RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 - red (AT&T)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd. Part number: Curve 8310 (Red) (AT&T)
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- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
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- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Still offering an attractive design and excellent messaging capabilities, the addition of GPS makes the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 an even more attractive choice for road warriors.
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CNET editors' review
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 - red (AT&T) price range: $49.99
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 11/02/2007
- Updated on:12/12/2007
The good: The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 adds GPS capabilities to the already impressive and sleek messaging smartphone. You also get a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and good call quality.
The bad: The Curve 8310 doesn't offer Wi-Fi or 3G support. The Web browser isn't the sleekest, and the camera lacks video-recording capabilities. Also, unlike the T-Mobile version, you only get the proprietary BlackBerry Messenger IM client.
The bottom line: Still offering an attractive design and excellent messaging capabilities, the addition of GPS makes the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 an even more attractive choice for road warriors.
Editor's note: This review has been updated to include the results of our battery drain testing.
Back in May, we fell in love with the original RIM BlackBerry Curve, but a recent refresh of the smartphone has our hearts pitter pattering all over again. The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 keeps the same sleek design and robust messaging capabilities of its predecessor, but then adds GPS capabilities. The ability to use your smartphone as a navigation device is particularly useful for mobile professionals who are constantly on the road, running to meetings or traveling for business trips. And we found it to be quite the capable navigator during our road tests using the TeleNav GPS Navigator service. The tradeoff is that for the GPS, you give up integrated Wi-Fi, which is what T-Mobile opted for in the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8320 (we know--we want both, too) and there's no 3G support yet. For this review, we chose to concentrate on the features and performance of the device; for more details on the phone's design, please check our review of the original Curve. The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 is available now from AT&T for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates, in either red or titanium.
Features
The biggest difference between the original Curve and the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 is the addition of GPS. With this feature, you can use Curve as a handheld navigation device with the addition of a location-based service (LBS) or navigation software, such as Google Maps for Mobile. AT&T offers its own LBS called TeleNav GPS Navigator, which includes color maps and text- and voice-guided driving directions, and local search. You can find out more about the add-on service in our full review of TeleNav, and be aware that the service costs $9.99 per month for unlimited trips or $5.99 for up to 10 trips. Check out the Performance section to see how the Curve fared as a navigator.
Other wireless radios on the Curve 8310 include Bluetooth and EDGE. Bluetooth allows you to connect to wireless headsets, Bluetooth stereo headsets, and hands-free kits. In addition, there's support for object exchange and dial-up networking so you can use the device as a wireless modem for your laptop. Unlike T-Mobile's Curve, however, this version doesn't have integrated Wi-Fi, so you'll have to surf the Web via AT&T's EDGE network. As we've said many times before, we know EDGE isn't that slow, but after using other 3G-enabled phones, the EDGE data transfer speeds tested our patience a bit.
As for voice features, the Curve is a quad-band world phone and offers a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, smart dialing, conference calling, and speed dial. The phone features advanced audio technology that's supposed to cancel out background noise and echoes and will automatically increase the volume when you're in a noisy environment. In addition, the smartphone supports AT&T's push-to-talk service, allowing you to instantly see the availability of your contacts before calling them and make individual or group PTT calls. PTT plans start at $9.99 per month. The BlackBerry 8310's phonebook is limited only by the available memory--the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts--with room in each entry for eight phone numbers, e-mail addresses, work and home addresses, job title, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can assign a photo to a contact as well a group category--business or personal--or one of 45 polyphonic ringtones. The Curve also supports MP3 and MIDI ringtones.
And what's a BlackBerry without e-mail? Like other models, the Curve 8310 is compatible 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. In total, the device can support as many as 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. The recently added spell-check feature will look for any spelling errors in your messages before they're sent and offer alternatives to misspelled words. And while it's available for e-mails and memos, unfortunately it's not available for text messages. An attachment viewer is also onboard to open popular file formats such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, PDFs, JPEG, GIF, and more, and we were able to receive and open all files. Other messaging options include text, multimedia, and instant messaging, although the latter is limited to the proprietary BlackBerry Messenger client.
One-upping the BlackBerry Pearl, the Curve boasts a 2-megapixel camera (vs. 1.3 megapixels) with a 5x zoom and a built-in flash, but unfortunately, still no video-recording capabilities. You do get three picture sizes (1,600x1,200; 1,024x768; and 640x480) and three quality options (superfine, fine, and normal). You can also tweak the white balance and add color effects. Picture quality was decent. Images were sharp, and though we wish the colors were a bit brighter, the quality was better than a number of other camera-equipped smartphones we've tested recently.
