RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile)
Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd. Part number: CURVE8900TMB
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- We're disappointed by the lack of 3G, but the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 is a solid update to the Curve series, bringing a better design, improved features, and faster performance and is one of T-Mobile's top smartphone offerings.
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CNET editors' review
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 (T-Mobile) price range: $149.99 - $649.99
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 01/27/2009
- Released on: 02/11/2009
The good: The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 offers a sleeker and more solidly constructed design as well as a brilliant display. The smartphone features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS and brings new productivity tools, a full HTML Web browser, and a 3.2-megapixel camera.
The bad: The Curve 8900 lacks 3G support, and the smartphone can occasionally be sluggish.
The bottom line: We're disappointed by the lack of 3G, but the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 is a solid update to the Curve series, bringing a better design, improved features, and faster performance and is one of T-Mobile's top smartphone offerings.
T-Mobile teased us at CES 2009 by introducing the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 but denying us any details on availability date and pricing. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait too long as the carrier has released the final details and has given us our own review unit.
In short, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 is a solid addition to T-Mobile's smartphone lineup and one of the company's top offerings, in our opinion. It replaces the Curve 8300 series, and brings several notable improvements, including a sleeker design that's bolstered by a more solid construction and an amazingly sharp display, a faster processor, a full HTML Web browser, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It also has integrated Wi-Fi with UMA support so you can make unlimited calls over a Wi-Fi network. However, our one big disappointment is the lack of 3G support. It's a feature that could really have given the 8900 an edge over its competition.
Despite this omission and some other minor issues, we would absolutely recommend the BlackBerry Curve 8900. It's a solid device that will appeal to both consumers and mobile professionals, offering a nice balance between work and play and all wrapped up in a sweet little package. The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is available now through B2B sales and will be in retail stores nationwide starting February 11 for $199 with a two-year contract.
Design
The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 holds the distinction (though who knows for how long) as being the thinnest full QWERTY BlackBerry to date. The smartphone measures 4.2 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by 0.5 inch thick and weighs 3.8 ounces compared with the BlackBerry Curve 8320, which comes it at 4.2 inches high by 2.4 inches wide by 0.6 inch thick and 3.9 ounces. It feels comfortable to use a both a phone and messaging device and fit into a pants pocket. We do appreciate the Curve 8900's sleek profile but even more than that, we're fans of the phone's more solid construction. Though the phone's body is still made of plastic, RIM used different finishes and paint applications to make the handset more durable and you can notice the difference as soon as you pick it up. Our only complaint would be that the battery cover can sometimes shift a little.
Also, while style is subjective, we have to say we dig the look of the Curve 8900 over the previous Curve 8300 series. It has tapered edges like the BlackBerry Storm and the metallic paint gives the 8900 a fresh, modern. It's a lot less corporate and masculine looking than the BlackBerry Bold, so it should appeal to a wide variety of users.
The Curve 8900 features a 2.4-inch TFT LCD that supports 65,536 colors at a 480x360-pixel resolution. It's a better screen than the BlackBerry Bold, which isn't too shabby itself with a 480x320-pixel resolution, but there is an extra level of sharpness and brightness to the Curve's screen that's quite impressive. The Curve 8900 also runs the latest version of the BlackBerry operating system so you get an updated user interface. There's no doubt the UI is more aesthetically pleasing, but we do have one minor complaint: a lot of icons look the same, so it's a bit hard to distinguish different folders and applications onscreen just at a glance.
Below the display, you have your standard navigation array that includes Talk and End keys, a menu shortcut, a back button, and the trackball navigator. The layout is simple and spacious, so there were no problems using the controls or navigating the phone. The side controls, which are outlined below, also allows for easy one-handed operation.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900's keyboard is similar to the one found on the BlackBerry Bold. Since the phone is smaller, the keys aren't as big or roomy but we still found it easy to compose e-mails and text with minimal errors. The buttons provide a nice tactile feedback and the keyboard is adequately backlit, with the number keys highlighted in red instead of white.
On the left side, there's a single user-programmable shortcut key (launches voice dialer by default), while there's a 3.5mm headphone jack, a volume rocker, a MicroUSB port, and another customizable side button (assigned to the camera out of the box). The camera and flash are located on the back, and behind the battery cover are the SIM card and microSD expansion slots. We would have preferred that the expansion slot be on the outside for easier access, and we also weren't huge fans of the little plastic piece that held the card in place. It felt flimsy, so we worry if it'll hold up over time. Finally, while not immediately visible, there's a mute button and a lock key on top the unit.
