BlackBerry 8830 World Edition Review – Verizon Wireless
Longtime BlackBerry fans already know what the big deal is about RIM’s flagship PDA smartphone: on-the-go access to Internet, email, music, documents and more let you keep in touch with the goings on back at the office while staying productive on the road. But the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition from Verizon Wireless packs one game-changing feature that is matched by few smartphones: dual-mode functionality for both CDMA and GSM networks.
What does that mean? Simple: When you’re in North America, you’ll be on Verizon’s CDMA network – a newer protocol that used the EV-DO network for data. But over in Europe, the standard is GSM, meaning CDMA phones automatically go into “paper weight mode” once you cross the pond. The BlackBerry 8830 has that covered, though – once you are in a GSM network, the phone will automatically switch over to the support network. With a swappable SIM card, the BlackBerry 8830 truly tears down borders, letting you stay on top of the game no matter where you roam.
While the BlackBerry 8830 does have support for music playback (supporting MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, AMR-NB and MIDI) and videos (WMV, MPEG3 and H.263), this phone is more geared towards business than sightseeing. Evidence: there’s no camera. If you want to load custom pictures and videos, you’ll have to do so through the microSD slot, which is located behind the battery cover. The phone also lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, meaning you’ll need the kind of annoying 2.5mm headset or an adapter.
Bottom line: This phone is made for world travelers who need absolute coverage. Europe, North America, Asia and beyond, the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition lets you hop on the CDMA or GSM network for uninterrupted business. Though it lacks a camera and a 3.5mm headphone jack, this phone also does a satisfactory job of handling video and music – but all in all, this phone is more of a strictly business smartphone.
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Tags: dual mode CDMA/GSM