RIM BlackBerry 8820 (AT&T)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd. Part number: 8820 (AT&T)
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The addition of Wi-Fi makes the RIM BlackBerry 8820 an even more powerful communication device for business users, taking it beyond just e-mail and phone calls.
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CNET editors' review
RIM BlackBerry 8820 (AT&T) price range: $99.99 - $289.99
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 09/19/2007
- Released on: 09/19/2007
The good: The RIM BlackBerry 8820 is the first BlackBerry to offer integrated Wi-Fi. The smart phone continues to offer Bluetooth, GPS, and push e-mail capabilities as well as push-to-talk and multimedia functions. We were also impressed by the long talk-time battery life.
The bad: There's no 3G support and no option for a camera version. The QWERTY keyboard can be slippery, and the device uses a proprietary instant messaging client.
The bottom line: The addition of Wi-Fi makes the RIM BlackBerry 8820 an even more powerful communication device for business users, taking it beyond just e-mail and phone calls.
A lot of people have been waiting for this, and the day has finally arrived. Today, AT&T and Research In Motion officially released the RIM BlackBerry 8820, the first BlackBerry to offer integrated Wi-Fi. The 8820 supports 802.11a/b/g standards and is compliant with Wi-Fi security protocols, giving users another avenue to connect to the Web--a good thing since the device shows no love for 3G just yet. It also continues to offer Bluetooth and GPS support like its older sibling, the RIM BlackBerry 8800, as well as push e-mail and multimedia. It's a device built with the business user in mind and definitely won't have the mass appeal of a BlackBerry Pearl or BlackBerry Curve. There's not even a camera option. That said, for the intended audience the 8820 will certainly deliver the goods and performance. The RIM BlackBerry 8820 will be available starting on September 20 for $299.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates.
Design
The RIM BlackBerry 8820 shares a very similar, if not identical, look and feel to the BlackBerry 8800. It sports a classic but sleek all-black casing and measures 4.5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and weighs 4.7 ounces. It's not the quite the compact package of a BlackBerry Curve and as we noted in the 8800 review, the handset is pretty wide, making it slightly uncomfortable to hold when held up to the ear during phone calls. Still, it's slim enough to slip into a pants pocket or bag.
The BlackBerry 8820 sports a 2.5-inch screen that displays 65,000 colors at a 320x240 pixel resolution. Text and images are clear and vibrant, and the screen also features light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the backlighting of the screen, as well as the keyboard and trackball, depending on whether you're indoors or outdoors. We found that this function works well, and we had no problems reading the display under harsh lighting. As with most BlackBerrys, you can adjust the menu style, background image, and theme of the home screen.
The navigation array and full QWERTY keyboard remain unchanged from the BlackBerry 8800. Just below the display you have Talk and End keys, Menu and Escape buttons, and a trackball navigator. These controls are easy to use, but the keyboard may give some users pause. There isn't much space between the keys and though the buttons are pretty large and have a raised ridge to make them more tactile, we found the lacquered finish made the buttons slippery.
There are volume up and down keys on the right spine, while on the left side, you will find a 2.5-millimeter headset jack, a mini USB port, and a convenience key which, by default, launches AT&T's push-to-talk (PTT) services. There is a microSD expansion slot, but unfortunately, it's located behind the battery, so you'll have to take off the back cover every time you want to access it. Finally, the power and mute buttons are on the top of the unit.
Considering it to be a business-centric device, RIM decided not to include a camera on the BlackBerry 8820. This will be a joy to those who work in corporate environments that ban the use of camera phones. And while we certainly appreciate this precaution and understand it's a growing trend among businesses (for security reasons), we still would have liked the option of having a model with a camera. Without one, we think it'll be a disappointment to many potential buyers, especially since this is the first BlackBerry to offer Wi-Fi.
The RIM BlackBerry 8820 comes packaged with an AC adapter, a USB cable, a leather belt holster, a wired headset, a software CD, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phone accessories, ringtones, and help page.
Features
Obviously, the biggest news here is the integrated Wi-Fi, as the RIM BlackBerry 8820 is the first BlackBerry to offer this option. It supports 802.11a/b/g, whether you're using your home or corporate network or hopping onto a Wi-Fi hot spot. There are enterprise security features, including WEP, WPA, and VPN settings. Our review unit was able to detect our test access point immediately, and we had no problem connecting to it or the Web.
Other wireless options include Bluetooth 2.0 with support for wireless headsets, hands-free kits, dial-up networking, and A2DP for stereo Bluetooth headsets. Disappointingly, the BlackBerry 8820 doesn't work on AT&T's 3G network, so you'll have to settle for EDGE speeds. For easy access, there's a Manage Connections menu option where you can turn on and off all the various radios.
On a brighter note, we're happy to see that the smart phone continues to offer integrated GPS like the BlackBerry 8800 does. With the built-in radio, you can use a location-based service, such as AT&T's TeleNav GPS Navigator, and you can get color maps and text- and voice-guided driving directions, and points of interest right on the device. Just be aware that if you choose TeleNav GPS Navigator, this is an add-on service from AT&T that will cost $9.99 per month for unlimited trips or $5.99 for up to 10 trips; check out our full review of TeleNav for more information.
As far as other voice features, the RIM BlackBerry 8820 offers a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, smart dialing, conference calling, speed dial, and world roaming. The phone book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts), offering room in each entry for eight phone numbers, e-mail addresses, work and home address, job title, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can assign a photo to a contact as well to a group category, business or personal. Another AT&T-specific offering is push-to-talk capabilities. Plans start at $9.99 per month, and with it, you can instantly see the availability of your contacts before calling them and make individual or group PTT calls.
Of course, we cannot forget what makes BlackBerrys famous in the first place: e-mail. The RIM BlackBerry 8820 offers the famed push technology and can sync with your company's BlackBerry Enterprise server with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise to deliver corporate e-mail in real time. All in all, the device can support up to 10 accounts, including POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts, and there is an e-mail wizard on the device to guide you through the setup process. An attachment viewer is also onboard to open popular file formats, such as those from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Corel WordPerfect, as well as PDFs, JPEGs, GIFs, and more. Other messaging options include text, multimedia, and instant messaging, although the IMs are once again limited to the proprietary BlackBerry Messenger client. The BlackBerry 8820 includes a number of PIM tools for the business users, including a calendar, a tasks list, a memo pad, an alarm, and a calculator.
For fun, the BlackBerry 8820 has a media player that works with MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, and MIDI music files and MPEG4, WMV, and H.263 video formats. The music player is pretty basic. Aside from standard stop and play functions, you can create playlists as "folders" and shuffle and repeat songs within a certain folder. It also displays some track information, such as title, artist, and album art if available. You can continue to play music as you use the device's other programs, and if you happen to get an incoming call, the BlackBerry 8820 will pause the music and pick up where you left off after you hang up. The BlackBerry 8820 also works with AT&T Mobile Music, so you can listen to your songs and watch music videos, shop for music, listen to XM satellite radio, identify songs, and more. The XM access and Music ID services require a monthly subscription of $8.99 and $3.99, respectively.
For videos, the player has play and stop buttons, and you can fast-forward and rewind clips by clicking the trackball and scrolling right or left. There's also an image viewer, so you can check out your favorite photos. Just remember there's no camera on the 8820, so you'll have so you'll have to get your images onto your device another way: via USB, multimedia message, etc. There's about 64MB of flash memory available, but we suggest using a microSD card to store large media files.
Performance
We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS/EDGE) RIM BlackBerry 8820 in San Francisco using AT&T service, and call quality was generally good. We noticed a slight background hiss on our end, but it didn't prevent us from carrying on a conversation, as voices still sounded loud and clear. We were also able to interact with our bank's automated voice response system. Meanwhile, our friends said we sounded slightly tinny, but it was nothing so distracting that they couldn't continue with the call. Activating the speakerphone actually yielded mixed results. Our callers said we sounded better and even more clear, but we found the volume to be a bit weak and had to adjust the audio to the highest setting. On the upside, we had no problems pairing the BlackBerry 8820 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.
General performance was decent. We didn't experience any long delays when working with the device. Music playback sounded OK through the phone's speakers, but again, volume was slightly weak, and pumping up the volume would just blow out the sound. Video performance was quite good and offered clear image quality, although there was some pixelation during action sequences, as is to be expected. As we noted earlier, we had no problems connecting to our Wi-Fi access point, and we enjoyed speedy Web browsing. We were also able to surf the Net via AT&T's EDGE network, but the slower data speeds tested our patience.