For more entertainment, there's also a media player onboard that supports MP3, AAC, MIDI, and WAV music files and AVI, MP4, MOV, and 3GP video formats. There's 64MB of flash memory, but you should store multimedia files on a microSD card since they tend to be memory hogs. The music player is pretty rudimentary, but it displays some track information such as title, artist, and album art, and you can create playlists as well as shuffle and repeat songs. You can have music play in the background as you use the device's other apps, and if there's an incoming call, the Curve will pause the music, then pick up where you left off after you hang up. One notable improvement to the video player is the support for full-screen mode, so you can take advantage of the entire screen's real estate. The 3.5mm headset jack is also a boost, since it gives you the ability to plug in a better set of headphones or earbuds.
Performance
We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) RIM BlackBerry Curve in San Francisco using AT&T service, and call quality was just OK. We had no problems hearing our callers or interacting with our bank's automated voice response system, but we did notice a slight background hiss. Speakerphone quality was good, and we were able to connect to the BlackBerry with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.
General performance was fairly responsive. Occasionally, we had to watch the hourglass twirl but we didn't run into too many delays when opening or working in various apps. Web-browsing definitely could have used a speed boost, and the BlackBerry Web browser isn't the sleekest, so the Curve isn't exactly a standout in this category. Music playback through the device's speakers was good for a cell phone, with plenty of volume and good balance. Video clips were smooth with synchronized audio and images, but as expected, there was some pixelation of the picture during action sequences.
As for the GPS capabilities, it took the Curve about 10 minutes to acquire the necessary satellites to get a fix on our position and we also noticed that it took a while for the maps images to fully load. However, once locked on, the Curve did a good job of tracking our location and providing us with directions. We entered a trip from the Marina district of San Francisco to CNET's downtown headquarters, and the TeleNav service quickly returned with accurate directions. We were also impressed that the app offers text-to-speech functionality, so it speaks actual street names, allowing you to pay more attention to the road rather than looking at the phone's screen. That said, maps looked sharp and vibrant on the Curve's display.
The BlackBerry Curve is rated for 4 hours of talk time and as long as 17 days of standby time. In our battery drain tests, we were able to beat the rated talk time by an hour with 5 hours on a single charge. According to FCC radiation tests, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 has a digital SAR rating of 1.51 watts per kilogram.
User reviews
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Great if you don't want to use the calendar or other organizational features
by momosplace on July 16, 2008
Pros: Phone quality and email ease
Cons: Trackball is obnoxious, calendar and all organizational feature difficult to use and internet is mostly unreadable
Summary: I have had a palm treo for years, my first pda was the treo 180. When it died after 4 years I didn't want to give up the great ...
Summary: I have had a palm treo for years, my first pda was the treo 180. When it died after 4 years I didn't want to give up the great organizational features but no one made pda's with the keyboard anymore so I upgraded to a smartphone pda from palm - it was horrid - no battery life (treo 680). When after 18 months it started acting up I started looking since AT&T no longer sold the treo 680 I needed to find something different. I read and I talked to people, everyone raves about thier Blackberry, so I decided to give the curve a try. It is a great phone call quality is good, I liked the weight and size. Setting up and using email was a breeze.
It is now 2 weeks later and I have returned the Curve. If you want a smart phone with good call quality and easy access to emails this is the phone for you.
But... if you use your pda for any of the organizational features it is lame at best. The calendar and other feature have less flexiblity than Outlook. (and I didn't think anything was worse than that) The trackball is very difficult to use. You think you are pushing and it has jumped down 2 lines in the menu.
As I said I used the palm for years and with palm you can organize everything. I had 16 catergories to choice from on my calendar and in the memo and task sections. Blackberry has none. No color coding, no seperating to keep lists managable.
The phone log will only allow you to sort by missed calls. I frequently sort prior calls by in-going and out-going - no longer an option.
The internet browser - one comes stanadard another was recommended as a download are very difficult to read. Pages don't configure to the screen. Every time you change a page the whole page shows and you have to do 3 or 4 step with the trackball to zoom in and make it readable. Also bookmarks are hard to get to. They are in a sub-menu of another sub-menu.
Maybe if I had more patience I would have gotten used to it. I also think that people who have used only Blackberry probably are more tolerant of the phone. Since email isn't my priority but keeping track of work assignments, grad school, personal stuff, etc is, I needed a smartphone that actually makes tracking stuff easy not frustrating.
