Iphone 3GS versus Blackberry Curve 8520

aimerlans

Thinking of changing from my iphone 3gs to a blackberry, just wondering would this be a stupid thing to do? and does anyone know if you can get apps on the blackberry. my iphone isn't in great condition, the home button is stiff and the silent button no longer functions. all opinions welcomed

cookie1977

The blackberry 8520 is a good device but it is considerably different to the iphone. there are apps and you access them via blackberry appworld. The devices do need an extra service which costs from 50 cent a day to 9.99 per month on pre pay, or 4.99, 8, 9.99, 15 euro as an add-on to bill pay plans or as part of a larger plan (say O2 advance 250 @45euro).

If you're going bill pay then I'd get a better device like the 9700 or 9780. They're absolutely amazing devices for email but certainly not good for gaming. I've used Blackberry's since 2004 and love them all.

aimerlans

What are the extra services? Are there many apps available?

cookie1977

A blackberry without BIS (blackberry Internet Service) may not be able to use wifi (depends on how the individual network has the device set up), it wont do email directly from the device and the internet may not work (again depends on how the individual network has the device set up)

BIS allows for unified email to be sent directly from the device. Email is pushed directly to the device from your account. You dont have to login to check or anything.

There's lots of apps. I think about 50,000 (not as much as the itunes apps store I know). You can browse app world here:
http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software/appworld/

Due to how they handle data via BIS they compress it by up to 2/3's in some cases so data goes alot further on a blackberry then it does on android or iphone devices.

What do you like about the device and why are you considering it?

Another thing to note is the 8520 is not a 3G device. Only Edge at most

aimerlans

I will be using the phone on PAYG, does this mean that some of the functions you mentionned above will not work? I don't know what i like about it really, my phone is in bad condition and the blackberry seems affordable, I am just worried i might miss the iphone?

Eoin

I have both of those phones - the Blackberry one is for work. Apart from the Blackberry's physical keyboard and longer battery life, I'd struggle to find anything else that I prefer about it. I used to be a big fan of Blackberrys as I've used them for many years, but I'm left cold with this one.

cookie1977

aimerlans wrote: »

I will be using the phone on PAYG, does this mean that some of the functions you mentionned above will not work? I don't know what i like about it really, my phone is in bad condition and the blackberry seems affordable, I am just worried i might miss the iphone?

What do you use your iphone for, as in what apps do you mainly use? You can use a Blackberry on Emobile, meteor and vodafone currently on pre pay and o2 are to release pre pay blackberry's very soon. The rest of the networks do not offer pre pay blackberry services. The 8520 isn't that great but the 9300 is a decent device within your price range on many networks.

aimerlans

I use my iphone mainly for the internet and apps. Apps such as games,diet trackers, cinema updates etc.

Eoin

I don't think the 8250 is the right device for you then. Are there any Android devices in your price range?

cookie1977

I'd agree with Eoin. Look at the HTC Wildfire S