PHONES N CELLPHONES

Review by Karen Kelly:

This item is available from several different sellers. The highest price (but eligible for free shipping so it makes up for it) is from Amazon -- so if you're looking to receive the exact thing you see pictured here, I'd recommend going for the Amazon one. Other reviewers may be reviewing this item purchased from different sellers.

When sellers set up their item, they can choose among the current listings and just indicate that they are selling that thing. It's entirely possible that they choose the closest similar thing, and don't get it exactly right.

I ordered from Amazon (figuring they know what they're selling and have a vested interest in listing things accurately) and I received a Blackberry branded charger, and the blades were indeed folding.

Review by Mike P.:

This is original blackberry equipment and works perfectly. I understand through my research that there's some imitations on the market that don't perform very well. The price on this item is outstanding and so is the product.

Review by Tarun Chachra:

Not too long ago the global consortium that makes standards for cell phones decided that all cell phones would have micro usb connectors as a standard. Simply put, whether its a blackberry, a smartphone, or any other cell phone (iPhones excluded) will require this type of cable to connect to your pc/mac for charging and or synchronizing.

These particular car chargers are not cheap knock offs but original equipment from the manufacturer. In other words they are genuine blackberry parts and work perfectly fine for Blackberry 8900's and Storms - both of which now sport the new micro usb connector.

5/5

Review by Mike P.:

This is original blackberry equipment and quite a bit cheaper than the price tag charged by Verizon wireless, which is a total rip-off. This has the blackberry name on it and works like a charm. I highly recommend this item.

Review by L. Kornblum:

CCMaccessories' price was less than 1/5th what Verizon charges; even with shipping, it cost less than half the Verizon price. It's a great skin that protects the BlackBerry Tour 9630 Phone, Black (Verizon Wireless) from scratching and slipping. It's even thin enough that you can leave it on the phone when carrying it in the swivel holster that comes packaged with the phone from Verizon.

Review by Michael G. Nienaltowski:

This case fits perfectly to the Blackberry Tour. It covers all the main areas of the phone that you want covered and doesn't add very much bulk at all. The feel of it on the phone and in your hand is great. The price is much less than what you would buy at the provider or a Best Buy. Highly recommend buying this case and from this seller if you have a Blackberry Tour with Sprint or Verizon.

Review by Pen Name:

All this product is is a base station for your charger, nothing more. I bought this because I was sick of keeping my charger plugged into an outlet and having to plug my Blackberry in every night and leave it on the floor. This device is very basic. Your normal charging cord plugs into the back. Your Blackberry slips into the base of the charging pod and stands upright. There are two metal squares on the back of your Tour that connect to the two metal prongs you see on the inside of this charging pod, so you don't have to deal with plugging anything into the side of your Tour. The base is very sturdy, and once your Blackberry is in it, it is not going to fall over or move around a lot.

I keep mine sitting on the end of my desk with the cord hanging behind the desk so you can't see it. I have my Blackberry set to "Bedside Mode," so when I put it into this base, it automatically turns off the keypad and dims the LCD screen, and displays the clock. You can also set up bedside mode to cut off certain alerts. For instance, mine is set to allow incoming calls to ring, but it won't send me a tone alert when I get an email or SMS. I actually used this charging pod in place of my old alarm clock and no longer use an alarm clock, since I can see the clock on my Blackberry from my bed when it is sitting in the charger.

The only problem with this charger, is that you can't use any kind of case on your Blackberry. It won't fit in the charging pod, and most cases cover up the metal charging connectors on the back of the device anyway. If your case easily slips on and off, it might work if you don't find that too much of a hassle. As for me, I love being able to just drop my phone into the base station at night and pick it up in the morning.

Review by Evan S. Halperin:

This charging pod is about as basic as it gets. It does it's job, however, I find that I often have a thin case on my Tour, and this does not allow for even the slimmest skin. Taking it on and off is annoying and I wish they made ones that could accommodate at LEAST the OEM silicone sleeve.

Still, it looks slick and does its job

Review by Thule1:

This Blackberry product is excellent quality and perfect fit for my new 9630 Tour phone. Plus, it still allows the phone to fit into the Blackberry leather holster (snug, but OK). The product is available from several vendors but Amazon had a great price and free delivery(well, sort of). Delivery took several weeks due to some items I ordered were out of stock and shipment was delayed without initial explanation. I even paid for delivery thinking that would expedite the delivery, but it didn't matter. I still prefer buying from Amazon rather then other vendors with high delivery charges and sometimes questionable products.

Review by Mark A. Brozak:

I just put this on yesterday and have come to really like it. The instructions are fairly simple with only a few pictures and no words on how to insert the phone into the plastic case then the rubber case. A fairly simple process, but make sure the clear plastic overlay for the keyboard is properly lined up and pulled tight prior to installing into the plastic case. You may also want to make sure that the display and the camera lens are both clean prior to this as well.

Once installed, the product makes the BB much easier to hold, as it is a bit beefier and the rubber is really easy to hold onto. The belt clip allows for easy inserting and removal of the BB without too much friction or looseness.

The plastic case overhangs the display just the slightest bit, but doesn't interfere, you just notice it a little. The plastic keyboard cover does make the use of the trackball a little more difficult, but certainly not impossible and after a day of use, I hardly notice the difference anymore. However, the additional protection this offers I believe offsets any perceived difficulties. The ports are easily accessed with the rubber cover tabs easily removed/installed. There is no noticeable affect on the speaker during phone calls or listening to music. The camera button on the right side is also easily depressed with the covers installed with no noticeable increase in pressure necessary to launch this application.

Great product that I learned about from a buddy who uses the iPhone and has a similar OtterBox product on his. I would recommend to anyone.

Review by Alvin Ganaishlal:

I purchased this for my wife...we have tried the silicone cases that are sold at the other stores, and werent impressed...

this item provides ample protection, allows for easy access to all buttons, and gives the device a nice feel...

the texture of the case is smooth enough to allow the device to be slipped into a pocket or purse...

for those wanting even more protection, the otterbox defender is the only other choice, but it does add bulk to the device...

Review by M. Tellez:

I was a little hesitant to purchase this item because I wanted a dark red case and in the picture it just didn't look quite right. I still went ahead and made the purchase because it was a great price. When I received the cover it was an excellent color, the picture does not do it justice. The cover fits perfectly and I am very happy with this product.

Review by Smuckers Fruit:

As the title implies, this product is a beautiful, rich red that compliments the Tour perfectly. Great protection when dropping the phone, and cheaper than you can buy at your carrier's store by a factor of 7. Wow!

Review by Vicki Robertson:

This phone is the ultimate user friendly device.This phone has a beautiful pearlized finish on the face and the back is a gorgeous, rich, white, leather-like surface.The face also has a gold iridescent finish when tilted in certain lighting.Beautiful!I've had several phones and this one is leaps and bounds above any of the others.I highly recommend this device,especially for women.The pearlized finish on the face gives it a slightly female look IMHO.Very rich,elegant,expensive look that's definitely worth the asking price.

Review by D. Means:

I've owned an HP iPAQ since 2006, and had to take a Blackberry Bold 9000 as a warranty replacement for an iPAQ 6925. At the time of this review, I've had the Blackberry for about three weeks.

-- Documents

You cannot create documents on the BB. You can create memos, but BB will randomly delete your memos when it needs extra space for various processing.

Grade: F

-- Bluetooth

Not as usable as others. I must assume there's something that BB can connect to, but it's not any of my devices. The iPAQ will talk to just about any thing - computers, stereo head sets, etc., etc. I've yet to find anything the BB will connect to.

Grade: D-

-- WiFi

Works like a champ, configures easily. Doesn't appear to be any worse, probably a bit better than the iPAQ in terms of battery usage.

Grade: A+

-- MiniSD

No problems, works great.

Grade: A+

-- GSM/Edge/G3

No problems, works great.

