BlackBerry Curve 9320 review: Coach class

Good browser, but on small screen and with no Flash

The web browser on the BlackBerry Curve 9320 is certainly functional, if you can live with the small screen and lack of Flash support.

The Curve 9320 web browser

When you start using the trackpad, you'll get a virtual mouse cursor and automatic panning and scrolling when you reach the end of the screen. Multiple tabs are supported and switching between them is pretty easy - just tap on the tabs key at the top right corner.

Managing bookmarks, tabs and some of the available options

Text reflow works like a charm, and other than the missing Flash support, the handset provides a good browsing experience despite its smallish display.

Organizer

True to its business ethos, the Curve 9320 has superb time-management capabilities. Its organizer includes a decent set of applications and although some of them are hardly lookers, their usability cannot be called into question.

The calendar has monthly, weekly and daily view modes and lets you easily set up customized events. We have to admit that some event presets would have been useful but sadly the device fails to provide them.

The BlackBerry Curve 9320 organizer centerpiece - the calendar

The phone comes with the full version of Documents to Go pre-installed allowing it to view all kind of documents (incl. PDF) and edit Word, Excel or Power Point files.

Both document viewing and editing is supported out of box

The organizer package also includes a calculator with a built-in unit-converter, as well as a voice recorder and a Notes application. A handy To-do manager allows you to set-up and organize your upcoming tasks.

The calculator comes with a built-in unit converter

The alarm application has only one alarm slot and fails to impress. It's quick to turn on but most of its settings can only be adjusted from the settings menu. There you can change the alarm tone, snooze time and the volume as well as the vibration intensity. Given the single slot limitation though, getting an alternative alarm clock app from the BlackBerry App World seems like the right thing to do.

The BlackBerry OS 7.1 still offers just one alarm slot

The BlackBerry Curve 9320 comes with a stopwatch and a timer. Both are accessed from the clock application and have the standard functionality.

There's a stopwatch and a timer

The clock also offers a bedside mode that turns off the status LED (unless you set it otherwise) and displays a large clock on the screen.

There is also a Password Keeper app, as well as one for voice recording, and a Memos and Tasks app to store your passwords, voice memos, text memos and tasks.

Voice Recorder • Memos • Tasks

Finally, the BlackBerry Curve 9320 comes with Facebook and Twitter applications. You also get the native Social Feeds app that gathers all of your Facebook and Twitter updates in one place.

Facebook app

BlackBerry App World

The BlackBerry App World is the RIM application distribution solution. Quite well organized, it accepts payment by credit card or Paypal, although there are a fair amount of apps available for free.

You can manage your apps on a computer or directly on the device itself.

The BlackBerry App World mobile client

There's a basic filtering system as well - it allows you to check out the highest rated free and paid applications, as well as the newest releases. In general there's hardly anything to complain about in terms of interface.

The number of applications isn't as impressive as in the App Store or the Android Market at just under 100000 apps (about 25% of which are optimized for the PlayBook tablet. RIM claims that many developers are returning to BBOS development now that BB10 is on the horizon, but it's got a long way to go before it can reach the number of apps available for iOS and Android.

BlackBerry Maps works only with a BIS plan

As one would expect nowadays, the BlackBerry Curve 9320 is equipped with a built-in GPS receiver and comes with A-GPS support. For navigation you get BlackBerry Maps preinstalled. It is yet another application that only works with a BlackBerry internet plan activated. And the only navigation option you get is directions.

BlackBerry Maps

To get directions you can enter an address straight from your phonebook and you can also save your favorite spots so you don't have to type them in every time.

Getting directions

BlackBerry Maps also allows you to send your location to anyone via email or SMS, and addresses that are included in messages are automatically detected and can be displayed on the map with a few clicks. That rounds off a decent but certainly not spectacular application.