Showing posts with label uma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uma. Show all posts

Friday, March 29, 2013

BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Titanium (T-Mobile) Review

BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Titanium (T-Mobile)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The feature that differentiates this from other Blackberries is UMA - unlicensed mobile access. In contrast to the AT&T Blackberry 8820, this T-mobile 8320 allows one to SPEAK over wifi. The 8820 can only use wifi for data.
It roams seamlessly between wifi networks and EDGE/GSM networks without dropping the call. I started a call from a Starbucks wifi network and walked out of its range. The phone switched over to the GSM network without dropping the call - no problem. I then walked into my office where there is wifi, and the phone switched over to wifi.
A few interesting points:
- Calls made over UMA (ie. wifi) are much clearer. They sound like an landline phone, not a walkie talkie.
- T-mobile bills you according to where you *initiate* the call. So if you start a call at home over your wifi and then walk out, you still don't get minutes deducted from your plan.
- The UMA HotSpot@Home add-on to your T-mo contract ($20/mo unlimited UMA talking for all lines on my family plan) also includes access to Hotspots at all Starbucks Cafes and airports. I didn't need to do a thing. As soon as I get near a Starbucks, the phone finds its Hotspot wireless network and latches on.
- I have significantly decreased the amount I spend monthly on voicetime by using a MyFaves family plan ($59/mo for 1000 whenever minutes) because all calls over UMA and all calls on to my 5 selected MyFaves numbers are not deducted from that plan's minutes.
- Tmobile gave me a free wifi router ($50 with a $50 rebate) that has been optimized for UMA voice. It firmware has been set up so that the UMA (VOIP traffic) is prioritized.
- I am SO dumping my Vonage line now. Vonage's voice clarity and reliability is nowhere close, and Tmobile's customer service is fabulous in comparison.
- I live in NYC and I recall when the cell networks went down on 9/11 due to overload. One comforting thought is that this phone will not die in times of network overload that since it can work on a completely different network (ie. wifi routers connecting to regular ISPs, which kept working on 9/11).
I'm a believer.

Click Here to see more reviews about: BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Titanium (T-Mobile)

Adding a fashionable touch to Research in Motion's formidable arsenal of telephonic, PIM, and media tools, the BlackBerry 8320 Curve for T-Mobile is also the smallest, lightest BlackBerry phone that includes a full QWERTY keyboard. This amalgam of the svelte BlackBerry Pearl and the more business-oriented 8800 combines RIM's long-valued corporate email and messaging platform with a host of advanced multimedia features, including a 2-megapixel camera and stereo Bluetooth (for listening to music via wireless headphones). In addition to its quad-band GSM and EDGE connectivity, it also offers Wi-Fi connectivity for access to the Internet and email as well as access to T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home service. This version comes in titanium, but it's also available in pale gold.
T-Mobile Service Options With T-Mobile HotSpot @Home 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 @Home 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 wireless security protocols: WEP, WPA (TKIP), WPA2 (AES-CCMP), LEAP, PEAP, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-FAST, EAP-SIM, EAP-AKA. 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.
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.
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 FeaturesThe Curve is fashioned in a liquid silver finish with chrome highlights and subtly curving corners. Measuring 4.2 x 2.4 inches, the Curve is just as slim as the Pearl (0.6 inches) and weighs in at 3.9 ounces--just 0.7 ounces heavier than its predecessor. It features a bright 2.5-inch color TFT screen that provides 65,000 colors and a 320 x 240-pixel resolution, and it includes a light-sensing feature that automatically adjusts backlighting for indoor, outdoor and dark environments. Like the BlackBerry 8800, the Curve includes a trackball navigation system located on the top of the QWERTY keypad, and it also features an integrated spell checker with a customizable dictionary to help maintain accuracy while on the go. It has 64 MB of internal ROM memory, and is expandable using MicroSD memory cards. The battery provides up to 4 hours (240 minutes) of talk time and up to 17 days (408 hours) of standby time.
You can snap vivid photos (though no video) using the 2-megapixel camera on the back of the Curve, which also features a 5x digital zoom, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder. It can capture images in up to three picture quality and size resolutions that can be shared instantly by email, MMS or BlackBerry Messenger, or even uploaded to your Flickr account with the Yahoo! Go service. Photos can also be immediately set as a unique caller ID or Home Screen image. You can edit photos and create albums within the Curve using the PhotoSuite application. Pictures can be cropped, rotated and straightened, and flaws can be fixed by removing redeye or changing the brightness, contrast, and saturation levels.
Listen to your favorite music and watch downloaded videos 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, including MP3, WMA and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ audio and WMV, MPEG4 and H.263 video. Dedicated volume controls are conveniently located on the side of the handset.
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.
Vital Statistics The Blackberry Curve 8320 weighs 3.92 ounces and measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 408 hours (17 days) of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Titanium (T-Mobile)

Read More...

