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Like its fellow Curve handsets, the BlackBerry Curve 3G is one of RIM's highly capable handsets aimed at a more youthful, fun-loving consumer than the traditional business customer.
It's pretty similar to the rest of the Curve range, including the BlackBerry Curve 8500 with which it shares its external media controls. The design is slightly updated, though, and the 3G connectivity gives it an edge.
The BlackBerry OS 6 update, on its way to the handset in the coming months, will set it apart from older models like the rest of the BlackBerry Curve range.
What it shares in looks with the BlackBerry Bold 9700, it sadly lacks in specs – the screen is a lower resolution, the QWERTY less well-angled for speed-typing and the connectivity and processing powers leave a little to be desired.
The optical trackpad is a little more skittish than that of the BlackBerry Bold 9700, however. We found it a bit unwilling to make small movements, which meant we often had a difficult time selecting the options we wanted.
The Curve 3G doesn't purport to be all things to all people, unlike it's newest BlackBerry cohort, the BlackBerry Torch.
That said, the BlackBerry Curve 3G is definitely a step up from the candy-bar stylings of the BlackBerry Pearl 3G, and despite the similar functions and connectivity, that full QWERTY keyboard really sets it apart for serious emailers.
