BlackBerry 8820
Key specs
Critic consensus
“The BlackBerry 8820 is RIM's first foray into integrated Wi-Fi, and sometimes it even works. The 8820 is nearly identical in every way to the well-received 8800: same form factor, same 4.8-ounce weight, same OS, same trackball navigation system. The only difference is the iPhone-like addition of a Wi-Fi radio, which offers a vast improvement in speed when browsing the web or checking e-mail over the pokey EDGE alternative. Alas, the Wi-Fi implementation here isn't nearly as seamless as Apple's. The 8820 sometimes manages the handoff between the two networks fairly well, but in our tests it often had trouble dropping the 802.11 signal and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network. At the end of the day, the 8820 is no iPhone killer, but it doesn't do a bad job giving Apple's handset a pretty good shiner.WIRED Still has the top-notch e-mail system we know and love. Excellent, roomy keyboard. Integrated GPS is a category killer. MicroSD slot for media files.TIRED Still no camera. Still no 3-G. Web page rendering is ugly. Wi-Fi is buggy, scanning for access points takes an eternity. Beware the fine print: Not all BlackBerry plans support Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry services.”
Watch before you decide
What people say
This is a great phone with tons of possibilities. WiFi, GPS navigation, and other great features come standard. The OS can be a little tricky to learn if you've never used a BB before but, once you learn it, you probably won't want to go back to any other. I've used an iPhone but prefer my BB. An...
I purchased this phone over a year ago from Amazon with a contract. Then we found out ATT offers family plans, so I went to an ATT store, changed the plan to a family Talk plan, and added a new line for my wife. Also updated my address at the same time since we are moving. All look fine, right? I...
Just switched from a Palm Treo and it's like moving from purgatory to heaven: 1) light and slim form factor, slides easily into a suit pocket unnoticeably 2) intuitive, short menus with minimum clicks to your objective, and easy to navigate with one hand 3) fabulous battery life - easily a full d...
In Depth
One of the trademark Blackberry functions is the Blackberry Messenger, a sophisticated IM client that works like AIM but better. Why carriers lock that feature down and force customers to use their inferior version is beyond me. Blackberry owners take great pride in communicating with their own messaging system, and if you purchase this model from AT&T you will NOT have such luxury.
I start with this point because I am a Blackberry user and an advocate, and it’s bad enough that carriers lock out BB’s GPS capability and make you buy theirs, but don’t mess with a staple like the Blackberry Messenger.
Okay, let me dial it back. The 8830 is an excellent device, boasting a full Qwerty keyboard and most of the technology that has made RIM the choice of business and political types, such as push email, which allows you to receive emails directly to your phone (often before they reach your PC). This model also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, along with AT&T’s proprietary “Push to Talk” feature; all good, useful features that people will use.
So why no camera? Why isn’t this business device running at 3G speeds? These are questions without good answers, but when compared to the Curve and the Pearl, you may, in this particular instance, want to view the entire line of Blackberries before deciding.
What people actually want to know
When was the BlackBerry 8820 released?
The BlackBerry 8820 was released on July 17, 2007.
How long does the battery last on the BlackBerry 8820?
The BlackBerry 8820 has a 1,400 mAh battery.
Does the BlackBerry 8820 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the BlackBerry 8820 has a 2.5mm headphone jack.
Where can I download the BlackBerry 8820 manual?
You can view and download the BlackBerry 8820 manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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