Grade: A+

-- GPS

Actually seems to work a bit better than the iPAQ, seems to use less battery too. Google Maps installed and works well.

Grade: A+

-- SMS/MMS/Phone-Call Logs

Logs and messages are legible and easily traversed. You cannot filter on sent/received/missed. You cannot delete the logs or messages as a group, rather one-by-one.

Grade: C-

-- Calendar

Works great, easily traversed. I can sync Lotus Notes and Google Calendars which is a plus.

Grade: A+

-- Contacts

Works great, easily traversed. I can sync my Google contacts. You cannot assign ring tones to specific people.

Grade: B

-- Calendar / Contact Synchronization

The available applications function well.

Grade: A

-- Media Synchronization

It's horrible. You'll find yourself looking for a MiniSD docking station. BB requires you to install Roxio for media sync. It's a Java application that runs about as fast as molasses on a brass door knob in January. BB may not detect the new items on the MiniSD after re-insertion, so you need to soft-boot the phone.

Grade: F-

- Phone

Sounds good, seems to be clear on receiving end. Headset has received complaints from people listening to me.

Grade: B+

-- Auto Answer

Phone does not auto answer with headset attached.

Grade: F

-- Phone ring w/ Headset

Phone will send event sounds through the headset only when you're using it to listen to media (songs, etc.). When media is not playing, events are sent through the phone speaker. Headset is very effective at blocking out ambient noise, so you might miss a call or notification.

Grade: F

-- Phone event notifications

You can configure many different sounds for various events, and there is a very large number of pre-installed sounds. You cannot copy one set of event sounds to another set, thereby creating a default sound set and simply modifying the volume for each.

Grade: C

-- Keyboard

Different from an iPAQ keyboard, I'm not very fond of it. Typical three rows of keys, but the most important ones are replaced with 'alt', 'sym' and shift. Two key presses to get a period, question mark, etc.

Grade: B

-- General Configuration

Complicated to say the least. You'll a setting, and then not remember where the setting was found. There are in some cases, more than one path to get to the same configuration. It's overly complex.

Grade: C

-- Camera

Good pictures, easy to use, provided you put a link to it on the main screen.

Grade: A

-- Recorder

Good sound, easy to use, difficult to get to quickly.

Grade: A

--

Review by A. Dent:

I've been using Blackberries since a blackberry was thought to be something you would find in a muffin. The 8800 was the one I was using until I was given the Bold and, up until then, I thought of it as the best Blackberry ever. Then, the Bold came and it is probably safe to state that the Bold is now the last and the best classic Blackberry ever because the Storm, lacking a physical keyboard, probably deserves its own class.

When the Bold and the 8800 are placed next to each other, what's striking is the similarities between the 2. The exact same size, similar keyboard, buttons placement, including the now familiar trackball. Even the ports are more or less the same, the same weight. Mine came with its own holster but I could have used the 8800's with the Bold.

Then, it's the display. The Bold is what it says it is: bright, clear, vivid. You see it and you now know that it's an evolutionary step up on the ladder. In addition, you get the camera that shoots both pictures and video and the ability to add more memory means that you scan store more video and more music if you want to use your Blackberry as an iPod lite. The operation seems to be a bit faster, the battery life is more or less the same, the quality of the speaker phone is better but, overall, it's your familiar Blackberry, having learned a few new tricks and with a bright face.

I am happy with the Bold because I am happy with Blackberries in general. I like the unlimited email and Internet browsing plan, the ability to use Wi-Fi when available and the security it provides. My Blackberry is tied into my company's email environment and it is now very much an extension of my office while I'm away. The Bold, with its high resolution screen and the same solid, functional build is a good tool, now with more 'fun' stuff (camera, video playing) added to it.

Review by Wayne Schulz:

I bought this charging pod to use as a bedside stand for my new BlackBerry Bold. I'd read online that some didn't like it because when the Bold is in the pod it can easily tip.

In my usage I have not had any problems with the base tumbling. There's a grippy rubber bottom to the stand that further keeps it from moving around when knocked.

Could you inadvertently knock over your Bold while it's in this stand? Absolutely. The bold sticks up about 4 to 6" so it becomes an easier target. That's going to be an issue with any charging stand of this type.

What's cool (and I didn't expect) is there's a white light at the back of this pod so you can find it in the dark (useful if used as bedside charger stand) to re-cradle your BlackBerry Bold.

As the description say's, this is a charging pod only - you'll need to supply your own charger (and BlackBerry Bold).

The fit is perfect. Drop your Bold. It charges. Enough said.

I'm buying another for my office.

Review by K. Parris:

The Blackberry Bold has an overheating issue when plugging into wall and or using the usb port in a computer. I purchased my bold on 12/26/2008 and when I charged it (using the included charging cord), it overheated. I was hot once I finished charging it and it became progressively hotter as time went on. So I removed the battery and placed it back in. It then cooled down but the battery was drained. I charged it again and had the same issue. I took it back to the AT&T store and let them feel it for themselves they could feel the heat right through the box. They replaced it but the same thing happened to the replacement. I called the store and they told me to call AT&T about this. AT&T told me that they knew nothing about this issue. When I went online I found out that AT&T knew very well about this and actually delayed selling this phone in their stores due to this issue.

When I discovered this item I noticed that it it mentioned that the phone will not overheat in its discription. I decided to purchase this charging pod before giving up on this wonderful phone. This pod works great and I never have had this issue while using it. I highly recommend it unless you want an overheating problem. I also found that the Bold overheats while using some sockets but not others. The socket that I used, I used through a power surge protector and when I plugged it into my computer I was glugging it into a brand new iMac. So, it was the phone not where I was plugging it into.BlackBerry Bold 9000 Phone, Black (AT&T)

Review by JTB:

I love it when a company makes the exact product I am looking for. I love my bberry bold but I refuse to wear it on my hip and prefer to carry it in my pocket. This leather "pocket" allows for just that. I am not a huge dude with huge pants and huge pockets and yet this fits fairly comfortably in the slim fit trousers I wear to work and unnoticeable in relaxed fit.

Review by RonAnnArbor:

This is the original sleevecase that comes in every single Bold 9000 box in the world except in the US, where ATT has put in a case with an unremovable beltclip.

If you want the sleeve, this is it -- works perfectly, small profile, and well constructed.

Review by A. Haque:

I bought this about the same time that I purchased my Bold. It's a rubbery silicone sleeve that is pretty well made and fits the phone pretty well. At first I thought it was great. It provides moderate protection of the chrome edge of the phone and gives you the confidence to be a little less delicate when setting the phone down on a table or desk. The problem is that over a relatively short time (in my case about 5 weeks), the silicone becomes more pliable and starts to stretch. This sounds innocent enough, but the net effect is that when you put the phone in your pocket or take it out, about 30-40% of the time, one side of the case comes off. This becomes very irritating when you are trying to answer a call and you first have to get the case put back on.

I am tossing mine and buying a case that is a little firmer than this one. On the plus side, it was cheap, so I'm not that upset about having to throw it out.

Review by A. Barnes:

This product was so much cheaper online. All the information provided was accurate and it was just what I needed. I will never by something like this from a store again.

Review by Pabs:

i purchased about 5 different colors of the skin and im happy with them. keeps giving my phone a new look. its helpful for keeping it clean and will protect the chrome edge from scratching if you drop it, although its no padding at all so a hard fall and your phone might get damaged. its more for looks and keeping it clean than for any protection if you drop it

Review by Tatiana Tafla:

Perfect fit! Protects the corners (which got scratched before I got the case) and all the buttons are easily accessible.

The ports are usable with the case on, but can get in the way of the charger, but all you have to do it wiggle it a little out of the way.

My only complaint is that the camera on the back is not well protected, and the area around it isnt either. Works great otherwise!

Review by Michael Williams:

Great and way better than the one that comes with it. The leather doesn't crack up and wrinkle like the original. Nothing spectacular but if you get a replacement, just get this one.

