BlackBerry Curve 8900 Phone Titanium T Mobile
Posted by Smartphone Review on July 6, 2009
BlackBerry Curve 8900 Phone Titanium T Mobile
Updating the look of the Curve with a sleekly styled titanium finish, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 for T-Mobile is the thinnest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone yet. In addition to its stunning good looks–with titanium-colored finish accented by chrome highlights–the Curve 8900 is packed with communication and location features. The built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) supports both voice and data, making it easier to stay connected to family, friends and colleagues using T-Mobile’s Unlimited HotSpot Calling service, while the built-in GPS supports location-based services including turn-by-turn navigation.
With its stunning titanium-colored finish and chrome highlights, the sleek and slender design of the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone dresses it for any occasion (see larger image). Check out the Curve 8900 101 video demo. |
And, of course, you’ll enjoy all the communication and connectivity features you’ve come to expect from a Blackberry phone–including email served up by the BlackBerry Internet Service and a full menu of messaging options (SMS, MMS, and IM). The handset’s advanced multimedia capabilities include a 3.2-megapixel camera with image stabilization, digital zoom, flash and the ability to record video and play video. Other features include a hot-swappable MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot (for cards up to 16 GB; 256 MB card included), Bluetooth for handsfree communication and stereo music streaming, multi-format digital audio player, unlimited any-network calling to any 5 people with a myFaves plan, and up to 5.5 hours of talk time.
T-Mobile Service Options
With T-Mobile HotSpot Enabled service, you’ll effortlessly transition between Wi-Fi calling and T-Mobile’s wireless network while you talk. You can get unlimited nationwide calls over Wi-Fi–at home via your wireless router or at any U.S. T-Mobile HotSpot. You can also use the HotSpot Enabled service via most open, or unsecured, wireless routers, as well as any secured wireless router for which you have access to the password from the owner. This phone is compatible with the 802.11b/g Wi-Fi standard as well as the following Wi-Fi Alliance certifications: WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise, WMM, WMM Power Save, Wi-Fi Protected Setup. Whenever you’re not using a Wi-Fi network, the Curve works just like a regular mobile phone, using your Whenever Minutes under your T-Mobile voice plan.
Additionally, this mobile phone operates on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 networks and can handle high-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile’s EDGE network (which stands for “Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution”). As a quad-band world phone, this phone supports international roaming, extending the ability to stay connected while traveling abroad. This high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.
This phone also includes compatibility with T-Mobile’s myFaves service, which allows you to call up to five of your most common contacts–on any network, even landlines–without using any of your minutes. Learn more about myFaves from T-Mobile.
Download cool new games, HiFi Ringers (real songs by today’s hottest artists), MegaTones (instrumental versions of songs), and wallpapers quickly, as well as stay connected via the Web, instant messaging, and email.
The Curve 8900 includes Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth stereo music streaming, GPS navigation capabilities, MicroSD expansion to 16 GB, and more (see larger image). |
Staying Connected
With BlackBerry’s push email technology, your email will find you without having to initiate a connection. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, notifying you as new email arrives. In addition to the text, you can also receive and view attachments in a wide range of popular file formats, including Microsoft Office, Corel WordPerfect, and Adobe PDF.
Browse the web with the integrated, full-featured browser, which quickly and efficiently displays HTML pages as well as enables you to set up RSS feeds to stay connected to up-to-the-minute news and blog posts. And keep up with your contacts using a variety of instant message (IM) networks, including the integrated Blackberry Messenger as well as downloadable clients for Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, and Lotus Sametime.
For corporate users, the Curve delivers all the enterprise email and messaging capabilities you’ve come to expect. It’s supported on BlackBerry Internet Service, giving you access to up to 10 work or personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts), as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server, enabling advanced security and IT administration within IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments.
Phone Features
With a refined design, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone supports both your professional and personal mobile communication needs to help you enjoy a more organized, balanced life. In addition to a sleek, stylish design, the powerful new smartphone includes a large, vivid display–the highest resolution available on a BlackBerry smartphone–as well as a 512 MHz next-generation processor for fast and responsive performance.
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The striking 2.4-inch, 480 x 360-pixel display (65K colors) serves up crisp images, text and maps so information is easier to read, even when you’re on the go. It also includes a light-sensing feature that automatically adjusts backlighting for indoor, outdoor and dark environments. Like other Curve models, the Curve 8900 includes a trackball navigation system located on the top of the QWERTY keypad, and it features an integrated spell checker with a customizable dictionary to help maintain accuracy.
You can snap vivid photos as well as video clips using the 3.2-megapixel camera on the back of the Curve, which also features a 2x digital zoom, auto focus, image stabilization, and a flash. Transfer pictures and videos between your smartphone and your desktop computer easily using the USB cable that comes with the smartphone, or via Bluetooth technology.
