BlackBerry® Curve™ 8530 :Review

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is a smartphone that also doubles as a messaging machine. With the world-famous BlackBerry email service and the ergonomic QWERTY keyboard customers can email, text message, and IM all day long. Cricket’s first BlackBerry smartphone also includes great features like 3G Real Web Browsing, a 2MP camera/camcorder, MP3 player/microSD slot, wifi capability, and more! The Curve 8530 is a full-featured BlackBerry with access to thousands of cool apps in BlackBerry App World and IM/Chat capability with BlackBerry Messenger.

Specifications

Available Features

• 2.0MP Digital Camera
• Video Camera Capabilities
• Supports BlackBerry App World™
• 256MB Flash Memory
• Wi-Fi® enabled
• BlackBerry® Maps
• Built-in GPS capabilities*
• 3G network access*
• Bluetooth® enabled
• Multimedia Player
• Wireless Email
• Organizer
• Browser
• Phone
• SMS/MMS

*Available only on the BlackBerry®
 Curve™ 8530 smartphone

Display

• Clear, high-resolution display
• Transmisive TFT LCD
• 320x240 pixel screen
• Displays over 65,000 colors

Camera & Video Recording

• 2.0 MP camera
• Fixed Focus
• No Flash
• 5X digital zoom
• Video Camera Recording:
  Normal Mode (320x240 pixel),MMS Mode (176x144 pixel)

Battery & Battery Life

BlackBerry Curve 8520:

• 1150 mAh removable/rechargeable cryptographic Lithium cell
• Talk Time: 4.5 hours (approx)
• Standby Time: 17 days (approx)

BlackBerry Curve 8530:

• 1150 mAh removable/rechargeable cryptographic Lithium cell
• Talk Time: 4.5 hours (approx)
• Standby Time: 10.5 days (approx)

BlackBerry Maps & GPS

• Includes BlackBerry® Maps
• Assisted, autonomous and simultaneous GPS enabled (BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone only)
• e911 capabilities (BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone only)

Data Input & Navigation

• 35 key backlit QWERTY keyboard
• Dedicated Keys: Send/Power, End, Mute, VAD (User customizable), Camera (User customizable), 2 x volume/Zoom
• Media Keys: Forward, Back, Play
• Trackpad - Located on the front face of device. ESC key to the right. Menu to the left.

Size and Weight

Height:
109 mm (4.29 inches)

Length:
60 mm (2.36 inches)

Depth:
13.9 mm (0.55 inches)

Weight:
106 grams (3.70 ounces)

Media Player

• Video format support: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV9
• Audio format support: MP3, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCELP EVRC, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA9, Windows Media 10 Standard/Professional

Ringtones & Notifications

• Tone, vibrate, on-screen or LED indicator
• Notification options are user configurable
• 32 Polyphonic Ringtones – MIDI, MP3

Bluetooth

• Bluetooth Curve 8520: Bluetooth® v2.0
• Bluetooth Curve 8530: Bluetooth® v2.1
• Headset Profile (HSP), Handset Profile (HFP)
• Address Book Integration using AT commands and using OBEX (Object Push)
• Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP), Dial-Up Networking (DUN)
• Bluetooth Sterio (A2DP / AVRCP), Serial Port Profile (SPP)
• Secure Simple Pairing (SSP)

Security

• Password protection
• Keyboard lock
• Sleep mode

Wi-Fi

• 802.11b/g enabled
• Wi-Fi Alliance Certifications: WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise, WMM
• WMM Power Save planned
• Cisco CCX Certification planned
• Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
• Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Service
• Direct IP web browsing over Wi-Fi

Wireless Networks

BlackBerry Curve 8530:

• 3G Technology
• CDMA Dual Band: 800/1900 MHz
• CDMA Dual Mode: CDMA 2000 1X with Ev-Do

BlackBerry Curve 8520:

• Quad-Band: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz GSM/GPRS networks
• Quad-Band: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHz EDGE networks

Voice Input and Output

• Integrated speaker and microphone
• Hands-free headset capable
• Bluetooth headset capable
• Integrated Hands-Free Speakerphone