The BlackBerry® 8830 World Edition smartphone is the stylish way to get things done. It’s the first CDMA BlackBerry smartphone capable of roaming globally on GSM®/GPRS networks*. So you can travel the world with full mobile voice and data coverage, without having to change smartphones, phone numbers or email addresses.The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition gives you phone, email, organizer, web browsing and instant messaging. And then it goes a step further, providing GPS*, BlackBerry® Maps, a media player for your video clips and music, and expandable memory to ensure you’ve got the room you need for your media files.
| Size: | 4.49 x 2.60 x 0.55 inches (LxWxD) |
| Weight: | 4.6 oz. |
| Display: | Font size (user selectable), Color display, Backlighting, Light sensing screen |
In many ways, Verizon Wireless has users backed into a corner with the BlackBerry 8830. For world travelers who need a 3G BlackBerry at home and e-mail abroad, the 8830 is the only option on any network. Business users won’t be disappointed by the device’s e-mail and scheduling prowess, it is a BlackBerry, after all, but considering this phone represents the current pinnacle of BlackBerry devices, we expected more. Besides our old complaints about the BlackBerry interface, we would have liked better battery life, some useful productivity apps, and a better Web browsing experience. The lack of GPS is disappointing, and we think business travelers would have appreciated a better music experience. If you are deciding between the 8800 and this phone, we think the 8830’s better tethered modem support and faster Web browsing, on Opera perhaps, makes it the better choice. Still, it’s a close call, and GPS fans might prefer the 8800, even with slower EDGE networking, to the 8830.
The RIM BlackBerry 8830 shares the same body style as its GSM-only cousin, the BlackBerry 8800, but trades in the all-black casing for an equally sleek silver. At 4.4 inches high by 2.6 inches wide by 0.5 inches deep and 4.7 ounces, the 8830 is certainly slim but it’s also one of the larger BlackBerrys we’ve seen of late. The wider and taller body makes it a tad awkward to use the 8830 as a phone, but as we noted in our BlackBerry 8800 review, this is typical of full-QWERTY BlackBerrys as well as Pocket PC phones and Treos.First, there’s a 24-hour Global Help Desk that’s open seven days a week. In addition, you get a calling card for free support calls while traveling outside of the United States from any landline phone to technical support if the BlackBerry 8830 is lost, broken, or stolen.
Like the 8800, the BlackBerry 8830 has the new BlackBerry form factor with that attractive, slim body and trackball control, a microSD card slot, Bluetooth 2.0, push email support, PIM applications and built-in GPS and navigation. The camera-less BlackBerry 8830 is designed for corporate users who require more security in their working environment.The big draw of the RIM BlackBerry 8830 is its dual-mode functionality. With this capability, the phone switches automatically between CDMA and GSM networks to offer seamless international roaming–all while keeping the same phone number. (Note that the phone does not support domestic GSM bands.) In all, you get voice coverage in 157 countries (22 of those on CDMA) and e-mail coverage in 62 countries. Just be aware that you’ll still incur roaming rates, which range from 69 cents to $2.49 a minute. Verizon also offers technical support if you need help while overseas.
Specifications:
Navigation: QWERTY (Keyboard), Trackball, Keyboard backlighting
User Interface: Intuitive icons and menus
Memory: 64 MB flash memory, Expandable memory – support for microSD card
Microprocessor: No
Modem: Embedded RIM® wireless modem, Tethered modem capability
Email Integrations:
- Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Microsoft® Exchange
- Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for IBM® Lotus® Domino®
- Works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server for Novell® GroupWise®
- Integrates with an existing enterprise email account
- Integrates with existing personal email account
- Integrates with optional new device account
Device Security:
- Password protection and keyboard lock
- Support for AES or Triple DES encryption when integrated with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server
- FIPS 140-2 Validated (FIPS validation)
- Optional support for S/MIME
Network:
- Dual-band 900/1800 Mhz GSM/GPRS networks
- Dual-band 800/1900 Mhz CDMA2000 1X Ev-DO networks
