BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphone Review
One of the most popular brands of PDAs in world, BlackBerry is the fifth largest mobile phone industry in the world. With a share of almost 15 percent of mobile phones and PDAs in the world, the BlackBerry is a great sensation in the mobile communication world. Though all of its models are sensational and have had a great reputation, the Curve series of phone, in particular, have gained a lot of public attraction of late. The way these phones look, or operate has amused many a user and hence they have attained quite a lot of success in the recent past. We are now going to talk about one such PDA from this stalwart producer of mobile phones, who has of late gained a name for its QWERTY keypad phones. The BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphone is a beauty is its own manner. It has got everything in it to be a perfect partner for any business professional on any given day. It is now a revamped version of any Smartphone on earth since it has come out with some new features and provisions which are going to add quite a few feathers to its cap. Let us dive into more details as we unfold the Curve 8520 and its components.

Design:
Embrace the curves:
The name says it all. The Curve 8520 is such an attraction when it comes to design. It has got some nice curves and is a pleasure to the eye. Though almost all the mobile phones and PDAs from BlackBerry are quite curvy in their own manner, displaying the trademark designs of BlackBerry, the Curve series phone are curvier than any of their previous counterparts. The edges of the Curve 8520, for example, are very smooth and the device is perfectly engineered to give it a very enticing look. Now, let us have a look at the dimensions of the device.
The Curve 8520 measures about 4.29 inches high, 2.36 inches wide and 0.55 inches deep. In other words, the device is about 14 mm deep, which means that it is pretty slim, slimmer than you will normally see anywhere in the PDA market. This obviously makes the device very light and it consequently measures about 105 grams (3.70 ounces). These factors indeed give the Curve 8520 a pretty rich look and its shiny exterior appearance also does a world of good to its design. The Curve 8520 is available in as many as five colours, so there is some sort of diversity out there. And since all the colours are metallic in nature, you do not see them fading away as days pass by and the mobile stays looking fresh every single day. Though black is the business’ favourite colour, you can still try out the rich variety of colours that are available. Hence, regarding the design part of the device, the Blackberry Curve 8520 Smartphone deserves full marks.
Display:
BlackBerry phones are always associated with a high resolution display and the Curve 8520 PDA Smartphone is not an exception at all. Given the small screen it sports, the Curve 8520 comes with a 320 x 240 pixel resolution and also has colour display, if this surprises you by any means. But the more interesting features are that the screen is light sensitive and hence the brightness of the screen and the keypad changes with the available daylight. When you are between four walls, the brightness automatically increases and when you go outdoors, the light automatically dims, saving you a lot of battery. At nights, the brightness increases by a considerable amount. It is also one commendable feature since otherwise you will have to manually change the brightness of the screen each and every time there is a change in the brightness outside. This feature sets the brightness all by itself. Another nice feature in here is that there is an option for you to select the screen font size. Many a time, people with different disorders related to eyesight, find it quite difficult to cope up with the font sizes on their main screens. Hence, it would be tough to encounter the device and utilize its features completely. Hence, this feature is introduced by BlackBerry, with a view to increase comfort of the users.

Features:
Here comes the most important aspect of all when it comes any electronic device, let alone a PDA. Of late, we have been seeing lots of new stuff and unique features from all manufacturers. Maybe this is a sign of competitiveness among them, but at the end of the day, it is the user who is receiving all the benefits. In order to sustain the competition and live up to the expectations of a common man, these companies have to provide more and more of new and interesting features, an more importantly, for a reasonable rate. While we will be dealing with the pricing of the device a little later, we shall now see if this trend regarding features is being followed by the BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphone.
Processor:
Since the processor might prove to be a vital feature on any device, you should examine it twice before moving on. Now, as expected, BlackBerry has come up with its own processor again, but this time around, with a much better one. The Curve 8520 Smartphone sports a 512 MHz processor, manufactured by BlackBerry itself. And no, this is not the fastest thing going around and there are certainly processors with greater capabilities, better durability and better functioning. But having said that the device is only pertained to business people and it does not sport all the features in the world, this processor can be considered to work well. And by this we do not mean you will be having a great speed or response time, it is just the fact that your device does not get stuck or overloaded with too many applications. Since it is BlackBerry who has come up with this processor, things must have already been tested under all conditions. Hence there is not much to worry about the processor.
