In a nutshell: The BlackBerry 8820 is packed with
a wide range of communication features, including phone, email,
instant messaging, GPS, maps, web browser, a wealth of personal
organiser functions, and even a media player. It's the most businesslike
of the BlackBerry series, but lacks 3G.
Review:
September 2008.
The BlackBerry 8820 is the big beast of the BlackBerry
series. There's no camera, no attempt to make this monster fit into
your pocket, and no pretence that this is anything other than a
very powerful mobile communications device. In a way, this is BlackBerry
at its best - certainly in its purest form. With no distractions,
the 8820 just gets on with the job.
The 8820 may not be something you want to show
off in a pub, but it's definitely worth showing off in a conference
room. It's surprisingly stylish, considering its utilitarian function,
with a hint of curves, and thinner than you might expect. At 134g,
it's definitely one of the heaviest smartphones around. The display
is a good size, although the resolution is not as high as some of
the latest smartphones, and incorporates user-selectable font size.
The 8820 is packed with a wide range of communication
features, including phone, email, instant messaging, GPS, maps,
web browser, a wealth of personal organiser functions, and even
a media player. Connectivity options include WLAN (802.11b/g), as
well as Bluetooth 2.0 and USB.
The advanced phone features include a speakerphone
and voice activated dialling, user-definable convenience keys and
dedicated Send, End and Mute keys, making it more like an office
phone than a standard mobile. With voice dialling and a Bluetooth
headset, it's capable of fully handsfree operation. The full 35-key
QWERTY keypad and trackball make it the best mobile platform for
writing texts and emails - frankly its virtually the same as using
a laptop on the hoof. The BlackBerry push email software supports
virtually all types of enterprise and personal email servers and
standards, including popular webmail systems such as Hotmail and
Gmail. Security is given full attention,
with password protection and a keyboard lock, plus full support
for encryption when using BlackBerry Enterprise Server to access
data.
The 8820 isn't quite all work and no play however.
There's a media player built in, so you can listen to some music
or even watch a video on the train or between meetings. You can
plug in stereo headphones or use a Bluetooth wireless headset.
Battery life is excellent, with a heavy duty battery
giving a theoretical standby time of 528 hours. In practice, the
8820 may not reach this limit, but has plenty of juice for continuous
working throughout the day.
Weaknesses include the limited amount of memory
available - just 64 Mbytes, although you can expand this with a
microSD memory card - and the fact that there is no 3G connection,
just EDGE. This makes for relatively slow data transfer, most noticeably
when web browsing or sending/receiving large attachments. This does
significantly limit the phone's capabilities as a mobile email platform
for corporate users. The new BlackBerry
Bold fixes this issue.
The 8820 is now obsolete. The newest BlackBerry
is the BlackBerry
Storm - a toucbscreen phone with 3G HSDPA and plenty of other
features too! Read this BlackBerry
Storm review for a taster! The BlackBerry
Bold is similar to the Curve series and features a full QWERTY
keypad. Read this BlackBerry
Bold review for more information.
Features
of the BlackBerry 8820 include:
LCD display: 320 x 240 pixels, 65,000 colours
Media player
Messaging: SMS, MMS, instant
messaging, push email with attachment viewer
Connectivity: WLAN, Bluetooth 2.0, USB, RIM
wireless modem, 3.5mm stereo headset port
Memory: 64 Mbytes plus microSD memory card slot
Size: 114 x 66 x 14 mm
Weight: 134g
Quadband
Talktime: 5 hours
Battery standby: 528 hours
BlackBerry
8820 Consumer Reviews
Love
your mobile? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other
people choose the phone that's best for them. Please do not review
this phone if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a
forum, so please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear
words or offensive language, and please, no advertising!
Average
rating from 39 reviews:
Reviewed by Andrew from UK on
30th Dec 2008
Worst phone I have ever had. It's a PHONE but when the battery gets
low it turns the radio off and only works as a PDA!! some phone
indeed. I have two now, swopped out the first one because it started
doing weird things like snding texts randomly - even if the phone
was on a desk it'll flick thru the menu like someone had remote
control of it. The replacement is doing exactly the same thing.
