BlackBerry Curve 8520 – ideal for business use!

As cheap mobile phones go, the BlackBerry Curve 8520 offers ample features for both business and pleasure at a consumer-friendly price.

Pros
The Curve 8520 gives access to Facebook and Twitter, email, and instant messaging.  Users will be able to stay connected for a fraction of the cost of other contract mobile phones.

A set of dedicated music keys at the top of the handset enhance the capabilities of the 8520 as a music player.  Users can easily play or pause tracks, rewind or fast-forward, and pump good quality sound into decent headphones, thanks to the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The integrated Wi-Fi connectivity makes downloading apps from BlackBerry’s App World fast and simple.

Cons
In a bid to position the 8520 amid other mobile phone deals, the phone doesn’t have 3G or a GPS.  These do keep costs down, but their absence is an annoying omission for a smartphone.

The camera function is a bit disappointing.  Just 2 megapixels and no flash make it nearly impossible to take great pictures. 
The keypad is also smaller and more difficult to use than those of previous BlackBerry mobile phones.

Conclusion
Certainly not high-end by any means, the Curve 8520 is a fine choice for smartphone newcomers or those looking for just the basics done well.  Mobile messaging is passable, though 3G connectivity would be an improvement.  There are plenty of apps to choose from, the design is sleek and manageable, and the music player feature is impressive.