So as bad as palm is for other stuff I went back for my calendar and task management needs.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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World of difference....
by jsburdge on December 10, 2007
Pros: It is not a Treo
Cons: I have not found anything yet. Everything works like it should.
Summary: I use my phone for business and a dependable smart phone is a must. My company supplied me with a new Treo 650. My boss used a Treo 600 for ...
Summary: I use my phone for business and a dependable smart phone is a must. My company supplied me with a new Treo 650. My boss used a Treo 600 for years and said this should work even better. Everything was fine until I start receiving text messages about new software updates. One update would fix a problem but cause 2 more. The phone would reboot 2-3 times a day and would not open attachments to emails. I would drop calls everytime I was on the phone. I finally had enough after 2 1/2 years and told my boss I would pay for my next phone. I read the reviews here on Cnet and decided my next phone would be the Blackberry Curve or iPhone. When I saw the 2 phones in person I worried the iPhone could not take the abuse that I tended to dish out on cell phones. The one piece front looked neat and seemed to work fine but what if I dropped it? So I decided on the Blackberry and Wow what a difference!!! The phone worked straight out of the box without upgrades. I can make calls and not drop calls (I stayed with the same network), I get my emails and it opens attachments without any problem. The best part is I have not had to download software updates. Setting up my email was very easy and downloading my customer contacts was simple. My old Treo would not link directly to Outlook without problems but my Blackberry will. I would recommend this phone to anyone. I have heard that Blackberry was the phone to have if you were a saleman and lived on your phone. Now I am a true believer. Shop around for the best price. I ended up getting a $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate from AT&T. After I sell my Treo on the net I should have around $100 to $150 in this phone. Well worth the price.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Blackberry Curve 8310 - Red -- My New Girlfriend...sort of
by fredfoto on October 23, 2007
Pros: Fast, QWERTY keyboard, camera+flash, browser, clear call quality...even while using included stereo earbuds, kick ass trackball
Cons: Sometimes fingers press more than one key while typing, some things require more key presses than I think are necessary, owner's manual blows
Summary: Hey,
I just got my first Blackberry. It's a red Curve 8310, and it's with the carrier AT&T. It just arrived yesterday. It was delivered via ...Summary: Hey,
I just got my first Blackberry. It's a red Curve 8310, and it's with the carrier AT&T. It just arrived yesterday. It was delivered via FedEx (2-Day Free). I opened the box, and was surprised that AT&T allowed me to pay $200+ for a phone and accessories, and didn't even have the courtesy to place any type of padding in the box. Oh well, it's fine.
As I took the Blackberry out, I noticed it came with some great accessories. Other than a battery and wall/travel charger, this device also comes with a pair of Blackberry stereo earbuds (3.5mm jack and call/end button and two foam pieces for earbuds..part that goes in your ear). Also with this device was a Blackberry User Tools CD, which honestly, made the brightness on my Macbook dim all the way when I installed it. It installed over 3000 things, and asks if you want support for Lotus Notes. I seriously think this CD was intended for a PC (the images in the manual are not what I saw on my Mac). I'm not sure if I'll keep it installed, but among other things, PocketMac, as it's called, will allow me to charge the Curve 8310 from my laptop (via the included USB cable).
The QWERTY keyboard is a nice change from my Razr V3, and the call quality is clearer. I have always heard the whole "it's the network"...or something like that...from I think, Verizon. Anyway, apparently, it was that piece of crap Razr phone. I always liked Moto, but I am glad I switched.
The phone has bluetooth, which I will be using to transfer some 2MP pics from the camera on this device (also has a flash) to my Macbook. I am not a fan of bluetooth headsets, as my Moto HS850 never held a charge for all that long...but the included earbuds provide very clear and loud call quality....unlike my old Razr V3.
You can setup up to 10 e-mail accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, etc), and be notified when you have new messages. The signature notifying people you are sending from a Blackberry and from AT&T, cannot be removed (at least I couldn't do it yet. When I clicked delete next to the text, I was taken to the previous page, rather than the text just deleting...but I think you can add text...I'll have to play with this feature a bit more to see what is possible). Signature can be added to e-mails in the Setup Wizard. After setting up an e-mail account, go back in and click "edit". After setup, e-mail takes about 20 minutes before it will begin arriving.