Operating System:
The Curve 8520 Smartphone is so smart since it comes with a BlackBerry operating system. Though any man on the street knows this is not the best operating system in the business, it still is the best suitable one for this device and for that matter, any device manufactured by BlackBerry. Since they are the manufacturers, they are the ones who will know of their features better than anyone else. Hence, BlackBerry has decided to feature an operating system of their own instead of borrowing from the likes of Microsoft Windows or Android. Yes, even we understand that an Android would look much cooler and would serve much better. But, we have got used to the BlackBerry OS on BlackBerry phones and PDA devices and things are starting to be more comfortable now. You too, as a user, will find this OS a more user friendly one and easy to understand. There are not many difficult operations on this OS. Everything is simple and straightforward. So, this could the perfect device if you wish to gift it to someone elder. They will not be having any sort of issues while using it.
Memory:
These days, memory has become a vital part of any electronic gadget and particularly any PDA. Now since you are going to buy a personal digital assistant, it means that you will need to store lots of information and files. You will obviously need lots of space on your device because, after all when you are purchasing a device, you would want to serve multiple purposes. And when there are features like camera, video recorder, music player, Bluetooth, etc., it means that you will have quite a large number of files to store. This is the reason the BlackBerry phones always come with very good memory. When it comes to the Curve 8520 Smartphone, the device comes with an onboard memory of either 256MB or 1GB. And in most cases, this should be enough for you. This is because you can practically store unlimited phone contacts, photo contacts, with unlimited fields. But if is not enough and you think you need more space on your device, then you always have the option to upgrade or increase the memory of your card, up to 32 GB. And it is worth noting the fact that the device supports only SD cards and SD memory cards are available in stores and you need to purchase separately.
QWERTY Keypad:
Yes, this is one of the most obvious and also interesting aspects of the device. Lots of new devices are coming up with this feature given the fact that people and especially the youth are into social networking these days. Chatting has become a viral phenomenon and wherever people go, they still want to maintain contact with their dear ones. And the best and fastest way to access the internet, chat with friends, type documents, and do a lot of similar stuff, is by using a QWERTY keypad. We know of many customers who look forward to buy a phone or a PDA that comes with only a QWERT keypad. Normal keypads, the slide types, the touch screen, all are kicked aside by this new idea. QWERTY is the order of the day and if you do not believe, just have a look at the increase in the production and at the same time, the sales of QWERTY phones over the last couple of years or so. It is also an easy transition between chatting on the computer and texting on the phone. It is much easier, faster and more effective. Hence, it is obviously preferred over other similar forms of keypad.
Camera and Video Recording:
It would always be nice to have a camera in hand whenever you are out with friends or on a tour. And it is a fact that these days, there is no mobile phone in this world that comes without a camera at all. Starting from VGA cameras to high definition cameras, you see different phones and PDA devices coming with different cameras. The BlackBerry Curve 8520 comes with a 2 megapixel camera and though you already know that this is not the end of the world and there are much better cameras featured on some other mobile phones and PDAs, this still is a decent feature and particularly under plenty of lighting, you will get good quality pictures without noise at all. And these days when we have picture modification software tools, the quality of the camera may not bother us that much. The camera has 5 x digital zoom feature so that you get some pretty good zoomed pictures. And things just do not end here. The camera also allows video recording and you again get some decent pictures when under daylight or plenty of artificial lighting. Since it is not the highest quality camera going around, it comes with a fixed focus and you will have to change or vary the focus in case you think it is needed.
Bluetooth:
Bluetooth is indeed one of the major features on the BlackBerry Curve 8520 Phone, and it is also considered pretty important for any PDA device. Since you will be having the need to chare things like documents and files at office, Bluetooth will be a ready in hand option for you to do so. The device comes with Bluetooth version 2.0 and though version 3.0 has already featured in a couple of devices this year, the older version is still not so obsolete. It is moreover better than predecessor and will be giving you better outputs like faster searching of devices, stronger connectivity, and greater security. Along with the Bluetooth version 2.0, you will also be provided a few other important features like Bluetooth Headset profile, Bluetooth Handset Profile, phone book access profile, secure simple pairing profile, serial port profile, address book integration using AT commands and using object push or OBEX feature, stereo audio (A2DP or AVRCP) and dial up networking (DUN). All these features are obviously very essential for those in business field and since this device is especially designed for people like them, it has in it everything that they look out for.
