BlackBerry Curve 8330 Face-Off: Sprint vs. Verizon Wireless
May 9th, 2008 by Todd Haselton
All morning we’ve heard nothing but muffled growling from two fresh boxes that just landed in our office. The new BlackBerry 8330 Curves from Sprint ($179 with two-year contract and rebates) and Verizon Wireless ($169 with two-year contract and rebates) are finally here and they are eager to do battle.
Each 8330 has its own unique features, and both offer EV-DO connectivity and GPS, but only one will emerge as the winner. We’ll be bringing you our full reviews soon, but here are our first hands-on impressions of these eagerly awaited smart phones. Check out how the Curves fare, round by round…
Update: The full review of the Sprint Curve has been posted.
Design/Interface
VZW 8330: The interface of the liquid-silver Curve 8330 is admittedly cleaner. Icons are large and sit atop a fresh white background. The handset also spares you the preinstalled applications, so the desktop is less cluttered. Aside from the basics available on most BlackBerrys, you’ll see VZ Navigator as the only additional icon. If the Verizon version’s theme doesn’t suit you, there is always the option to switch out to preloaded RIM themes.
Sprint 8330: Sprint’s titanium-gray Curve has a desktop that looks cluttered at first, but that’s only because it’s chock-full with a host of useful folders to application installation shortcuts that most users will be pleased to see at boot-up. Sprint created folders for each set of apps, including: Entertainment, Instant Messaging, and Communities (more 
on what’s inside each folder below in the Multimedia shoot-out category). Each icon sits atop Sprint’s sun logo splattered on a black background. If you prefer an old-school RIM theme like BB Dimension Zen, you can switch to it by visiting the Options menu.
Winner: Tie
While we appreciate Sprint’s preloaded application-download shortcuts for chat applications and more, other users may prefer Verizon Wireless’ cleaner interface. However, those customers may also dislike the fact that they’re stuck with the VZW theme.
EV-DO Data
VZW 8330: Verizon’s Curve doesn’t come with V CAST’s video or music, but it does support YouTube streaming from m.youtube.com. Our video started after 23 seconds—13 seconds behind Sprint’s Curve, which had a 1xEV-DO connection in our office. We also loaded some popular Web site home pages: Update: With a 1xEV DO connection on our replacement unit, we loaded the same streaming m.youtube.com video in 5 seconds, three seconds faster than the Sprint Curve.
CNN.com: 10 seconds Update: 5 seconds
ESPN.com: 9 seconds Update : 6 seconds
WSJ.com: 9 seconds Update: remained 9 seconds
Laptopmag.com: 14 seconds Update: 11 seconds
Average: 10.5 seconds Update: 7.5 seconds
Note: Our VZW review unit wasn’t displaying the EV1X sign, but we were in a coverage area with EV-DO connectivity. Verizon is looking into the problem and we will report back. Update: Our replacement unit was able to obtain an EV-DO connection and our updates scores are listed above.
Sprint 8330: Sprint was able to load a streaming video from m.youtube.com in just 8 seconds—marginally slower than the Verizon Wireless Curve. Sprint’s Curve also supports the Sprint Music Store, and we were able to download Nelly’s Party People in just 19 seconds. The same Web site home pages loaded a bit more quickly:
CNN.com: 6 seconds
ESPN.com: 8 seconds
WSJ.com: 8 seconds
Laptopmag.com: 18 seconds
Average: 10 seconds
Winner: Sprint 8330 Update: Verizon Wireless
Our Verizon Wireless unit with an EVDO connection was able to load websites an average of 2.5 seconds faster, and streamed m.youtube.com videos faster, too.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
“Of course, choosing a Curve 8330 is going to depend most on what carrier you are with, but, if that contract is up, we recommend the Sprint Curve over the Verizon version.”
Are you smoking something?
If I
May 9th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
cont’d
If I sign a 2 yr contract with Sprint, I don’t have the assurance they’ll be in business that long.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
What we meant was if you’re a die hard Curve fan, the Sprint one is the one to go with just because of the added bonus features and freedom of GPS. Of course carrier performance comes into play, and we awarded Verizon Wireless the win in our May issue.
May 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
As I appriciate the comparison of the two devices, a true comparison can only be accomplished in a test environment that is equal for both devices. Both devices must show “EV1X” in capital letters, and both must recieve FULL strength signal bars. That may mean testing the two devices in different locations. If one device is only getting 1X, than that device is only working on the 2G network, and not on 3G EVDO. Thus, the speeds will be different. Cell sites are not all in the same location. If Sprint, in your test, was getting a good EV1X signal, and Verizon was not, than go down the street. You’ll probably find a location where Verizon is getting a strong EV1X signal, and Sprint is not. Again, we need to compare apples to apples!
