The Blackberry Curve 3G 9300 is an immediate upgrade from previous Curve handsets; it looks almost identical to the 8520 and performs the same too, the key difference is the enhanced 3G which was absent in earlier Blackberry Curve phones. The device has impressive battery life and boasts very good messaging and e-mail support, there are dedicated music keys to manage the music player and there is a digital camera for the snap-happy user. Generally the Curve 3G 9300 is a level up from the 8520 thanks to the 3G technology and the extra power behind the scenes.
Looks wise, the Curve 3G has been given a shiny chrome trim to set it apart from its predecessor. The keyboard is probably one of the best going; it is perfectly configured for the fingertips and though the individually mounted keys are quite small they are well spaced, so accuracy will not be a problem when composing messages and e-mails. They have stuck with the optical track pad which indicates that the Curve is becoming a traditional series rather than an individual model. The track pad delivers the same receptiveness as it did on the old Curve and the screen is still the same. The Blackberry 5 OS is not the slickest of runners, but Blackberry fans will find it to be familiar territory.
If you are a fan of messaging and e-mailing the Blackberry Curve 3G is the ideal phone for you. The handset is cheap and allows access to the famed Blackberry Messenger along with other popular IM providers like GoogleTalk and WindowsLive. All the most popular e-mail providers are also compatible aside from the already successful SMS and MMS messaging formats. Thanks to the reliable 3G technology, the device has integrated support for social networking with both Facebook and Twitter given there own dedicated apps. Browsing the web is possible, thanks once again to 3G, but Wi Fi is also in place, offering its high speed connectivity when near a local hotspot of WLAN connection.
To round of a generally good smartphone, the camera is not the best on paper; it is a 2MP digital effort with fixed focus and video recording capabilities, to be fair, there is little room for complaint; the picture quality is pretty good and though videos arent super smooth, they are good enough for uploading to the likes of Facebook and YouTube, so considering the low grade components the camera is not that bad. The video player is capable of playback for more than a few file types while the music player can play quite a wide range of formats. You can use mp3s as ringtones and the 3.5mm AV connector enables headphone use. Built-in GPS and Blackberrys Maps application cover the navigation services smartphones seem to be loaded with these days, so for directions to those all important business meetings, or if you simply wish to map out a route, the Curve 3G has you well covered.
The Blackberry Curve 3G is one in a long line of traditional, business friendly phones. The 3G factor is a nice touch and the phone runs much faster than previous Curve phones. Though much has not been changed, there have been improvements in the fields that count, like the web connectivity and the general smoothness of performance. Blackberry have made there online app store available for additional content and there has been a promise for a Blackberry 6 OS upgrade in the near future. So things are looking up for the Curve brand, and whether you are a first time Blackberry user or a seasoned one, the Curve 3G is ideal for the office and on the go.