Media Player:
Who does not love entertainment? On any given day, one would want a device that would also provide them some entertaining stuff while they are on the go or when boredom surrounds them. Given the fact that most of today’s PDAs have become mini television sets that fit into our hands and keep on chattering wherever we go, the doctor’s order is that the Curve 8520 should have a good media player. And thankfully, we have got some nice multimedia features for you. The media player sported on the Curve 8520 supports a large number of audio and video formats and this certainly is good news for those of you who love to watch videos or to listen to music while travelling. Here is a list of video and audio formats supported by the device: Video formats: H.263, WMV9, MPEG4, H.264,; Audio formats: MP3, AAC-LC, AMR-WB, AMR-NB, e AAC+, QCELP EVRC, AAC+, WMA9, Windows Media 10 Standard/Professional. Now that is quite a good list of supported formats and this means that there is no need of converting the media into different formats before actually loading them on to the device. Hence playing music and videos on this media player is fun, entertaining and easy too. This could also prove to be a vital feature and would certainly please many users and critics.
Wi-Fi:
It is a well known fact that Wi-Fi has become an integral part of almost all electronic goods during the last couple of years. And PDAs are the one of the first gadgets to have featured Wi-Fi. What happens when you have Wi-Fi is, even when you have a cable that connects you to the internet, you can still not use it and still get connected to the internet. This way, your device will become more mobile and you can surf the web sitting anywhere in your house. This could save you from a lot of discomfort too. And whenever you visit places like Airports, cafes, corporate offices, universities and so on, you can gain access to the internet with ease. Like all BlackBerry mobile phones and PDAs, the Curve 8520 Smartphone comes with the far famed 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi in association with WPA / WPA 2 Personal and Enterprise both. This is certified by Cisco CCX and hence it is guaranteed that everything works smoothly without any sorts of errors. Some of the other additional features regarding Wi-Fi on the device are: Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle, Support for UMA (carrier-dependent). This is hence a great option for you to pull out the best from your Curve 8520 Smartphone and utilize its ability to the fullest.
Social Networking:
It is needless to say that social networking has become the top priority among people from all walks of life. It is the current trend and wherever you go, you see this phenomenon pretty predominant. People from every nook and corner of the globe are now able to contact one another through social networking. And of late, Social networking is also the sole reason behind the introduction of social commerce. Lots of businesses are being established every day and Social networking has been the driving force for all such businesses. Websites like Viigo, Foursquare, Twitter are now household names all over the world. Now this is the reason why the Blackberry Curve 8520 Smartphone comes with special featured apps for the above stated websites. Just one push of a button and you will be directed to those threesome websites. This way, you can quit living like a recluse since you will always be in contact with your pals, share your views, contacts, pictures, videos and stuff. Entertainment will always be with you if you have the Curve 8520. We have also liked the way the device provides you a link to such websites. Provision of shortcut buttons is also a nice way of connecting you to your pals and also a nicer way of saving your valuable time.
Security:
These days, one of the main problems regarding the PDA devices is that personal security is at stake. Many devices are coming without the option for you to lock or hide your personal data and stuff. Everything is being open to access for all and this is the reason people still go for buying laptops instead of a PDA. But one has got no such complaints regarding the BlackBerry Curve 8520 PDA phone. It is quite smart in all aspects and hence it comes with robust security features. As expected, there is keyboard lock along with password protection. This feature helps you in preventing others from opening your device and also from accessing its data. There is also a security mode called the sleep mode which locks the device temporarily. Other important features include AES or Triple DES encryption with BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Optional support for S/MIME, and FIPS validation. These small but important features add a lot of value to your device and also help you in protecting your all important data. These sort of features set an example to the other makers of PDAs, and BlackBerry outscores its competitors in this aspect.
Modem:
The internet has become a part and parcel of our lives and more and more people are onto the internet day by day. And is not it cool to have a modem for your device so that you can connect to the internet and surf the web whenever you wish to? It would be an even better idea because, after all the modem is provided by RIM and this means that only your device can be connected through the modem to the internet. No one else can access your modem since there will be a security key provided. The modem is also a wireless type and this means you can access Wi-Fi at home or wherever you go. There is also tethered modem capability for the device and hence it would be an added advantage for you when you choose the Curve 8520. Both these will be provided along with the device and you could be browsing the internet without any extra price. This is also another positive aspect regarding the mobile phones and PDAs from BlackBerry. You will always have something extra for the same price.
Connectivity:
The device comes with a mini USB port and a cable for connection and this allows you to connect it to your computer, sync them and exchange data between them. It is an easy method, compared to the likes of Bluetooth and Infrared, to send and receive data like documents, files, music, videos and so on. You can also charge your phone just by connecting to your computer using this mini USB cable. And just for the record, there is also an SD memory card slot available, as discussed earlier. So, you can even transfer files through the memory card. Either way, the connectivity of the device is pretty good.
So that ends a pretty good list of features, and we are happy that BlackBerry has been following the latest trends in the market and hence has been providing the right features. Though there are a few minor drawbacks regarding some of the features, the device is pretty good overall. But let us also see if this trend continues and if the performance of the device complements its features well or not.