My sim is fine as it works 100% in my other phones. The latest one
is now going see the bottom of a lawnmower - watch for the clip
on Youtube!! Rating:
Reviewed by simon from china on
22nd Nov 2008
I like BB8820 for long time, while, some of important functions
can't be used in china, like push mail system. someone may feel
it's too bit to fit our packet, but when you need to access internet
with Wifi,when you need to handle job on business, it's quite
good assistance for us. I wish blackberry would come to china faster. Rating:
Reviewed by dave from uk on 12th
Nov 2008
Think people are missing the point here.. this phone was designed
with business users in mind, which is why it has no camera, and
very limited audio/video.. connect it to an exchange server and
thats where its features shine.. dont get this if ur looking for
a funky media player that will play all ur fav songs, movies.. DO
get this if u like to have the internet at ur finger tips, email
a lot We have implimented these in our company connected to our
exchange server.. couldnt ask for anything else really.. If you
dont like large handsets, dont get one with a full qwerty keyboard
- where else did u think they were going to put 30+ keys?? Rating:
Reviewed by anan from Earth on
25th Oct 2008
bad Rating:
Reviewed by PARAGANI from Hungary on
9th Sep 2008
Ayo the phone is awesome!!! nice phone strong phone AWESOME HACK
PHONE Rating:
Reviewed by tony blair from uk on
21st Aug 2008
i think this phone is the worst eva fone Rating:
Reviewed by Mughal from Pakistan on
16th Aug 2008
Well i have found this a dump cause its has a software problem hung
out with hanging problem too Rating:
Reviewed by Paul Simpson from UK on
9th Aug 2008
What is this crazy need for smaller and smaller. If I want full
qwerty I expect the phone to be reasonable large. My interest in
the Blackberry is purely the User Selectable Fonts. This should
be the standard for all mobile phones. Rating:
Reviewed by Darren from England on
2nd Aug 2008
A*. What can I say. For all thoses who are moaning about the size
of the keys what do you expect from a device the size of this having
a Qwerty keyboard. Did you actually think the phone was going to
be the size of a standard pc keyboard ? Fools. Anyway like I said
A* phone Rating:
Reviewed by Hadley from UK on
1st Aug 2008
It doesn't work well, though it looks cool. Rating:
Reviewed by peaches from wales on
28th Jul 2008
I have this phone and i love it Rating:
Reviewed by dolly from essex on
25th Jul 2008
This is the worst mobile ever. It is hard to use and the buttons
are tiny. I do not reccomend it. Get the samsung G600. Thats a good
phone. Rating:
Reviewed by *SOPHIE* from UK on
23rd Jul 2008
CLASS FONE! 1 ov da best fonez EVAXxX Rating:
Reviewed by martin crombie from uk on
23rd Jul 2008
Stopped using mine after a month started to give me headaches, the
Blackberry 8820 has one of the highest SAR rating out there 1.5
SAR, which is just within the legal parameters, be warned this will
fry your ears off. Rating:
Reviewed by Bill from UK on 27th
Jun 2008
Got this as my work phone 3 months ago. I love it. It combines phone,
email, PDA, GPS and MP3 player all one. Also managed to load up
videos (convert from DVD using Seabyrd technology) which look pretty
good. Stuck in my own 4Gb memory card, and I usually use a bluetooth
earpiece. For stereo sound I bought a special 2.5mm 4 pole jack
converter - about £3 on ebay. I can sit on a train, read my email,
browse the net, talk on he phone, listen to music, watch a movie,
and see where I am and hat speed the train is going. Fantastic !
Rating:
Reviewed by Bria from UK on 16th
Jun 2008
wow! Rating:
Reviewed by Pete from England on
12th Jun 2008
Awful! Nothing else to say. Bought it on the sunday, was returned
by the friday. Buy the sony ericsson k800i, now that's a good phone! Rating:
Reviewed by fran from UK on 8th
Jun 2008
It is hard to work and is not very good Rating:
Reviewed by Hugh Jass from pakistan
on 31st May 2008
This Phone is amazing i have buyed all the blackberrys on the list
but this has to be the best it is absoulotly phenonimal its brilliant
it has the best wi fi internet access i have ever used as i am a
top class soilder huu fights in style it is amazing the graphics
and sound quality the phone is really easy to use my 6month old
daughter can play sounds on it. 150 it is fantastic ♥ Rating:
Reviewed by Asha from canada on
27th May 2008
This blackberry 8820 wifi is the best phone Ive ever had! I love
this phone, I was able to connect and get on to my msn also gmail,I
was able to look at things I usually look on my laptop for.I love
the way the msn looks also the qwerty keyboard easy to use, got
use to it very quikly,the roller ball was new to me but easy to
navigate anything I need,love the screen,its like a mini pc,I just
love this phone,I don't even have a sim card in it,I turned it on
after charging searched for a connection and was in my hotmail within
minutes.So far I have not had a problem with this phone.the phone
was a bit pricey but I am not going to complain cause it got wifi,no
data plan needed. Rating:
Reviewed by dan from england on
24th May 2008
what an amazing phone worth getting its got great features Rating:
Reviewed by wibbler from uk on
22nd May 2008
best emailer there is. ignore the low scores. if you want email
and good web browsing but aren't bothered about camera, mp3s, etc...
then this is it. Rating:
Reviewed by Giacomo von Brentano from
Germany on 19th May 2008
After testing the phone for a few weeks, i was clearly disappointed.