The RIM BlackBerry 8820 is rated for 5 hours of talk time and up to 22 days of standby time. In our battery drain tests, we were able to get 7 hours of talk time on a single charge. According to FCC radiation tests, the 8820 has a digital SAR rating of 1.16 watts per kilogram.
User reviews
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MUCH MUCH Better!
by mdforsyth on September 25, 2007
Pros: WiFi-Speaker-Construction
Cons: WiFi & Battery Life and NO YAHOO IM again!
Summary: I gave up my 8800 Friday for this phone and have been using it for 2 days now. First off the side panels don?t creak anymore and the roller ...
Summary: I gave up my 8800 Friday for this phone and have been using it for 2 days now. First off the side panels don?t creak anymore and the roller button works much better. The Wi-Fi was easy to get up and running and have been using the phone with it on and see that I will need to be charging it as often as possible. Now the edge over 3g, ok should they have 3G YES but they don?t and it still goes out to the web when I need it to, and really if I want faster downloads I would rather do it from my laptop anyway. The speaker sounds much better as well with voices coming in much clearer than the 8800. As far as a camera option missing who really cares this phone is an email tool, not to update Pics on MySpace. I have had almost every version of BB and I can say as a business user this is the best yet. Great Job RIM,, but AT&T you still suck! If you have an 8800 DUMP it you won?t regret it.
Updated
Ok I have had some of the same problems as some users lately. The 8820 doesnt work with ALL wireless routers for some reason. So far I see that is supports WPA(but not using AES) and WEP works fine on certain routers. I have used 3com and it seems to work with them but I know that it wont work with Belkin N1 routers(the new (lcd screen N1)N1 router hasnt been tested yet), your phone might try to connect to it and then reboot for no reason. Updating the firmware from RIMS website through AT&T wont fix this issue, they dont have any info coming out on when RIM will have a fix for this. SO connecting the WiFi will be hit or miss for now. ALSO if you do run into the reboot issue when trying to connect, try powering off your router or ap and once the phone boots up remove the wifi profile it will then act normally again.11 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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RIM BLACKBERRY 8820 AT&T WI-FI ,GPS
by cspacek on April 18, 2008
Pros: nice looking,works well,gps,wi-fi capable,loaded with features
Cons: wi-fi issues on at&t service,
Summary: While RIM is once again on the cutting edge of technology with the Blackberry 8820 AT&T doesn't seem to agree with their marketing strategy.In my particular ...
Summary: While RIM is once again on the cutting edge of technology with the Blackberry 8820 AT&T doesn't seem to agree with their marketing strategy.In my particular case I recieved the 8820 by FedEx and charged the unit.After Using the setup wizard and setting my own preferences throughout the various menu options, I tested the wi-fi function and it worked great!!
Next came the GPS function.With the proliferation of street navigation units on the market I was somewhat disappointed at being limited to the Telenav service option offered by AT&T.I decided there had to be a better option than paying a subscription fee every month to use the GPS function in addition to being charged download fees everytime the map updated on a route.
I downloaded Blackberry Maps and it functioned very well.I still get billed for downloading every map on my route but at least I'm not getting double billed.
Then came the shocker after connecting the 8820 to my laptop to download Blackberry Maps using the program disc from AT&T I found the Wi-Fi function suddenly inoperable.Apparently there is a conflict(?)
with the AT&T software and the 8820 wi-fi function.(AT&T supplies internet access through their GSM network for a fee per kilobyte)
The only fix I have found is to install whatever extras you desire on the 8820 then enable the password security function.Next, repeatedly enter the wrong password until the unit shuts down,resets and goes through an erase function which takes about 45 minutes.When completed the Blackberry Maps add-on was still in place,the Wi-Fi worked and the GPS functioned, and will until I have a need to use the AT&T software again,after which the whole password violation sequence will have to be repeated to get the Wi-Fi function restored.
Tech support at AT&T and RIM claimed to have no clue as to the cause for the wi-fi failure.AT&T also claimed only Telenav will work with the GPS.
