What is Better? iPhone or Blackberry Curve?

[me.]

I don't know which phone to choose and which is better? and iPhone or Blackberry Curve 8520??
I have to be on Vodafone, so which one would be cheaper?? Thanks, Jess xxx

[Alonso Diaz]

i think iphone is better

[KTeenniz]

IPhone ftw!

[Peaches3345]

iphone is so much better!

Price would depend on what contract you take out.

[Mobin Cybersmart]

So which is better: iPhone or the BlackBerry Curve?

I've been lucky enough to own both. I had a BlackBerry and then succumbed to the lure of the iPhone but have recently jumped back to the BlackBerry. Why did I do this? You will find out later but first, what are the pros and cons of these two smartphone giants?

iPhone

The clear front runner in the smartphone arena is the Apple iPhone.

Good News, the fastest network to offer the iPhone is Vodafone. You can pick up the iPhone 3GS 16GB on an 18-month contract for £35 per month with the phone itself costing £149. This gives you 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of mobile internet and webmail plus unlimited WiFi.

iPhone pros>>>

The phone itself is very easy to use - the only instructions you get with it is a two-sided leaflet which goes to show that you can be up and running on the phone instantly.

You can access multiple email accounts, including Microsoft Outlook for those looking to use this as a business phone.Access to the internet is gained through the Safari platform which, if you are on a good 3G network or hooked up to WiFi, is really quick and easy to use and the screen can be used in landscape as well as portrait. You can also make the pages bigger if you wish.

You have instant access to iTunes and songs that are downloaded are transferred automatically to the iPod which is also a feature - this is a dangerous little plus point, if like me, you hear a song in a pub after one too many and download it straightaway. It soon adds up!

The 3Gs model has a 3 megapixel camera which also allows you to shoot videos that can then be uploaded to YouTube.

BlackBerry

Tariffs for all BlackBerry models have always been relatively reasonable due to the fact that you can obtain a BlackBerry from virtually all the UK's networks (unlike the iPhone, which is only now becoming more widely available).

You can pick up a high spec BlackBerry Bold 9700 from most networks free of charge and then pay around £40 a month for an 18-month contract. For example, Orange's Panther 45 plan, costs £42.50 per month.

BlackBerry pros>>>

Battery life is much better than the iPhone even though, like with the iPhone, you can choose to have your email and social network notifications permanently on.

The phone is not touchscreen, which many may see as a downside. However, touchscreen phones are notorious for being scratched or cracked easily and it can be expensive to have them fixed.

The email capabilities are more sophisticated than the iPhone: attachments are easily opened and you have the capability to edit excel and word docs. The QWERTY keyboard on the BlackBerry makes emailing quicker and easier than that of the iPhone touchscreen hence why this is still the phone of choice for people who need this function most.

Call quality is much clearer than on the iPhone especially if you need to use the handsfree function.

Sending texts and photos is also easy and quick, again this is down to the phone's keyboard. BlackBerry also has its own instant messaging service in which you can chat to your BlackBerry-owning friends for free.

The camera for the more up to date BlackBerry phones is good, most models are 3 megapixel. It also boasts the all important flash and photos are easily uploaded to Facebook and Twitter just as they are on the iPhone.

You can also play music on the BlackBerry and the more up-to-date models support iTunes music as well as other MP3s.

There is full Bluetooth capability with BlackBerry which makes sharing photos, documents and music a lot easier than with the iPhone.

BlackBerry cons

BlackBerry App World isn't as extensive as App Store so for those app junkies the BlackBerry may be a bit of a let down.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference: if you want a fun device that lets you play games and offers quirky apps then the iPhone is for you. If however you want a phone that works as a phone then the BlackBerry is second to none especially for messaging and email.

Yes the apps are cool and fun and it's great to show off to your mates but once the novelty wore off, half of the apps on my phone went unused.

Both are good but I guess the iPhone is better if your willing to take out some extra cash.