BlackBerry Curve 8350i review

The BlackBerry Curve 8350i is the result of pairing the very popular Curve platform with iDEN technology, better known as push-to-talk. Though many individual users like the feature, it is often favored by industrial and construction users as well as government agencies, particularly for first responders. It affords instant communication with one or a group of individuals in manner resembling that of a walkie-talkie. Additionally, the device comes equipped with a combination of features that have often been mutually exclusive on BlackBerry devices.

Standout features

• Direct Connect Push-To-Talk connectivity
• Wi-Fi & GPS
• Camera with Video Recorder
• Advanced Document Editing
• Push-to-talk

Like other BlackBerry smartphones, the Curve 8350i is a master of mobile email, accommodating up to ten true push email accounts. Corporate email servers are fully supported as are all common IMAP and POP3 mail services. Composing email on the 8350i is a simple. 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. The device also provides complete access to Instant and text messages and, at last for a Sprint BlackBerry, multimedia messaging (MMS) is supported.

For reasons known only to RIM, BlackBerry phones have usually been offered with Wi-Fi or GPS but rarely both. Happily, the Curve 8350i has both capabilities adding to its versatility.

The Curve 8350i comes with BlackBerry OS 4.6, the same operating system used on the flagship BlackBerry Bold. It comes with DataViz Documents To Go Standard Edition so it can be used to edit Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents. Creation of such documents would require upgrading to the Premium Edition of the program. It also allows access to HTML email with live hyperlinks, imbedded images, and font and format customization. The browser is a step up from previous BlackBerry versions.

The Curve 8350i has a 2.0 megapixel camera with 5x zoom and built-in flash. Unlike all other Curves except the 8330, it also features video recording. Still pictures and video playback are displayed well on the 2.5-inch, 320x240 resolution screen.

The Curve 8350i’s media player supports most audio file formats as well as a large number of video formats. It has 128MB of flash memory, a big step up from other Curves. Memory can be expanded by up to a 16GB MicroSD/SDHC card. It has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack and also supports Bluetooth stereo 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 168 hours of standby time.

Curves are in general the smallest BlackBerry devices with a full QWERTY keyboard. With the abundance of communication options that have been added to the 8350i, it had to grow a bit. Still the difference is minimal. The device is one-tenth of an inch thicker, two-tenths of an inch longer, and weighs about eight-tenths of an ounce more. It has a solid, well-built feel in the hand.

Summary

The Curve 8350i sets a new standard in communications versatility. Though the push-to-talk segment of the mobile phone market is relatively small, it remains an important audience because of its critical place in industry and public safety. Providing a device as capable as the 8350i to this market has been a long time coming and is a welcome addition.