I used this device for 1 yr and 3 months before writing this review. I bought this device for 9500 Rs, it is available in the 6500 Rs range now. I needed a query keyboard phone badly because my palm centro’s battery was only holding up for 5-6 hrs through the day.
Call quality & reception - The reception is very good, but not as good as a blackberry. It is still very good for normal use.
Style & Design - I waited for the black version to come into the market, I did not like the red and blue versions. The phone is heavy and the screen scratches very easily.
There is no volume rocker button, you have to use the navigation button on the front to up and down the volume. It might not seem to be a very big problem but while talking over the phone, you have to ask the other party to hold while adjusting the volume.
The back plate of the phone(the batter cover) is made of a rubbery coating, it prevents the phone from slipping out of the hand, also it gives it a business phone look.
The keyboard is ok, not as great as the blackberry, but still fairly usable. The buttons are domed so that you can build up a fair high rate of typing speed. There is no facility for customisable keyboard short cuts - people who have used a palm centro or a blackberry will know what I am talking about. There are few short cuts, like bluetooth on/off but they are hard coded and not customisable.
The styling is not great, its very plain, but sufficient and necessary for a business phone.
Features - This is a very basic business phone. It is compatible with enterprise application like microsoft exchange server and lotus domino server, this is compatible with lotus traveller.
Durability - Built like a tank, the screen is not glass, so doesnt shatter. My kid has thrown it on the floor for 10 times, nothing happened to the phone.
Camera - The camera is basic, there is no front facing camera so video calls cannot be made. This is a 3g phone by the way. Remember, the closest Blackberry that you can get is about 9500 Rs(for the Curve 8520) and it doesn’t have 3G.
Battery Life - Good for a day and half usage if you dont use any of the enterprise apps like lotus notes traveller. The charger is cheap and is easily available for buying if you lose it. It uses the nokia small type charger.
Value for Money - Great value for money. The closest competitor is the blackberry curve 9320 which does not have 3g and is the lowest in the blackberry range.
Applications - Nothing great. Cannot compare even with the number of applications available on the blackberry or the android platform.