T-Mobile ships the Curve 8900 with a travel charger, a USB cable, a 256MB MicroSD card, a wired headset, a protective case, a software CD, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phone accessories, ringtones, and help page.
Features
The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 runs BlackBerry OS 4.6.1.114 so aside from the aforementioned updated user interface, you also get new functionality and improved applications. For example, unlike the Curve 8300 series, you can now edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, thanks to the inclusion of DataViz's Documents to Go Suite. Like the Bold and the Storm, only the Standard Edition is preloaded on the smartphone so if you want the ability to create new documents, you will have to upgrade to the Premium Edition.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 also ships with a number of personal information management tools, such as a Calendar, a task list, a memo pad, a voice recorder, a calculator, a password keeper, and more. There's quite a catalog of applications available for BlackBerrys, whether you're looking for new games or software for your job. Be aware, however, that if you have third-party applications on an older BlackBerry model, they may not be compatible with the Curve 8900. T-Mobile includes some suggestions and direct download links on its mobile site, or you can check out Download.com for more ideas.
One of the most-needed improvements was in the area of Web browsing, and the Curve 8900 delivers. You now get a full HTML Web browser with support for RSS feeds and streaming media, including YouTube clips. Browsing and navigating sites is made better by the Page and Column view options and onscreen cursor. There are also zoom in/out functions. The experience hardly matches the Web experience on the iPhone, but it's a definite improvement from previous versions of the BlackBerry browser, which was pretty much atrocious. Baby steps, right?
To get connected, you have two options: Wi-Fi or T-Mobile's EDGE network, which is all well and good but what's more newsworthy to us, is what's missing: 3G support. We realize that the addition of a 3G radio affects battery life and size, but still, T-Mobile has finally rolled out its 3G network and could use more 3G smartphones (currently, the T-Mobile G1 is the carrier's only smartphone to offer 3G). Admittedly, we found that surfing the Web on the Curve 8900 over EDGE wasn't that bad but even so, we still would have liked to see the inclusion of 3G.
Fortunately, you do get Wi-Fi as an alternative, and the other upside of the integrated Wi-Fi is UMA support. This means you can make and receive unlimited calls over a wireless network and not have the minutes deducted from your cellular plan. The caveat is that you will need to sign for T-Mobile's Unlimited HotSpot Calling plan, which starts at $9.99 per month on top of an existing T-Mobile plan.
Other voice features of the BlackBerry Curve 8900 include quad-band world roaming, a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, smart dialing, conference calling, speed dial, and text and multimedia messaging. The address book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts) with room in each entry for multiple phone numbers, e-mail addresses, work and home addresses, job title, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can assign each contact a photo, a group ID, or a custom ringtone.
Like most of the carrier's handsets, the Curve 8900 supports T-Mobile's MyFaves service, giving you unlimited calls to five contacts, regardless of carrier. Individual plans for MyFaves start at $39.99 a month. You also get Bluetooth 2.0 with support for mono and stereo Bluetooth wireless headsets, hands-free kits, and dial-up networking.
GPS is built in, using both satellites and cellular triangulation to find your position. You can get maps and text-based, turn-by-turn driving directions with applications such as BlackBerry Maps, which is preloaded on the Curve 8900, and Google Maps for Mobile, but if you want any real-time tracking and voice-guided instructions, you'll have to use a location-based service like TeleNav GPS Navigator.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900's built-in media player can play various music and video formats, including MP3, WMA9/WMA9 Pro/WMA20, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB, and MIDI music files, and MPEG4, WMV, DivX4, DivX5/6 (partial support), XviD (partial), and H.263 video clips. There's a search function, playlist creation, shuffle and repeat, and you get a full-screen mode for video playback. The included software CD also contains a copy of Roxio Easy Media Creator, so you can create MP3s from CDs and add audio tags as well as the BlackBerry Media Sync application so you can load your iTunes library. The Curve has 256MB onboard Flash memory while the expansion slot can accept up to 16GB cards.
