BlackBerry Curve review - Making/Receiving Calls
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Mark Brezinski Published on August 10, 2007 Comment on this |
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Dialing Speed (7.19)
This test measures how long you can expect dialing a phone number to take. We do trials with five different numbers and take the average of the five times. We normally start with the phone in the closed, unlocked position, but the Curve doesn't have a closed position. This helped its score. It took an average of 2.78 seconds to dial a number, which is a pretty fast speed. Compare it to some of its competitors listed in the table below, but keep each phone's method of input in mind; the Helio's keypad has to slide out before it can dial and the Mogul uses touch screen entry.
| Cell Phone | Time (sec) | Score |
| BlackBerry Curve | 2.78 | 7.19 |
| BlackBerry 8800 | 4.35 | 4.60 |
| HTC Mogul | 6.16 | 3.25 |
| Motorola Q | 5.80 | 3.45 |
| Palm Treo 700p | 5.88 | 3.40 |
| Helio Ocean | 3.10 | 6.45 |
Talk and End Buttons (3.0)
The Talk and End buttons on the Curve are located on either end of the trackball button array (talk, menu, ball, return, and end, from left to right). The buttons have adequate play, but we would have liked a more pronounced sensation. Finding these buttons by navigating from the trackball is easy enough, as the menu and return keys have raised outer edges. Finding them from elsewhere is surprisingly difficult, however. They are raised, which helps, but they feel identical to the plastic face of the phone. What also contributes to this tactile confusion is their shape: the buttons slope downward toward their outer edges. Running your finger from the cover to the gentle hills that are the Talk and End buttons doesn't provide enough recognition.
Call Management (5.0)
Call history can be found under the phone icon on the home screen. Your recent calls are listed underneath the number input field. Clicking on the number will yield the options to call it, or send SMS/MMS messages. There is also a full menu, which gives a wide range of pertinent and not-so-pertinent options. Some of the more useful options allow you to view your contact history with that particular number in detail, assign the number to a speed dial, or add it to the address book.
You can dial a number by clicking on the phone icon, or by just typing in a number. The Curve won't allow you to type in letters while typing in a new phone number.
During a call, you can click the trackball to bring up a truncated menu; it offers hold, mute, speakerphone, and an option to open the full menu. Selecting full menu (or just pressing the menu button instead of the trackball) displays a more filled-out list of options. You can view your address book, messages, or calendar during a call. You can also take notes, which is good because there unfortunately isn't an option to record the call. You can also make a new call (the shortcut for this is the space key). Interestingly enough, you have to select new call in order to call a new number; you can't just punch in the number and hit Send/Enter.
Going to notes while in a call shows a picture of a cell phone in the top left, a call timer, your status (connected/hold), and the contact's info. The picture of the cell phone as a reminder is a bit redundant, especially when it shows other info along the top. We wish some sort of reminder was present while viewing the address book, calendar, or messages when on a call. A user could potentially get caught up in viewing, entering, or managing information and forget about their call.
Call waiting shows both calls' information, as well as displays which is on hold versus which is active. Going from call waiting to conferencing is as easy as clicking the trackball and selecting "Join".
Overall, managing calls has a very simple interface, and even the more advanced options, like conferencing, were relatively easy to do.
Startup to Call (14.77)
This score is dependant on how quickly the phone can power on and make a call. We begin with the phone powered off and unlocked, then time how long it takes to enter in one of our sample numbers and hit the send key. We do five trials, each with a different test number, to more accurately portray the kind of performance a user could expect. The Curve averaged 6.77 seconds from startup to call, which is an excellent time, even more so for a smart phone. Some Windows Mobile devices can take more than a minute to boot up.
| Cell Phone | Time (sec) | Score |
| BlackBerry Curve | 6.77 | 14.70 |
| BlackBerry 8800 | 6.50 | 15.38 |
| HTC Mogul | 55.00 | 1.82 |
| Motorola Q | 71.00 | 1.41 |
| Palm Treo 700p | 31.60 | 3.16 |
| Helio Ocean | 9.50 | 10.53 |
Ring Volume (8.57)
To determine ring volume, we measure the decibels of all the ring tones packaged in the phone and use the highest result. The Curve has quite a few sounds available as ringtones, so this test took some time. When all was said and done, the Curve is capable of 85.7 decibels. This is fairly loud on its own, but some of the alarm clock-like rings available are so shrill they'll make people blocks away cringe. We personally wouldn't use those ringtones, but the brave souls that do will most likely know when the phone's ringing. Just don't get a call anywhere near our office.
| Cell Phone | Volume (decibels) | Score |
| BlackBerry Curve | 85.7 | 8.57 |
| BlackBerry 8800 | 84 | 8.4 |
| HTC Mogul | 85.7 | 8.57 |
| Motorola Q | 66 | 6.6 |
| Palm Treo 700p | 78 | 7.8 |
| Helio Ocean | 85.4 | 8.54 |
Ringtone Customizability (6.0)
The Curve has a really fluid ringtone customizing system. It pools all its sounds (ringtones, alarms, notifications, etc.) for use, and allows you to import your own sounds. It played back our AAC, WMA, and MP3 files. You can't record your own ringtones, mainly because there isn't a voice record application on the device. You could record them on your computer and import them, but this roundabout method doesn't garner any points. You also can't edit your ringtones.
The Curve lets you download 15 second ringtone versions of songs via the AT&T store. The store itself is a bit convoluted; the Main menu contains arbitrary categories such as What's Hot and Songs Everyone Knows. You're better off using the search. Once you actually find the song you want, however, buying is just a few clicks away. The ringtones cost $2.49, though, which is shockingly blatant highway robbery.
Non Audio Alerts (6.0)
The non audio alerts on the Curve are disappointing. The vibration is rather weak and easy to miss. We found we could feel it in our pocket if we were sitting down, but standing up we were totally unaware of the incoming call. If it's in your pocket and you're walking, you'll most likely be out of luck. Also, there's virtually no chance of catching calls if you have the phone in a purse or bag. Compounding the poor vibration is how alerts are displayed. While the screen does light up, there isn't any sort of animation; it just displays the caller info along with the choices of answer or ignore. You can set the number of vibrations (1-3), but again, the number of vibrations won't overcome their lack of strength.
Once you've missed a call, the LED will blink red and remind you every once in a while that you have missed calls. If you don't remember what this alert is referring to, you can just check the top of the home screen, where a small icon meaning "missed call" will be displayed. Your missed calls can be viewed by clicking on the Phone icon.
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