Review by Tarun Chachra:

Great case if you are a new BOLD user and want a little more elegant solution then what is included in the box.

Review by Anonymous:

I "smuggled" this phone from Canada a few months back since Rogers and Rim have made it available for about six months now and I unlocked it then slipped the Cingular SIM card w/o any hassles. ( You have to use a "3G" SIM card from Cingular or AT&T to reliably use the data features / TMobile SIM's typically meet this requirement and have been for years )

Whether or not you're an existing Blackberry user, you'll be impressed by the Bold.

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Short Review

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+ The best keyboard we've ever used on a Blackberry or any other smart phone from Motorola Q or Nokia E71 and anything from HTC.

+ A screen that compares to HDTV and the brightest Blackberry screen ever made.

+ Streaming video support is first class, you can watch youtube videos and other streaming content without hiccup when in a 3G area and the audio is as loud as many external iPod speakers.

+ Lighter than an 8800, easy to remove battery cover and pleather case back helps to prevent the phone from dropping to the floor.

+ Built in eOffice to edit PowerPoints, Word docs and Excel files, this is normally a add on package that is built in.

+ Most of your existing accessories work with the Bold, including the leather case from the Curve, the 8800's and the chargers, headsets plus the same Mini-B USB cable to dongle power from your laptop.

-- But there are a few imperfections: --

- The MicroSD slot is hard to remove memory cards from, the phones built in 1GB of RAM is enough to store MP3's but you can load 8GB Micro SDHC cards but ejection is difficult and you can risk damaging the card if you use tools.

- The camera sucks as any other cell phone camera, the flash is inadequate for low light or indoor conditions and the camera is best for outdoor photos in bright light. The video camera is better than nothing and Rim includes Geotagging as a standard feature.

- The battery drains faster than a fresh keg of Duff's at Moe's tavern, we're forced to recharge it every 16 hours or risk the phone disabling the radio before entering suspend mode. Plan on keeping a car charger and extra wall chargers in your attache case, office and your mistresses bedroom.

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Detailed Narrative Detailed Narrative Detailed Narrative

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The screen is just stunning, wider and taller than the Curve and even prettier than the 8800. Technically, the screen resolution is twice the resolution of the Curve and it is obvious when you see it and apparent when compared side by side.

The speaker phone and stereo speakers are actually too loud and the speaker rivals Logitech MM22 Portable Speakers for iPod my external iPod speakers.

The speaker phone (often cited as a Blackberry weakness) is fixed, we were in a conference room and experimented by using the BB 9000 speaker phone instead of our US Robotics tripod phone and the Bold worked just as well.

The Operating System interface is familiar to existing BB users and photos attached inside emails can be viewed as appendments or inline items instead of being opened in the pic viewer.

The OS and applications are blatantly faster than the Curve or 8800's, the improved CPU is especially apparent when using the spell checker.

The gapless keyboard is real Blackberry perfection, myself and other BB complain about the 8800 keyboard and how easy it is to double hit letters or fat finger the adjacent keys.

Curves and most other BB's have spaced keyboards and are excellent for fast typing and the 8800 and earlier Pearl gapless keyboards resulted in howls of pain from the user community.

Rim improved on the Bold my elevating the pitch of the scalloped keys on the Bold, in short it means they've made it harder to fat finger and double hit keys and the keys are the best feeling Blackberry keystrokes I've used.

The camera doesn't seem much better than the camera in the Curve, and the brighter screen drinks the battery while supporting up to 1600 x 1200 pixels. The flash and video functions are rudimentary and shouldn't be used for indoor or cozy light settings.

The camera does include geotagging capabilities to imprint the location coordinates into the photo data, and it works fairly well indoors. Geostamping is an expensive feature found on newer Nikon cameras and very few cell phones. Earlier Pearl models with cameras didn't include Geotagging as standard but after market add ons and Rim's adoption of the functionality remains in the Bold 9000.

The browser is excellent and has native support for Adobe Flash so you can watch YouTube videos when you have nothing else better to do, the pocket versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint are surprisingly decent for a mobile device and even better than the versions included with Windows Mobile / Pocket PC.

NOTE: The MicroSD slot can be sticky and almost impossible to remove the card after the spring eject. Sometimes we have to use tweezers to remove the MicroSD and this is hazardous since the top portion of the SD card is where the flash data chip resides and can be destroyed if handled poorly. We are able to use 8GB cards from different manufacturers w/o any compatibility issues.

The WiFi LAN speed is comparable to any other PC but it didn't seem faster than using AT&T's 3G over the air network.

Be prepared to be interrupted by strangers and BB lovers who want to know more about it, I've been approached by more strangers than the tour guide at the Heffner mansion.

Review by A. Dent:

I've been using Blackberries since a blackberry was thought to be something you would find in a muffin. The 8800 was the one I was using until I was given the Bold and, up until then, I thought of it as the best Blackberry ever. Then, the Bold came and it is probably safe to state that the Bold is now the last and the best classic Blackberry ever because the Storm, lacking a physical keyboard, probably deserves its own class.

When the Bold and the 8800 are placed next to each other, what's striking is the similarities between the 2. The exact same size, similar keyboard, buttons placement, including the now familiar trackball. Even the ports are more or less the same, the same weight. Mine came with its own holster but I could have used the 8800's with the Bold.

Then, it's the display. The Bold is what it says it is: bright, clear, vivid. You see it and you now know that it's an evolutionary step up on the ladder. In addition, you get the camera that shoots both pictures and video and the ability to add more memory means that you scan store more video and more music if you want to use your Blackberry as an iPod lite. The operation seems to be a bit faster, the battery life is more or less the same, the quality of the speaker phone is better but, overall, it's your familiar Blackberry, having learned a few new tricks and with a bright face.

I am happy with the Bold because I am happy with Blackberries in general. I like the unlimited email and Internet browsing plan, the ability to use Wi-Fi when available and the security it provides. My Blackberry is tied into my company's email environment and it is now very much an extension of my office while I'm away. The Bold, with its high resolution screen and the same solid, functional build is a good tool, now with more 'fun' stuff (camera, video playing) added to it.

Review by E. Davis:

This case does exactly what I expected it to do. I have dropped my Bold several times on hard surfaces...not a scratch or dent anywhere. I like the freedom of placing the phone in my pocket...a holster is useless for me since I work outdoors (landscape designer) and the holster was getting hung on everything.

Review by Guy Lunardi:

Had a chance to meet the OtterBox people at CES but even before that I felt their case was the best one I had tried on for my Bold.

I had acquired 3 or 4 at once knowing that I would be able to give those I would not use away to friends getting Bold phones as well.

Well it turns out I ended up giving away the case I liked the most first: this OtterBox impact case. The CEO of one of the largest Telco companies in South America now sports my OtterBox impact case on his Blackberry. Should be a pretty good testimony for the product.

It's lightweight yet provides a good level of protection and great grip.

Review by Quentin Gerlach:

Alright, let me just say off the bat that as a former Bold 9000 user, I've been looking forward to the new Bold 2 for months since pictures were leaked on the internet. Since I get my phones through my company, I've had the phone since Nov. 18, when it was released on AT&T's network for Premier people. Unfortunately, my friend decided that after playing around with my phone, they wanted one, so I bought them an unlocked one.

The new Bold 9700 is a sleek phone - no doubt about it. RIM apparently has decided, though, to somewhat standardize their phones' look, a direction that bothers me to a great extent. One of the things I loved about the Bold was that it was different - you saw any other phone, and then you saw the Bold - and you thought "Wow, that phone IS bold!!" Size I couldn't care less about - as long as it looked good, and worked awesomely, what else matters? And the Bold 9000 fit those well. So when I got the new 9700, and I compared it to my coworker's Tour (for Verizon), I was quite surprised at how similar they were. It's actually somewhat hard to tell them apart (the 9700 is a bit smaller, and also has the trackpad). Just an observation....