All this being said the 8820 is a very impressive unit.Even when out of cell coverage areas or out of the country. information can still be sent and recieved at any internet cafe or wi-fi hotspot.Mine was going back for a refund today until I discovered the fix.If the unit had performed as advertised without all the trouble,if customer service had done their job I would have given the unit a higher rating. The bottom line is the unit functions under the limitations of the service provider not as it is advertised.It took 4 very frustrating days to crack this problem.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I think it is great
by garyosburn on January 4, 2008
Pros: talk time, standby time
Cons: no VOIP (ATT Issue, not Blackberry issue, the phone is capable), Wi-FI reduces standby time alot.
Summary: Up front, my ideal cell phone would be just a plain phone that worked well every time - good voice quality, universal coverage, no lost calls. No MP3, No Camera, ...
Summary: Up front, my ideal cell phone would be just a plain phone that worked well every time - good voice quality, universal coverage, no lost calls. No MP3, No Camera, No GPS.
The balckberry 8820 is a long way from that ideal, but my boss said get a blackberry. The good news is that I can get my email wherever I am. The bad news is that I can get my email from wherever I am.
So I chose the 8820, mostly due to the Wi-Fi. But to be honest, I don't think that is such a big deal. I can access the internet via wi-fi from coffee shops, etc, but I usually would rather have coffee in a coffee shop.
I do want to correct an error made in the original review. There is a Blackberry only chat, but you can also get a universal chat client (for money) or download Yahoo Messenger or Google Chat (for free) they both work just fine either via cell or wi-fi.
Also if your company uses IBM Sametime, there is a (free) Sametime client as well.
You can pay for the GPS service pre-loaded on the unit or download Google Maps for free.
I would like to see a simple clock screen saver so I could see what time it is without logging on (security requriement at work. No coundown timer, no stop watch, just a clock. (in case you havn't figured this out for yourself, I am a pretty simple guy)3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great device that lives up to the BlackBerry legend. But who cares about WiFi? (I'll explain)
by themacdaddy on October 25, 2007
Pros: GPS. Love the form factor! Good battery life. The best email device you can get (and I've had them all)
Cons: No camera. Somewhat lacking in email features (I'll explain...)
Summary: I've had a blackberry before. So I don't know what more to say about the BlackBerry in general that I haven't said already. It's the best ...
Summary: I've had a blackberry before. So I don't know what more to say about the BlackBerry in general that I haven't said already. It's the best email device you can buy. Better than Treo (and I like the Treo, but the BB is better for email). Better than any Windows Mobile device, hands down. I say "Better" because it's reliable and fast. You can always trust that it's working; email is getting pushed to your device, sent emails are pushed up to the server. No nonsense, no clogs....it just works. If you rely on email, this is the device to get. But I wish it were more capable, like desktop email applications. I'd like the ability to search as robustly as I can on my desktop (Search for particular sender, or subject line, etc). I'd also like better handling of attachments. The process and function of downloading and viewing attached images is something out of the early 90s. I also wish it could display HTML encoded email instead of displaying it as plain text.
I love this form factor. It's a little larger than the Curve, but I found the curve to be a little too small. The bigger 8820 feels more comfortable to me. And the GPS is great to have
It annoys me that this BB doesn't have a camera, because it's nice to have from time to time, even for my business purposes.
Finally...WiFi. I found the WiFi to be pretty useless. The BB browser is slow, no matter how you're connected. I found myself waiting.....WAITING for MediaNet to load!! I found myself waiting for other simple sites to load. I mean it got to the point where i wasn't even sure my BB was using the WiFi connection. But it was. What's the point of WiFi on a BlackBerry anyway? You havea WiFi connection in your house, maybe one or two spots around town, and that's basically it. So what's the big deal? How fast do we really need to download these text-only emails? How much web surfing are we gonna be doing on our BlackBerry devices that we need WiFi? I dunno....just seems like a ridiculous feature to me. WFi coverage is SERIOUSLY limited, and all that bandwidth on a device like the blackberry is overkill. So I wish people would get over the gimmick. If you have a need for all that speed, you need to be using a computer to do whatever it is you need that speed for. Not a phone. I mean, get serious.
Anyway....I love this blackberry. If you need a solid phone and an even more solid email device, you really need to get this thing. There's a reason they're called "CrackBerries"3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfect device
by 208GadgetGeek on January 3, 2008
Pros: Everything is great on this phone!
