The Blackberry Curve 8900

There was a time when the Blackberry name was synonymous with business users. Email on the move, and synchronising with Outlook, editing attachments, accessing the web, it was all focussed on the professional mobile user. How things have changed. It is estimated these days that up to 50% of Blackberry users are consumers rather than business users. And it seems Blackberry have achieved this mainstream acceptance whilst staying true to their original vision of easy access to email on the move. The latest addition to the Blackberry range is the Blackberry Curve 8900. Let’s take a look and see what the handset has to offer.

True to most Blackberry handsets, the 8900 Curve comes complete with a full QWERTY keypad, ideal for composing emails, SMS or MMS. The Curve is narrower than most Blackberry handsets, measuring in at just 60mm across (compared to the Bold, which is 66mm) this places the handset at just 3mm wider than the superb Nokia E71. With these dimensions the 8900 can easily be used with one hand or two for fast typing.

The screen on the phone measures in at 2.4 inches, 480 x 360 pixels. The display offers rich colour reproduction, a seemingly common feature on the new range of Blackberry phones, especially if the Bold is anything to go by. This means the handset offers excellent quality video playback, and can support DivX and MP4 video files. The media player can also handle WAV, MIDI, MP3, AAC, AAC+ and eAAC+ audio files.

To really make a mark in the consumer market, a business focussed device needs to offer a quality camera. As consumers come to expect more from their phones, a standard 2.0 megapixel camera just isn’t good enough. Here, the Curve 8900 does not disappoint, offering a more than adequate 3.2 megapixel camera, with a flash, auto focus and image stabilisation as standard. A video recording option is also available. The immediate benefit of having a handset that is built around email communication comes into its own when you have a quality camera available. Any event, be it a family celebration, a party, a music gig, a day out, and you can instantly share photos of the occasion with friends or family who cannot be with you at that time. Maybe you have family who live abroad. With the 8900 Curve it is simple and easy to keep in touch, in an instant, without the need for expensive text messages or calls.

Additionally, the Blackberry 8900 comes equipped with GPS and A-GPS functionality. Used in conjunction with mapping software the Curve soon becomes a mobile satellite navigation device, a perfect compliment to any in car set up already used. The excellent Google Maps is certainly worth considering.

The Curve also supports WiFi connectivity, so you can connect to your home wireless network, and also to any local hotspots, such as those often found in coffee houses and restaurants, for example. This is just as well, because disappointingly, this otherwise excellent handset does not have any high speed data option. No 3G. No HSDPA. Just GPRS, or EDGE.

Despite this oversight, it cannot detract from what is a very smart handset. The 8900 Curve has the looks, good media functionality, a quality screen and of course, supports push email. It would appear that Blackberry have another device on their hands that will appeal to the mobile professional and consumer alike.

Related Blackberry Curve 8900 Links

• Compare the latest Blackberry Curve 8900 contract deals
• Compare Blackberry Curve 8900 pay as you go prices
• Read user Blackberry Curve 8900 reviews