The thin affordable BlackBerry Curve 8520 for T-Mobile is perfect for those who need to be connected to job friends and family while on the go. It provides easy mobile access to e-mail messaging (IM SMS MMS) and popular social networking sites (including Facebook and MySpace) and features a highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard for comfortable exact typing. It offers Wi-Fi connectivity for access to the Internet and e-mail love well as access to T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home service.

The slim BlackBerry Curve 8520 features an innovative touch-sensitive optical trackpad and full QWERTY keyboard.

Wi-Fi-enabled and consistent with unlimited nationwide calling using T-Mobile's Wi-Fi and Mobile Calling service service.

You'll be capable to access BlackBerry App World to download applications from a wide and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones including games entertainment social networking and sharing news and weather productivity and more. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera/camcorder Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming 256 MB internal memory microSD expansion up to 16 GB (a 1 GB card is included) quad-band GSM and EDGE connectivity and up to 4.5 hours of talk time.

T-Mobile Services

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 operates on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 networks and can handle high-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"). This high-speed mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps) including video and music clips full picture and video messaging high-speed color Internet access and e-mail on the go.

With T-Mobile's Wi-Fi and Mobile Calling service you'll effortlessly transition between Wi-Fi calling and T-Mobile's wireless network while you talk. Send and receive calls through T-Mobile's wireless network or any Wi-Fi network you have access to whether you're at home or on the road. This phone is compatible with routers running the 802.11b/g Wi-Fi standard. Whenever you're not using a Wi-Fi network this phone works just like a regular mobile phone using your T-Mobile voice plan minutes.

Staying Connected

With BlackBerry's push e-mail technology your e-mail will find you without having to inaugurate a connection. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network notifying you as new e-mail 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 moment 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 e-mail 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 e-mail accounts (including most popular ISP e-mail accounts--including Yahoo! Windows Live Hotmail AOL and Gmail) as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server enabling advanced security and IT administration within IBM Lotus Domino Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments.

Phone Features

Designed to be efficient and convenient the BlackBerry Curve 8520 introduces an innovative touch-sensitive optical trackpad which makes scrolling and selection smooth and easy for a great navigation experience. Like a laptop the trackpad lets you scroll through menus icons and info by gliding your finger over it. Press and click to select an item and navigate to where you want to go. It's complemented by a 35-key backlit QWERTY keyboard.

It is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to characteristic dedicated media keys smoothly integrated along the top of the handset providing an easy convenient way to control your music and video playback. Skip over songs pause music to talk or repeat your favorites over and over. You can even mute phone calls with the easy-access mute button. The phone also features a clever 2.6-inch color TFT screen that supports 65K colors and has a 320 x 240-pixel resolution. It has a 256 MB internal memory that can be expanded via optional microSD/SDHC memory cards up to 16 GB in size (a 1 GB card is included in the package.

Hands-free communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0) and includes profiles for communication headset hands-free car kits and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet send e-mail and access files from a server (additional charges or subscription applicable).

You can snap vivid photos (though no video) using the 2-megapixel camera on the back of the Curve 8520 which also features a 5x digital zoom built-in flash self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder. Additionally it can capture videos in two resolutions (320 x 240 pixels for saving; 176 x 144 pixels for sending via messaging). Take photos or videos and upload them to photo sharing apps like Flickr Uploader or social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Send them to friends with MMS messages BlackBerry Messenger or other instant messaging apps.

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 WMA9 PRO/WMA 10 and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ audio and WMV MPEG4 and H.263 video. And with BlackBerry Media Sync you can quickly and easily sync music from iTunes and Windows Media Player with the smartphone.

Other features include:

Vital Statistics

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 weighs 3.8 ounces and measures 2.4 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches. Its 1150 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of talk time and up to 408 hours (17 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Review Date: June 7 2010

Reviewer: Always Samsung New York NY

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R8HK8RO8I4ZUS I picked up the Blackberry Curve 8520 with my corporate discount and walked away with a nice phone at a very reasonable price. I have to say that I truly enjoy the web browser on the new BB. You can zoom in & out with ease. I thought no browser could compare to the iPod Safari besides the Android G1 except behind getting this device - I can safely say that this browser is also one of the best. Its right behind the safari and G1. Prior models were confined to small screens thirty-five dollar internet only data plans and no capacity to zoom in or out. You were subjected to a small screen and reading small text till your eyes was squinting like grandmas.

Pros:

Nice cost for new smartphone users

Nice fashion colors that only the CURVE series has

3.5 MM headjack

Nice form factor

New OS (ONly 5.0 OS for SPrint and Verizon users)

Decent call quality (No issues yet)

Excellent new broswer

Mini SD up to 16GB (Wish it was 32GB)

Use your songs as ringers

Wi-Fi

Personal Email (Up to 10 accounts can be added)

IM

BB Meesenger

BB App World

Full HTML Web Browser (Sometimes)

Excellent Multimedia Player (Accepts every format possible)

Crystal plain screen for playing videos

Includes 2 chargers (Wall Charger & USB charger)

Includes ear phones

Cons:

For long time BB users this device is really just a cosmetic upgrade with a new OS (Flashier Icons)

Micro USB (No more Mini USB)

No Flash on the camera

Only one theme

Feels like a plastic toy

No threaded text messaging

Poor screen resolution

Non RIMM Consumer Changes Mind!

No 3G (ONly 3G for Sprint and Verizon users)

Good entry level smartphones for new users who want to save without paying the high price. However Verizon has pricey data and text messenging plans which are a requirement. Its hard to justify the plan prices for such an average entry level device.

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