Cons: Nothing yet
Summary: I purchased a Blackberry 8310 (Curve) about three weeks ago. It was my first Blackberry. after taking a few days to get used to the OS, I loved it.
I ...Summary: I purchased a Blackberry 8310 (Curve) about three weeks ago. It was my first Blackberry. after taking a few days to get used to the OS, I loved it.
I ended up taking my 8310 back to the AT&T store because I wasn't happy about the battery life. I paid $53.00 more and got the 8820.
The 8820 is an awesome device! I really don't care about a camera so I don't mind not having one on the 8820.
Everything just flat out works on this phone! The Blackberry OS is brilliant! You get your emails instantly, phone calls sound good and the person on the other end can hear me just fine. The 3rd party applications like TeleNav, ESPN and Google maps work flawless!
If you need a real business device, don't think of getting any other device... Get the Blackberry 8820. It's the Best one on the market!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Let's get to the point
by 00siris on December 26, 2007
Pros: WiFi enabled, great sound quality (nice speakers too), super simple and friendly emailing, GPS, great screen quality, charges via USB, easy and intuitive button placement, and trackball
Cons: poor access to media card from the device, akward and confusing folder/filing operating system, proprietary IM out the box, limited instructions out the box.
Summary: Often times I read reviews of products that really amount to nothing more than "I'll show you how smart/saavy I am by pointing out all the limitations that ...
Summary: Often times I read reviews of products that really amount to nothing more than "I'll show you how smart/saavy I am by pointing out all the limitations that I can find."
That being, said this review is for people who just like gadgets - useful gadgets.
I'll start by saying this: -- This phone is one fine machine !!!!!!!!!!
Here's why.
It is a Blackberry cell phone and, as such, there are 2 fundamentals - - - phone and blackberry.
First fundamental - the reason why anyone would purchase this (I hope) is because it's a phone - first and foremost. So the important thing is how does it function AS A PHONE? I used to own a Treo 650 and I loved that 'phone'. My biggest problem with it, however, the call quality was abysmal. With the 8820, everyone can hear me just fine and I can hear them clearly. I can easily adjust the volume on the right side of the device
Fundamental 2 - It's a Blackberry.
I've never owned a Blackberry before, but I hear they are unrivaled - not even close. And experiencing the 8820, I can see why. Setting up/linking ny email account(s) could not have been any easier. All you do is go tothe email setup mode, enter your email address and password, and voila! You're done! No SMTP/POP server information; No confusing setups or configurations; Just hook right up and you're ready.
And unlike the iPhone, your inbox notification is real time (not every 15 minutes or so) and you can see the title and who its from at an immediate glance.
You can even set up different notifications for different email boxes so you'll know which email account is receiving messages.
Now the rest is gravy and very good gravy I might add.
Some will notice right away that there is no camera with this phone - I say so what? I've never been in a spot where I found a great photo opportunity and the image from a cell phone camera would suit. I have a real camera that handles that job rather nicely and I'd like to keep it that way.
In place of the ubiquitous camera in the 8820 is the highly desired and useful WiFi. Just like a laptop it locates signals and connects with a push of a button. This has practical or business and personal purposes. Geat job RIM.
The calendar/planner is very similar to the Palm (Treo 650) so you get the benefits with your scheduling, alarms, reminders, and so on. But Blackberry's "Desktop Manager" software makes synchronization to your desktop/laptop a snap. And you don't need Outlook (Microsoft) to do it.
To use AT&T association with TelNav GPS direction system, there is an additional monthly fee. I say why bother? Simply download google maps from your device and you get a great GPS direction/mapping system free of charge. They just don't offer the voice.
Should you want to store media on your device, you'd have to buy a micro SD card and depending on the size of the card, you'd have all the pictures, music, and other files that you would need. to enjoy whenever you like, however you like. And although the music and video players are as basic as it can get, the quality for a device this size is pretty impressive.
I've read critism about this phone not being on the 3G network but EDGE speed to me is fine. In fact, I really don't understand this criticism at all because I don't wait much longer for my pages to load than I do from my computer. Sheesh.
Voice dialing is seamless and the profile settings completely are customizable - FANTASTIC.
