Connectivity

The Bold is connected. Mobile network? Check. Wi-Fi? Check. Bluetooth? Check. Using the T-Mobile network, the Bold connects to the Web, e-mail and all your Internet needs. Bold owners can use the phone's browser and send and receive email messages with Wi-Fi, although some wireless sources won't allow the user to use BlackBerry services over the connection.

In 3G coverage areas, Bold users have access to multimedia, text and PIN messages, plus the ability to use the Web browser and send and receive emails simultaneously. Connection to EDGE networks allows for high-speed Internet connection and GPRS networks allow for the same uses as a 3G network, only the browser and email connection can't be on at the same time.

The Bold can also be connected to a laptop to sync music or use the Bold to connect to the Internet, email, data and business applications.

A variety of Bluetooth options are sold separately from the phone. The Bold supports mono/stereo headset, hands-free and serial port profiles, and has Bluetooth Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVCRP).

The Bold is supported by a wide variety of mobile and wireless Internet connections, offers access to high-speed Internet, can share its abilities with a laptop for business on the go, and has a few Bluetooth options, too. It's one of the most connectable BlackBerry models on the market and one of the few to support HSDPA, a variety of Wi-Fi speeds, and some of the quicker networks.

One problem can be knowing how to handle all of these options, knowing when to turn which ones on, and remembering what you can and can't do with each connection. The 3G/HSDPA network and 624 MHz processor make for quick work, but aren't available in all areas. That's when a Wi-Fi connection -- which will also save money on a cell bill -- can come in handy.

Conclusion

The Bold is the perfect name for this phone. It features bold color and sound, is a large, bold size, and features an impressively big and vivid screen. In fact, it's too bad many applications on the phone don't take advantage of the screen's possibilities. Instant messaging, email, text/multimedia messages and the phone's Internet browser all have a drab black and white set-up.

These Internet and messaging features are speedy, though, thanks to high-speed data and 3G hook-up. The Bold is also great at keeping users connected because it will accept a variety of other Internet sources, including Wi-Fi with a range of data speeds. This makes dead zones harder to find at home and abroad. Bold buyers should just beware new BlackBerry email and instant message accounts are required for the quickest access to messaging, and those attached to their personal accounts may consider this a drawback.

The Bold's picture and video quality are great, which is why it's extra disappointing that the camera isn't a higher strength and the camcorder records grainy images. Even if a person wants to use the camera or camcorder frequently, a memory card is needed to fit much more onto the already jam-packed 1GB memory because most of the phone's storage capacity is already reserved for myriad applications and functions out of the box. Having everything from basic tools to a multitude of messaging options to a handful of media programs takes up a lot of room, and more space is needed to take the phone to its full potential.

Songs, videos and pictures available for download or synced up with a USB chord from a laptop all have great image and/or audio quality on the Bold, and these and other features are available for download from the Web and in the AT&T Mall and MEdia Net applications. With a memory card and a headset, the Bold transforms into an all-inclusive portable DVD and music player.

The Bold is a phone for people that want a multi-purpose device that aids their multi-tasking needs as they juggle watching a movie clip with checking the latest sports score on-line while receiving a text message. It's not a phone for people looking to get by on the cheap without paying for a memory card, new multimedia items, or Internet services. It's camera and screen themes aren't the most impressive, but the phone is saved by its multimedia-playing quality, high-speed Internet access, and easy messaging systems.

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