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CNET editors' rating:
4.0
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 76 reviews
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Product summary
The
good: The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Verizon Wireless offers integrated Bluetooth and GPS. The smartphone also delivers good call quality and strong messaging capabilities with a full QWERTY keyboard.
The
bad: Unlike Sprint, Verizon doesn't offer support for its 3G streaming media services on the BlackBerry Curve 8330.
The
bottom
line: Though we wish the smartphone supported Verizon's VCast multimedia services, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 is still an excellent smartphone that delivers on call quality and of course, e-mail.
Specifications: OS provided: BlackBerry Handheld Software ; Wireless connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0 ; Talk time: Up to 260 min ; ; See full specs
Price range: $99.99 - $579.99
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 05/20/2008
- Released on: 05/06/2008
Just as Sprint has been long overdue for the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330, so has Verizon Wireless. However, the time has come for the carrier, and we're happy to say it was worth the wait. With its full QWERTY keyboard and well-rounded feature set, the BlackBerry Curve 8330 is a nice compromise between the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and the RIM BlackBerry 8830 World Edition. The smartphone also has integrated GPS, Bluetooth, and a 2-megapixel camera. We are slightly miffed that Verizon has once again stripped out any support for its V Cast multimedia services, especially since Sprint's Curve offers such capabilities. However, in the grand scheme of things, this is a minor issue. The Curve delivers where it counts--voice and messaging--and all with a great design to boot, so we give it a big thumbs up. The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 for Verizon Wireless is available now for as low as $149.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts.
Design
In terms of design, the Verizon Wireless RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 doesn't differ from the rest of the Curve series. It more closely resembles the Sprint Curve with its slightly bigger build (compared with the AT&T and T-Mobile versions) since it also has a built-in 3G chip. It does, however, come in a silver casing and features Verizon's interface by default. For more information about the Curve's design, please check our review of the Sprint RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330.
Verizon Wireless packages its RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 with an AC adapter, a USB cable, 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 8330 offers Verizon customers a nice compromise between the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and the RIM BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, providing a full QWERTY keyboard for easier messaging over the Pearl and a more affordable alternative for users who don't need the world-roaming capabilities of the BlackBerry 8830.
Starting with the messaging features, the Curve 8330 offers synchronization with your company's BlackBerry Enterprise server with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise for real-time corporate e-mail delivery. You can also use the BlackBerry Internet Service to access as many as 10 personal/business POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts. There's a built-in spell-check function for e-mails (but not text or multimedia messages) and you also get an attachment viewer that opens popular file formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, PDF, JPEG, GIF, and more. Unlike, the Sprint version, Verizon only offers the proprietary BlackBerry Messenger. Finally, another differentiating factor between the Sprint Curve and the Verizon Curve is that this model offers AIM, Yahoo, and Google Talk instant-messaging clients in addition to BlackBerry Messenger.
Phone features include a speakerphone, voice dialing and commands, conference calling, text and multimedia messaging, and call audio enhancement, which lets you boost the bass or treble of sound. The address book is limited only by the available memory, and each entry can hold up to eight numbers, work and home addresses, e-mail and Web addresses, company information, and notes. For caller ID purposes, you can assign a photo to a contact as well as a group category--business or personal--or one of 45 polyphonic ringtones.
The Curve also has Bluetooth 2.0 for use with mono and stereo headsets, hands-free kits, and dial-up networking. If you want to use the Curve as a wireless modem, you will need to subscribe to one of Verizon's BroadbandAccess plans, which start at $15 per month. It does not support the object exchange profile. On the bright side, you won't have to invest in a Bluetooth GPS receiver, since the smartphone has a built-in GPS radio. You can use this with a location-based service, such as Verizon's VZ Navigator, or other mobile navigation software to get real-time tracking, directions, local search, and more.
Continue reading- See more CNET content tagged:
- BlackBerry Curve,
- RIM BlackBerry 8830,
- Research In Motion Ltd.,
- RIM BlackBerry,
- Sprint Nextel
User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 76 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 3 of 76 user reviewsSee all 76 user reviews
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29 out of 29 people found this review helpful
"If there is something better, I haven't seen it or used it."
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15 out of 17 people found this review helpful
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13 out of 13 people found this review helpful
"The pinnacle of what an exceptional phone can do with a superb provider platform."
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Where to buy
RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Verizon Wireless):
$99.99 - $579.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$579.99 | Yes |
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$99.99 | Yes |
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