Ringtones took me the longest time to figure out (how to change them). It gets easier later on in the day, after you realize you are fired for being in what Seinfeld called (on Leno the other night) a Blackberry coma.
You can switch ringtones, have the phone ring when it's out of the optional case (I also purchased a Blackberry case...not that great of a design, but will have to do), and vibrate when it's in the case. If you choose a media package, you can view things like Yellowpages.com in Media Net, and search sites like Craigslist using the Browser.
The QWERTY keyboard is pretty cool. Some things take some getting use to though. For example, if you set the keypad to automatically lock when it's placed in the holster/case, you will need to unlock it when you remove the device. You need to press * and the green call button. However, in order to make the number a *, you first need to press the alt key. You also have to press alt when choosing any alternative to a key. Want "8" to be "x" (same key)....look forward to pressing the alt key.
You can press the red call end button to return to the home menu.
The trackball is the pearl to this device. From pictures, it looks like a piece of rubber that is flat. Looks can be deceiving. It's an actual ball, like on the video games from the 90s or whenever...only better. It's really smooth. This device is no laptop/desktop, mainly because there are more steps to most everything (media net/browswer) and you can't order from sites (ie: shoes from Zappos) or list on ebay, but for a mobile device, it's the new love of my life. Sorry, I seriously need to get some friends.
I seem to press two keys at once or the wrong key sometimes, and pressing "alt" and then wanting the number seven, sometimes gives me the letter (on the same key) instead of the seven. Hopefully it's me and not the device...which only comes with a year warranty, and according to AT&T, I cannot buy the equipment insurance for the device...which sucks. I do have 30 days to return it though, if I wanted to do so.
On the side of the phone, is a volume up and down key(s). They work when you are on a call. There is also a dedicated camera key. It's looks like the smart key that was on my Razr. There is a menu button, a previous (menu/page) button, CAPS lock, return, space, symbol, etc button(s). The screen is REALLY clear. Themes/wallpaper blows, but if you have the interest and/or the cash, you can download new ones. The ringtones are decent...again, you can download new ones.
Having never owned a Blackberry before, I must say that I truly feel that whoever wrote the manual was snorting something at the time. It tells you basic things, like how to start the Setup Wizard (set time/date/setup e-mail, etc). It says what's included in the box, tells you how to insert the battery, how to send an e-mail, how to use the phone (you must choose the phone option in the menu), how to setup voicemail, how to browse the web, how to manage appointments and contacts (may need certain media package...not sure though), how to use Push to Talk (subscription required), how to load music and drain your bank account if you so desire (optional...up to..2GB card sold seperately), how to play videos and shop online for music, etc, TeleNav (subscription required), bluetooth setup, synchronizing the device with a computer, some tips and tricks, icons and indicators, and functions and applications.
Going back a bit -- When took the device out of the box, I put in the battery. The device came on, and I started the setup wizard. You have to activate the thing though (around $35 or $36). With AT&T, I had to fully charge the battery, with the Curve 8310 off. I then used my home phone to call and activate. It said it was already done. Battery charging (according to the manual), can take an hour or more. A green light blinks on the front, and then stays green when fully charged. It finished charging around noon or 12:30 yesterday, and it's now 10:14a.m, and that green light is blinking red. Guess I need to recharge. Then again, I have been using my crackberry non-stop since then trying to learn how to set ringtones, and use the other features. The manual gives you a very basic idea. The rest is up to you. If you have never used a Blackberry before, I would recommend at least an hour or two to figure it out, and over a day to master it. I still haven't. I'm getting faster at typing, but it's kind of messing up my (computer) keyboard typing..as I am trying to now picture my Blackberry instead of my computer keyboard.
As far as the camera, I wish they would have added glass (or whatever clear material they use), of the battery cover....the part...the hole...that goes over the camera lens. It doesn't really matter because I have a case, but it would be a nice feature. It also has a self-portrait mirror. I'm not seeing how to turn off the flash, but I think I just need to use this device more. This device is like gambling. You cut out your friends, your loved ones, you stop working, you stop smiling, you stop eating. It's just you and this addiction.