It looks nice but inside it is soooooooooooooooo bad. Rating:
Reviewed by twandy from zimbabwe on
29th Apr 2008
luv it. amazng. top knotch. couldn't get better than this Rating:
Reviewed by ellie from uk on
29th Apr 2008
HATE IT!! DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING THIS. ALL YOU ARE DOING
WITH THIS IS TRYING TO LOOK COOL AND IT JUST AIN'T HAPPENING!! I
RECOMMEND THE SONY ERICSSON K810i. THAT PHONE RULES ALL!! Rating:
Reviewed by emmanuel from zambia on
29th Apr 2008
this phone is a poor phone Rating:
Reviewed by Andrew from UK on
16th Apr 2008
This isn't so much of a review, as a statement; if you're looking
for a PHONE... DO NOT GET THIS!!! If you're business minded, or
wanting more from a phone than just the ability to make calls, send
text messages and play music then... GET THIS!!! I just read through
a few of the 1 star comments and couldn't help but think "fools",
as they're probably A) Pay as you go users (and therefore limited
to only a small few of the MASSIVE number of brilliant features
of this phone) and B) Between the ages of 12 and 18, wanting to
use the phone to send their mates random messages and pictures "from
Friday night". To all those folks I say this: Paris Hilton has/had
a Blackberry not only because she sends messages to her mates, but
because SHE IS IN BIG BUSINESS! That's the part of their (Paris
and celebrities like her) lives that E! doesn't tell you about;
it's all business. So when you bought this phone in an effort to
be a bit more like her/them... You were just being a fool. One last
thing... Orange warned me about getting this phone; the woman said
"This is primarily a PDA with phone capabilities; if you're looking
for a phone, don't get this; I can advise you on other handsets
that you might like". At the time I thought "Don't tell me what
phone to get; I've done the research and I know exactly what I need
for my business", but now I'm glad Orange are warning people about
this as there are clearly a lot of kids out there wanting to get
the next "it" thing out of America and thinking this is one of them!
PEEEEEEEEEACE! Rating:
Reviewed by Francis from USA on
15th Apr 2008
Got my first Blackberry because of its WI FI capability plus seemless
interconnectivity with my network. Not yet tried using it internationally
but believe it will work as billed. The e-mail function is superb.
First time been able to bundle all my e-mails in one (Yahoo, Gmail,
Hotmail and company e-mail)!! Not even Outlook does that. The GPS
is a great addition! The capability to bring up various programmes
to the desktop right on your fingers, BBC news, CNN, Calender etc!.
Have used Nokia 9500, 6120 and others but this 8820 from Blackberry
is in its own class. Rate it "Outstanding". Francis, USA Rating:
Reviewed by JJ from England on
14th Apr 2008
1 word EXELLENT Rating:
Reviewed by Matt from UK on 13th
Apr 2008
Emails are fine but BEWARE the wi fi didnt work on this phone and
Orange do not support wi fi functions. So it has gone back and all
in all Im pretty fed up about it. Rating:
Reviewed by friday from NIGERIA on
4th Apr 2008
love blackberry phone that has a bleuth an momery card,also which
is computerzing in term to chat with friend on line. And sending
e-mail. Rating:
Reviewed by yane from Cuba- England
on 31st Mar 2008
Ilove the smootheness of blackBerry handset Rating:
Reviewed by L.G Shine is great and sick from
england on 31st Mar 2008
It's Stupid Never bye it because the buttens are so small!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rating:
Reviewed by z from england on
21st Mar 2008
good phone for emailing...thats it reli...no camera dissapointing Rating:
Reviewed by Ellie from Gorleston on
18th Mar 2008
well its a rubbish fone and thts all i can say lyk it dosent evenhave
a camera but the eamils are good on it istill dopnt lyk it though
it sucks so biiii Rating:
Reviewed by Nick from England on
16th Mar 2008
THis is the worst phone ever. It doesn't even have a camera and
it's not a proper buisness so im not recomending this phone. But
i just bought a Samsung g600 its perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Rating:
Reviewed by Ben from England on
15th Feb 2008
Got this recently, and as an emailer you just can't beat it! Emails
come in like text messages and the Blackberry services are dirt
cheap these days. The keyboard works well. I'm a big fella with
hands in scale, and I've got no problems at all tapping out email
messages in no time. The GPS is a cool extra (but get Google Maps
instead of the Blackberry app) and Wi-Fi is very useful indeed -
most of the time I'm on a wireless network meaning email retrieval
is free! OK, so the 8820 doesn't have a camera or a 3.5mm jack,
but it's an email machine and the best there is at this job. If
you want a multimedia powerhouse, get a Sony Ericsson, but you buy
Blackberries to keep in touch and this is by far the best, least
compromised Blackberry. Rating:
Reviewed by waqas from uk on
14th Feb 2008
the fone is reali good gr8 features but the buttons are hard 2 use
overall an ok fone 3 stars for me Rating:
Reviewed by LeeRoy from Brixton on
5th Feb 2008
Cool as. Sweet as a nut. No bling with this. Does wot it sez on
the box. Rating: