BlackBerry Bold 9650 Phone (Verizon Wireless) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I acquired the Blackberry Bold 9650 as part of my annual phone upgrade. I was able to get a 2 for 1 deal so my wife got one as well. This is the first smart phone for both of us. After having it for a little while I feel I can make an educated review.
My Service is Verizon Wireless. In my area I get excellent coverage with very few dead zones (haven't found any yet). The Verizon 3G is extremely fast and reliable and I have yet to use the wifi as the 3G is as fast or faster than wifi in my area.
The phone is a nice size. My friend has the Curve 8830 and they are almost identical in size. The Bold is slightly longer and slightly thinner than the Curve (were talking fractions here, almost undetectable). First thing one will notice is that this phone feels sturdy. I wouldn't toss it off a roof, but it definately feels very well made. There is also some weight to this phone. I don't know how it compares to other BlackBerry's weight wise, but you definately feel like your holding a phone. The phone is not heavy though and I can hold the phone all day long as it is a very comfortable fit.
For previous BlackBerry owners, the keypad has been redesigned. The keys are slightly larger than those on the Curve. The keys have also been pushed together whereas on the Curve there is some spacing between the keys. This helps to keep the phone narrower and also help keep food / liquid out of the gaps. The keys are easy to push and again feel solid. The keypad for me is easy to type on though you will make a few mistakes. It does take some getting used to the keyboard. The keyboard is the standard QWERTY type so should be familiar to most users. The keyboard is backlit for easy visibility and the phone adjusts the backlight depending on surronding light levels. The track pad is easy to use and is a vast improvement over the trackball on previous models. The trackpad works the same way as a touchpad on a laptop.
The screen is bright and easy to see. I would recommend a screen protector to anyone buying this phone. The screen is also smartly organized with the icon positions. Like the keypad, the screen will automatically adjust its intensity to the surrounding light levels. The screen is level with the case with no where for dirt or lint to get trapped.
The apps and programs for this phone are what make Blackberry number 1. I really enjoy blackberry messenger and app world. The programs are very simple to use and straight forward. I will caution anyone that the Verizon Apps (vcast, vz navigator, etc.) are an extra charge on top of the data plan fees. For those like me that don't want to pay the extra charge a quick search in BB AppWorld will find you as good or better apps to replace the VZW ones. My one complaint is VZW loaded some games onto the phone which are demos and require you to purchase them. If I want to buy a game, a quick search in BB AppWorld will let me pick from a large selection. BlackBerry is mostly for business use, but don't let that fool you. There are plenty of fun apps with more coming out all the time.
I have never had an issue with the battery life. One will find that the smartphones will go through a battery faster than a standard phone. However, if you turn wifi off and make sure you exit all of your apps then battery life isn't an issue. I suspect that people reporting poor battery life either don't know how to turn off their apps properly or are leaving the wifi on.
I have yet to use the wifi feature as VZW 3G is extremely fast in my area. I do my web browsing through the google app and find that a page will load in 10 seconds or less. The web browsers fuction the same as any web browser on your computer. Imputing webaddresses is slightly slower since you wont be able to type as fast but still easy.
The call quality is excellent. People often tell me they forget that I am on a phone. It is by far the clearest phone I have ever owned. Included with the phone are a belt case and earphones. There are also international adaptors for the plug so you can plug your charger into any outlet. The belt case is well made and good for casual wear. I am in public safety and the case is inadequate for my needs so I ordered an OtterBox. The case should hold up for your average person. There is a magnet located inside the case that will automatically put your phone into sleep mode when you insert it. This helps to conserve battery life, yet you can still hear incoming calls.
There are a few negatives to this phone. First is where Research In Motion (RIM) decided to put the mini usb port used for charging. They located it on the right side of the phone about mid way up. This makes it a pain in the butt to type while charging your phone. Charging ports should be on top or bottom of the phone. Also, the convience keys on the side of the phone are a pain in the butt when pulling your phone out of its case. I have disabled them to make it easier for me. The earphones that come with the phone are horrible. They are clear sounding and do have a built in mic so you can use them as a handsfree device. They are also stereo which is good. However, that is the end of their good points. The earphones are extremely uncomfortable to wear. I wore them for about 40 mins and was left with ear pain for about an hour afterwards. The earphones do not allow you to hear in comming calls so if your phone is not on your hip you will miss a call. They are good for occasional use but I would recommend a bluetooth.
Accessories I would recommend for this phone are a car charger, Bluetooth, and an aftermarket case and screen protectors.