I'm sure I'm forgetting things, and will have info to add to this as I continue to use the device. Hopefully this has given first-time (and people who want to upgrade) Blackberry users some idea of how this sophisticated device works. Before I forget, on the Blackberry case....you cannot remove the clip from the case, so when you want to remove the case, you have to unclip it from your belt. The case/clip swivels when some force is applied, and the case doesn't cover the very top of the blackberry screen/device (left and right of magnetic closure). Thanks for reading this, and happy crackberrying.Updated
I said earlier that I didn't like bluetooth, but liked the included stereo earbuds. The earbuds are corded, not bluetooth...if I made them sound (later in the review, after I talked about the 3.5mm jack) as if they were bluetooth. I apologize for any confusion that may have caused.Updated
I said earlier that I didn't like bluetooth, but liked the included stereo earbuds. The earbuds are corded, not bluetooth...if I made them sound (later in the review, after I talked about the 3.5mm jack) as if they were bluetooth. I apologize for any confusion that may have caused.Updated
I said earlier that I didn't like bluetooth, but liked the included stereo earbuds. The earbuds are corded, not bluetooth...if I made them sound (later in the review, after I talked about the 3.5mm jack) as if they were bluetooth. I apologize for any confusion that may have caused.Updated
I said earlier that I didn't like bluetooth, but liked the included stereo earbuds. The earbuds are corded, not bluetooth...if I made them sound (later in the review, after I talked about the 3.5mm jack) as if they were bluetooth. I apologize for any confusion that may have caused.Updated
I had said previously that I didn't like bluetooth headsets, but I liked the included stereo earbuds. Just to clarify, the included stereo earbuds are corded, not bluetooth. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.Updated
When I said earlier that I didn't like bluetooth headsets, but I liked the included stereo earbuds....the included earbuds are corded, not bluetooth, just to clarify. Also, I keep getting Gmail sent messages (when I send a message using Gmail), in my inbox. They are showing up as a new message. Apparently, this is common:
http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/
search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=
kc&externalId=KB10332&sliceId=SAL_
Public&dialogID=59590699&stateId=0%
200%2032825472
I am getting the hang of the camera/camera settings. It took forever to figure out bluetooth file transfers to my Macbook. I was pairing it like my old Razr V3, and it wasn't working. You have to go into your pics, click the menu button, and scroll down to the bluetooth link. Click on that, and you can transfer files. I ended up uninstalling PocketMac. It was okay, but not anything I really need. It had an easy Uninstall button I clicked on.Updated
When I said earlier that I didn't like bluetooth headsets, but I liked the included stereo earbuds....the included earbuds are corded, not bluetooth, just to clarify. Also, I keep getting Gmail sent messages (when I send a message using Gmail), in my inbox. They are showing up as a new message. Apparently, this is common:
http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/
search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=
kc&externalId=KB10332&sliceId=SAL_
Public&dialogID=59590699&stateId=0%
200%2032825472
I am getting the hang of the camera/camera settings. It took forever to figure out bluetooth file transfers to my Macbook. I was pairing it like my old Razr V3, and it wasn't working. You have to go into your pics, click the menu button, and scroll down to the bluetooth link. Click on that, and you can transfer files. I ended up uninstalling PocketMac. It was okay, but not anything I really need. It had an easy Uninstall button I clicked on.Updated
There sure are a TON of steps to go through. To change e-mail signature, filtersetc, you have to create a Blackberry account. Great, one more username and password to remember. www.att.com/blackberrystartUpdated
You know, it's an amazing device...but with some flaws. It's not playing well with my Mac (managing music using User Tools CD), and there is no equipment insurance available for this device. The screen (when the camera is on) looks blurry until the picture is taken...the flash can be set to off, on, or automatic (battery life goes down when it's left on). I was using it so much and staring at the small screen, my eyes are a bit out of focus and I have a sick to my stomach feeling. Bluetooth file transfers worked well, and although I did figure out this device, it takes WAY to long to learn, as the owner's manual doesn't tell you everything. You have to sign up for a Blackberry account on the device, then login online (using a computer) to update filter preferences (if using Gmail), and then you have to create a seperate AT&T account to check your bill/minute usage/features/etc. Over all, it's just not the device for me. I had some time to uncancel my old Razr V3, so I did that. It has it's many problems, and I'll have to upgrade in a few months when my phone needs to be replaced, and it doesn't have the QWERTY keyboard, but it's easier to use....and my old phone number is easier to remember. I'm sure I could say a lot more, but this is enough. Oh yeah, AT&T will be refunding my money (for equipment, not usage), but still wants the activation fee. I'm to worn out from learning to run this device, but soon, I'll have to call to try to get that activation fee back. Even Verizon refunds that fee under the 30-Day Test Drive. We'll see. Thanks for reading this review.Updated