You can also capture video clips on the go, with two resolution choices–480 x 352 pixels for saving to your PC and 176 x 144 pixels for sending via MMS messaging. In addition to recording videos, the Curve 8900 also supports mobile video streaming as well as videos saved from your PC. It’s compatible with DivX, XviD (MPEG4 Advance Simple Profile), H.263, and WMV3 formats.
Listen to your favorite music using the included stereo headset, or use an optional wireless headphone thanks to the Curve’s support for the Bluetooth stereo audio profile (A2DP/AVRCP). The Curve is compatible with a wide variety of file formats (.3gp, WAV, MIDI, AMR-NB, G711u/A, GSM610, PCM, MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA9/10 Standard/Pro) and dedicated volume controls are conveniently located on the side of the handset.
Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0 + EDR), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and file transfer. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking–surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.
With the Voice-Activated Dialing (VAD) feature, you can initiate a call just by telling the Curve who to call from your contact list–either via the integrated speakerphone or using an optional Bluetooth wireless headset. Other advanced phone features include advanced sound technology that cancels out background noise and echo, dedicated volume and mute keys, and the ability to customize the Curve with polyphonic and MP3 ringtones.
Capture high-resolution photos and videos with the 3.2-megapixel camera on the back. |
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The BlackBerry Browser on the Curve 8900 is designed to make on-the-go Internet browsing fast and fun–you can even start a search right from the home page. Navigate sites and zoom in on content using a trackball-controlled pointer, set bookmarks and view your history. Plus, the BlackBerry Browser works with a host of other applications to make things like online purchasing and tracking information on your favorite pages easier.
The easier a map is to read, the easier it is to follow. Together with BlackBerry Maps, the crisp, colorful screen of the Curve 8900 is designed to make it easier to find the location of businesses, restaurants, concert venues, parks and more by allowing you to check maps and get driving directions quickly and conveniently. When you’re connected to the network, you can even launch maps from your address book. BlackBerry Maps is also designed to help make trips easier by providing route options like fastest or shortest and displaying directions visually along with text-based turn-by-turn instructions.
Whether your instant messaging (IM) account is with Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ or Windows Live Messenger, you can bring your IM community wherever life takes you. Like the desktop versions, these programs offer features like avatars and emoticons. And, because BlackBerry applications work together, you can also start an IM chat from your address book, call or email an IM contact while chatting or even check your calendar right from a chat.
Other features include:
- Easily synch with Microsoft Outlook: Stay in synch with your Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks in Microsoft Outlook
- Edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files: Just download attachments and start typing. You’ll enjoy many of the same features you do on your computer–copy and paste, font size and color, even bullets and numbering and more.
- Remote Search: If you prefer not to carry all your email on your Curve 8900 smartphone, Remote Search can be used to find emails that are still stored on your BlackBerry Enterprise Server using name, subject and other options to narrow the field.
- BlackBerry Media Sync: Sync your desktop iTunes music files with your BlackBerry smartphone.
- Free/Busy Lookup: View your colleagues’ calendars to see who’s available at what time right from your BlackBerry smartphone.
- RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds support: With RSS, you don’t need to check important websites for updates, new content can be pushed to you automatically.
- Send and receive text and picture messages (SMS and MMS)
- Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), PBA (transfer contacts)
Vital Statistics
The Blackberry Curve 8900 weighs 3.9 ounces and measures 2.4 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches. Its 1400 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.5 hours of talk time, and up to 360 hours (15 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars It’s Just Ok
I have to say that Ryan sounds like he works for BlackBerry or Tmobile. The support he gives the phone seems to echo every “weakness” I have ever heard mentioned about the iPhone. I own the phone and have a friend who owns the iPhone 3G. Really, if I was ready to jump carriers, I would grab an iPhone. It does everything except handle calls far better than the Curve. The Curve is a far better smart phone that most, but, a dinosaur compared to the iPhone.
This that I didn’t like:
-Not intuitive to use
-Cramped keyboard
-Weak browser
-Lack of useful apps
5 Stars Killer!
The killer app for the Blackberry is, and has been the OS. It is the most stable, reliable, and advanced operating system of an smartphone around. I’ve used the G1, Treo’s, Sidekicks, Windows devices and others, this trumps them all.
The 8900 is not my first BlackBerry. It will not be my last either since I’m sure they will have something new and lovely I want in a year or two, for now though I’m more than satisfied.
Things I Rave about:
1) Memory! I have 12 third party applcations installed and still have more memory free than the older Blackberry’s come with.
2) Audio Video. The screen and speaker are better than any other mobile device around.
3) Emaill. It’s a BlackBerry, it doing this right all the time is a no brainer.
Things I merely love.
1) The browser. While it is improved over older devices, it is not quite on par with the G1.
2) Camera. It has a great lens, great software to process the pic and is sharp and adjustable. Sadly when trying to zoom in and out the movement is slower than scrolling in other applications.
