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.
Question lng po, I’ve used my BB8520 for YM before through WIFI but now its giving me an Error 65 Problem Recieving Data from Server. Ive deleted YM and reinstalled it again but still giving thesame error…HELP!!! thanks
@Aisa:
you need to be subscribed to BIS (blackberry internet service) to take advantage of these features.
i’m lovin’ my bb 8520
! my only prob is connecting to wifi. pag yung wifi sa bahay, it could connect smoothly but pag nasa labas ako like starbucks, may bb could detect the wifi but i can’t connect. instead of a green checkmark beside the wifi name, white dash lumalabas. any experts here?
tia!
im selling fresh 2 days bb 8520 with 1 year warranty
txt me 09997576325 im seeling this for only 13500 tahnks
Where can i buy silicon cases for bb curve 8520?
Hi! I bought my BB curve 8520 last August 18,2010 tapos wala pang 1month nagkakaproblem na yung battery. Dinala ko sya kung saan ako bumili and they said napasukan raw ng water yung fone kaya naapektuhan pati yung battery. Pero they changed the battery naman, tapos hanggang ngayon ganon parin mabilis maglowbat and ang tagal magfull charge. And isa pa, Hindi ko ma-shut off yung phone ko kahit na pinindot ko na yung shut off button.
Thanks sa mga sasagot. I badly need help.
@sammie that also happened to me but when I updated/upgraded the device software (the operating system your phone is currently running) the problem was instantly fixed. You can simply do this by using the Blackberry Desktop Manager. Just plug your device to your computer using the USB cable. Run the desktop software, when the software has detected the device, click on the application uploader then you can update your software from there. It will take 20 to 30 minutes, I think. It also updates other applications in your phone. Actually, when you plug in your device the desktop manager automatically detects the software that needs to be updated. Hope this helps.
Hi guys… Who’s from cebu here? Add me sa bbm =) 2267C553
It’s nice mobile…
I’m using the same model….
good day master yuga and blackberry addicts… may inquire lang po sana ako. i have a blackberry 8900, i bought in UAE, when i got here few days ago, im trying to use my WIFI… i can get signals, but the problem is, nothings happening when i clicked on the browser. when i was in UAE nagagamit ko browser ko, pero dito hindi. i need help. thanks in advance sa sasagot.
Anyone from Cebu – 217AF657
Twitter: markparrenas
says:
Battery life being over two days? I would have to disagree. Regular use of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 would entail instant messaging, tweeting, checking Facebook, checking email, among other things. That cuts the battery life down to a day.
Getting a BB Curve 8520 on October 15th. Where can I get the original one (like from the mall) for 14k? Please indicate specific malls and stores. thank you.
oh and one more thing.. how much does the BB Curve 8530 cost? and where to buy? thanks!
Twitter: harleymahson
says:
got mine from globe and i am so enjoying it! thanks blackberry!
Twitter: harleymahson
says:
on how to use your bb, kindly read all the materials in the box when you got your bb. alot of information in there that will help you in maximizing your bb.
for the data plan for the bb for the globe users, if you are a prepaid user, you can only avail the bb data plan for 50PhP/day, 220PhP/5 days, 1200PhP/30 days but unlimited only to the BB ATN (BB apps only) and not to its webrowser (that includes youtube, downloading of images from sites). This holds true to postpaid users who have do not have a bb add on plans. there is more offers from globe to all postpaid users only. you can avail the unlimited usage for both BB ATN and that of the webrowser by using the following:
BB MAX 300 and send it to 8888 that is for 5 days
BB MAX ON and sent it to 8888 that is for 30 days
regarding to battery use, yes it only last for a day if you are always tinkering with it, not closing an application (you have to close it, not just jumping from one application to another) and not turning off your wifi and bluetooth.
just for info: when you are using BB, you are always in KB and not in TIME even you register to TIME. thus, if you are trying to cut down add on charges for your plans, you can switch off the data sending by clicking, home screen>manage connections>mobile network options>data service then click off. in this way, you can still receive and send sms and calls. then you can turn it on again if you want to browse the net thru BB ATN and its browser if you have registered to BB add ons, may it be daily or monthly.
i hope i am of help.
22A69808
0917712100
hi.. im selling blackberry 8520 black for 11,900. brandnew and original from spain. for sure buyers pls contact me 0918 5669479. thanks!
um, do you guys have any problem on connecting to the internet using the wifi service of the bb 8520? alot of my friends say na you have to pay extra para lang makapag wifi
and that you have to be line daw..im using sun cellular and im prepaid..im planning to buy a bb 8520 in two weeks 
i need your help
@zyra gil, wifi had always been free. make sure u are in a wifi zone and that their browser config and the default browser is set to hotspot browser. otherwise, kung may load cla, dun magchcharge ang browsing tlga.
u can check ung post ni harley above if wifi is not available. in the absence of wifi, you can avail those globe bb plans for prepaid.
for further assistance, u may have to call ur network provider.
goodluck!☺
I have a new BlackBerry Curve 8520 RED. It is only 5 days old and as early as now I am experiencing battery problems with this supposed to be brand new phone.
Day 1 – I was able to use the phone, all of its features; it was okay.
Day 2 – Battery wears out so fast, only runs up to 6 hours, I have only used wifi for an hour.
Day 3 – Battery is only for 4 hours while all other applications closed.
Day 4 – Battery is fully charged, left it open without using even touching it, after 3 hours, phone is drained.
Im stuck with the terms and conditions of my CC and with Globe cos I got this under a promo.
Could this be a battery problem or the phone, should I get a replacement? Bad thing, if they take it in for checking and repair, it will take for up to 70days???? What’s the use of getting a brand new phone and it’s not working at all.
Any help/advise please……
like zyragil, can’t connect using wifi.. help!
i’m connected to the wifi but can’t surf.. “unable to connect to the internet.” wifi is turned on but it’s a “white line” not a “green check.”
what should i do? thanks!
@tdude when connecting to the wifi make sure that you’re actually using the wifi when your using the browser (the signal indicator reads “wifi” not the signal bars). if you’re connected to the wifi but is not indicated in the signal bar you can change this by clicking menu>options>browser configuration>browser and change “myGlobe” to “hotspot browser”. then you can use the wifi service then.
And make sure that you are in a very good wifi zone, like full bars because if the you’re in a weak signal, the browser will work slowly or will not work at all.
ust got my blackberry 8520, im using Sun Cellular prepaid sim. How can I activate my GPRS? because im not receiving any settings even after I texted the 2300.
also, the Host Routing Table has “no entries”. I clicked the “Register Now” but nothing happened..
Nid pa ba ng regular load *** gumana HRT?
coz im just only using unlimited text without regular loads.
ANY HELP WILL BE GLADLY APPRECIATED… thanks in advance
am planning to buy BB 8520 nxtwk, but when i read everything in here am kinda disappointed.. with all the wifi probs etc… is it really sulit ba to get blackberry 8520? kinda confused. need a l’tl encouragement here… tnx
Twitter: chellejoquiao
says:
Im kinda confused on what to get. BB 8520 or Nokia C3? please help. sabi nga di lahat ng apps pwede sa BB pag prepaid.
me again! So my blackberry curve 8520 is 5 months old.. unfortunately, the front lens cover is loosened up, not the LCD ha? yung front lens cover lang! surfed for infos online, youtube gives demo and stuff, but I dont know where to buy new lens cover.. gusto ko nlng din sana palitan yung full housing talaga. where do we find the original one? there are tons on ebay kaso wala akong paypal eh! Pls help!
meron bang bb parts sa graphics? Is there a technician there who’ll do the replacement. Help! desperate here!