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A glimpse of QWERTY phones from 2009

Rohan Naravane, Nov 14, 2008 1334 hrs IST

From evolutionary changes to better features, the QWERTY phones to be launched next year have them all.

EXPERT REVIEW

A lot of attention is being given to touch-screen phones these days. Ever since the iPhone was launched, all other manufacturers have got their own variation of large, touch-friendly models. Even BlackBerry, the QWERTY phone specialist, have got their first fully touch-operated phone (BlackBerry Storm) lined up for release soon. Thus, the good ol' hardware QWERTY ones have moved out of the limelight.

While touch-screen phones may be more charming and better at multi-media, they can never replace the accuracy and ease of a buttoned keyboard. Thus when it comes to punching out long e-mails or instant messages to friends on the move, a hardware QWERTY phone can be of benefit to you.

Previously, QWERTY phones would only be seen in the hands of business professionals as the devices had a "more work and less play" functionality. But all that is changing now, we're seeing the new wave of QWERTYs that can work and play equally well. It's almost the end of the year, and if you plan to save and buy a QWERTY phone early next year, here's a list of models for the year 2009 that you should watch out for.

BlackBerry Curve 8900

After BlackBerry's "Bold" appearance (the BlackBerry Bold 9000) this year, the company realized that their "Curve" line of mid-end smart-phones need a major overhaul. And thus, we see the appearance of the Curve 8900. It seems like a cousin of the Bold model, since it borrows many of its design and feature aspects. It does maintain its Curvy profile though. Initial impressions seem to compliment its "awesome" size.

Image courtesy of BoyGeniusReport.com

The Jet-black color, along with the metallic sidings, makes the phone look both professional and classy. The keys seem to be bigger and better positioned than the earlier Curve's small yet workable ones. The screen is packed with 480x320 pixels that deliver a crisp output.

This is an upgrade to the earlier Curve's QVGA (320x240 pixels) resolution displays. Other improvements include a faster processor and more on-board RAM - these are appreciated since the earlier Curve would get a bit laggy at times. Also, BlackBerry had to make sure that their new OS has enough power to run smoothly. That's right, the Curve 8900 will be loaded with the latest v.4.6 OS, which includes visual upgrade and overall tweaks. For instance, the new media player supports DivX, XviD and WMV video files. Also, this could possibly be the first BlackBerry Curve series model to feature both GPS and Wi-Fi.

A surprising upgrade to the Curve 8900 is the 3.2 mega-pixel Auto-Focus camera; even the Bold has a 2MP but a non-AF one. Also, the main thing that differentiates the Curve 8900 from the Bold is its lack of 3G support. The Curve 8900 will be approximately priced between Rs. 25 and 27K, since the higher-segment Bold currently retails for around Rs. 33,000. Given BlackBerry's overpricing in India, we'll probably get this model a lot cheaper in the grey market. It does seem like the Curve 8900 has improved on many counts and will be closely watched by many.

USER COMMENTS

hi rohan i am a looking for a business phone which works fast, doesn't hang, supports windows and is easy to use. i travel extensively on business, and i need a phone which connects across whatever network is available. i don't care about media players and such like; i want a phone that WORKS. and i don't want to spend more than 25k

by harmaan, mumbai, on Apr 15, 2009 11:40 PM, Report abuse Reply

I LOVE THIS PHONE!!!!!

by Susie Crabgrass, Manhatten, on Nov 20, 2008 04:38 AM, Report abuse Reply

I like very much qwerty type device in asus i want to expect this model very soon in india because iam the lover of asus.

by S.RAMRAJ, CHENNAI, on Nov 19, 2008 08:38 PM, Report abuse Reply

E71 is the best smart phone available in the world!!!!! Adding touch screen makes the phone perfect. NOKIA, listening?

by manijumar, chennai, on Nov 18, 2008 04:54 PM, Report abuse Reply

We are missing on Asus and i-Mate offerings. Worldwide, motorola and nokia are not even considered for PDA phones. Black Berry and Palm use their proprietory OS and hence are not versatlie for all applications. We expect at least techtree to do a informed and comprehensive survey.

by Kiran, Bangalore, on Nov 17, 2008 11:02 AM, Report abuse Reply

I'm not big fan of front QWERTY display so I'm not egger to see this phones in action. I prefere slider QWERTY phone so that front can be utilized for wide display screen. The G1 looks very intersting, I wont buy this version of mobile but definately I'll look forward to the second version of it.

by Himraj13, Dearm land, on Nov 16, 2008 12:01 PM, Report abuse Reply

if dayanidhi maran were the it&comm. minister, 3g could have been implemented so far. now we have lost the hopes.maybe the next govt. we can see no vital signs for 3g.

by naveenchaudhary, meerut, on Nov 16, 2008 10:30 AM, Report abuse Reply

these babies are hot!!!!!!!!!!!

by shibt5anu, KOLKATA, on Nov 14, 2008 09:02 PM, Report abuse Reply