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Is The Blackberry Curve Worth Buying?

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By Mark Walters

Smartphone technology is in a constant state of change. Manufacturers must stay on their toes in order to provide handsets that remain on the front edge of the market, and sometimes this simply requires taking what has worked very well and modernizing it. Research in Motion has taken this approach, taking its already high quality Blackberry handsets and tweaking them into the Blackberry Curve 2.

An update to the Curve 8520, the Curve 2 maintains the same shell as its predecessor. The only change in looks is the somewhat smooth, checkered pattern that is now found on the back cover. That, and the Curve 2 is a touch thinner than previous Curves, having slimmed down from to 0.6" thick to 0.5" thick. Users familiar with the Bold will find the keyboard setup instantly recognizable because it is nearly identical. The QWERTY keyboard is smallish, but it is still better than most other available models, so it should not be an issue. Volume buttons are found on the right side of the phone, which is where the camera shutter is located. As usual with Blackberries, the camera lens itself is on the back of the handset. SIM and microSD card slots are under the battery cover, but it is not necessary to take out the battery to access them.

Because the Blackberry Curve 2 is a GSM, quad band smartphone, it can be used worldwide wherever GSM is found. The speakerphone on the Curve 2 is nice, but one of its strongest features is UMA calling. UMA calling is the type of calling done on WiFi networks. A number of carriers let the customer set the Curve 2 to automatically utilize UMA service in WiFi areas. When the WiFi signal fades, the device transitions back to GSM seamlessly.

In addition to UMA calling, the Blackberry Curve 2's WiFi 802.11 b/g connection makes for effective internet browsing. The phone operates on OS 4.6, which is the same as the Bold, but Curve 2 loads web pages better. The Curve 2 is powered by a speedy 512 MHz Xscale CPU. And what would a Blackberry be without push email? The Curve 2 accommodates both BES and BIS services, allowing for companies possessing Blackberry servers to operate or for users who want their carrier to provide Blackberry services.

By combining and adjusting all of the best aspects of prior Blackberry devices, RIM has made a familiar yet thoroughly modern handset with the Curve 2. The company took a "If it ain't broke don't fix it" approach to please customers who liked what was already available. It is a terrific next step for Blackberry smartphones.

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