I like that this device can be setup to notify me when I get a new e-mail (media/data package required)....and a ton of things don't play well with my Macbook...so, because I had 59 days to re-activate my account, I went ahead and called AT&T to re-activate it....and my Macbook, well, I have had it for exactly 30 days...Apple will not make a return exception, so it's going on ebay. I am a fan of Apple, but I think they should come back out with the Powerbooks again, and then maybe in the future, I'll become a customer again. I'm sad to see the computer go, but I'm moving forward, to a new device called a Blackberry.Updated
I just went through a miserable experience returning this phone. The feature that forwards/alerts me when I get new e-mails has stopped working. I hate paying a lot of money (for the device and for the service plan), and then having a feature not work. If you're a fan of the show Seinfeld, than you will know what I mean when I say a Costanza line from being so angry right now -- TWIIIIIXXXX! I am done with AT&T. Verizon wasn't much better, but I'm to afraid to try Sprint or T-Mobile. I may just try a Razr2 or something else. I'm about at the point where I don't even want a phone, but I may just try Verizon again....even after I had around 4 Razr maxx Ve phones, with the feature broken that would have allowed me to e-mail video.Updated
The memory card, if you choose to purchase one of those micro sd cards (takes up to a 2GB card), has to be placed under the battery. Guess what? For whatever reason, the makers of this device decided that when you remove the battery, the device is reset. I'm not sure if you have a bit of time for it not to be reset, but just inserting the memory card, at least for me, reset the device. Look forward to setting the time, and a few other things, in the Setup Wizard on this device. If you should choose to delete e-mail accounts that you have setup because they stop deliving/pushing e-mail to your device (ie: Gmail that needs filters setup), look forward to logging back into your Blackberry account (on a computer) to setup filters again...if you happen to want them setup. AT&T allowed me to cancel without early termination because it's within the first 30 days. On my other device (also with AT&T, the contract was out. Luckily, because once when I called, they said if I didn't like the service, I should feel free to take my number to another carrier. I left the number behind ($18 transfer fee to even get your current number to a new device, according to the person I spoke with). Now that the contract ran out on that device, I'm leaving the number, but I am going to a different carrier. However, I still have to pay for usage, and I don't get my activation fee back. I'm going to try Verizon once again. This time with a Razr2. They offer a 30-Day Test Drive, so hopefully this time around it will go smoothly. If not, I think I could write a book called...5 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome phone.....!
by John_M on February 7, 2008
Pros: Everything
Cons: only one - it should be on the 3g network....!
Summary: Switched from Verizon (was there 6 years and was great service) on a family plan so my son could get an iPhone. I had the BB 8703e so I upgraded ...
Summary: Switched from Verizon (was there 6 years and was great service) on a family plan so my son could get an iPhone. I had the BB 8703e so I upgraded to the Curve and all I can say is wow. The functionality is waaaay better than the offering from Verizon. Verizon crippled the phone. It didn't have GPS, MMS and could only write 160 character SMS messages. Curve has MMS, let's you do multi-part SMS, has GPS, camera, etc. So far I have zero complaints. When the next gen BB comes out if it has everything this has but with 3G support, I will change. Have played with my son's iphone (which I like) but I would still use this over it for now. iPhone is missing a lot of features the Curve from AT&T has. So far am also happy with the AT&T network. Even their EDGE network sometimes seems faster than the EVDO I was on with Verizon. Thanks AT&T and RIM for a great combination....!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Almost Perfect - Has everything except Wi-Fi
by psbjames69 on November 11, 2007
Pros: Easy to use interface, lots of packed features.
Cons: No Wi-Fi support
Summary: Bottom line, this blackberry rocks. I added a 2Gb Micro SD card and now carry only this when I travel for business (since it has a great MP3 player built ...
Summary: Bottom line, this blackberry rocks. I added a 2Gb Micro SD card and now carry only this when I travel for business (since it has a great MP3 player built in). E-mail is fast and easy to use, web browsing is pretty good, phone quality is superb.
The only drawback is no wi-fi support. If it had that, it would then get a 10.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Smartphone
by galindenba on December 7, 2008
Pros: Lots of features. Many excellent and truly free apps available. Great battery life. Great coverage with ATT. Synchs with my corp network and Outlook.
Cons: Small keys. No wifi. Music Player has limited functionality. Desktop Media interface slow, buggy, klunky. Browser is not user friendly.
