
The HotSpot @Home service is a brilliant creation on T-Mobile's part. The service not only allows unlimited calling at home, but guarantees a good connection. Also, when users call 911 from their home on their cell phone, it is routed to their local police station when used in conjunction with a T-Mobile HotSpot @Home router ($49.99). Living in an area with bad cell coverage from all carriers, HotSpot @Home worked great in providing crystal-clear reception at home. The one flaw with the service, however, was the transition from the Wi-Fi network to the Edge Network (e.g. calling someone at your house and then getting in your car while continuing the conversation). The call was often dropped in these cases, but generally HotSpot @Home is a valuable and effective service.
Overall, the BlackBerry Curve is the perfect offering for the student who wants the functionality of a BlackBerry with a full keyboard. HotSpot @Home from T-Mobile is a great option for those who have bad service where they live.
The Curve is compact, packed with features, easy to use, and probably the best smartphone on the market for students looking for a more business-geared device.
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