A Review of the BlackBerry® Curve ™ Smartphone

My favorite gadget is my BlackBerry® Curve ™ . With my wireless service provider, I am able to make phone calls, check my e-mail, browse the internet, and update my facebook status. The full keyboard makes composing e-mails and sending text messages a breeze. And, through the BlackBerry® messenger I can quickly communicate with other BlackBerry® messengers. Texts can also be sent through phone numbers, aol instant messenger, yahoo messenger or any other available application.

My BlackBerry® has a camera and I can upload photos directly to my facebook account, e-mail the photos, or upload them to my hard drive. It has a video camera too so I can upload videos to my computer where I can then edit them, burn them to a dvd, or post them to my blog. Since the device is in a convenient hand-held size, I always have my video/camera with me to easily capture anything interesting. I purchased an extra memory card to increase the storage capacity for photos and videos to accommodate my personal hobby. It would be nice if a larger capacity storage card was included in the package.

Other functions in the device include a task list, a memo pad, a calendar, an alarm, and an integrated address book that allows for quick texting, calling, or e-mailing. I rely on all of these features extensively. In the event that the phone is lost, stolen or damaged, information can be backed up on my pc. The phone comes with one game and other games and applications are easily downloaded to the device through the BlackBerry® Application World and billed through my wireless service provider if needed.

The communicative functions on the BlackBerry® Curve ™ have been meticulously thought out for convenience and efficiency. Other companies accommodate the BlackBerry® Curve ™ users by making their websites and applications compatible for the increasing amount of BlackBerry® owners. I would like to be able to play my games on facebook and myspace through my BlackBerry® . Some games are already available for the iphone® so I'm hoping BlackBerry® compatibility will be added soon too! My experience with the BlackBerry® gets better and better as I discover more features, add-ons, and upgrades.

Since I love and use my phone so much, it goes everywhere with me and inevitably it gets a lot of wear and tear. Therefore the design of the BlackBerry® has room for improvement in my eyes. First of all, a more shock resistant shell would be nice. It scratches easily and sometimes comes apart when it is accidentally dropped. A little wristlet may help prevent me from dropping it so much because I don't always have a purse or big enough pocket to hold it.

The BlackBerry® also dials by itself if it is knocked around in my purse or squeezed in a pocket. It has a keyboard lock but I forget to lock it most of the time. The large screen also gets scratched when I don't keep it adequately protected. It would be nice if the phone flipped open to reveal the screen so that it is protected and concealed from prying eyes when it is not in use. The BlackBerry Pear Flip™ phone design is better in this regard but it compromises the full keyboard, requiring a person to press a button up to three times to get the desired letter.

The lens of the camera in the BlackBerry® Curve ™ is in a nook in the back of the phone and like any nook or cranny, it collects particles that are difficult to clean out and can ruin an otherwise good photo. It would be nice if the camera was flush with the rest of the body of the phone.

I use my phone in all kinds of weather, but the BlackBerry® is a fair weather friend. I once made the mistake of answering my phone in the rain and I spent a few hours drying it out with a hair dryer for it to work again. Juice was spilled on my phone once too and the trackball and keyboard became stuck. After some forced use over a few days, it functioned properly again. A waterproof phone or at least water resistant phone would save me some time and trouble.

Service costs associated with texting, web browsing and calling can be prohibitive. Unlimited calling and data packages are expensive but relatively safe. Monitoring your use is tedious and worrisome. If you exceed your allowance, you can incur expensive charges. Ideally, wireless service would be free to everyone so that we could all communicate better with the BlackBerry® .

All in all the The BlackBerry® Curve ™ is a great device that has held up to my rigorous daily use. A few improvements may make it less vulnerable and allow it to be used freely by everyone!