BlackBerry Curve 8320

BlackBerry smartphones have earned a reputation for being the best mobile devices for businesses and other large enterprises. The BlackBerry Curve provides the best of those features and adds important improvements for the individual user. Beyond the attributes of Curves generally, the 8320 adds built-in Wi-Fi connectivity that can be used both for high speed data transfer and for making voice calls.

Standout Features
 

• Wi-Fi Connectivity
• Push email feature
• Supports Microsoft Exchange Server

Features

First and foremost, the Curve 8320 is a communication powerhouse. With its push email feature, mail is delivered as soon as it is available to the server. Like other BlackBerry smartphones, it supports up to ten separate email accounts and the display screen shows an icon for each. There’s no need to log into an account. Just click the icon and it’s there. Business email is supported as are all common IMAP and POP3 mail services. Typing email on the Curve is a pleasure compared to most mobile devices, even other BlackBerry smartphones. Spacing between keys makes them easy to use and the backlighting is helpful under low light conditions. Back lighting adjusts automatically with ambient lighting conditions as does the display screen.

Microsoft Exchange Server is supported so synchronization with your Outlook email, contacts, and task list is simple using the USB cable or Bluetooth. For large organizations which use the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, remote synchronization is also available. Organizational IT departments have hundreds of access and security options when deciding on levels of access behind the corporate firewall.

Updating to BlackBerry OS 4.5 allows for editing Microsoft Word and PowerPoint documents whereas previously such documents could only be viewed. It also allows access to HTML email with live hyperlinks, imbedded images, and font and format customization.

The Curve has a 2.0 megapixel camera with 5x zoom and built-in flash. It delivers decent photographs but it lacks a video recorder. Because the Curve 8320 doesn’t have GPS, geo-tagging is not an option. Still pictures and video playback are displayed well on the 2.5-inch, 320x240 resolution screen. Images look good except when compared to the top rated iPhone 3G or BlackBerry Bold.

The Curve’s media player supports most audio file formats as well as a large number of video formats. If you use these multimedia features much you’ll want to make sure to install a MicroSD card because they’ll quickly fill the 64MB of built-in memory. The device can use up to an 8MB card. The curve has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack but also supports Bluetooth stereo profile so wireless headsets can be used for enjoying your favorite tunes.

Battery life for the Curve 8320 is rated at 240 minutes of talk time and 408 hours of standby time.