Saturday, March 2, 2013

BlackBerry Bold 9700 Phone (T-Mobile) Review

BlackBerry Bold 9700 Phone (T-Mobile)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
NOTE: This review is long and detailed, especially relevant for heavy users of Google services.
This is my second Blackberry, obtained from T-mobile at an upgrade discount (now possible through Amazon). My first Blackberry was the T-mobile Curve offering (my review on the 8320 may prove helpful to provide context for this review and for first time smart phone buyers). Last time I purchased a phone, I was just looking for a really high quality phone, and the 8320 certainly delivered. However, over time I gradually used more and more smart phone features until by 2009 I was totally hooked. While the 8320 was great as a phone, its limited memory and sluggish processor made it painful to use for certain apps - and impossible to use for more than a handful of apps.
So this time around my goal was to get a smart phone that made good sense for my current desired usage. Here were my requirements:
Keep costs down
Great phone (sound quality, speakerphone, quick dialing, coverage, vibrate options, international use, etc.)
Alternative reception if needed (WiFi UMA or femtocell)
Great e-mail (must handle Gmail well)
Sync contacts/calendar with Google and otherwise works seamlessly well with Google
Works seamlessly with other cloud apps I use heavily (Evernote, Dropbox, etc.)
Media player with 3.5mm jack
Camera of high enough quality to use in conjunction with Evernote OCR
Easy to use (configuration, speed of device, shortcuts, etc.)
Popular model with many accessories available
Long battery life
Enough memory so I don't have to manage it
Feels good in hand
Able to charge by putting in a cradle
Tethering possible (Bluetooth preferred)
Reliable
Optional but nice:
Great browser
Maps
Turn by Turn navigation (free preferred)
Other sections at the end of this review:
Screen
Keyboard
Trackpad
Battery Life
Summary
The 9700 with T-mobile strongly delivers on most of my requirements, and surpasses the 8320 in almost every respect by a wide margin. One by one:
Costs: Was able to keep my grandfathered T-mobile Blackberry contract for 40/month for voice (1000 anytime, unlimited nights/weekends) and 20/month for unlimited data (but no text/SMS). Our family also has the hotspot home service for an additional 10/month to provide an unlimited domestic calling home line. And a 12% AAA discount off the bill - so this is far less expensive than we could get for these services than from any other carrier. On the other hand, for users who require few voice minutes, heavy data, no tethering, and no home phone, iPhone with AT&T could be only slightly higher in cost (and perhaps even competitive for light data users given the new June 2010 ATT 15/month 200MB/month plan option)
Phone: Terrific - just as good as 8320 which was also great. I find the phone quality I experience to be better than using an average phone with a land line (cordless or corded). The speakerphone and internal phone is of higher quality but lower volume - so may be more difficult to hear in very noisy conditions, though ear buds or headsets can be used in such circumstances. The alternative UMA reception works just as well on 9700 as it did on the 8320. The quality of the speakerphone is so good that I often use it for music if I'm not in reach of my earphones - while of course not as good as what you get over a high quality headset, it is the best speaker quality I've heard from a cell phone - and I thought the 8320 was good.
E-mail, Google apps: Built in Email function is great but is not geared for IMAP Gmail so I downloaded the Google Mobile App and then the individual components Gmail, Sync, and Maps. Gmail and Maps are outstanding, Sync is adequate. The search by voice feature of Google Mobile App is amazingly useful in so many ways I could write a couple pages just about this one feature (watch what happens when you do voice searches for "Phillies" or "Black Widow" or "3+11" . . .). By using Gmail I give up push E-mail (it checks every 20 minutes or if I force it to with "refresh") but is otherwise better - including the ability to search g-mail very quickly. None of this is any different from the 8320 - except that everything is much quicker - and I can use Maps without having to reboot the phone to get memory back. The Google Reader icon merely invokes the Blackberry browser with Google Reader RSS - and it is so tiny that it is unusable. I did figure out that I could use Google Reader reasonably well with the BOLT browser (which I had to download and then set to 3x Large font rendering). I also use Google Voice to replace T-mobile's voice mail and it works great, though you have to wait a few minutes for voice mails and their transcriptions to show up on your phone. Of course, all of these things work way better on Android and the iPhone, but with the exception of Google Reader, they are plenty good enough on the Blackberry.
Other Cloud Apps: Unfortunately, Blackberry is harder to develop for than the iPhone (and probably Android too), partly because Blackberry has so many models (too many, IMHO). The result is that Evernote for the iPhone is fantastic while it is passable on the 9700 and downright primitive on the 8320. The screen is bigger and the browser is better and faster on the 9700 (OS 5) than it was on 8320 (OS 4.5), and this accounts for why I'm actually beginning to use Evernote do search within the app and it brings up the notes with that term in the browser - you have to wait 5-10 seconds but it works. On the 8320 this was too slow to be workable. Dropbox does not have a client for Blackberry but is expected to release one by the end of 2010. Roboform has a primitive Blackberry client that doesn't sync wirelessly - I have to manually copy over my passcards every once in a while. Blackberry is a major platform so I am assuming these apps get better over time, but they will always trail the iPhone.
Media Player - the media player functions (mp3, pictures, video, voice notes, etc.) works just as well as it did with the 8320 - there's probably been some changes but I didn't notice them. However, the Pandora app runs much better on the 9700 than the 8320 due likely to some combination of 3G coverage and a faster processor. On the 8320, the application paused often in weak coverage areas and had a tendency to stop in the middle of a song and skip to the next on occasion.
Camera quality - I am a huge fan of Evernote but the 8320 camera was not able to take pictures of regular size text that could be recognized as text by Evernote's OCR. The 9700 camera specs are better and this proved out with Evernote in my initial tests. I found that with bright light and a distance of at least 11 inches away, I could take pictures of restaurant menus and Evernote was able to index most words in the picture. So I will have access to the menus of all of our favorite restaurants through Evernote once I take pictures of them all. This could also be done with business cards, wine bottles, white boards . . .
Ease of Use - This is where Blackberry's fall flat. It took me many many hours of fiddling to master the use of the 8320. While most of this knowledge transferred over to the 9700, it still took many hours to set up the phone as I downloaded apps, set preferences, etc. The iPhone is obviously much better in this regard, and for a heavy Google services user like myself, so is Android, from everything I've read. The menus of preferences were moderately better laid out than the 8320, which helped some. But here are some of the issues:
1) The Apps store experience is frustrating (i.e. Quickpull is an app that worked for 8320 and appeared on the 9700 app store so I installed it but it froze up my system - why does this appear at all if it hasn't been updated yet for the 9700?). Installing apps is slow and requires rebooting. Some apps are NOT in the app store (Google mobile app, Bolt, etc.).
2) The profiles system for setting alert preferences is powerful, and a bit easier to use than the 8320, but still complicated.
3) The initial layout of icons on the phone screen was so cumbersome (including many links to useless apps promoted by T-mobile) that I spent quite a while rearranging them so I could more easily find what I was looking for.
On the bright side, there are many handy shortcuts available on Blackberries. I especially like having each letter assignable to a speed dial, so I use the first letter of last names for home phone speed dials, and the first letter of first names for cell phone speed dials. As you learn the shortcuts, the phone becomes very fast to use, far faster than a computer for some things.
Popularity - Blackberries in general are among the most popular smart phone brands and 9700s in particular appear to be a big hit. Within months there will be a flood of accessories but the phone is so new that there's not too much yet. Many apps have not yet been updated for the 9700 or the OS 5.0.0.330 which powers the phone. However, it is harder to write Blackberry apps, so I am expecting iPhone to always have better and more up-to-date apps, and probably Android as well as that platform matures.
Battery/Memory - Battery life is amazingly good - I have been unable to use more than 30% of the battery in one day despite a lot of fiddling, syncs in the background, Pandora use, etc. There is enough memory for apps that I don't have to worry about it any more. This is a vast improvement over the 8320, which was a pocket computer in theory but in actual practice memory limited to less than a dozen apps, and required constant...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: BlackBerry Bold 9700 Phone (T-Mobile)