Alright - to the review:

Pros:

Trackpad - this is definitely a most welcome upgrade. RIM outdid themselves on this part - I thought the trackball was good, this trackpad is great! The older Bold's trackball was great, as long as you kept dirt and dust out of it. Which turned out to be somewhat difficult, since there was a depression surrounding the trackball, and so if too much dust or dirt got in, the ball needed to be replaced. Also, if you used it too much, the ball would lose its grip, and become less responsive, also - once again - needing to be replaced. Both those problems are now gone with this new trackpad. For former trackball users, it may take a little use to get to know it, but once you do, trust me - you'll never go back.

Speaker - the speakers on the Bold are nothing less than stunning. My friend has an IPhone, and my speakers for playing music and speakerphone blow his out of this century. Not only can they get very loud, but they also are quite clear and crisp, for the volume you can put them to. And, if that wasn't good enough, RIM includes AudioBoost - for when you hook your Bold up to your car or stereo system, which bumps the output sound even higher. Excellent....

OS - the new BlackBerry 5 OS, which comes preloaded on the phone, is a major improvement over the 4.6 version in most other phones. It's snappier, and quite more responsive.

Camera - RIM upgraded the camera from a 2 MP in the older Bold to a 3.2 MP in the Bold 9700. The pictures that the phone takes are quite good, even in poor light conditions. Of course, if you try to take pictures in the club with it - prepare to be somewhat disappointed. Ha. But for regular, everyday camera uses, that "quick shot", the Bold 9700 actually takes decent pictures. Nice for when you forget to bring that digital camera with you.

There's a couple other pros I can think of, but they're more along the lines of business users, or based on networks (you could get 3G speeds on AT&T's network since the first Bold - T-Mobile just got their first 3G BlackBerry with this phone). If you're interested in them, drop me a comment, and I'll get back to you.

Now, for the cons:

Battery - battery life is still somewhat bad, although it definitely is an improvement over the older Bold. I normally use Pandora - an App that plays Internet Radio, trust me, this should be one of the first apps you download, it's free - the other is Google Maps, also free - anyway, back to the review, so I normally use Pandora, and I can get about 6 hours out of the battery, with small breaks in-between receiving phone calls. So, in normal use, you could probably get about a day out of the battery, which isn't terrible, but also is somewhat worse than comparable phones out there.

Hardware - this is probably my biggest negative I had. Normally, when they say upgrade, you would think they would put better hardware in the thing, right?? Well, think again. With the exception of the upgraded camera and trackpad, there is NO difference in hardware between this and the older Bold.

Zero.

Nada.

I would've liked some upgraded hardware in the phone. But again - this is just my thing. You may not care.

My last negative is more hit and miss - some people have been reporting that BlackBerry Maps - the app that RIM ships with the phone for navigation, doesn't work on the 9700. Myself included. This appears to be at random, but it just irks me. It may be dependent on the network you're on. Fortunately, there's a workaround - get Google Maps.

So - overall, the phone is a nice update. It works, takes nice pictures, looks sleek, and can be used as your new boombox when you want to blast "What is Love?" by Haddaway. (Kidding on the last one) I would completely recommend this phone, even with some of its faults, since they don't really take away from the experience with the phone.

I'll update this review from time to time, as I continue to use this, so if there's any questions, please feel free to ask.

Review by AAlt:

I have been using this phone for about a week now. And while this device beats previous bold 9000 in many aspects there is still much to be improved. So let me first say things that I do like about the phone. Of course the greatest improvement was the addition of the trackpad, at first it was kind of unusual to navigate with it but I got accustomed to it very quickly. Second thing is the screen resolution, it was improved from the old bold by 480x360 vs 480x320 pixels. The screen is really crisp and bright and sunlight legibility is very decent. The camera also experienced an improvement and while I was taking pictures outside on a bright day and later comparing them to the previous bold, there is a very noticeable change, pictures look somewhat close to my wife's 10 megapixel canon camera. I was also surprised by the improved quality of the videos this device shoots. Much better and less pixelated than the original bold! Now for the things that I don't like or wished to be improved. Despite of the fact that everyone raves about "amazing" battery life on this device, I must say I am disappointed. At best, the battery lasts me a day and a half but not two day as many reviewers say. Perhaps I do extensive web browsing and chatting via instant messaging. I usually like to read various blogs and news on opera mini 5 browser and I noticed that this application along with IM+ drains battery like crazy! Of course at least now I don't have to carry a spare battery with me like it was with the previous bold since I am sure this one will last me for the full day. But most often I still have to charge it every night. Which is kind of a disappointment and not what I expected after reading various reviews. Now about the browser: It sucks.... It simply sucks so much that any other smartphone's browser will put it to shame. But another annoying problem now that I noticed is that I can't get to mobile version of citibank online at all! No matter how I would reconfigure the browser... So it means no banking online for me as I used to do on my previous bold. Very annoying... The browser is still slow as hell and only the fact that I have opera on this phone doesn't make it a deal breaker. I must say though that I am running a latest .405 version of the software and perhaps the issue with banking online maybe be fixed in later versions. Which I again, doubt very much. Now another disappointment is the absence of many supported languages. For example there is no Russian support whatsoever. But than again, it may be released in the later versions. I hope so. And now last but not least is the speaker quality. In the first day of use I noticed that the speaker has been downgraded. Instead of the three speakers which previous bold had, this device has only one and when you bring the volume all the way up you can hear a rattling noise. Not a very nice experience... Overall I like the device especially it's size, I was skeptical about it as I liked the bold 9000 big screen. But this one seems to be slim and looks more eye appealing. Also I like the battery cover design, you can not accidentally open it and whole device seems sturdy and has a look of a professional tool. Hopefully with next updates there will be support for more languages. But as of now I am giving it only 3 stars.

UPDATE:

Couple of weeks ago I noticed that phone would randomly delete data, but today was the worst: In the morning I discovered that all my contacts were completely wiped out!!! by itself! And when I tried to restore them from the backup file it would not do that saying that the file is read only. I tried this file in my old curve 8310 and it worked flawlessly. So I suspect that there are serious bugs in the OS 5.0 and AT&T is not coming up with any updates as of yet. In a mean time I am lowering score for this phone because I am very disappointed by the poor implementation

Review by J. Golton:

I have been using this for 6 weeks with my Blackberry 9700 that I received at the same time. There are several very good reasons to get a charging dock for a Blackberry:

1) Saves wear and tear on the USB port.

2) Allows phone to be upright and visible.

3) Blackberry OS 5.0 and higher includes bedside mode, which causes the Blackberry to turn into a clock. So your 9700 can double as a very nice clock as it charges, while you are sleeping. The bedside mode is very customizable, giving you the choice of which how much you want to be interrupted while you sleep - personally I have all alerting turned off, including the ringer for the phone.

All these are generic good reasons to get a charging dock. How is this particular model?

This cradle is inexpensive, attractive, and it basically works, so I think the value was reasonable for what I paid. But two issues keep this from getting a high rating.

1) The fit with the phone is loose. Perhaps 1 of every 5 times I insert the phone, it does NOT go into beside mode or start charging. I jiggle it a little to get it to work. Despite the loose fit, I have not yet tipped over the phone.

2) If you use a protective skin or case for your 9700, you will probably need to take it off every time you put it into this dock, which makes it impractical to use. I personally don't feel the need for a protective skin for the 9700, because the textured back means it is not slippery and I'm not dropping it. But you may feel differently.

My only other experience with a charging dock was a Seido model for my 8300, which worked in conjunction with Seido's protective skins. It was far more expensive, but it also worked flawlessly, whether you set it up to work with the Seido skin or whether you set it up to work without a skin (by inserting an extra plastic piece. But the Seido skin and dock together cost me over 60 dollars.

Overall I would buy it again at the sub 10 price, but if price is no object you'll be happier with a premium product that works in conjunction with a skin, such as those offered by Seido.

