![]() The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is still a good voice phone, though it's not as spectacular as before. You can use the Curve 8530 as a laptop modem with the appropriate Broadband Connect plan expect download speeds in the 800 to 1400 kbps/sec range. The phone is a dual-band EV-DO Rev A (850/1900 MHz) device, and it finally includes Wi-Fi, in what is becoming a welcome trend for Verizon smartphones. The backlighting isn't as even on the 8530 as it was on the 8330. Typing on the ridged QWERTY keyboard was fast, easy, and slightly cramped. With a little practice, the trackpad becomes simple to use. RIM's new trackpad replaces the old trackball, which was prone to failure. You'll need to step up to the Tour 9630 if you want more real estate. That's a bit disappointing, as smartphones are starting to leave this cramped resolution behind. The Curve 8530 keeps the old 2.5-inch, 320-by-240-pixel LCD. Dedicated media player keys now grace the top edge. Most of the side buttons are now recessed underneath a rubber strip, which looks and feels durable. A pale violet-colored version is also available. It's made of black plastic and rubber, with a textured plastic battery cover. That's a few tenths of an ounce lighter and slightly thinner than the Curve 8330, and you really feel it in your hand. The Curve 8530 measures 4.3 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 3.7 ounces. But in a world of new touch-screen devices-including the vastly more powerful Motorola Droid, for just $100 more up front, and the HTC Droid Eris at the same $99 price-the Curve 8530 isn't the standout it once was, even in updated form. The new Curve 8530 is an incremental but welcome update to the aging Curve 8330. I liked it so much that, after awarding it Editors' Choice in May 2008, I bought one with my own money. ![]() Verizon's BlackBerry Curve 8330 remains one of the carrier's most popular models. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software.
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