Summary: I had Treo and got rid of it inside of a month because of poor functionality and battery life. This is a great smartphone. The phone functions great with great ...
Summary: I had Treo and got rid of it inside of a month because of poor functionality and battery life. This is a great smartphone. The phone functions great with great coverage by ATT. It synchs well with my corp calendar wirelessly and with Outlook. The major weakness in the music player which is very basic. I got a 3rd party one and it's very good. The Media interface included with the Blackberry Desktop software is supplied by Roxio and it is terrible. Even on a powerful computer the program runs slow, stilted, and crashes often. Seems pretty silly for something so simple to function so poorly. You can overcome this by pulling the media card and loading images and tunes directly, but then you have to pull out the media card and the battery. I kinda wish I gotten the Bold, but hey this one was free. Lots of very functional free apps. Could use a more graphically structured browser.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Absolutely Love It!
by luvcellphones on May 7, 2008
Pros: GPS, strong battery life, sharp, beautiful screen, qwerty keyboard
Cons: User Interface Not as Intuitive
Summary: For the longest time I absolutely hated blackberries. Mainly because my ex loved them but I also didn't like the jog wheel and the screen (on the older models) ...
Summary: For the longest time I absolutely hated blackberries. Mainly because my ex loved them but I also didn't like the jog wheel and the screen (on the older models) seems washed out and not very bright. I also didn't like that there was no camera on the older Blackberries and that you needed (I thought) Enterprise server in order to get your e-mails pushed out to your phone.
I have since changed my mind and absolutely LOVE my Blackberry Curve. I had an AT&T 8525 which I thought I thought I loved except for the battery draining constantly. I have had the Palm Centro which I thought I loved except that after 3 Centros in less than a 3 month period becausse everyone kept complaining about the poor call quality I decided to try a Blackberry.
At first I tried the Pearl because I loved the small form (like the Centro) and how light it was. I do use my phone for a lot of e-mail and texting as well as actually making calls. I tried, really tried, to get used to the suretype keyboard but I found myself not wanting to respond to text or e-mails because it took me so long to type out a text or e-mail that I thought why bother. So, before my 30 days was up I traded the Pearl for the Curve (the salesperson tried to push the Curve on me when I had bought the Pearl and I should have listened to her). Now you might think that I'm a fickle cellphone lover but I have found nothing wrong with this phone. I love the trackball. I love that the screen goes bright or dim depending on the ambient light. I love that I can just start typing the person's name I want to call/e-mail/text and once I scroll to the name, all numbers associated with that contact drops down. I love that I'm able to set the auto on/off and it will turn itself off on its own and will turn itself on by itself. I love the call quality and that the volume is just right. I love the thinness of it and the full qwerty keyboard. I didn't think that I would be able to see my calendar appointments on the home screen but I can! I truly love this phone! It is so easy to use and to get around and the e-mail through Blackberry Internet Server was easy to set up.
The only thing that I didn't like at the very beginning is that the user interface wasn't as intuitive as you would expect it to be. I had to press the menu button and escape button alot in order to figure out where things were located. Once I got that down, though, it was fine.
I never thought I would be saying this but I highly recommend a Blackberry Curve to anyone who is looking for a phone that they will love.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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One of the best phones and a great pda
by wayne2626 on April 18, 2008
Pros: sound quality construction camera quality screen quality
Cons: user interface had to use
Summary: I have had many pda and all seam to sacrifice phone and screen for pda features. This has some of the best phone qualities of any phone that I have ...
Summary: I have had many pda and all seam to sacrifice phone and screen for pda features. This has some of the best phone qualities of any phone that I have used a the camera is extremely good for a 2 meg pixel. The only bad thing is the ui takes time to understand, but I would recommend this pda to anyone.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Well thought out and designed. Tons of features
by CarnalSigh on April 15, 2008
Pros: size, weight, features, text and email ease
Cons: none that I can think of
Summary: This isn't my first smartphone, but it is my first blackberry. I do a lot of texting and emailing. I've tried it on other phones (my last one ...