Review by Lord Muffincake:

It works! And for such a low price! Good buy for sure. Just sucks that if you buy a skin, you have to take the phone out every time if you want to put it in the desktop charger.

Review by Rotten Apple "SG":

The screen protectors are the correct size, crystal clear and quite thin. I had a couple air bubbles and managed to remove all but one. Overall a pretty decent deal for the price.

Review by A/V Man:

These are great screen protectors. They are inexpensive too. I bought them and am still on my first because they are very durable and hardly noticeable. No bubbles whatsoever. I may pick up another pack just to make sure I'll never need another screen protector again.

Review by Rod:

Had this cover now for 2 weeks. Works just fine and it's just like the description said. Hard cover with a rubberized exterior.

Just a few things to note. It's a 2 piece cover that snaps together. Snaps together snugly and securely. Fit and finish are great and all opening are in the correct spots for access to everything.

My last note is about the picture. The picture must have been taken at a funny angle because it looks like there is a hump at the top of the cover. There is no hump, it's just a cutout on the left and right to access the Mute and Lock buttons. I don't know quite how else to describe it other than to say there really is no hump, it's just a funny picture angle.

Review by G. Valenzuela:

I bought this cover over 3 months ago and its been awesome.

the exterior texture does add a premium feeling to the cover. Its a very snug fit which is even better , it lets the buttons to be used as if there was no cover anf protects everything. Whats remarkable about this phone is that when you drop your phone lets say from a table and lands on a hard surface, the shell breaks off after hitting the floor, which enables the cover to absorb the hit without breaking and protect the phone. I've gone through two Blackberry's 9700s within 2 months (reliability) but just one of these. I would buy another one if i had to, and would pay for it. luckily its only less than .

Review by Todd Peak:

This case is worth every penny you will spend on it. It does fit the Blackberry 9700 just like a glove. It is not bulky and it still allows you to carry your phone in the leather blackberry case that it came with.

Review by Rodney W. Organ:

I've been pretty satisfied with the Otter Box Blackberry case. I've had other cases that snap together, but they always seem to break after a drop. This case fits around the Blackberry and has survived all of my drops. I was most concerned about the rubber/hard plastic combination of the Otter Box and how well it would slide in and out of my pocket. So far, I haven't had any issues. Overall it seems to be a pretty good case for my Blackberry 9700.

Review by N. Hawkins:

I'm a little OCD about putting these scratch protectors on my devices. I don't like scratches and I like to be able to keep the resale value of them up so I can better recoup my investment when I decide to get a new toy.

Since Invisible Shield and Best Skins Ever didn't have their skins out yet for the Bold 9700, I decided to give Clear Coat a try. At the same price point as Zagg's Invisible Shield, I was hoping for something as close to that as possible in terms of experience.

I found that the cut sheets were a bit too small when compared to Invisible Sheild or BSE, who tends to make them a bit bigger so you're sure to cover every square millimeter with a tiny chance of overlap. These Clear Coat skins were just a bit small. As for installation, it's rather straight forward and comes with the adhesive material and a rubber device to smooth out bubbles and help lay the pieces down neater.

When you get bleeding edge products, you sort of have to realize you'll be paying the premium for bleeding edge accessories. That I don't mind because it would have been the same cost as Zagg's Invisible Shield and a bit more expensive than BSE. As for the overall product... it works, but I'm not in love with it. But I'm sure I'll be happy down the road when my screen isn't scratched up because I forgot that I left my keys or change in the same pocket as my phone.

Review by Ramnath Ramachandran:

The product is worth the 20 odd bucks if you spent quiet a bit on your phone. It provides scratch protection for nearly the entire body of the phone. I strongly suggest that you watch the product demo in the company's website ([...]) before using the product. The installation process for the Blackberry can be tiresome since there are a number of pieces that need to be applied to the blackberry due to its design. But after the mini weeknight project applying the product, I feel confident that my phone is not going to get a scratch anywhere.

If you mess up the application process, the company "[...]" will provide a replacement for free (only catch, you pay for shipping). Their website provides more information pertaining to the product. They also provide full body protection for a wide range of electronics.

Review by pinknblu:

I gave it a four because when I first got it, it took me time to see and get used to the keys because they are kind-of small. If you want bigger buttons get 8330, my sister has one, wish I could switch with hers, but mine is newer and no tracking ball, which I really like to.. about this phone. Its sleek and easy to navigate..Before I had this one I had the 8120, ah--big difference the charge on 8520 last longer and takes a little time to charge up, but its worth it. Also, the keys I wished lighted up a bit brighter, BUT like I said once you have it after a few days you get used to it. My one problem with as I am thinking off the top of my head ..is there are not enough apps to go with or themes made for this model.

I am a geek for that, but as of now I have been able to download a few off my blackberry 8120 to my 8520.

Also, checking around i was able to get a few more themes, that are just awesome. The 2gb memory card that comes with it I took out and put in my 4gb from my 8120 in it. I read somewhere it can go to 16gb and pretty soon it will go 34gb...its in the works now.

I will say the quality in web browsing is GREAT and I have had no problems with dropped calls, lost signal, or getting frustrated with where are the keys for texting; all the numbers are on the left side..feels weird but after a day or so, it works better than my other blkberry which was the 8120.

Also there's a dictionary to while your texting, a firewall..it is just way better than I expected. If I go all over, I apologize, I am giving you want I can tell you about this product as I'm writing I'm having a flashback...lol.

Now if your a geek like me with apps, there aren't that many games for this Rim..I am waiting for new apps to become more available for my phone for some reason, 8320 has the most..kind-of peeves me at times, wen I am looking around as to adding to my phone but..this phone is pretty easy compared to my 8120. If you want to know anything else, ask..I will answer.

Review by Juan Yanez:

Very good cell phone. It is a real Unlocked International Version, I recommend it. It should be a way to have a warranty or may be we cuold have a certification that this product have been tested and it works OK. The resolution of the screen is excelent.It is not too expensive and is easy to handle.

Review by Timothy K. Johnson:

The protective case has been strong so far. The case works so well that it takes a few minutes to take apart when doing a hard reset via battery pull. The case is a little bulky around the edges so hitting the side keys take some getting used to. The screen protector has been going fine for the couple weeks I've had it. If you clean off the screen, the protector has no problems attaching without air bubbles. Even a small piece of dust will mess it up. I had a few here and there, but I was able to pull back the protector and get a couple pieces of dust off so now it's fine. The car charger does charge my phone... Should it do anything else mysteriously? I would recommend this combination buy.

Review by Sean J. Kessel:

Considering you get a car charger with this deal it is worth the money. Here are my complaints:

1. The screen protector does not fit the phone correctly. I know its pre-cut to fit the phone but the "cutouts" on the bottom of the protector just don't line up.

2. The case is ugly and comes apart easily

I guess I was expecting a little to much. The charger was nice though.

Review by No Fool:

The condition of the item is marked as new but the battery they sent me was dirty and all scratched up. Clearly an old used battery. Nothing makes me more upset than a dishonest vendor like the OEM shop. I sent them an email demanding that they fix this so i will update when this is settled.

UPDATE: after contacting the seller they sent me out another battery and although it was newer than the first one it was used as well. i dont know what else to say except that both batteries worked but neither was new as claimed.

Review by Doug Wise:

The battery life on this is not the same as a new OEM battery. Talk time is 3-4 hours.

Review by B. Beasley:

Not much to say other than it does what it does. Will protect your phone and such.. It has a nice look to it as well. You really could sue one if you're like me and you leave your phone lying around everywhere..

Review by H. Jose Cardona Machado:

I have sent a wrong pocket, corresponds to blackberry 8110. I lost my money. do not recommend this seller

Review by M. Pangersis:

After viewing many different screen protectors for my BlackBerry Storm 2 I decided on these ones. I couldn't have gotten anything better. They are cut perfectly to fit the screen with no overlap. No wetting and then drying needed for application. Just peel the protective cover off and apply to the screen. Touch screen functionality with the protector applied is as if it's not even there. Can't find anything better for the price and I've tried.