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Powerful and refined, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone offers reliable wireless voice and 3G data network connectivity from Verizon Wireless as well as Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for connecting to home/business networks and on-the-go hotspots. And whether traveling to Europe or Asia, the Bold 9650 provides globetrotters the freedom of reliable global connectivity with the reliable Verizon Wireless high-speed 3G CDMA network here in the United States and compatibility with GSM and 3G UMTS networks abroad.

It's also the first global phone from Verizon Wireless to support GlobalAccess Connect, allowing customers to tether their BlackBerry Bold to a notebook or netbook and use it as a modem for wireless Internet access in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Offering top-of-the-line performance and functionality, it features a sophisticated, high-gloss black finish, chrome highlights and leatherette back. It also includes a distinctive, highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard for fast and accurate typing, and an innovative touch-sensitive optical trackpad, which makes for a great navigation experience.

You'll stay on course thanks to the VZ Navigator GPS turn-by-turn direction service, as well as be able to find your way in foreign destination using the VZ Navigator Global service. With the optional Visual Voice Mail service, you'll be able to quickly and easily scroll through your messages and pick the ones you want to listen to. Additionally, the Bold 9650 provides a Push to Talk feature, enabling instant two-way communication with up to 50 people with the touch of a button. See more details on optional Verizon Wireless services below.

Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD memory expansion to 16 GB (a 2 GB card is included), support for BlackBerry App World, and up to 5 hours of talk time.


Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity thanks to the reliable Verizon Wireless EV–DO, Rev A network
Global roaming capabilities with data access in more than 220 destinations plus the capability to tether your laptop to your smartphone for Internet access using the Verizon Wireless GlobalAccess Connect service.
BlackBerry OS 5.0 includes typing accuracy and selection improvements, as well as usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons, and more use of animation.
Support for BlackBerry App World featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include travel, productivity, entertainment, games, social networking and sharing, news and weather, and more.
BlackBerry Internet Service offers easy access to up to 10 supported personal and work email accounts and one BlackBerry email account.
Compatible with BlackBerry Enterprise Server for advanced security and IT administration features within IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments. Customers running BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 will gain the ability to set follow-up flags, manage e-mail folders, access remote files (Windows Shares), forward appointments, view calendar attachments, and more.
View attachments including JPEG, Adobe PDF, and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
BlackBerry Media Sync is built right into your BlackBerry Desktop Software and lets you sync your desktop iTunes or Windows Media Player music files with your BlackBerry smartphone. If you're a Mac user, just choose the "media" option and you're ready to sync your iTunes music collection from your BlackBerry smartphone onto your Mac.
Integrated GPS for use with the BlackBerry Maps applications as well as other location-based applications and photo geotagging.
VZ Navigator and VZ Navigator Global capable for voice-guided turn-by-turn directions and location services both in the United States and Western Europe.
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 16 GB. A 2 GB card is included with the phone, and it also has an internal 512 MB memory.
Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go
Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity with stereo music streaming (A2DP) capabilities as well as hands-free headsets and car kits and tethering with your PC (with optional tethering plan). (Learn more)
Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture and IM instant messaging (via popular services)
Large 2.45-inch high-resolution display (480 x 360 resolution at 245 ppi) that displays pictures, videos and Web pages with contrast and detail
3.2-megapixel camera with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording.
Full HTML Web browser, streaming audio and video via RTSP