The one thing I dislike is the switch from the mini-usb to the micro-usb. And for that this review is really only a 4.85
4 Stars Needs a 4.5 star option.
Is this the perfect phone, you will never need to buy another phone in your life…. no its not.
As far as the phone goes, calls have all been clear, on UMA (this rocks btw), on edge, on bluetooth, and on speaker phone, works great as a phone! clear on both ends.
I text alot, comming from a non qwerty phone, this one was easy to adapt too, I have normal hands I guess, if you bite your nails you may have issues. Ive tried the G1 and while the keys are more spread out, I felt this phone was more comfortable to type with.
Emails are awesome, I set up my work OWA, hotmail, gmail, yahoo, and they all work like a champ and notify me when I have new emails. Pretty easy set up as well. on BIS
Cam is awesome 3.2meg, descent colors for a camera, and a flash. Also has a video cam… not so great resolution, but just ok for MMS, or you tube quality. I have only used mine as a flashlight with the one touch button on the left side and that is super nice to hit that button and the bright LED comes on to light up whatever you need.
as a pda with the contacts and dates and calanders, all work very well and reminders all work well.
Contact list has tons of space to put in everything about the contacts
It also has a normal size headphone jack, and not the tiny one.
I would have loved to have the normal USB jack and I see alot of people are complaining about that… for me if I needed too, I could google ‘micro usb to mini usb adaptor’ And see that for a few bucks I can get some adaptors and not have a problem with that.
And of course e bay has tons of chargers, car/desk/usb and screen protectors and cases… all for pretty cheap.
And onto browsing… not something I like to do on any phone, because the screen is to small, I looked at the iphone, and g1, and storm, and none of them I could see myself browsing the internet with, its just not easy to read. However apps that have BB adjusted web pages are nice to scroll around, facebook, and myspace, and youtube, viigio, crackberry of course, are easy to navigate.
The Apps store is a nice place to get alot of free apps, weather included. I use weathereye and it pushes data to the phone and is free, there are lots of them… Since I am coming from Verizon, all this free apps is totally foreign to me hehe.
For themes I found plenty(free) after googleing for under 5 min, and I could also make my own with a free bb theme creator.
GPS, and maps. work well and update fast. This is the only time I noticed 3G being an issue, is that the maps did not update as fast as I was driveing.
I have had no issues with the track ball, and Ive played alot of brick breaker.
I hear alot about battery pulls with BB’s I have yet to do this. and I have upgraded my OS last night to v 4.6.1.231 and that was fun, everything seems a little bit snappier.
something else I dont like is the memory card slot. With finger nails and all It was a pain to get the worthless 256m card out, Luckily its not something you need to swap since with the usb cable you can plug it into the PC and see the drive.
Battery life I dont have a problem with, it seems to have no problems holding a charge with a full days use.
Overall I think this phone is a keeper, Ive had no problems with T-mob even after I returned the G1 after a day. I have not had a dropped call, or been out of a service area yet
3 Stars Great features, stable performance, one serious flaw
Overall it is a great “Smartphone” and the best I’ve used thus far when it comes to stable, usable performance. I have, however, found it to have one serious flaw - there is something wrong with the ear speaker. In-call volume is so low as to render the phone fairly unusable except in very quiet environments. It is not an OS/Software issue (at least not after having tried 2 OS updates with no fix), but appears to be a physical problem related to the speaker (and I’m not the only one to have noticed this issue with the 8900). My only solution has been to use the speakerphone at full volume on all calls…..this works because the sound is projected both front and back of the unit when you use the speakerphone.
5 Stars My first BB, not disappointed at all
I had an iPhone before this, I liked the easy to use nature of the phone and the easy integration with my mac. The problems that I had with it was inability to run multiple apps at one time and the touch screen was a bit cumbersome to type with, constantly making mistakes and people are like “What?”
My friend had gotten a Bold and lets say after using it for a few minutes, I said to myself I had to get one. The problem was I didnt like AT&T (the iPhone was hacked for T-Mobile), So I went digging around and found the Curve 8900, and amazon’s price for it was the turning point. So easy to use and the GPS is great. The ability to call over wifi is nice, especially at work where I have no reception. I don’t use the email feature like most people do but it is convenient to get my email where ever I happen to be. Sure the lack of 3G stinks, but for what I do and where I am most of the time, it doesnt matter, wifi usually seems to be always around.
Battery life was better than the iPhone, which was surprising due the power and features of the device. Media playback was exceptional, although I wish it supported gapless playback (minor annoyance). The screen is so clear, and I have no trouble reading anything on the screen. The trackball, best thing on the device besides the camera and keyboard, allows for quick navigation and selection.
If your on the fence about this phone, do not hesitate. Its a wonderful device and will not disappoint.
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