The Curve's camera gets upgraded to a 3.2-megapixel lens (from 2 megapixels) with video recording capabilities, flash, auto focus, 2x zoom, and image stabilization. In camera mode, you get a choice of three picture sizes and three picture qualities. There are white balance settings, and you can add various effects to your photos, such as black and white, and sepia. With the built-in GPS, you can also geotag photos. The camcorder records clips in two formats (normal and MMS) with sound and offers a video light and color effects.
Picture quality was good, as long as we were snapping shots in well-lit areas. Even with the flash or in night mode, we had a hard time getting a photo that didn't look dark or completely blown out by the flash. We also noticed a bit of shutter lag, so be sure not to move to quickly away from the scene after pressing the capture button. Video quality wasn't the best as clips looked pretty grainy, but you can still make out the objects and scenery so it'll be fine if there's a moment that you absolutely must get on film and don't have access to a camcorder.
Despite all these other features, e-mail remains the heart and soul of the BlackBerry. The BlackBerry Curve 8900 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. There's also an attachment viewer for opening Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, PDF, JPEG, GIF, and more. With BlackBerry Internet Service, you can also access up to 10 personal/business POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts. Set up is nearly instantaneous; we simply input our Yahoo log in and password, and within a couple of seconds, we received a message that activation was successful. The smartphone also comes preloaded with several instant messaging clients, including Yahoo, AIM, Windows Live, and Google Talk.
Performance
We tested the quad-band (850/900/1800/1900; GPRS/EDGE) RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 in San Francisco using T-Mobile service and call quality was satisfactory. There was some minimal background noise that made audio quality a little less pristine than some other smartphones we've tested, but nothing that prevented us from having a conversation or using an airline's voice automated system. There's an Enhance Audio option where you can boost the treble or bass, but we didn't find a noticeable difference. Our friends reported a couple instances of warbled audio, but otherwise no major complaints. We didn't experience any dropped calls during our review period. The speakerphone was also OK. There was plenty of volume, but there was some hollowness to the audio, making it sound as if our callers were talking in an empty room. We successfully paired the Curve 8900 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset and the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 is equipped with a 512MHz processor and is a fairly responsive device. There were some instances of sluggishness; for example, we encountered some lag when we were trying to access our photo gallery and a couple of times when we launched the camera. It wasn't anything that stopped us in our tracks or left us completely frustrated, and overall, we're pleased with the general performance.
The Curve 8900's speaker can't rival the BlackBerry Bold's rich output, but most of you will probably be listening to your music through headphones anyway, so it's a not a huge issue. Using the handset's 3.5mm jack, we plugged in a pair of Bose On-Ear headphones for a MP3-like music-listening experience. Video playback was quite impressive. We checked out a couple of clips, including an MP4 file, and found playback to be smooth and the picture looked great on the Curve's high-resolution screen. We also watched a couple of YouTube clips from the Web browser, which looked very mushy and blurry, but that's more about a video quality issue than a Curve issue.
Our review unit had no problem finding and connecting to our Wi-Fi network. On EDGE speeds, it took the smartphone about a minute to fully load CNET's Web site, while it took about 15 to 20 seconds to load CNN's and ESPN's mobile sites. Though we weren't hooked up with TeleNav GPS Navigator for real-time navigation, the Curve's GPS radio was able to pinpoint our location within a couple of minutes on BlackBerry Maps.
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 features a 1,400mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 5.5 hours and up to 14.5 days of standby time. In our battery drain tests, we were able to get 8.5 hours of continuous talk time from the Curve 8900 on a single charge. According to FCC radiation tests, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 has a digital SAR rating of 1.01 watts per kilogram.
User reviews
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A big definite step above the Curve!
by petros316 on January 9, 2009
Pros: Feel, size, power
Cons: Not all previous versions of programs I use are compatible with this device ... yet
Summary: I've owned a tmobile curve, a sprint curve and sprint's 8830. I even used the G1 for 2 weeks and returned it. Overall, the speed on this thing ...