Performance:
While the features on the device are so great and so appealing that you would have already had a soft corner for the Blackberry Curve 8520 Mobile Phone, the performance of the device, may not be as appealing. And the reasons include a less powerful processor. Well, there is no problem with the processor itself and it works fine when you run an application or two. But when multitasking is frequent and too many applications are open and being run simultaneously, the device may not have the caliber to perform at a good pace and the processor should experience an overload. This leads to deteriorated performance of the system and is this happens for a long time, the device may get damaged. But the situation is not so serious as it seems since more often than not one would not want to use too many applications simultaneously.
The operating system and the rest of the features perform very well and they complement the device so well that you get a commendable performance from the Curve 8520 Smartphone. There are quite a few utilities in the bag for you and if you get used to using then in the right way, you will then start loving your device and will also start appreciating the real potential of the device. Connectivity of the device has also been quite good during the tests and there are no major issues or errors reported. This could well be a decider, the performance of the device on the whole, since it is the single most important aspect of the device. And we are happy that this would not be the reason behind your rejection. The overall performance is pretty good, and in fact better than what was expected at the start, especially after knowing about the processor of the device. Hence, you can actually count on the performance of the device since it will always be there for you whenever you need and it will also not pose you frequent problems.
Battery:
Since there are quite a few features seen on the device, there is a chance of multitasking. And multitasking means more operations at a time and this eventually means more battery drain. This is the reason one would expect a pretty solid battery performance from their device. One must not worry about the battery life while on the go and also must be able to confidently make video calls or do some extravagant stuff. But all this needs a good battery. Therefore, the Curve 8520 comes with a 1150 mAh removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery that stays longer than usual. With the new revamped battery performance, the device can provide you a talk time of up to 4.5 hours (approx) and a standby time of up to 17 days or 408 hours (approx). Now this is something big. You have now got something really great from BlackBerry. You can now talk for more hours on the go, and also can quit worrying because you have not charged your device for some time. This sort of quality is expected from someone like BlackBerry and it has lived up to our expectations totally.
Warranty:
The BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphone comes with a parts and labour warranty for a period of about one year from the original date of purchase.
Verdict:
If you were waiting for one last opinion of us on this Smartphone, we would like to tell you that you have encountered a really good device that helps you in all spheres of your life, office, home, family, friends, network, entertainment, and the list goes on. The features are great and the performance is better than what we expected. The battery life is quite commendable and the device also has pretty good connectivity options. The pricing is also not as high as expected and is quite reasonable, to be honest with you. Hence, with all the positive signs in front of us, all we can say is, if you are diehard fan of BlackBerry and if you are looking for more than a decent PDA device, then we would recommend the BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphone to you. It would be a nice companion to you and to your business. Even if your decision is negative regarding the device, or if this not what you are looking for, there is nothing to worry as we have got plenty of other top notch and competitive PDAs for you. You can read their reviews, look at their ratings and prices on this website itself.
BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphone – Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | BlackBerry |
| Model Name | Curve 8520 |
| Type | PDA |
| Series | Curve Series |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4.29 x 2.36 x 0.55 inches |
| Weight | 106 g |
| Colours available | Glossy Black and white |
| Display type | TFT, 65K colors, 2.46 inches |
| Resolution | 320 x 240 pixels |
| Internal memory | 256MB |
| Supported capacity | Up to 32GB |
| Memory card type | SD card |
| Bluetooth | Yes, version 2.0 |
| Security | Yes |
| Weight | 3.70 ounces |
| Keyboard | QWERTY |
| Processor | 512 MHz |
| Clock speed | 2.44 – 3.32 GHz max. |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 b/g |
| Video Support | MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV9 |
| Audio Support | MP3, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCELP EVRC, AAC-LC, AAC+, e AAC+, WMA9, Windows Media 10 Standard/Professional |
| Built-in speakers | Yes |
| CPU | 512MHz processor |
| Operating system | BlackBerry OS |
| Camera | 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels |
| Social Networking | Viigo, Foursquare, Twitter |
| Data | GPRS EDGE 3G WLAN Bluetooth USB |
| Features | Messaging: SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, IM HTML Browser GPS Java |
| Networking | Modem,
Wireless networking |
| Battery | Standard battery, Li-Ion 1150 mAh |
| Battery life | Talk time of up to 4.5 hours (approx) and a standby time of up to 17 days or 408 hours (approx) |
| Warranty | 1 year |









