Research In Motion (RIM) has been targeting the entry-level market for some time now but it wasn’t very evident until they released another qwerty smartphone, the Blackberry Curve 8520.
Like most other Blackberry phones, the Curve 8520 gets a stylish glossy finish and a sleeker look. It’s a bit smaller than the previous full qwerty Blackberry handsets but is still comfortable to use.
RIM ditched the usual trackball and replaced it with a touch sensitive optical track pad instead. The trackpad is really nice and comfortable to use but sometimes I find it cumbersome especially when scrolling over really long web pages or list of messages.
The individual keys on the qwerty keypad are a bit small but since they’re raised higher, typing becomes easier over time.
The phone sports a 2.64 inch display with a resolution of 320×240 pixels. The screen has a nice bright and crisp display despite the relatively small size. There is a 2-megapixel camera (1600×1200 pixel resolution) that’s optimized for taking videos.
As for connectivity, the Curve 8520 has WiFi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP. It only has EDGE instead of 3G so it’s a little slower connecting to wireless data networks. However, RIM’s proprietary data compression technology enables faster data transfer over GPRS or EDGE. Despite that compression technology they always brag about (and I’ve noticed it really works), there are lots of instances you’d wish you had 3G (audio/video streaming, tethering to a laptop, etc.) with it.
Internal storage is only 256MB but that can be extended up to 32GB using an external microSD card (card sold separately). The handset runs on Blackberry OS powered by 512MHz processor and that’s already a capable device for its category. The Li-Ion battery is rate at 1150mAh and battery life is pretty decent at over 2 days of regular use.
RIM is also shaping the Curve 8520 as an entry-level multimedia phone by adding dedicated music keys and a 3.5mm audio jack so you can use just about any headphones with it. Playback is great with nice sound quality when playing music or videos.
The Blackberry Curve 8520 only comes in glossy black while pricing is dependent on partner telcos offering Blackberry plans. We have yet to see which BB plans they’ll offer it with.
Side note: if you’re interested on getting a Blackberry for a phone, having a postpaid Blackberry Plan to go with it maximizes its potential esp. with push messaging. Otherwise, the difference between other similar qwerty phones (like the Samsung Blackjack, Nokia E63) isn’t that much.
Twitter: harleymahson
says:
@lee all telcos offer Blackberry Internet Services (BIS) here in the philippines. you can register accordingly. all i know is for globe subscribers. from then on you can start to access the apps world! kindly call your operator’s hotline!
@curvie curvie, yes you can use the BB as a modem. i tried mine. you have to have the Blackberry Desktop Manager (BDM) to do it. It will guide you along the way. but i would not suggest doing it often coz it heats the BB pretty fast and it may cause your battery to break down fast. i highly recommend using a regular tattoo dongle. but if you insist on doing so, make sure that you are registered to BB MAX either to 300/5 days or 1500/month since the default changing for BB is in KB, eventhough you change to TIME browsing, still you will be charge in KB. In BB MAX kasi, you are unlimited both to BB and internet APN so no need to worry on sky high bills!
hope this help!
please do follow me in my twitter! harleymahson
peace!
Twitter: chellejoquiao
says:
i therefor conclude, BB curve 8520 is best if post paid w/ BIS plan.kasi nga kung prepaid kalerkee! =( hay naku bakit pa kasi kailangan ng BIS Plan pa di nalang nila gawing libre =(
Twitter: chellejoquiao
says:
@ harley : thank you i was able to download the free themes and games sa BB application world. I also donwloaded the Facebook and twitter application but it won’t work on a prepaid huhuhuhu. im so frustrated.So i deleted it. Harley, may i ask kung may idea ka nito i downloaded from Getjar.com yung Facebook connect. everytime i log-in, always xa nag popromt sa log in menu ng FB. Pabalikbalik siya sa Log-in Menu di ako makapasokpasok bakit kaya? HELP! thank u soo much in advance ^_^
Twitter: iamsuperperry
says:
I think ngayon OK na with Globe. Meron ng unli Blackberry Network (BBN) for a day for P50 pesos and it’s satisfactory! No need to be a postpaid subscriber =)
Hi. I just got my BB curve 8520 via Globe postpaid plan 999. when I inserted a globe tattoo sim on it, I can browse on the internet naman using myGLOBE WAP but when I inserted the postpaid sim, i cant access the internet na. May error message na nagpa-pop out saying “Unable to connenct to the WAP Gateway at the following address”. I dunno what this means.
I activated naman my Blackberry Internet Service and I have a freebie from Globe which is a 3-hour free browse or 150kb for blackberry. When I go to Options > Advanced Options > Browser > default browser configuration, wala yung MyGlobe sa dropdown list, only Hotspot browser pero when im using globe tattoo sim, meron naman yung myGlobe browser dun sa dropdown list.
help me with my problem please!
and oh, I just discovered na facebook app for blackberry isnt working on my blackberry because im in postpaid plan daw. i dunno also what that means. pati nga pala twitter app for blackberry.
Twitter: chellejoquiao
says:
@ anna: yes we do have the same prob. i got my bb from globe too postpaid. but i ddnt avail the BIS Plan they’re refering to. i was frustrted kasi i was able nga to download the Fb and twitter from Blackberry application world kaso di ko nga magamit2x hay…. so i deleted it and downloaded FB and twitter from Getjar.com. kaso di rin ako makapasok2x kasi laging nag popromt young FB Log-in menu nya pabalik2x. =(
@harley: do i only need to register ONCE on BIS then i can use BB APN?
coz most of the time i’m on wi-fi hotspot.
[...] posted: November 3rd, 2010 Research in Motion today announced the launching of the BlackBery Curve 3G 9300 in the Philippines. The Curve 3G is an update to the popular and more affordable BB Curve 8520. [...]