Summary: I've owned a tmobile curve, a sprint curve and sprint's 8830. I even used the G1 for 2 weeks and returned it. Overall, the speed on this thing is very noticable vs. the curve (and the phones I've mentioned). Not to mention who flawlessly it runs! My benchmark test is running a 500gb mp4 video by going in and out, forwarding and rewinding ... and this one can read it flawlessly vs. the curve, which stalled, skipped and then gave me an error message. The screen! WOW! Very very clear and crisp. Pictures look a lot sharper and so do movies. Reading texts and e-mails is just so much nicer than before. Speaking of pictures ... Camera is a 3 MP with auto focus, 2x zoom and flash. I was surprised at the quality of the photos on this thing. E-mail wise, it is standard. The internet experience is better than the previous models. I think there was a push to have more of a real internet feel with the on board internet browser, but still, I will be downloading opera mini for it. Keyboard: When I went from the 8830 to the curve, I missed the 8830's keyboard. This little bad boy took what was good from both the 8830 and the curve, made it look like the smaller version of the bold and added everything in there. Blackberry really did their homework with this one!
Negatives: like I mentioned, since this phone is probably too new, some programs that i have downloaded from Handango does not work, even though it says it's compatible with the phone. Although this is not Blackberry's fault, it's just a real bummer that I can't use all my old programs for this phone ... just some.
Overall: This phone is gonna be VERY popular. The Curve was already quite good. They definitely went over the top with this phone. It's the Bold's little brother ... just in a better package: small, sleek, strong ... the perfect blend of productivity, practicality and pleasure.11 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Better than Bold in many ways
by jjterrana on January 28, 2009
Pros: Size, weight, screen, speed, pocketability and camera
Cons: No 3G is the only downside
Summary: Just coming off a 30 day trial of the Bold and the iphone before that. The Bold is a phenomenal device, however, it is just way too big for keeping ...
Summary: Just coming off a 30 day trial of the Bold and the iphone before that. The Bold is a phenomenal device, however, it is just way too big for keeping in pants (esp. jeans) pocket. It would be way too big for shorts in the summer as well. Everything about the 8900 is fantastic, particularly when compared to past BBs, like Curve and Pearl. As a phone, vs the Bold's size and boxiness, it excels. The typing is better on the Bold, which is a 10 as where 8900 is an 8.5, pretty darn good. The camera is a huge upgrade from both older BBs and even the Bold, where the camera is more like past BB cameras. This will be a tough decision for many, but the bottom line is if you are not hung up on 3G, the 8900 is the way to go. One point about the browser in EDGE, its great with the correct settings like making column view the default and unchecking support javascript. As a huge mobile surfer, I can say the iphone is the best ever, however I don't miss it much with the new BBs.
7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Breakthrough Blackberry for Tmobile!
by Mandre24 on January 28, 2009
Pros: 1.
2. Wi-Fi & GPS with Blackberry Maps
3. A great, 3.2 Mega Pixel Camera
4. Great External Speaker quality
5. Call/Sound Quality w/ Phone Use is extraordinary
6. Sleek, Sexy and Slim
7. Sturdy
8. A major upgrade to the previous Curve models.Cons: 1. No 3G Support; really surprising seeing as how T-mobile just introduced their 3G network a few months ago.
2. Camera photos were on the mediocre side in darker environments... but what can you expect from a cell phone?Summary: The Blackberry 8900 is currently one of the best smart phones out in Tmobile's line up. It includes Wi-Fi which you can sync with Tmobile's Hot Spot at ...
Summary: The Blackberry 8900 is currently one of the best smart phones out in Tmobile's line up. It includes Wi-Fi which you can sync with Tmobile's Hot Spot at Home ability (Using a Wi-Fi connection at home/office to place calls.) The Blackberry Maps used with the GPS on the smart phone are extremely easy, and completely intuitive. The camera is exceptional, arguably the best on any Blackberries. The 8900 not only torches the previous models of the Curves in Multimedia features, but also in design functionality. The phone is easier to hold, and feels strongly built; opposed to the previous Curves that felt cheap and plastic.
Sorry, number one was supposed to say: Better and Improved HTML Browser
The only real complaint I have with this phone is that it has no 3G support, which I think is a major design flaw on Tmobile's part. They just introduced a lightning fast 3G network; the only problem is they arent making enough phones with 3G to flaunt it. The EDGE network the 8900 is on, however, is not completely awful, it's still faster than the previous Curves. The 8900 still gets the job done, just not as fast as a 3G enabled phone.
Updated on Jan 28, 20096 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Really great phone, cant wait to see CNets take
by alex-cnet on January 14, 2009
Pros: Really thin, light and sexy. Quick browsing despite lack of 3G. UMA enabled. Better RAM and processor than old Curve. REALLY bright flash. Very vibrant and crisp screen.