Powerful and refined, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone for T-Mobile includes built-in support for both 3G connectivity and voice calls over Wi-Fi networks (802.11b/g). Enabled for T-Mobile's expanding high-speed 3G network, the Bold 9700 offers fast data delivery and an enhanced Web-browsing experience that lets you connect quickly to social networking sites such as Facebook. 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).
Offering top-of-the-line performance and functionality, it features a sophisticated, high-gloss black finish, chrome highlights and leatherette back. It also includes a distinctive, highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard for fast and accurate typing, and an innovative touch-sensitive optical trackpad, which makes for a great navigation experience.

The built-in GPS supports navigation and location-based services via the included BlackBerry Maps application. A hot-swappable microSD/SDHC memory card slot provides additional storage for multimedia files and archiving applications, with a 2 GB memory card included and support for optional 32 GB cards. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming,

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 offers easy access to BlackBerry App World, the official app store for BlackBerry smartphones, enabling you to browse and download fun and functional mobile applications to their phone. Many applications are readily available directly on the smartphone, such as Slacker Radio for easy access to free music, TeleNav GPS Navigator for turn-by-turn directions (trial version), and visual voicemail for easier access and response to voicemails.



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, this BlackBerry device delivers all the enterprise email and messaging capabilities you've come to expect. It's supported on the BlackBerry Internet Service, giving you access to up to 8 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.





Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity via T-Mobile's HSDPA/UMTS network (1700/2100 MHz bands, UMTS/HSDPA; see more about T-Mobile's 3G service below)
Unlimited nationwide Wi-Fi Calling with T-Mobile's Unlimited HotSpot Calling service or the new Wi-Fi Calling with MobileOffice solution for business customers. Get great coverage at home when used with a T-Mobile HotSpot @Home wireless router, and receive unlimited nationwide calls over Wi-Fi, at home or at any U.S. T-Mobile HotSpot. (Learn more)
Quad-band GSM phone for good global voice connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands)
BlackBerry OS 5.0
Support for BlackBerry App World featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include travel, productivity, entertainment, games, social networking and sharing, news and weather, and more.
Visual Voicemail enables you to listen to your voicemail messages in any order, respond in one click and easily manage your inbox without ever dialing in to the network.
GPS navigation and location-based services via BlackBerry Maps and other third-party solutions. (Learn more)
2.44-inch display with 480 x 360-pixel resolution and 65K color depth.
35-key backlit QWERTY keyboard
3.2-megapixel camera with auto-focus, image stabilization, 2x digital zoom, flash, and geotagging capabilities.
Video capture capabilities with up to 480 x 352-pixel resolution for sharing (176 x 144 pixels for sending via MMS)
Multi-format digital audio and video player with compatibility for MP3, WMA 9 Pro/WMA 10, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, MPEG4, H.263, H.264, and more.
BlackBerry Media Sync is built right into your BlackBerry Desktop Software and lets you sync your desktop iTunes or Windows Media Player music files with your BlackBerry smartphone. If you're a Mac user, just choose the "media" option and you're ready to sync your iTunes music collection from your BlackBerry smartphone onto your Mac.
Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity with stereo music streaming (A2DP) capabilities as well as hands-free headsets and car kits.
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB. A 2 GB card is included with the phone, and it also has an internal 256 MB memory.
Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture/video and IM instant messaging (via popular services including AOL, Yahoo!, Windows Live Messenger, and Google Talk)
BlackBerry Browser for accessing Web sites.
Organizer tools including calendar, task list, memo pad, and calculator
Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off
Integrated hands-free, full duplex speakerphone
Voice-activated dialing capabilities

Vital Statistics The BlackBerry Bold 9700 weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 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, as well as T-Mobile's 3G network (1700/2100 MHz).

What's in the Box BlackBerry Bold 9700 handset, rechargeable battery, charger, 2 GB microSD memory card, USB cable, wired hands-free headset, BlackBerry Desktop Software, quick start guide, user manual





T-Mobile Services
High-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile's 3G network: In addition to its quad-band GSM connectivity, this phone is also compatible with T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA 3G network, which operates on the 1700/2100 MHz AWS spectrum. This phone is designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide faster data speeds when accessing the Web or downloading content from the T-Mobile Web2go content portal. T-Mobile's 3G network now covers 170 million people in more than 235 cities nationwide and by the end of 2009 is planned to be available to approximately 200 million people across the U.S.
In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the via T-Mobile's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"). 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.