Review by Mike Kelley:

The screen protectors I received were not the same brand or packaging as shown. And, compared to other screen protectors I bought for an ipod Touch some time ago, these were poor. I had little problem with the iTouch protectors, using patience and working slowly. The same process proved hopeless for this cheaply produced product; it was impossible to work out the tiny bubbles, which were not produced by dust but by the inability of the screen protector to adhere properly. It's apparent to me now that the range of quality of these screen protectors varies wildly and it is impossible to know what you're getting until you receive the product. Being so cheap to purchase, I doubt anyone returns them. I won't. As much as I am a loyal Amazon fan, it's a real crap shoot when ordering screen protectors. Be careful.

Review by Jacob Donaghy:

The case fits nicely around my phone. The car charger works and hasn't had any problems yet. I couldn't get the screen protector to fit on nicely but I think that's just my own error.

Review by William E. Starkey:

Silicone skin has a good feel to it and offers good drop protection. Charger does its job and screen protector stays put. Screen protector could be clearer though as it seemed to have a little tint to it. Good price for what you get. Still don't know what the LiveMyLife wristband is; it did not come in my order.

[...]

Review by Michael Langille:

This a great product. The charger sits on my desk top at home. I place the Storm 2 into the charger and while in the charger I can check emails, listen to music, and do almost all of the functions as if I had it in my hand. The Storm 2 and charger together look good on the desk top. I would recommend this product to anyone.

Review by Michael Hartmann:

I really like this charging cradle. My BB9550 fits in it perfectly and I can still perform most functions while it's in the cradle. This is an elegant, well built item.

Review by K. Shephard:

The case is okay.

It fits well and feels good.

The plastic that covers the silicone is flimsy.

Feels a little cheap. Broke after three months.

Expensive for what you get.

Knowing what I know now, I might not buy it again.

Review by S. Mary:

This is a decently nice case. It is a tad bulky, but not too much where it is a concern. It is a hybrid of both a silicone case and a plastic case. First the silicone goes on, then you slide the plastic over top into place. The plastic covers the top, sides and back whereas the corners are silicone. I have dropped my phone a couple times and it really has a nice absorbing bounce effect. I could care less about a drop to the kitchen floor. The case slightly affects the call, Blackberry, back, and end button. I have learned to cope but since it has a tendency to stick anyways, this only makes it worse. I have removed it and put back on several times and it still hampers it. if you want an ultra protective case that that looks good I would hesitantly recommend this case. Shipping was pretty fast.

Review by Bob L.:

This is a nice enough product; stylish, holds phone horizontally, heavier than you'd expect with a non-skid bottom. Problem is, that's all it is. There is no charger included as I had assumed. You either have to use the charger or the USB charging/sync cable that came with your phone. I wanted a second charger for my desk so I could keep the one that came with the phone in my briefcase or suitcase. Not sure it's pretty enough to justify almost with shipping.

Review by R. A. Hopp:

I just received the sync pod, but cannot use it. The unit looks good and has a nice weight, but the Storm 2 will not seat on the charge plug. You have to press the Storm 2 quite firmly to get the charger to start (as evidenced by the clock showing on the screen). Once you release the pressure on the phone, it springs up, off the plug and charging stops. RIM's website states that the dimensions are the same for the Storm 2 and the Storm, but my phone won't work on the charge/sync pod.

I will be returning it for a refund. It is too bad - the concept is a good one. RIM needs to revise the dimensions of the sync pod so that the Storm 2 will fit.

Review by vdavisoh:

I have the new Verizon Blackberry Storm II (9550) and this case fits my phone perfectly. I love it. Looks good and is real leather. Buy from AMAZON because the price is much much better than buying from the Blackberry website.

Review by chromer:

If you use the silicon skin on your Storm be aware that you must remove it or the phone will not fit into the case. Other than that the case is an excellent buy.

Review by Alex C. Miranda:

the kit is mostly practical, two chargers, one for my vehicule and one for my office, the LCD screen protector is usefull and very easy to put. I don't know why Blackberry's phone dont' bring the usefull leather case of old models but this skin case is a good alternative.

Review by Karen Kelly:

This item is available from several different sellers. The highest price (but eligible for free shipping so it makes up for it) is from Amazon -- so if you're looking to receive the exact thing you see pictured here, I'd recommend going for the Amazon one. Other reviewers may be reviewing this item purchased from different sellers.

When sellers set up their item, they can choose among the current listings and just indicate that they are selling that thing. It's entirely possible that they choose the closest similar thing, and don't get it exactly right.

I ordered from Amazon (figuring they know what they're selling and have a vested interest in listing things accurately) and I received a Blackberry branded charger, and the blades were indeed folding.

Review by Mike P.:

This is original blackberry equipment and works perfectly. I understand through my research that there's some imitations on the market that don't perform very well. The price on this item is outstanding and so is the product.

Review by Pen Name:

All this product is is a base station for your charger, nothing more. I bought this because I was sick of keeping my charger plugged into an outlet and having to plug my Blackberry in every night and leave it on the floor. This device is very basic. Your normal charging cord plugs into the back. Your Blackberry slips into the base of the charging pod and stands upright. There are two metal squares on the back of your Tour that connect to the two metal prongs you see on the inside of this charging pod, so you don't have to deal with plugging anything into the side of your Tour. The base is very sturdy, and once your Blackberry is in it, it is not going to fall over or move around a lot.

I keep mine sitting on the end of my desk with the cord hanging behind the desk so you can't see it. I have my Blackberry set to "Bedside Mode," so when I put it into this base, it automatically turns off the keypad and dims the LCD screen, and displays the clock. You can also set up bedside mode to cut off certain alerts. For instance, mine is set to allow incoming calls to ring, but it won't send me a tone alert when I get an email or SMS. I actually used this charging pod in place of my old alarm clock and no longer use an alarm clock, since I can see the clock on my Blackberry from my bed when it is sitting in the charger.

The only problem with this charger, is that you can't use any kind of case on your Blackberry. It won't fit in the charging pod, and most cases cover up the metal charging connectors on the back of the device anyway. If your case easily slips on and off, it might work if you don't find that too much of a hassle. As for me, I love being able to just drop my phone into the base station at night and pick it up in the morning.

Review by Evan S. Halperin:

This charging pod is about as basic as it gets. It does it's job, however, I find that I often have a thin case on my Tour, and this does not allow for even the slimmest skin. Taking it on and off is annoying and I wish they made ones that could accommodate at LEAST the OEM silicone sleeve.

Still, it looks slick and does its job

Review by Tarun Chachra:

Not too long ago the global consortium that makes standards for cell phones decided that all cell phones would have micro usb connectors as a standard. Simply put, whether its a blackberry, a smartphone, or any other cell phone (iPhones excluded) will require this type of cable to connect to your pc/mac for charging and or synchronizing.

These particular car chargers are not cheap knock offs but original equipment from the manufacturer. In other words they are genuine blackberry parts and work perfectly fine for Blackberry 8900's and Storms - both of which now sport the new micro usb connector.

5/5

Review by Mike P.:

This is original blackberry equipment and quite a bit cheaper than the price tag charged by Verizon wireless, which is a total rip-off. This has the blackberry name on it and works like a charm. I highly recommend this item.

Review by Thule1:

This Blackberry product is excellent quality and perfect fit for my new 9630 Tour phone. Plus, it still allows the phone to fit into the Blackberry leather holster (snug, but OK). The product is available from several vendors but Amazon had a great price and free delivery(well, sort of). Delivery took several weeks due to some items I ordered were out of stock and shipment was delayed without initial explanation. I even paid for delivery thinking that would expedite the delivery, but it didn't matter. I still prefer buying from Amazon rather then other vendors with high delivery charges and sometimes questionable products.