Cons: Sometimes tasks have a bit of lag. Redundancy in OS. Limited accessories available (still very new phone).
Summary: I recently got this phone through Rogers in Canada and I have to say, Im loving it. Im new to the Blackberry OS, so Im trying to get used to ...
Summary: I recently got this phone through Rogers in Canada and I have to say, Im loving it. Im new to the Blackberry OS, so Im trying to get used to its little quirks. It annoys me that there are seemingly multiple browsers but once I loaded some custom software (Viigo, my personal fav) I hardly ever use the browser. Im sure all blackberry users are familiar with the OS and 4.6 is a step up on the new Curve.
The hardware itself is very solid. The keyboard is great for typing, trackball is new and improved, and the speakers are load and clear. A friend of mine also got the same phone (made choosing this over the Bold easier) and she found the same things. It takes good pics and has that bright flash (almost blinding). I think the battery life could use some improvement, but you judge. Mine lasts 2 days without wifi. Thats with talking, and browsing on my hour commute (both ways). Plus IM and email while Im running around the office. Nowhere near the week of life on my old dumbphone, but then again, my use on that was a few texts here and there, and talking.
EDGE is surprisingly zippy on the phone. That was one of the troubles I came across when deciding between this and the Bold, lack of 3G, but Im happy with what I chose. The smaller size, more RAM and better camera made this the better choice. But then again, you cant go wrong with either device. I guess for people in the States, its more of a decision (or limitation) between AT&T and T-Mobile.
Im eager to see CNets take on this phone. Its a definite improvement over the old Curve, which also got high scores.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I Finally Get It Now!!!
by mb00 on May 10, 2009
Pros: Wifi calling.
Amazing display.
The Sex appeal rivals that of a supermodel.
The camera is pretty decent and has a flash.Cons: A little small on my giant hands.
Summary: Like title of my review says. I Finally Get It Now!! I finally understand why people go crazy for BlackBerries.
This is my first one ever and I can honestly ...Summary: Like title of my review says. I Finally Get It Now!! I finally understand why people go crazy for BlackBerries.
Oh and almost forgot, even though it isn't a 3g phone, it's considerably fast while surfing the web on edge.
This is my first one ever and I can honestly say that I have found my brand. I just upgraded from the T-Mobile G1, which I hated so much that I couldn't even look at it, and got my first BlackBerry Curve.
Where do I start? First off, I don't get reception at home so discovering that I could turn on my wifi at home and actually makes & receive calls as well as text, IM and email. I nearly burst. The call clarity is great.
The HiDef screen is an even bigger added bonus.
The camera is pretty good considering it's on a mobile phone, and it has a flash, which I always found odd that the majority of mobile phone cams don't have.
It's crazy how great this phone is. It's so sexy and that sounds weird considering that it's a phone.
But alas, there it is, I finally get it. And I'll never go back again.
Updated on May 10, 20093 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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An upgrade on a proven design..thats not finished yet..
by lk335 on January 19, 2009
Pros: New OS is amazing to look at, and adds more functionality
Easy & efficient interface
sleek sexy looks
wi-fi & gps
amazing call quality
great video quality
best BB camera to date
faster than previous Curve models
fantastic audio quality
DIVXCons: battery life sucks before firmware update
battery life is still poor for a blackberry after firmware update
all the apps you loved on the 83xx series are not working yet on the 8900
no themes available on the 8900 (yet)
finger print magnetSummary: I'm a previous 8330 owner (Bell Mobilty) and recently made the switch the beautiful 8900 (Rogers). It's a fantastic looking device that improves heavily both visually and functionally ...
Summary: I'm a previous 8330 owner (Bell Mobilty) and recently made the switch the beautiful 8900 (Rogers). It's a fantastic looking device that improves heavily both visually and functionally on Blackberry's proven design.
You just take one look at this device and you know it's something special. The full black face with the faux chrome bezel and faux brushed battery door is a classy and professional. In fact this is just as sexy as the Bold! (I just wish the battery door was actual brushed Metal and not scratch-easy plastic!)
However the sleek piano black finish loves scratches and finger prints...