Not so great is the structure of the files. It takes a while to figure out how to maneuvure to what you want to do. They don't make it easy. As well, the "getting started" guide is just that. I had to go online to get more defined functions.
And although there is a lot of software out there that can integrate different instant message (IM) clients, Blackberry's proprietary IM is a miss in my book.
I must say that I do miss my stylus and touch screen capability from my Treo. But the track ball is a pretty good runner up.
All in all, this an extremely impressive product. And when you couple it with some of the third party software like Google and Handmark, it is just flawless.
Remember people, you get all this functionality from a mere CELL PHONE - and at that price point it's going to be hard to beat.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent device
by sbagaria on October 2, 2007
Pros: Smooth transition between WiFi & Edge, excellent phone quality (even speakerphone), easy navigation
Cons: Bluetooth has a little static a little more often than other phones
Summary: This is an excellent device! I've never owned a Blackberry before and I became interested with the 8800 when others in the office showed it to me. When the ...
Summary: This is an excellent device! I've never owned a Blackberry before and I became interested with the 8800 when others in the office showed it to me. When the 8820 came out with WiFi as well as GPS, it became the device I had to try out. As fate would have it, my other phone kicked the bucket, so I got a few reviews from CNET as well as coworkers who had the 8800.
After purchasing the phone, I had a bit of learning to do and figured that it would take me a few days to get used to it since, after all, I was coming from a RAZR. The 8820 couldn't have been easier to setup with the wizards and simple interface. In no time, I had the device setup just the way I wanted it and was using it with ease. I setup a few email accounts which I had the option of keeping them separate or combining them in one box. The 8820 switches from WiFi and EDGE smoothly and was a breeze to setup the WiFi connection. I don't broadcast my SSID and the 8820 had no issues getting on the network which is more than I can say for Windows.
My only complaint is that I use a Motorola H700 bluetooth headset and I hear static more often now than when I used it with the RAZR. The other party doesn't hear the static, so I'm unsure what the issue is, but I figure that it's something to do with the connection from the headset to the phone.
I couldn't give this device a 10 because there was no 3G, the static in the bluetooth, and no option to get a camera. I know a lot of people out there can't use the camera, but I don't work in a place that's restricted from camera phones and I would've liked to have had the option to get one. Other than that, this device is near perfect and I am completely satisfied with it. Maybe in a year or two (I'm not under contract) RIM will have the camera, 3G, and improved bluetooth option.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Fantastic!
by clev86 on September 5, 2007
Pros: Lightweight, slim, and bright screen. Loud ringtones.
Cons: Navigation needs time to get use to. GPS not pre-loaded
Summary: Well, I just got it in Singapore. They launched it here in MobileOne about 4-5 days ago.
There is only one colour available: Black for the front and back; with ...Summary: Well, I just got it in Singapore. They launched it here in MobileOne about 4-5 days ago.
There is only one colour available: Black for the front and back; with silver accents on the side. Applications are similar to 8800 otherwise.
A good buy at (with 2 years contract sign-up) for those who doesn't need the camera, but requires the wi-fi and GPS. Package comes with a swivel clip pouch, headset, and adapters. Oh, let's not forget the one year warranty.4 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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some flaws, but pretty darned good
by noglider on July 24, 2008
Pros: rock-solid reliable, wi-fi rules, nice form factor, clear audio in phone. excellent screen
Cons: user interface, battery life, weak vibrator
Summary: It says a lot that I'm willing to drop $400 on this device. I got it from T-Mobile, and since I had an existing contract with them, this was ...
Summary: It says a lot that I'm willing to drop $400 on this device. I got it from T-Mobile, and since I had an existing contract with them, this was the best discount they could give me. I agreed to renew for two years.
I'm an old Palm Treo fan. Their user interface is the best I've seen. But I gave up on them, as the reliability of my 680 was quite bad. I think that company is going under.
I still think the user interface on Blackberrys is sub-par. Lots of clicking required, and the menus are text rather than graphic. Would it be too much to ask for a touch screen? Just take a look: it takes less diddling with a Treo to get something done than with a Blackberry.
With that said, reliability is key, and the Blackberry shines. It just works. Yeah, baby.
