The device has a 2-megapixel camera with video recording. Image quality was decent, though colors looked a bit washed out. The smartphone supports stereo Bluetooth wireless accessories, and its Wi-Fi support allows you not only to connect to the Internet but also to make calls via a or a T-Mobile home Wi-Fi router. The Bluetooth adapter worked well when I tested it with mono and . Audio from the unit's earpiece was clear and loud, though not as rich and bassy as the sound from some other recent smartphones. Regardless, all calls were intelligible, even in moderately noisy settings like a busy cafeteria. When playing music, the audio quality of the handset was adequate but not remarkable.

The bright, 320-by-240 pixel, 2.5-inch screen is clear and sharp, and ideal for viewing e-mail and playing video. The Web2Go browser had problems rendering some Web pages, but the "column view" feature makes it easier to read complicated pages by showing them a one column at a time.

The Curve 8520 is clearly designed for the social networker. Aside from the Facebook app, the handset's instant messaging menu includes applications for AOL Instant Messenger, BlackBerry Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger. You can also download more programs via BlackBerry App World, which is preloaded on the device.

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 has some great multimedia and social networking features that will appeal to younger audiences. But with no speedy , the Curve 8520 can't keep up with other smartphones on the market.