Summary: This isn't my first smartphone, but it is my first blackberry. I do a lot of texting and emailing. I've tried it on other phones (my last one was a Nokia N75) but it always felt cramped and without much thought put into it. However, I love how this phone has many intuitive features. The ability to highlight/copy and paste, delete mail off the phone or off the network etc. Adding new email accounts to my phone was a breeze. I can pick and choose which emails I want to totally delete, or those I want to delete off the phone only, but still be downloaded the next time I log into my email at home. I also think it rocks how if I am logged into my email at home, I don't receive emails on the curve. For all I know these bells and whistles may be old news to experienced blackberry users, but to me they are new and fantastic tools. Texting is kewl because it keeps a running convo of those I text with. Sometimes someone may not respond to a text till the following day. With this, I know what they are responding to. My Nokia smart phone did not do this, so it really is a nice feature. The trackball works really well, as does the internet feature. The browser is fast and easy to use. The speakerphone has excellent sound quality on both ends. I had no trouble paring my plantronics bluetooth. The voice dialing refuses to recognize some peeps names, but I rarely use it so it's not a big deal. I've had my new curve for about a week now, and I still catch myself telling friends how much I love this curve. I'm so glad I coughed up the cash for this one. Well worth the price.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is the perfect phone for busy multitaskers--its attractive, simple, effecient and small enough
by littlebudda on March 30, 2008
Pros: The attractive design made a smartphone not look like a brick. Everything is easy to use, the battery lasts a long time, and I LOVE being able to use my songs as free ringtones!
Cons: I prefer the web browser on the iPhone, by far.
Summary: This is a great phone for pretty much anyone. The keys are a perfect texting size, and the QWERTY isn't difficult to use. This phone puts the world in ...
Summary: This is a great phone for pretty much anyone. The keys are a perfect texting size, and the QWERTY isn't difficult to use. This phone puts the world in your palm while still looking good.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
- Part number: Curve 8310 (Red) (AT&T)
- Description: Featuring a metallic finish, clean lines and soft edges, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone is the smallest and lightest BlackBerry smartphone ever to come with a full QWERTY keyboard. It's packed with incredible features, including a camera, a multi-media player, built-in GPS, expandable memory, Voice Dialing, BlackBerry Maps and trackball navigation. Plus, you get all the core functionality you've come to expect in a BlackBerry smartphone - email and text messaging, instant messaging, web browser and advanced phone functionality. The BlackBerry Curve - it's your connection to everything that matters.
General
- Product Type BlackBerry
- Service Provider AT&T
- Width 2.4 in
- Depth 0.6 in
- Height 4.2 in
- Weight 3.9 oz
- Body Color Titanium silver
Cellular
- Technology GSM
- Band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband)
- Phone Design Candy bar
- Vibrating Alert Yes
- Phone Navigation Buttons Trackball
- Voice Dialing Yes
- Voice Recorder Yes
- Wireless Interface Bluetooth 2.0
- Application Software Browser, Organizer, Media Player
Communicator Features
- Operating System BlackBerry Handheld Software
Messaging & Data Services
- Mobile Email Yes
- GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Yes
- EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates For Global Evolution) Yes
- Internet Browser Yes
Digital Camera
- Camera highlights With a resolution of 2 megapixels, this camera phone will give you higher quality pictures than other phones.
- Sensor Resolution 2 megapixels
- Digital Zoom 5
- Camera Light Source Flash
- Features Self-portrait mirror
GPS System
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
Display
- Type LCD display
- Technology TFT
- Display Resolution 320 x 240 pixels
- Diagonal Size 2.5 in
- Color Depth 16-bit (65000 colors)
- Display Indicators Roaming, Battery meter, Digital clock, SMS indicator, GPRS indicator, Signal strength, Bluetooth indicator, Alarm clock indicator, Voice message waiting, Missed calls indicator
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Supported Digital Audio Standards AAC, AMR, MP3, MIDI, AAC +
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headset jack, 1 x USB
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included USB cable
Power
- Type Power adapter
Battery
- Technology - Lithium ion
- Capacity 1100 mAh
- Talk Time Up to 240 min
- Standby Time Up to 408 h
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Product series
-
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8300 - silver (AT&T)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
Specs: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband), Up to 240 min, With digital camera, 3.9 oz
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RIM BlackBerry Curve 8320 - pale gold (T-Mobile)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
Specs: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband), Up to 240 min, 3.9 oz
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RIM BlackBerry Curve 8320 - titanium (T-Mobile)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
Specs: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband), Up to 240 min, 3.9 oz
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RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 - titanium (AT&T)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
Specs: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband), Up to 240 min, 3.9 oz
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RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 - red (AT&T)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
Specs: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband), Up to 240 min, 3.9 oz
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RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 - pink (Verizon Wireless)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
Specs: CDMA2000 1X 1900/800, Up to 260 min, With digital camera / digital player, 4 oz
Accessories
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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