Vital Statistics The BlackBerry Bold 9650 weighs 4.8 ounces and measures 4.4 x 2.44 x 0.55 inches. Its 1400 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 312 hours (13 days) of standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/1900 frequencies as well as EV–DO, Rev A 3G frequencies. Additionally, this handset offers GSM global roaming capabilities with data access in more than 220 destinations (quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 plus 2100 3G HSPA).
What's in the Box BlackBerry Bold 9650 handset, rechargeable battery, charger (with international adapter clips), 2 GB microSD card, USB cable, 3.5mm stereo headset, BlackBerry documentation kit, quick start guide, user manual

Verizon Wireless Services
Reliable 3G Network: With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon Wireless multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.)

Global Roaming Capabilities: With this mobile phone, you can connect to wireless networks from Europe to South America to Asia thanks to its quad-band GSM/EDGE/GPRS connectivity as well as high-speed 3G HSPA compatibility (2100 MHz networks). It comes pre-installed with a SIM card, so customers who plan to travel abroad can activate global service at the time of purchase or by calling Verizon Wireless prior to leaving the U.S. For those who travel abroad frequently, the Verizon Wireless Global Value Plan offers discounted roaming capabilities with data access in more than 185 destinations.

VZ Navigator with Global Capability: With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps.
Additionally, this phone is compatible with the VZ Navigator Global service, which enables you to find locations and access turn-by-turn directions in North America and Western Europe, including Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (with more being added). Helping to alleviate stress or confusion caused by reading road signs or directions in an unfamiliar language, VZ Navigator Global allows you to choose either English or Spanish as the default language, and miles or kilometers to mark distances. You'll also be able to find restaurants, gas stations, banks/ATMs and other popular spots in these countries using Local Search.

Mobile Broadband Connect: Use your smartphone as a modem for your notebook when you connect the two using a USB cable--or open a Bluetooth connection--enabling you to access the Internet or your company intranet. The Mobile Broadband Connect tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check e-mail, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with Mobile Broadband Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices.
GlobalAccess Connect: With this globally connected smartphone, you'll be able to get reliable wireless Internet access for your laptop or netbook when roaming abroad thanks to the GlobalAccess Connect feature through Verizon Wireless. You can get wireless Internet access in more than 200 countries worldwide--and over 110 with 3G speed--enabling you to download and upload critical business data and files and access your company's intranet and applications.

Visual Voice Mail: This innovative service enables you to delete, reply, and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions. Visual Voice Mail is the ideal tool for the busy mobile professional who may need to prioritize which messages he or she listens to first. Features include on-screen access to voice mail message status, save up to 40 messages for 40 days (or archive permanently), create up to 10 different caller ID-based greetings, and reply via call back, text or even voice mail.

V CAST Music with Rhapsody: Access this exclusive digital music service for RealNetworks and for MTV Networks, which delivers unlimited monthly access to music on up to three Rhapsody-compatible mobile phones and players and online on multiple PCs and Web browsers. For a monthly fee (billed on your Verizon Wireless bill), you can load and reload your subscription songs from your PC to your V CAST Music with Rhapsody phone as often as you want, and take your music on the go.
On PCs running the Windows XP or higher operating system, you can also browse, preview, and purchase music using the V CAST Music with Rhapsody software, which is available as a free download from the V CAST Music with Rhapsody download website. Additional subscription charges applicable.

V CAST Video on Demand: This optional service enables you to watch full-length TV shows plus news, sports, weather, and live entertainment video clips. It features more than 100 full-length programs from leading broadcast and cable networks, ranging from highly-rated drama and comedy series to reality programs and children's programming. V CAST Video on Demand also delivers live sporting events, including NHL hockey games and an upcoming slate of college football games
The service offers unlimited viewing of Basic Videos and the ESPN MVP channel. You can choose from 14 categories, including Entertainment, Kids, Music, Sports, Comedy, News, Pop Culture, Information, Women, Latino, Home & Leisure, Multicultural, Cutting Edge, and Hollywood. Additional subscription charges applicable.

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