Curve 8520 Sim Free Smartphone - Black

My first 'smartphone', and I am glad I chose this one - it oozes quality at a reasonable price. Yes, it is SIM-free, but make sure your provider supports the Blackberry BIS - mine didn't, so I had to change from Tesco to O2 in order to access full e-mail and browser functionality. Once your e-mail(s) is/are set up, you can delete messages on the handset alone, or on any of your e-mail accounts as well The screen is very good and clear, sound quality is excellent, and the menus are really easy to use once you get used to them - it is different from previous phones I have used, and I think I prefer it that way. Text messages appear in an e-mail-like string, rather than as separate messages in an inbox and outbox, which takes some getting used to, but again I think I prefer it. The camera is basic, but perfectly adequate for outdoor shots - if you want superb resolution, flash etc, then buy a camera! I worried about typing on such small keys with fat fingers like mine, but the keys are raised and I find I make very few mistakes and can enter data quite quickly. The supplied software CD allowed me to transfer all my contacts and diary entries from a Palm Tungsten onto the Blackberry quickly and without any problems at all. I bought a larger capacity micro SD card (8Gb - the phone was supplied with a 2Gb card) to ensure more than adequate memory, and I would advise investing in a silicon skin protective cover - this is a snug enough fit that the phone can still be used with the Blackberry pouch case.

I have always used a Motorola V3 but the last one developed a fault and my husband (a Blackberry enthusiast) persuaded me to look at the handsets so we need only take one charger when travelling. I was very impressed with the look of the Blackberry and although the keys are small the design is such that it is very easy to use. I did not find it difficult to convert from the Motorola menus and have found the Blackberry uncomplicated and very functional. The camera works well and it browses fast and well. I am not so keen on the Off (hang up )key which is sometimes tricky to use - I prefer the off function in the menu but otherwise I think it is great value for money,a very attractive item and functional without being overloaded or fussy.

My phone was set up for T-Mobile, so whilst its sim free I was still unable to alter the home web page setting which takes you to T-Mobiles mobile web page, with their banners. This included a banner for 'exotic' material which is earning someone cash. Given the phone might have been going to a child I think this is actually immoral if not even illegal. I gave the phone one star for that reason - and because I'm returning the phone I've not set it up so I can only guess at how cool it is to email and send BB messages and so on. Beautiful looking phone which is actually a mini computer. The quality of the calls was sound and the screen itself allows people struggling to see phone screens reading with ease. Internet is a snap - my connection was immediate. Faster than my laptop! As for the T-Mobile home page, this is apparently hard coded into the phone - you cannot change it in the options. If anyone knows how to change this in the options then let us know. Right now I have no mobile phone as I got another Blackberry off Virgin and that order got stopped due to communication problems with the call centre staff. This is the first item I've returned to Amazon, I'm not a serial complainer. That said, offering soft porn ads is beyond the pale really and I will take steps to complain to whatever authority oversees the mobile phone standards (if there actually are any in the UK)

A nice little phone but there are issues with internet use. You will need the blackberry service or bolton for using it on wap. If you dont have blackberry services you wil find that when you put a sim in the phone your ability to connect to wi-fi will stop. You can however get around the wi-fi problems by adjusting a few settings. Dont be put off by this, its just a matter of finding the settings information to get your wi-fi working again. I searched for about half an hour until I found the answers on a bb forum. Also I noticed that it locks up when you attempt to view certain pictures. I concluded that the problem was with SLR compatibility. When I deleted the pics that were taken with an SLR camera it no longer locked up. Other jpegs and bmp's were fine. The email client is dependent on having the bb service and there is no PDF viewer. Other than the little hiccups... The sim free blackberry boots up quicker than the branded one! Im happy with the phone for the price.

We all have different reasons for buying a particular phone. I had a Blackberry a couple of years ago but was enticed away by some of the more exciting features on other phones. They offered email, but it rarely worked as it required a strong G3 signal and I got increasingly frustrated. So I'm back to a Blackberry as it works brilliantly, first as a phone and secondly, for email on-the-move. It offers a Facebook app for those who want it and offers others as well - but for business people on-the-move it's a very cost effective business tool that sits happily in my shirt pocket. Navigation is good and positive using the small track-pad and it's easy to access multiple email accounts; contact lists and memos backed-up from Outlook. So I can carry my office PC in my pocket. I can't comment on this particular model compared to other Blackberry's but this gives me everything I need at a reasonable cost and I'm delighted with my purchase.

got my son this for Xmas. Chose sim free one as Virgin network only do them on a contract package which wasn't good........only 100 mins and 500 txts per month for £15 (my son has unlimited txts, internet access and 400 mins for the same price). Having phoned Virgin 3 x, and being told he can't have Blackberry Messenger cos he's not on a BB package with them, FINALLY on boxing day i was given the right advice from a Virgin customer advisor- to enable Blackberry Messenger you have to send the word yes to 789333 - which then activates the BBM etc. So he's extremely pleased with his new toy - and so am i cos he can use all its functions! recommended for moody teenagers!

I just thought i'd say that i ordered this phone, and though it says sim free it does not necessarily work for every sim. I ordered a 3 sim and it asked for a MEP code. I then called T-Mobile to find out my code and they said it was cost £15 pounds, take 28 working days and then you would also have to be a T-mobile customer for up to 3 months. This frustrated me a lot as i did not have the time, i did not want to spend the money or be a T-mobile customer for 3 months. The phone itself is good quality and has great reviews for a reason.

If you want to splash out and get a Blackberry, then this is a good way to go if you don't want to splash too far. The keyboard is easier to use than my Nokia E63. Picture is clear. Sound is clearer than any phone I've had before - I wasn't expecting that benefit. Despite being at the lower end of the Blackberry scale, this phone does the job.