While this phone is optimized for use with T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network, many of its functions will also work well on the moderate-speed EDGE network. If you plan to access the Internet extensively on your phone, 3G network coverage may serve you best.

Activities that work well on EDGE or 3G networks:

Email, instant messaging, and texting
Downloading ringtones, CallerTunes, wallpaper, light data files
Sending photographs via e-mail or picture messaging

Activities that work best on a 3G network:

Viewing content-heavy websites (lots of images or videos playing)
Viewing YouTube and other video files (they will play on EDGE, but require loading time)
Uploading large files (photos, videos, presentations) to sharing websites
Downloading large files from an e-mail or a website



T-Mobile HotSpot Enabled service: Effortlessly transition between Wi-Fi calling and T-Mobile's wireless network while you talk with T-Mobile's Unlimited HotSpot Calling service or the new Wi-Fi Calling with MobileOffice solution for business customers. Unlimited nationwide Wi-Fi Calling requires either Unlimited HotSpot Calling mobile plan or Wi-Fi Calling with MobileOffice service, qualifying rate plan, broadband Internet connection and wireless router. Regular plan minutes are used when call does not originate on Wi-Fi network.





Learn More
BlackBerry Maps Always know where you are and how to get where you need to be with BlackBerry® smartphones featuring BlackBerry Maps and GPS (Global Positioning System) capabilities. Enter an address and receive directions to businesses, restaurants and other locations. Type or paste the information, or launch a map by clicking on a pre-existing address in your address book to view routes and step-by-step directions.
Interactive maps allow you to pan left, right, up and down and to zoom in and out
Local search lets you find locations based on keywords. Enter a search term like "pizza" to find pizza places near you
Send maps via email
Bookmark your favorite locations for future reference
Fully optimized for BlackBerry smartphones for fast loading times and efficient data usage
BlackBerry Maps works with your current wireless network, so no carrier switching is required.

Technical Specifications
Video format support: DivX 4, DivX 5/6 partially supported, XviD partially supported, H.263, H.264, WMV3, MPEG4, Sorenson Spark & On2 VP6(Flash support)
Audio format support: .3gp, MP3, WMA9 (.wma/.asf), WMA9 Pro / WMA 10, MIDI, AMR-NB, Professional AAC/AAC+/eAAC+
Email support: BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Internet Service (POP3/IMAP4)
IM client: Yahoo, MSN Live, AIM, Google Talk, ICQ
USB connectivity: USB port allows charging and data synchronization of the device with a USB "A" to micro-USB "B" cable
Bluetooth support: Mono/Stereo Headset, Hands-free, Serial Port Profile, Bluetooth Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVCRP) and Bluetooth SIM Access Profile (version 2.1)


Buy Now

Click here for more information about BlackBerry Bold 9700 Phone (T-Mobile)

Read More...

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Nokia 6086 Silver Phone (T-Mobile) Review

Nokia 6086 Silver Phone (T-Mobile)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've been using a 6086 with T-Mobile's Hotspot at Home service for several months now, and it's worked adequately but not incredibly.
The main issues I've had with the phone all relate to power consumption, charging and battery life. The battery only lasts for 1-2 days with moderate usage. WiFi connections use more power, even if you have a T-Mobile branded router with the Wireless Multimedia extensions it uses to prolong battery life.
In addition, Nokia has changed from their traditional 3.6 or 3.7 volt charger to a 5 volt 350mA power supply, so all those older power supplies you have are not usable with this phone. In addition, despite the fact that the voltage is the same as USB voltage they didn't use a USB connector as many other phones have done.
Finally, for T-Mobile usage this phone is locked down so that applications that you install are not able to use the Internet via the phone - this particularly affects third-party web browsers like Opera Mini or applications like Google Maps (Mobile)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Nokia 6086 Silver Phone (T-Mobile)

The latest addition to T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home service, the Nokia 6086 nicely pocketable Nokia 6086 clamshell phone is packed with handy organizational and communication tools as well as multimedia features such as a VGA camera (with video capture), digital audio player, Bluetooth connectivity for stereo headphones, and an FM radio. In addition to its quad-band GSM and EDGE connectivity, it includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity for use with Hotspot @Home, enabling you to make and receive unlimited nationwide calls over Wi-Fi from home or at any US T-Mobile HotSpot location.
T-Mobile Service With T-Mobile HotSpot @Home 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 @Home 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. Whenever you're not using a Wi-Fi network, this phone works just like a regular mobile phone, using your Whenever Minutes under your T-Mobile voice plan.
Additionally, the 6086 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"). 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.
Phone Features Featuring subtle, organic design lines, an easy-to-tap keypad and an uncluttered menu structure, the elegant Nokia 6086 has a bright internal 1.8-inch LCD with a 128 x 160-pixel resolution and 262K colors. It's complemented by an external 1-inch monochrome display that offers a resolution of 96 x 68 pixels, making it convenient to see who is calling, check the time and signal/battery strength without the need to open the phone.
The digital audio player is compatible with MP3 and AAC/AAC+ files, and you'll be able to tune into your favorite radio stations using the integrated FM radio. The built-in camera captures up to VGA-quality (640 x 480-pixel) still photos as well as video clips up to 30 seconds in length for sending via MMS or as long as you have available memory on an inserted MicroSD memory card. The still image camera offers a 4x digital zoom, three quality settings, and several color effects.
Pictures, videos and music can be stored and shared using the optional hot-swappable microSD memory card, which offers up to 2 GB storage (the phone, itself, offers only 4 MB of memory). The 6086 offers Bluetooth version 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate wireless connectivity, and it includes profiles for communication headsets, handsfree kits, and sharing of contacts.
To enable staying in touch with family and friends, the 6086 offers comprehensive functions for easy messaging and voice communication, including MMS, Nokia Xpress audio messaging, enhanced email and instant messaging via AIM, Yahoo!, and MSN. There's also a built-in WAP 2.0 web browser that supports XHTML and HTML, and you can check email from accounts that support IMAP4, POP3 and SMTP protocols. The T9 predictive text entry technology is built into the unit, which makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users. Other features include:
PC synchronization using Nokia PC Suite with USB (version 1.1) and Bluetooth connectivity
Integrated handsfree speakerand enhanced voice commands/dialing
Macromedia Flash Player 2.0 and Java MIDP 2.0 games and applications
MIDI 64, MP3, AAC, AAC+ and AMR WB ringtones
Flight mode
PIM tools: alarm clock, countdown timer, calendar, to-do list, note, voice memo

Vital Statistics The Nokia 6086 weighs 2.9 ounces and measures 3.62 x 1.81 x 0.91 inches. Its 970 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 4 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Nokia 6086 Silver Phone (T-Mobile)

Read More...

Monday, September 17, 2012

Samsung Katalyst Titanium Phone (T-Mobile) Review

Samsung Katalyst Titanium Phone (T-Mobile)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
With the SGH-T739 "Katalyst" phone, Samsung had a great opportunity, to create a really great phone with one really outstanding feature. UMA, or "Unlicensed Mobile Access" is a relatively new wireless technology for seamlessly merging GSM (regular wireless) phone calls with VOIP (voice over IP) calls that go through a wireless internet (Wifi) hotspot. When passing outside a hotspot's range, the system allows the exchange to take place from one system to the other, ostensibly without dropping the call. And when you start the call from within a hotspot (at home, for example), the minutes for the call are free; they don't count against your plan minutes. T-Mobile calls it "Hotspot@Home", and the curious can find much more copious and readable descriptions of how it works elsewhere online. Short of T-Mobile's UMA-capable Blackberry Curve 8320, the Katalyst stood a good chance of being their first UMA phone with a decent feature set (like, a good camera for example). Unfortunately, they kinda blew it.
First, I'll go through the good points. The phone is pretty well-made physically, which puts it in good company with other Samsung phones I've owned and played with. Samsung, T-mobile and online reviewers are quick to point out that the sliding action is smooth, and that it is. Compulsive fidgeters will need to just leave it in their pockets; the temptation is far too great for some of us. The screen is big and brightness is adequate. I'd have preferred the phone without the chromish trim, but I guess it's very blingy for those who are into that. I've got a 2Gb card in mine, which is OK for the phone's basic MP3 player capability. The menus and shortcuts are acceptably well-organized; though switching to this phone from a Sony-Ericsson made it very clear that Samsung is not a leader in intuitive menu and UI design.
It may seem obscure but I was very impressed by the capability of the voice recognition system, which is intelligent enough that it doesn't need to be trained, even on people's names. I was pretty impressed.
The 1280x1024 camera is "decent" -- colors are respectable, and with the "auto" ISO setting the images come out about as well as you could expect them to without a flash. It's been useful for me, taking pictures of projects and whiteboard notes.
The phone has a lot of features that just weren't very well executed however. The first is the UMA/VOIP/Wifi feature. There are a couple different problems all wrapped up together here, but the end result is the same; unreliability. If the people you're talking to are in any way important (e.g. vendors with whom you're trying to put together a business deal, potential customers, etc), you'll find yourself turning the Wifi feature off just to avoid the possibility of having the call get screwed up ... repeatedly. At this point, I've gotten really tired of apologizing for my phone. The Katalyst has a very weak wifi antenna, evidenced by poor signal strength displayed on the screen, as well as a comparison of what hotspots it can pick up, versus any other wifi device. It also can't transfer to GSM properly if the data flow is suddenly cut off, so if this happens for some reason, the call will drop 100% of the time. If you have unreliable broadband internet, this is not the feature or the phone for you. And finally, if the call is going well but starts to get sketchy, there's no way to manually switch over to GSM and turn off the wifi function while remaining on the call. I've dealt with these problems by purchasing extra Hotspot@Home routers for my bedroom and my office (they're actually a good idea for having adjacent to your cable or DSL modem since they prioritize your phone's data traffic, and the price isn't bad), and so drops are less frequent now. But I really shouldn't have to have an access point in the same room just to get a good signal. A friend has the cheaper Nokia phone for Hotspot@Home, and doesn't have any of these problems.
My next gripe, and this one is the one that's going to force me to buy another phone shortly (I've gone past the 2-week window when I can take this phone back) is about Bluetooth. T-mobile and Samsung claim that the phone is Bluetooth-capable.
This is not entirely truthful.
The Katalyst does have a Bluetooth chipset, and it is capable of communicating with some bluetooth devices, however it is not what I personally would call a Bluetooth capable phone. Honesty would demand some caveats with such a description. An asterisk. Fine print. Something.
Saying that a phone is Bluetooth capable carries with it some basic assumptions:
* The phone can be used with a headset or handsfree device
* Files acquired with the phone (camera photos, videos, sound or voice recordings, etc) can be grabbed off of it
* Files you want on the phone (pictures, MP3s, etc) can be uploaded to it
* SMS messages can be sent and received via Bluetooth, with devices with better data entry capability than a phone has
* You can get online through Bluetooth dial-up networking.
* For the hackers out there, there are even software programs that allow you to do fun stuff like remote control other software on a computer (media players, etc) from your phone's keypad, via Bluetooth.
With the Katalyst, none but the first in this list are possible. The Katalyst provides a crippled Bluetooth implementation, intended for audio (headset/handsfree) applications only. To make matters even worse, it won't even do this universally. I have a Tomtom GO720, which in addition to a feature for sending and receiving and reading aloud SMS messages (which of course I can't use), it also functions as a speakerphone. Very handy. I can't use it with my Katalyst however, because Samsung omitted the capability of making the phone "visible" so other Bluetooth devices can discover and pair with it. Mainly for me though, I'm upset because I paid a lot for this phone and now I can't get online with it when I'm travelling. I could get online (and do all the above actually) with my last phone, which was so cheap that I actually got $50 in my pocket after rebate, for choosing it. Why did Samsung do this? It is definitely intentional; a call to Samsung to ask about it yielded the response that the Bluetooth functionality of the phone will not be completed or upgraded in any future software release for this phone. It's not a bug to them, so they're not fixing it.
And more importantly, why did they hide it? On Samsung's site, looking in the feature list will show "Yes" under "Bluetooth" for this phone. It's only when you drill into their FAQ that you'll find the truth about what this phone supports (e.g. look up how to make it visible, the FAQ tells you that you can't). T-Mobile's representation is worse -- as of this writing their verbiage actually implies that the phone can be used with a computer, which is at best *highly* misleading. I couldn't get it to pair with mine at all.
Of course, there are a bunch of other little complaints. For one thing, the usual idiotic multipurpose connector that all Samsung phones have, which prevents you from plugging a headset in at the same time as a power connector. I'm not sure about the previous reviewer's complaint about data cables -- I bought one off ebay for a couple bucks, which didn't indicate any compatibility with this particular phone, but the plug fits and it works. File uploads are *excruciatingly* slow however; far better to pull the memory card (don't sneeze or you'll lose it) and use a dedicated card reader, even though you'll need to switch off and pull the battery to do it -- it's that bad. Especially since the phone becomes unusable while it's connected for file transfer. (What were they thinking?)
Voice notes record over each other, despite the phone's claim that they've been "saved to the Voice List". I lost a couple dozen sequentially recorded voice notes the first time I tried this, and had to spend an hour redoing everything and retaking the notes on paper. My experience using this phone has been full of little moments like these.After talking with support people at T-mobile, who were surprised that the phone's bluetooth capabilities were so limited, and talking with Samsung support who showed no sympathy whatsoever, I really can't escape the feeling that I've been had. In the end, my advice is pretty simple. Wait until Nokia or someone else makes a decent UMA phone, or until Samsung pulls their head out and fixes the software on this one or makes one that sucks less. Unless you don't care so much for the gee-whiz features but just want a UMA phone that works -- in which case, get the ugly little Nokia clamshell phone.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung Katalyst Titanium Phone (T-Mobile)

The latest addition to T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home service, the Samsung Katalyst (T739) offers easy pocketability thanks to its slim slider design. In addition to its quad-band GSM and EDGE connectivity, it includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity for use with Hotspot @Home, enabling you to make and receive unlimited nationwide calls over Wi-Fi from home or at any US T-Mobile HotSpot location. The phone also features a 1.3-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth connectivity for communication headsets, MicroSD memory expansion, voice recognition capabilities, and built-in instant messaging via popular services.
T-Mobile Service With T-Mobile HotSpot @Home 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 @Home 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. Whenever you're not using a Wi-Fi network, this phone works just like a regular mobile phone, using your Whenever Minutes under your T-Mobile voice plan.
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. And share pictures and video easily with T-Mobile's My Album. You can add picture, voice, and video messages from your T-Mobile camera or video phone using the My Album link built into the send menu or by using a simple short code. You can also upload pictures, video, or sound from a home computer.
Phone Features The Katalyst offers a generous color LCD with a 176 x 220-pixel resolution and support for 262K colors. The face includes a standard five-way navigation toggle, soft keys, and send/end keys, and it smoothly slides up to reveal the numeric keypad underneath. The phone has an internal 5 MB memory, and it can be expanded via MicroSD memory cards up to 2 GB. You can store up to 1000 contact entries, each with five numbers and an email address per entry.
This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity and comes fully packed with a variety of helpful profiles, including communication headset and handsfree car kits. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. The phone also includes a full duplex speakerphone for hands-free communication when you don't have a Bluetooth headset available.
In addition to SMS and MMS messaging, the Katalyst also features instant messaging support for AOL, ICQ, Yahoo! and Windows Live Messenger. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for entering text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
The phone also sports an airplane mode feature, which allows the user to safely use the non-wireless functions of a phone (such as music, games, or organizer functions) on an airplane during flight. Other features include:
Speaker-independent voice-activated dialing enables you to dial a contact just by speaking it when your hands are busy.
1.3-megapixel camera with multi-shot capability, a self-timer, spot metering, and white balance/brightness/ISO controls
Digital audio player
Picture and Ringer ID
Vibrating alert
Polyphonic and MP3 (real music) ringtones
PIM tools: Calendar, to-do list, alarm, calculator, tip calculator, unit converter, voice memo
Java-enabled downloadable games
USB 1.1 wired connectivity with support for mass storage

Vital Statistics The Samsung Katalyst weighs 4.1 ounces and measures 3.97 x 1.98 x 0.65 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 10 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Samsung Katalyst Titanium Phone (T-Mobile)

Read More...

Friday, April 6, 2012

Nokia N80 Internet Edition Unlocked Cell Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, MP3/Video Player, MiniSD Slot--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver) Review

Nokia N80 Internet Edition Unlocked Cell Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, MP3/Video Player, MiniSD Slot--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This phone is stunning. I had a Sony Ericsson K790a when I got this phone in, and i promptly returned the Sony for this phone. The screen is the single best screen I've ever seen on a portable device. I have great vision and I can't see pixels, the resolution is so tight that images and the interface looks amazingly smooth and stunning, even. The screen is easily readable outdoors, and doesn't have a serious reflective problem like Sony's K780a. This phone is actually smaller than the K790a, and feels smaller in the pocket. The K790 has a big bulge where the camera is, while this one is more flat on the back, which makes it far more comfortable in the hand.
The controls take some getting used to, but once you get them down, it is pretty easy to navigate. Some might complain that it is slow, but the only place I really notice it is when viewing text messages, but it's not THAT slow, it's still rather zippy. Texting on the N80's keypad is a dream come true, the keys are responsive, and they feel well made. They are far enough apart to make texting and dialing very easy.
I have had the phone slightly slide up while in my pocket, but not enough so that the screen was turned on, it needs to latch in the closed position a little more securely, but the sliding mechanism feels very sturdy and well built, and it is balanced when holding it to your ear or texting.
The N80 won't give you fantastic battery life if you use it a lot for phone calls, but it should last a day or two without charging if you just mess with the interface, text, or make brief phone calls. After 2-4 hours of phone calls, the battery life will drop a few bars, but I've never had it die on me.
It's not the best looking phone on the market, but the silver version (which I got) looks fashionable and not chunky or bloated like other smart phones. The camera on this phone is OK, but nothing special. Every picture I've taken so far has been relatively fuzzy, and out of focus, but the colors are accurate and the photos are still far better than most phones. The camera on the front of the N80 is nifty, but I never have a use for it. It's nice to have it there anyway.
The expandable memory on this phone is important, because it can play tons of Flash games, music, and videos. Music sounds good on the speaker, and it is plenty loud. Callers sound crystal clear through the N80, and they say they can hear me much clearer than on my old mpx220 or my K790a. I had a terrible time hearing people on the K790a, the device just wasn't loud enough. It could have just been my phone though, I'll never know. It is more comfortable to talk to people with the device slid open, so you can hold it closer to your mouth and ear at the same time, but it works just fine without it open, and callers can hear me just as well.
If you like options, this is the phone for you. You can adjust just about anything on it, and it makes it so customizable that you can set it up exactly how you like it. I'm new to Symbian, but so far I love it. It looks better than Windows Mobile, and, again, it's very configurable. I suggest downloading some themes from the net (on your PC, then transfer to N80). There are some really cool ones out there, and I found one I really love.
The N80 doesn't sit flat on a surface, because of the switch on the back that switches the camera to macro mode. The top part of the phone rests on this tiny switch, which makes it kinda unstable and wobbly, but it doesn't bug me, I just wished it sat flat on a surface. The N80 has no volume rocker, which I am not used to being without. Instead, you use the directional pad to raise/lower volume. This works okay, but you have to take the phone from your face in order to change the volume, and this could have been easily solved with a simple volume rocker. In fact, only 2 buttons are on the sides of the unit, the power (on top) and the camera button (on the right). This can be a good thing, as you can pick the N80 up without pushing any buttons. On the K790a, there are so many buttons crammed onto the sides that every time i picked it up I pushed one, and it got annoying.
I wish I got the black version, but the silver is nice too. Fingerprints show on the silver version rather easily, though the screen generally stays clean, as it is recessed. The shiny area around the buttons shows prints, but it cleans off easily, and Nokia includes a very soft cloth for just this. I wish the N80 came with a case, but they do include the headphones, USB cable, and a 128 MB memory card.
In conclusion, buy this phone. It blows many other smartphones out of the water with integrated wifi, music over bluetooth, IR, and it's amazing screen. It may be pricey, but it's well worth it. I got mine from Nokia directly. Avoid TigerDirect, they sent me 2 Russian versions of the K790a in a row, and allow NO returns on cell phones.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nokia N80 Internet Edition Unlocked Cell Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, MP3/Video Player, MiniSD Slot--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver)

This high-end slide-style smartphone sports an ultra-high-resolution display, 3 megapixel camera, and Wi-Fi with UPnP for media streaming and sharing. Other features include Bluetooth, a miniSD card slot, speaker-independent voice control, EDGE data, FM radio, and speakerphone.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Nokia N80 Internet Edition Unlocked Cell Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, MP3/Video Player, MiniSD Slot--U.S. Version with Warranty (Silver)

Read More...

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Sunset (T-Mobile) Review

BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Sunset (T-Mobile)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I resisted a Blackberry for years because I didn't want my email following me everywhere. Finally broke down and got this Curve 3 weeks ago. It truly lives up to its name as a "smart phone."
The Good:
1--The preloaded applications. I LOVE having mapping and search technology right on my cellphone! No more wondering where the nearest Wells Fargo or Pinkberry is. No more wasting time in the doctor's waiting room. I can check/respond to email or better yet, play tetris or brickbreaker.
2 --Multi-Tasking. If you are in the middle of one app (e.g., entering an address) and a call comes in, when the call is finished, the screen goes back to what you were doing instead of losing all the data you just entered. Coming from regular phones, this is a HUGE time-saving improvement for me. Also, if you are on the phone with someone and you want to look up a number or an email or a calendar event on your phone, you can click a button and search for the info, all while continuing your convo with the caller. How novel that technology should actually work the way common sense dictates. I uploaded a software called Mobile Tracker that works with a GPS to track my movements (which I can later upload in a file and watch on Google Earth) and the tracking is done in the background all while I continue to make and receive calls, check email, etc. Love that!
3--The Keyboard (Characters). I love that all the letters, numbers and common symbols are on one keyboard instead of my having to scroll thru multiple screens like most other phones.
4--Phone quality. Speakerphone is crisp and clear. Phone can hold a signal even in certain dead spots.
The Bad:
1-- Battery life is not great. Requires daily charging but I use it quite intensely. Easily solved with a car charger.
2-- Browser is sometimes a little too slow for my taste. This may be the phone or it may be t-mobile. I haven't tested to know whether wi-fi makes the browser go faster than being on the EDGE network. Also, could be slower when there are multiple applications working in the background.

The Ugly:
1--The keyboard (surface). Not crazy about the texture. I prefer the feel of the Bold's keyboard but I'm not going to switch carriers for it.
2--So incompatible with Mac it's not funny. After 3 days of trying different alternatives (the free pocketmac from blackberry froze my computer), I had to pay $40 for Missing Sync software to make the phone play nice with Mac, and even then there are issues. If you have a windows pc, you won't have this issue. If you have a Mac, be prepared to accept less than accurate syncing.
3--The manual. It's beyond useless. Doesn't tell you anything about this phone which has menus within menus within menus. There are a lot of features and you really need to take it out on a date and get to know it intimately. I have started to create my own little "how-to" file to keep track of how to do everything on this phone.
If you are new to smartphones, you will really enjoy this phone, not just for the email but for the constant access to the internet which is great for having information at your fingertips when you're away from your computer.
NOTE: A week or so after getting the phone, I also experienced the problem mentioned by the reviewer below with the phone locking up and the interminable hourglass. When I went in to each of the programs on the phone I had opened (maps, browser, weather channel, missing sync, brickbreaker, etc) and selected Close or Quit from the menu, this problem went away. I guess what makes this a smart phone is that hitting the back button on the phone just takes you to the previous screen but it doesn't automatically close out the application you are working in. You have to do that manually.
UPDATE: It has now been more than 6 months since I have had the phone and I want to throw it into the ocean. I still love the map feature and the camera has come in handy a couple of times, but the phone part drives me nuts! #ver since I activated the UMA feature which allows me to make calls over my highspeed Internet connection, I have had constant dropped calls, call failures, inability to dial out or receive calls. The phone basically works when it feels like. I have called T-Mobile but the support on this particular feature is useless. You might ask, why don't I just disable it, but when it works, it's brilliant -- it's like being on a landline. And cell service in my home is spotty so if I don't use UMA, I have to stand in one corner of the house. I had the phone set to work exclusively with UMA and I had problems so I switched it so that the phone would go back and forth between UMA and Edge, but I still have problems. This could be the phone, this could be T-Mobile, this could be my internet connection, who knows. I haven't tested UMA over another wireless network to isolate the problem. Perhaps I will do that next and update the review again.


Click Here to see more reviews about: BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Sunset (T-Mobile)

Adding a fashionable touch to Research in Motion's formidable arsenal of telephonic, PIM, and media tools, the BlackBerry 8320 Curve for T-Mobile is also the smallest, lightest BlackBerry phone that includes a full QWERTY keyboard. This amalgam of the svelte BlackBerry Pearl and the more business-oriented 8800 combines RIM's long-valued corporate email and messaging platform with a host of advanced multimedia features, including a 2-megapixel camera and stereo Bluetooth (for listening to music via wireless headphones). In addition to its quad-band GSM and EDGE connectivity, it also offers Wi-Fi connectivity for access to the Internet and email as well as access to T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home service.
T-Mobile Service Options With T-Mobile HotSpot @Home 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 @Home 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 wireless security protocols: WEP, WPA (TKIP), WPA2 (AES-CCMP), LEAP, PEAP, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-FAST, EAP-SIM, EAP-AKA. 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.
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.
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 The Curve is fashioned with subtly curving corners and chrome highlights. Measuring 4.2 x 2.4 inches, the Curve is just as slim as the Pearl (0.6 inches) and weighs in at 3.9 ounces--just 0.7 ounces heavier than its predecessor. It features a bright 2.5-inch color TFT screen that provides 65,000 colors and a 320 x 240-pixel resolution, and it includes a light-sensing feature that automatically adjusts backlighting for indoor, outdoor and dark environments. Like the BlackBerry 8800, the Curve includes a trackball navigation system located on the top of the QWERTY keypad, and it also features an integrated spell checker with a customizable dictionary to help maintain accuracy while on the go. It has 64 MB of internal ROM memory, and is expandable using MicroSD memory cards. The battery provides up to 4 hours (240 minutes) of talk time and up to 17 days (408 hours) of standby time.
You can snap vivid photos (though no video) using the 2-megapixel camera on the back of the Curve, which also features a 5x digital zoom, built-in flash, self-portrait mirror and full screen viewfinder. It can capture images in up to three picture quality and size resolutions that can be shared instantly by email, MMS or BlackBerry Messenger, or even uploaded to your Flickr account with the Yahoo! Go service. Photos can also be immediately set as a unique caller ID or Home Screen image. You can edit photos and create albums within the Curve using the PhotoSuite application. Pictures can be cropped, rotated and straightened, and flaws can be fixed by removing redeye or changing the brightness, contrast, and saturation levels.
Listen to your favorite music and watch downloaded videos 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, including MP3, WMA and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ audio and WMV, MPEG4 and H.263 video. Dedicated volume controls are conveniently located on the side of the handset.
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.
Vital Statistics The Blackberry Curve 8320 weighs 3.92 ounces and measures 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 408 hours (17 days) of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about BlackBerry Curve 8320 Phone, Sunset (T-Mobile)

Read More...