The dedicated lock key on the top of the device is a nice added touch. I usually have the left convenience key on my BB's setup as the keyboard lock, but now I have it set to the sexy looking clock! You also have the sleep key up on the top of the phone...which you will soon learn will keep your battery from draining in 8 hours of standby time...
On that note... the battery drains very fast on this phone right out of the box. Maybe a day tops with very minimal use. Updating the firmware helps get you 2 days with medium use (ie: hour of calls, 20 emails and 20 texts, some browsing and downloading) but you can't be using the leather pouch which seems to help drain the life out of the battery a bit quicker (apparently the aA key stays pressed when the phone is in the case)
The keyboard compared to the old Curve is very similar. The keys are a little closer together, but the spacing betweent eh aA and the alt keys are a bit father apart... which can be annoying but is not a deal breaker. Overall it's a very familiar feeling device, and is comfortable in the palm o fyour hand.
The form factor is terrific for my smallish girly man hands. Unlike the Bold which I found was too big for me and my pockets.
The trackball is very fluid and runs smoother than the one on my 8330. In fact everything is smoother than it was on my 8330. Brickbreaker will operate just swimmingly when you leave a few apps open, even when you receive texts and e-mails! All the apps in fact are much quicker, even the browser... which I think is more phone than network.
However not all apps are working on the 8900... Windows Live Search is one of them (in fact this is one of my fav apps, and is a huge disappointment at this time). But I can only assume this is because the device is relatively new.
media hounds will notice that audio and video quality has improved over previous blackberries, and the DIVX support in the video player is a nice added touch. I can now sell my ipods now that I have this! Thank God for the high capacity memory card compatibility!
The availability to have both wi-fi and GPS in the same device is a welcome feature. I used the GPS quite often on my 8330, but having wi-fi speeds up the browser in hotspots, and with Rogers Talk-Spot service increases the call quality nicely.
The camera offers a lot more detail and has a blinding flash... not much more to say there because I can't attach pictures to this review...
It's just a fantastic device, through and through. It is nearly perfect... but I can understand why RIM didn't make it so... giving this device 3G, wifi, gps, 3.2mp camera, fast processor, and the high res screen would kill Bold sales... As is it's a hard choice for many between this and the Bold. Obviously we know which way I went.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Solid Performer
by drewnyc on January 11, 2009
Pros: fantastic keyboard
great email client
good looking OSCons: poor battery life
limited applications
back cover is a little flimsy
no 3GSummary: Overall I really like this device. I was a loyal Nokia fan and had considered getting the E71 but after reading various reviews on the E71's poor keyboard, I ...
Summary: Overall I really like this device. I was a loyal Nokia fan and had considered getting the E71 but after reading various reviews on the E71's poor keyboard, I decided to go for the 8900. The 8900 has a perfect qwerty keyboard along with RIM's fantastic email client.
I've had to do a number of firmware updates as the OS is still a little buggy, but it looks great on a very bright screen.
It's much smaller than the Bold which was important, but it's also a little heavier than the old Curve - not sure why.
The battery life started out terrible, but after some firmware updates it got a little better at about 2 days with limited use. The leather pouch also seems to drain the battery more quickly, but this might be fixed in a later firmware update.
Third party applications are very limited and you do not get the same sort of control over the OS as you do with the Symbian.
Along with no 3G, this is not the perfect device, but it's great for business users and i'm hoping it gives Nokia some ideas about how to make the next full qwerty e series even better.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best full qwerty out of the bunch..
by airtouch25 on January 10, 2009
Pros: Excellent call quality using T-Mobile's LA network
Setting up WiFi was a snap for voice or data
Premium sounding speakerphone
Music Player is loud and clear
Best camera out of any phone I've ever used
GPS!
Best BB displayCons: Battery life average but not exceptional (Turning WiFi off helps)
Retail MSRP $499.99 (ouch) but I'm sure it'll be cheaper for those eligible for upgradeSummary: I have to say that I was definitely impressed with this device. Best call quality out of any phone I've ever used and for the price T-Mobile is an ...
Summary: I have to say that I was definitely impressed with this device. Best call quality out of any phone I've ever used and for the price T-Mobile is an excellent value. WiFi calling using UMA is a great feature that needs to be advertised more since it works wonderful on this Bad Boy. Definitely the best looking BlackBerry I've ever seen and used even moreso than the bulky Bold or the touchscreen Storm. I'm glad T-Mobile didn't put all kinds of media bloatware that carriers like Verizon or Sprint put on theirs. All BT profiles completely enabled and no locked GPS like Verizon.