Review by Mark A. Brozak:

I just put this on yesterday and have come to really like it. The instructions are fairly simple with only a few pictures and no words on how to insert the phone into the plastic case then the rubber case. A fairly simple process, but make sure the clear plastic overlay for the keyboard is properly lined up and pulled tight prior to installing into the plastic case. You may also want to make sure that the display and the camera lens are both clean prior to this as well.

Once installed, the product makes the BB much easier to hold, as it is a bit beefier and the rubber is really easy to hold onto. The belt clip allows for easy inserting and removal of the BB without too much friction or looseness.

The plastic case overhangs the display just the slightest bit, but doesn't interfere, you just notice it a little. The plastic keyboard cover does make the use of the trackball a little more difficult, but certainly not impossible and after a day of use, I hardly notice the difference anymore. However, the additional protection this offers I believe offsets any perceived difficulties. The ports are easily accessed with the rubber cover tabs easily removed/installed. There is no noticeable affect on the speaker during phone calls or listening to music. The camera button on the right side is also easily depressed with the covers installed with no noticeable increase in pressure necessary to launch this application.

Great product that I learned about from a buddy who uses the iPhone and has a similar OtterBox product on his. I would recommend to anyone.

Review by Alvin Ganaishlal:

I purchased this for my wife...we have tried the silicone cases that are sold at the other stores, and werent impressed...

this item provides ample protection, allows for easy access to all buttons, and gives the device a nice feel...

the texture of the case is smooth enough to allow the device to be slipped into a pocket or purse...

for those wanting even more protection, the otterbox defender is the only other choice, but it does add bulk to the device...

Review by L. Kornblum:

CCMaccessories' price was less than 1/5th what Verizon charges; even with shipping, it cost less than half the Verizon price. It's a great skin that protects the BlackBerry Tour 9630 Phone, Black (Verizon Wireless) from scratching and slipping. It's even thin enough that you can leave it on the phone when carrying it in the swivel holster that comes packaged with the phone from Verizon.

Review by Michael G. Nienaltowski:

This case fits perfectly to the Blackberry Tour. It covers all the main areas of the phone that you want covered and doesn't add very much bulk at all. The feel of it on the phone and in your hand is great. The price is much less than what you would buy at the provider or a Best Buy. Highly recommend buying this case and from this seller if you have a Blackberry Tour with Sprint or Verizon.

Review by Berm June Kim:

At first, I was skeptical of this even after reading the two existing 5-star

reviews.(and they were the only reviews, so here I am writing my first review on

amazon after 10 years of amazon shopping.)

I've been using Tour 9630 after coming from Nokia E71,

and the only thing that I missed about the E71 was the extraordinary

longevity of E71's battery usage life on a daily basis.

(and maybe a little bit of the thin and sturdy feel of E71)

I haven't really tested the actual hours the battery life, but this definitely

is worth buying for me as now I can run more apps (in my case, IM and Google Map)

w/o worrying whether my bberry can survive the day.

(It seems like I can very easily survive a day of heavy usage of my bberry.)

**I looked it up online and seems like the standard battery (DX1) is only

1400mAh while this one is 2600mAh. And looks like the form factor is not

much ruined, nor too thick, unlike the other crappy looking one on amazon.

Also, if you have a charging pod like me, it charges well with the charging pod:

(...)

FEB 18 UPDATE

I am getting 2 to 3 day usage with this! Highly satisfied.

BUT I had to throw away my silicone case that I bought for three bucks,

and now I am using Seidio Innocase 360 for extended battery.

It costs about (...) before (...) shipping,

but to me, who will sell this phone in a few months to try another smartphone,

seems like a good investment!

Note the difference between Innocase regular product and "360" -

it literally covers the keyboard and the screen too.

Still can type the same IMO, and the screen still looks vibrant!

Can't feel much difference-

And I like the fact that the Seidio brand name is hardly noticeable on the case,

unlike the battery cover.

It does get thicker, AGAIN, but I'd prefer the relief from putting the case on.

IMO It still feels smaller than BB Bold 9000 in my hand.

[...]

-----------------------------

UPDATE FEB 27

About the charging cradle :

***PLEASE NOTE : It works perfectly fine for my phone, but someone pointed out that

his (or hers) will charge with the cradle ONLY with the battery cover taken off.

Review by Crackberry Addict:

First of all, I want to say that I have purchased Seidio products in the past and have been very happy with the majority of them. Aside from the occassional cracked innocase, their products are without equal as far as batteries and protective cases. I purchased this battery for my 9630 since I use it to manage multiple email accts,paypal,banking,facebook and twitter along with whatever phone calls that I make daily to clients. The OE battery always seemed to run out of power in the middle of the afternoon, so I had purchased a second charger for my office and a carcharger as well. I also use this device as an MP3 player when I go to the gym after work, so it does get a huge amount of usage daily. My days are long running from about 6AM to 9:30PM so I needed this battery bad! The battery works very well giving me about 40% more usable time than the stock battery. It starts running low on power at about 10:30PM and that still shows at 15%. I purchased the battery from Amazon since it was much less than the Seidio website. I think for the average user it would easily go 2 to 3 days without having to recharge. Overall, I am happy with this product but like anybody else, I want more!

Review by J. Theriault:

This review is for the Curve8330

This is a great product!

It fits the screen perfectly and is great because it accomodates the trackball!

Also, if you have the hard plastic protective case (some people don't like those, but I love mine) the screen protector extends just under the case, and that is helpful because the screen is fully covered.

Now, I will say that it is tricky to put on... if you follow these tips, you won't fail:

1) make sure you are in a dust free environment. to have perfect application, you must abide by this.

2) your screen needs to be clean! Dust, grease, and fingerprint FREE!!!!! I didn't just use the screen cloth included in the package... I used the cloth, a dab of water on a paper towel and I also GENTLY rubbed the screen with a SOFT paper towel.

3) If you don't have good control of your hands, and feel that you might put it on crooked... get someone else to do it for you. I put one on crooked, and while the cover still did it's job, it just looked really silly. (And it was only a smidgen crooked)! So, if you can't do it, follow steps 1 and 2 and then get someone else to do it.

4) when you take the initial siding off, make sure to hold the piece of (very thin, very bendable) plastic GENTLY between your fingers! So that you are BARELY touching the edges.

5) for the other side of the plastic cover, follow tip 4.

6)make sure that when you put the cover on the screen that you do it lined up with the trackball evenly. that way you know that it is in the right spot.

I cannot stress enough the IMPORTANCE of a completely clean, dust, grease, and fingerprint FREE screen... I used a dab of water on a SOFT paper towel to wipe the screen clean, then a dry SOFT paper towel, then the cloth included in the package.

As you can see, this is a tricky process, but I still gave the product five stars. It's not the company's fault nor the Seller's if a person doesn't apply the product well. Now, I do think that the company should include detailed instructions, but the don't, so I did.

Also, when you think about it, if you have a nice phone, don't you want to be able to protect it? So, a little work is not a bad thing, especially when you buy these in the stores for .75, and I bought mine online for .99 (that was with shipping and everything).

I hope this was at least a little helpful! I bought a different kind, not right for my phone, and experienced all the issues above. Then I bought the right kind, and had no trouble at all with the correct covers. I got it right on the first try!!!

Review by RJC:

My BB Curve screen was beginning to get scratched. I have a tendency to throw my BB into any pocket that might also have keys, coins, etc. Was skeptical of three protectors for such a cheap price, but figured I did not have much to lose.

I followed the directions on the package carefully and still could not figure out why there were so many air bubbles. Turns out the directions are pathetic and left out a key process. The screen has TWO protective sleeves and not just one, as in the directions.

I emailed Accessory Export and received a very, very prompt and thorough reply, with diagrams of the second protective sleeve.

Each package was also to include a plastic stick to evacuate air bubbles. None to be found. Reply from Accessory Export was, "Just use a credit card". Okay, the credit card solution worked fine - but could the directions possibly be more lacking?