The phone is loud and clear, and coming from me, that's a huge compliment. I'm hard to please there.
I'm not using the Enterprise server, so the email application doesn't keep accurate track of which messages I've read. If I've read a message on my desktop, the Blackberry will still think it's unread. But that's probably a hard problem to solve, and it doesn't bother me much.
I almost always prefer to use vibrate function rather than an audible ring. This phone vibrates weakly, so I miss some calls. And I really, really wish for a hardware button or switch to go between vibrating and audible ring. The Treo has that, and it's indispensible while driving: I don't have to look at the phone to switch the mode. RIM, take note!
Screen is clear and bright. The adaptive brightness setting is so good, I don't even notice it.
Underlying Blackberry devices is a sophisticated operating system. It is probably more advanced than the Treo. (Sorry I keep making that comparison, but these are the two devices I have experience with.) The user interface seems quite behind. I think they could get even more happy customers if they took a few lessons from Palm. But no one can beat the reliability of the Blackberry.
And why do I love having wi-fi on my phone? Not so much for email or web surfing but because I have no cellular signal in my home. But with wi-fi, I can still make and receive calls with my cell number. You can't imagine what a big gain this is, because I tell my friends and family that my cell doesn't work at home, but they forget and still call that number only, leave a message, and I don't get the message until I leave the house, which is often not until the next day.
The battery doesn't last 24 hours for me, and I doubt I'm the heaviest type of user. I remember to turn off wi-fi when I'm out of the house, to save battery life. The short battery life means I have to keep a charger nearby. But thank goodness you use USB for charging. Good move, RIM, and you save us money, since those proprietary connectors are such a rip-off. I've only had the phone five days, and I expect the battery life to get worse as it ages.
As I said, I've only had this phone five days, so my overall impressions may change. So far, so good!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best offering to date
by chuburnaman on March 14, 2008
Pros: wi-fi, ease of usage
Cons: Camera option, lack of 3G
Summary: This was my first exposure to a smartphone and it turned out to be very rewarding. The ease of use and the support of almost any activity from surfing the ...
Summary: This was my first exposure to a smartphone and it turned out to be very rewarding. The ease of use and the support of almost any activity from surfing the internet, E mail and entertainment has sold me on RIM products. Battery life was terrific. The camera option would be great.
I also feel 3G would be great, but not if the battery life would suffer as it does on many other makes of phones.
RIM rules.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
- Part number: 8820 (AT&T)
- Description: The BlackBerry 8820 smartphone is the stylish way to get things done. With powerful capabilities, yet incredibly compact and slim, it combines a stylish design with a premium finish. Elegant and performance-driven, this is a smartphone you'll always want to show off. The BlackBerry 8820 is packed with incredible features, such as built-in GPS, Wi-Fi support, BlackBerry maps, a multimedia player, expandable memory, voice dialing and trackball navigation. It doesn't compromise on core BlackBerry functionality though. It also offers email and text messaging (SMS and MMS), instant messaging, organizer, web browser and advanced phone features.
General
- Product Type BlackBerry
- Service Provider Not specified
Cellular
- Technology GSM
- Band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband)
- Phone Design Candy bar
- Vibrating Alert Yes
- Phone Navigation Buttons Trackball
- Voice Dialing Yes
- Caller ID Yes
- Wireless Interface IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth 2.0
- Additional Features GPS, microSD memory card
Communicator Features
- Operating System BlackBerry Handheld Software
Messaging & Data Services
- Short Messaging Service (SMS) Yes
- GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Yes
- EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates For Global Evolution) Yes
- Internet Browser Yes
- Messaging / Data Features Text messages, Multimedia messages (MMS)
Multimedia Features
- Downloadable Content Wallpapers, Ring tones, Games
GPS System
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
Display
- Type LCD display
- Technology TFT
- Display Resolution 320 x 240 pixels
- Color Depth 16-bit (65000 colors)
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headset jack, 1 x USB
Power
- Type Power adapter
Battery
- Technology - Lithium ion
Manufacturer info
- Research In Motion Ltd.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Research In Motion Ltd. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.rim.net
- Address:
295 Phillip Street
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3W8, Waterloo, ON - Phone: 519/888-7465
- Email: webinfo@rim.net
- Fax: 519-888-7884
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