Smartphone technology is in a constant state of change. Manufacturers must stay on their toes in order to provide handsets that remain on the front edge of the market, and sometimes this simply requires taking what has worked very well and modernizing it. Research in Motion has taken this approach, taking its already high quality Blackberry handsets and tweaking them into the Curve 2.
Taking the place of the Curve 8520, the Curve 2 achieves instant recognition by keeping the formers shell. Really, the only difference is the checkered pattern on the back cover that makes the Curve 2 sleek and smooth. It is somewhat thinner than the 8520 as well, shaving 1/10th of an inch off of the previous 0.6 inches thick down to 0.5 inches. The Curve 2 takes a cue from the Blackberry Bold as well, as users of that model will notice with the keyboard. A QWERTY configuration, the keyboard is kind of small, but it is not a problem as it still surpasses similar devices. On the right side of the phone are the volume buttons and camera shutter. The camera lens, as is typical of Blackberry phones, is on the back. Under the battery cover are the SIM and microSD card slots, and the battery does not need to be removed to get to them.
The Blackberry Curve 2 is a GSM, quad band device. What this means to the user is that the Curve 2 works anywhere in the world GSM is available. Curve 2 comes complete with a speakerphone, but UMA calling may be its finest feature. UMA involves making phone calls on WiFi network. Many providers allow account settings that enable the Curve 2 to automatically use UMA service if WiFi is available. If the WiFi signal is lost, transitions to GSM are quite smooth. Very capable web browsing is accomplished on the Curve 2 with a WiFi 802.11 b/g connection. The handsets operating system is Blackberry OS 4.6. This is the same OS as on the Bold, but the Curve 2 loads web pages better. A fast 512 MHz Xscale CPU is at the heart of the phone, eliminating any concerns about speed. The Curve 2 provides BES and BIS services which is important because push email has become the Blackberry calling card. These options allow the user to let their carrier use Blackberry server services or let them use Blackberry servers when they choose.
By combining and adjusting all of the best aspects of prior Blackberry devices, RIM has made a familiar yet thoroughly modern handset with the Blackberry Curve 2. The company took a If it aint broke dont fix it approach to please customers who liked what was already available. It is a terrific next step for Blackberry smartphones.