I'm a happy camper now. These screens work very well and certainly worth the price.

Review by B. Casadaban:

i like this product...for the most part

the front blackberry symbol is REALLY bright, but after a few days, i got used to it

I need to take off my silicone case to recharge

My cord recharger wouldn't recharge if inserted directly to the phone, but if I plug it into the recharging pod it works again. Something about the electric current not flowing properly to the blackberry... I have seen this problem a lot on the discussion boards.

Review by R. Wood:

This unit works well for the office. I place it just beside by monitor so I can see any incoming calls. The BB fits in this unit easily and when you need to run to a meeting it lifts out in a snap. The only thing about this unit I don't like is the fact that the light does not change colors indicating that it is charging or turn off when charging is complete. Some of the product descriptions lead you to believe it changes colors. IT DOES NOT. Regardless this unit does make it more convenient to have your BB sitting up for easy viewing then laying on your desk while you are pouring sweat over the days agenda. Or not.

Review by Bill M:

This holster was what I needed. The leather is high-quality and it looks nice. The magnet turns off the blackberry curve when it's in the holster. Swivel capability is welcome.

All was fine for a few weeks, but then the clip broke away from the rest of the holster. I have been using an old belt holster (for 7xxx series blackberry) since then, but now it's falling apart. I will probably order another one of these and hope for the best. I think the problem is when the holster is vertical and placed near a front pocket, there can be stress on the plastic that connects the clip to the body of the holster. Perhaps keeping it horizontal might help.

Update - 1/30/09. I bought a new one and it broke also after about 5 weeks of gentle use. I kept the phone horizontal this time but it did not help. The plastic swivel joint broke in exactly the same place as the previous one. Bottom line - I can't recommend this one unless you never plan to sit down.

Review by B. Barbee:

This item looks very good, but the clip attaches to the leather holster with a cheap plastic button that broke less than a week after I started wearing. I would not buy this again.

Review by Mute208:

I wasn't sure what kind of case I wanted for my Curve and tried a few before realizing just how great these Seidio brand cases were. I used the included Blackberry pouch for a 2 weeks while trying out different cases and also tried the Otterbox. In the end, I bought 3 of the Seidio cases in different colors I liked them so much.

The rubberized material is soft, does not pick up much dust or lint and provides excellent grip overall. It's actually a hard plastic snap-on case that provides complete protection around the BB, minus the screen, keyboard, and ports. The Otterbox's cover picked up a lot of dust and lint. The Seidio has all the correct openings for the speakers, buttons, headphone jack, data/charging port, and LED. It only adds slightly more bulk to the phone while providing excellent protection against drops and scratches. The Otterbox was MUCH too bulky and the LED cut out did not align as well and so I could not see the blinking LED while the phone was laying flat. The Blackberry pouch was nice but I felt like I was going to drop it each time I tried to remove it. It was also hard to drive with because I'd either have to remove it from the case and have no protection while driving or leave it in the pouch and try to remove it when I needed to use it or view the screen.

There are only few minor drawbacks to the case. First, it offers no protection for the screen. I remedied that by purchasing a screen protector from InvisibleShield. Second, there is a thin bar that runs over the Call/End buttons and trackball so scrolling up quickly is hindered. Lastly, I had to return two of these because they would not fit correctly over my BB. Of the 5 we purchased between my wife's BB and mine, we had to return 2. But once you get one that fits, it's great. Oh, it's also a little tough to remove the case but I recommend you stick your finger nail in between the top and bottom pieces at the bottom and running it from side-to-side to remove it.

I have the burgundy, blue, and black cases for myself and my wife has just the black one. Perfect cases for our Blackberry Curve 8330 Verizon phones.

Review by Tim Mellberg:

This Plastic-Hard "Soft-feeling" shell has been a worse than expected solution.

My wonderful amazing girlfriend bought this for me as a surprise for my blackberry curve and

after using it for several months this is my review.

What I like:

It feels sturdy

The soft finish feels quite smooth and nice in the hand

The color I got is Black which almost looks like a matte finish black (ie a car painted black matte)

What I don't like:

The shell is a little "too thick" so that some of the buttons on the edge between shell and buttons are harder to get to.. So the shell gets in the way.

Though one would think that the two halves making a shell for the Curve would be an easier and more

well protected option for small "falls", I have found that this shell easily opens apart leaving the phone unprotected after the first "bounce".

I have also found that for some reason the shell rubs on the top part of the screen leaving small

scratches on the part of the screen that it is supposed to protect.

Something that I thought was a pain:

Sometimes the Blackberry Curve screen freezes. Initially, I would always have to take the battery out to restart my phone. So, having a shell that one has to open every time the phone freezes was a little annoying until I found out that one can click on the "alt caps and delete" at the same time to restart the phone.

I hope this was helpful.

Review by Mute208:

I hadn't planned on writing a review for the Blackberry Rubberized Skin but I dropped my phone the other day on pavement, to my horror. When I picked it up, there was nay a scratch on my phone. That, is the true test of how protective this skin really is.

I initially tried the included pouch, Otterbox case, and the Seidio snap-on case. For various reasons, I ended up with the rubberized skin as my "case" of choice. It's simple to remove and put on, has all the proper cutouts for the controls, camera and charging port. It provides a better grip than without it, but does pick up lint and debris. The reason I got the dark grey over the black is that the lint does not show up as much as it does on the black.

My only complaint is that even though the description states that it is compatible with the 8330 Curve, there is one part that really isn't for the Verizon 8330. The Verizon 8330 has the notification LED on the actual face, to the right of the ear speaker. The cutout for the LED however, is far above it. This makes it so that a piece of the top is exposed unnecessarily. The case functions the same but if you're wondering why there's a cutout when your LED is below it, now you know why.

I'm amazed that you can buy the actual Blackberry OEM skin for such a low cost on Amazon. Verizon sells these for much more in the stores. The skin is so useful and a great value, that whenever I need a free shipping filler, I plan on getting any other color I can find. Great skin for my Verizon Blackberry 8330.

Review by A. Alvarez:

this really protects my phone, especially as i drop it a lot. And i like the ease of putting it on standby without fighting a rigid rubber

Review by Jennifer Short:

I recently got a Blackberry Curve 8330 and wanted a protective case and a holster for it. Since this was only , I decided to go out on a limb and order it, even though there were no reviews.

The two silicone sleeves fit perfectly and leave the necessary parts uncovered. The band around the tracking ball is a little loose and sometimes catches when I'm scrolling upwards, but otherwise it's perfectly fine.

The screen cover fits perfectly.

The wall charger works fine, but I have not yet had a chance to test out the car charger.

The windshield mount was, in my opinion, the most random thing in here, but I have no complaints with it. I doubt I'll use it, but it seems fine.

The holster is the disappointment in this package. It's very sturdy and seems well made, but will not close completely if the phone is inside. The phone is wider than the holster case allows.

Overall, if you're looking for a couple chargers and skins to protect a phone and want some random things in the process, I recommend this.

Review by Diana Gann:

Think this is your way of protecting your phone. I like to put my window phone holder up in my front window on the side... that way when my phone rings while I'm driving I can see it and who's calling.

Review by M. Berry:

This product is a PIECE OF JUNK!! Do not buy it. It came out of the box, and is really, really a cheap plastic and does not even clip into itself. I had to put scotch tape on it straight from the box to have it stay on my phone, and it already looks really crappy to begin with. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!! Plus I paid more for shipping than for the product, and it still took a week. A complete waste. I'll just keep my blackberry au naturale, thank you.

Review by agirlfromclasstotouch:

Though I was disappointed with this order, I cannot blame the manufacturer. I got what I paid for, it was cheap. Reguardless it serves its duty at protecting my phone.. And, on the plus side, when I dropped my phone - I wasn't even worried about the case taking a beating. I will definately be purchasing higher quality ones from now on.