Twitter: harleymahson
says:
@chelle and anna
you can use all the apps as long as you have registered to the BIS. you said that you have downloaded the apps for fb and twitter in the blackberry apps world. it should work as long as you are registered to the BIS may you be prepaid or postpaid. you can check the vendor, if it is from RIM, then you can only access them once you are in BIS. if the apps is not from RIM, you can access it anytime may you have registered for BIS or not, but you have to check your APN settings. you can find this by OPTIONS>ADVANCED OPTIONS>TCP/IP. Tick the APN settings to enable it. The APN settings vary if you are postpaid (internet.globe.com.ph) and prepaid (http.globe.com.ph). Be reminded that even if you change to TIME browsing, you will always be in KB charging since that is the default to all BBs.
if your unit is from globe, everything is configured already, mine is. eventhough i downgraded my OS and upgraded again–since i deleted a add-on apps which was important–i can still use everything but have to register again the apps.
maybe you haven’t log in to globe.blackberry.com to register your BB. you need your IMEI and PIN for that before you can tinker anything with the apps even you have registered to BIS. this is a one time process so do it first.
@allan yes you have to just once. register also in the portal of globe for the blackberry for your phone. globe.blackberry.com
do follow me at twitter @harleymahson
Can I use my prepaid sim and register it to BIS using my Blackberry Curve free from Globe Postpaid?
Twitter: harleymahson
says:
@anna sure you can!
hey guys, sana matulungan nyo ako, pano ba iset up ang wifi ng blackberry 8520, it’s giving me a hard time na talga, from iphone kasi nagswitch ako sa bb coz of BBM, now ginawa ko na lahat, yung wifi icon, greyed out sya, and pag nagbbrowse nko, invalid lagi sinsabi. kelangan ba tlga ng data plan for this unit, so parang useless na ang wifi nito, some of my friends kasi nakakapagsurf using their wifi eh, some lang. prepaid kasi gamit ko sa bb ko.
thanks.
Twitter: harleymahson
says:
@ian
kindly follow these steps:
1. check if the DATA SERVICE is turned ON. home>manage connection>mobile network options>data service then choose ON
2. wifi is tick, with a check that is
home>manage connection>mobile network options
the wifi logo should be seen and is grey now
3. scan, search and add your home wifi
home>manage connection>wifi options>menu, click NEW and SCAN FOR NETWORKS or MANUALLY ADD NETWORK
SAVE
the wifi logo should be turn white and clear. your are now connected to the wifi.
4. the default browser configuration should be HOTSPOT BROWSER
home>options>advanced options>browser then choose HOTSPOT BROWSER, SAVE
5. apps permission should be wifi enabled for it to utilize the wifi connection at home. apps whose vendor is RIM such as BBM, FB and TWITTER does not work over wifi and needs a BIS.
hope this helps! enjoy!
222BA720
can anybody suggest me where to buy original battery of BB curve? habing probs with the battery life, i was thinking of replacing it. thanks!
meron ba kayong masasabi from buying or selling blackberry from http://blackberryphilippines.com ?
scam ba sila or any reviews of their products?
@rev, i think it is a scam. i don’t see any bb websites with countris attached to it, if u know what i mean
@thanks owen!
another question guys.
does BIS works abroad?
let say i’ll go abroad for a week.
i heard you must turn your unli off, coz it only works locally.
will BB FB, TWITTER, etc. still work?
Twitter: harleymahson
says:
@ALLAN, you have to check with your network provider to avoid ballooning of your bills, that is if you’re a postpaid which recently happened to me!
in lieu of my post regarding the APN of BBs, this is just a reminder to all globe subscribers may it be prepaid or postpaid. APN SHOULD ALWAYS BE blackberry.net
kasi if you use the regular APNs for postpaid and prepaid, you will be charged when you access to all the apps when you with or without BIS. my twitter works without BIS on the regular APN but was charged per KB for postpaid, and 5 pesos per update if you are a prepaid. tried already this and I did a report to globe. still it works and I think it would also works to all!
enjoy! peace!
I’ve never tried using my BB with wifi.
How does it work? What settings should I have? And will ubertwitter or twitter for bb work with wifi?
Also, who among you guys have used supersurf with globe? What’s the difference with registering for BB svcs?
Thanks!
hnd magamit ang wifi bb ko paano ba ito maiaayos
Blackberry is really cool but it is much cooler when blackberry is associated with IPAD… try this one buddies Balckberry Curve and IPAD before you run out of time.. =))
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/StaticContentFullContainer/PromoJDB/index.html
I don’t know if it’s just my unit but I’ve been having problems with my blackberry unit.
1. Instant Messaging is not working… I was told I need to register at globe.blackberry.com but even that site could not detect my unit.
2. I could not download applications directly from my unit. It says something like… “its not supported by your something” I forgot what it says.
3. It keeps logging me out from Facebook. I need to log in like every 2 mins.
4. and there’s that annoying timer that keeps on appearing whenever I browse the internet and it doesn’t disappear until you remove your battery.
Can someone help me pls? Thank you.
I have a problem with the battery life of my BB. I always charge it (yes, everyday for 2-3hours) but I only got to use it for 6-8 hours only. I already changed the battery from the store where I bought my BB. At first, it was okay but after months that’s what already happened. Can someone help me?
Twitter: chinodavis19
says:
i dunno what is my BB pin and how to use it… help me please?
hi good day., im planning to buy a black berry curve later this june., i have some questions
pde ba 2 s smart na prepaid?
can i easily connect to wifi?
how’s the camera? is it good or bad?
(coz my gilrfriend likes to take pictures.,)
can i download apps from pc and transfer it to my unit?
thanks for answers.,