Other than the average battery life, I really have nothing negative to say.
Go RIM. You have a winner with this one.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great PDA, messager, and best of all a great phone
by el-dub on June 10, 2009
Pros: Reception and call quality!, interface, beautiful screen, syncs with Mac, keyboard, terrific sound on media player, decent camera, and intuitive user interface.
Cons: Battery life could be better, can be slow at times with multiple applications open, the Mac syncing software from Blackberry is finicky though it eventually works, no 3G network support :(
Summary: This phone is wonderful. My last two smartphones were Windows Mobile and this Blackberry completely blows them out of the water. The interface is wonderful and the OS is really ...
Summary: This phone is wonderful. My last two smartphones were Windows Mobile and this Blackberry completely blows them out of the water. The interface is wonderful and the OS is really reliable. I put battery life under cons, though it gets about forty hours with one charge on heavy text, email, internet, and phone usage, so this is really a minor complaint.
All in all I love this device. Compared to my girlfriend's previous gen Blackberry, this little gadget is a beauty and a top performer. Keyboard is about the same, but the 8900 wins in just about every other category: build, reception, screen, interface, camera.
Versus the Bold
I ultimately chose this over the Bold for a few reasons: keyboard, form factor, price tag, and screen. The Bold's edge over the Curve 8900 is its support for 3G, though I find browsing the internet on a phone painful so it had no impact on my decision. I prefer the smaller size of the Curve 8900 too, and it feels like it's built better than the Bold.
Versus the iPhone
I'm a Mac user, though I chose a Blackberry. Why? First of all, I already own an iPod Touch so I'm familiar with the interface of the iPhone and I can tell you how frustrating it is to type on the screen! I wanted the full physical keyboard interface, and with the growing Blackberry app store it is quickly gaining ground on the iPhones flexibility. I find the trackball quick and I make less errors with it than on the touch interface. Of course, the touchscreen has its perks, but I find that I don't miss it here. I also wanted to avoid the iPhone's lackluster battery, and I'm happy I did because the Blackberry easily lasts a full day and the next without a charge. I also know that iPhone's don't get the greatest reception, and this 8900 gets the best reception of any cell phone I've owned (which is probably at about ten total phones over the years).
Conclusion:
This is a great phone. I highly recommend it. I did a lot of research before making this decision and am very happy I settled on the Curve 8900.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Absolutely Fantastic Phone////
by jeffnnj on March 21, 2009
Pros: Compact, light, bright crisp screen, sturdy build and feel
Cons: I really don't know....it's a fingerprint magnet. I found something.
Summary: This is a great phone and brings into question how much better RIM can actually make the next generation of smart phones. First I will address everyone else's negative, ...
Summary: This is a great phone and brings into question how much better RIM can actually make the next generation of smart phones. First I will address everyone else's negative, no 3G. I don't see the big deal. I had a BB Bold and the 3G isn't that much faster. When comparing the two side by side, images and text load a little bit quicker but it's not a monumental difference. Plus, when I'm at home and a lot of other places, as well I am on UMA so the signal goes through wi-fi and is faster then any 3G connection. For those of you who are waiting on 3Gand expecting lightening fast downloads, it's just not there.
This phone is incredible and really does everything quite well. The ergonomics are great. It's extremely comfortable, light weight and easy to use. The build is great and has a more sturdy feel then the 8320 I just got rid of. The screen resolution is great, making wallpaper, pictures and videos look great. It will take a 16G micro SD card so you can really load it up with lots of multimedia, music and just about anything you want to watch or listen to. The quality of the calls are great. Ringer and vibrate are strong. Battery life was poor but after I upgraded to version .174 it's no longer an issue.
All in all, it's a great phone that does just about everything right. Get one. You'll love it.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd.
- Part number: CURVE8900TMB
- Bottom Line: We're disappointed by the lack of 3G, but the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8900 is a solid update to the Curve series, bringing a better design, improved features, and faster performance and is one of T-Mobile's top smartphone offerings.
General
- Product Type BlackBerry
- Width 2.36 in
- Depth 0.53 in
- Height 4.29 in
- Weight 3.87 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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