Additionally, I thank you for the Theme comparison, but do not find this information useful. If you do not like the Sprint or Verizon Themes, one can always default to the pre-loaded Blackberry themes which are identical. Also, with all the blackberry junkies (like myself) out here, a user can go find the theme that best suits them for under $7 or even free at Crackberry.com.
May 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Sprint and Verizon use the same towers.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I’m a loyal Verizon patron and am ready to upgrade to either the 8830 or 8330. I don’t travel overseas and stay pretty much on the west coast. Does that point me to the 8330?
May 12th, 2008 at 8:58 am
What Blackberry User says is dead on the money. If one phone is not showing an EVDO signal, but the other is, the comparison is not even valid to say that one is faster, because obviously the one showing EVDO would be faster at that particular location. The real differences between the 2 Curves are the color, and that Sprint’s includes instant messaging client(although Verizon’s blackberry can easily download free clients), and that Sprint’s includes support for Sprint Music Store and Sprint TV, however, Sprint’s has no MMS support, which wasn’t mentioned in the article at all. The music store is not really a plus to me, as you can easily load your own free music into the blackberry using the software cd that comes with it, however, is nice to have that as an option. And Verizon’s will be able to get Mobile TV directly from the company, so that’s not that much of an advantage. For me, I much prefer Sprint’s color choice, but lack of something as basic and commonly used as mms, is a real downer, and it should have been mentioned in this review.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Sir Brian
Good points, stay tuned for our review though this was just a first impressions hands-on post. We’ll cover both phones more in depth in their respective reviews. I’m also not sure where you’re getting the information that Verizon Wireless’ Curve will have or support V CastTV, where did you read that?
May 12th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I didn’t say VCast TV. I said Mobile TV, but I meant, Mobi TV.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
also i have the 8330 for Verizon and my VZ Navigator takes up the whole screen. there was a problem with installing it before the official launch on friday but it has since been cleared up and now is working just fine. there must have been a problem with your install if it isnt taking up the whole screen.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Thanks Ross,
The software took up the whole screen, but the menu was distorted, hopefully that’s fixed. We still think that Telenav’s software is more powerful in general, however.
May 12th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
go Sprint!!
May 12th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
First off there is a typing mistake in the article “Each 8830 has it own unique features” Odd. that needs to be changed. Now Sprint’s BlackBerry is better then Verizon’s mostly because Sprint allows 3rd Party Software, rather then VZW has to be a Verizon Software, they even have taken GPS from BlackBerry and there is no BlackBerry Maps just the VZW Navg, which is annyoying when you are traveling and you can’t call a person unless you exit the entire system. But Sprint has a lot of Multimedia Features that Verizon does not, and personaly that is a plus because when you are waiting you want MultiMedia plus you can watch TV Shows and Everything. Coverage is something that is talked about well guess what Coverage is a Varable because just becuase a Coverage Maps Show EVDO Speeds, it says “Speeds up to ” So you can have lower than that speed. Plus well coverage is something that is changed in every location some places get better bars then others. But Sprint is very relable then VZW in kinda my area of Lansing, MI strong singal then Verizon. Sprint is better then Verizon! Not to mention pricing, just because VZW is $10 cheaper then Sprint’s but spend the $10 and get a better company.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Kyle, the line saying “each 8830 has its own unique features” refers to the 8830s for 1.Verizon and 2. Sprint(from that you ought to have understood that the verizon version of the 8830 will have one set of features while sprint’s version will have a different set). Therefore the statement does not need changing.
May 12th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I think what Kyle meant is that we had mistakenly written 8830. This post is about the 8330. Thanks Kyle, we have updated the post. Oh why BlackBerry, do you have to have so many model numbers!?
May 12th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Wiser Blackberry, that’s only partiall true. The two carriers share towers in some areas, but not in others. It’s irrelevant since they don’t share networks. Even where they share towers, they don’t share the equipment on those towers. Antenna arrays, antennas, cables, all the electronics in the shed, backhaul, etc. are not shared. Two separate systems mounted on the same pole can have varied performance based on height, and optimization adjustments.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Are you kidding? Sprint better than Verizon. Man stop smoking whatever it is your smoking. Why did sprint lose over a million customers? Verizon gained over 3 million? One has the most reliable network? The other fires there customers for complaining too much? Man thanks for the good laugh. I needed that.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Only difference is the TV. Everything else is the same.
May 12th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
First of all let me say, I own Verizons 8330. Second, Kyle, do your research. Verizon BlackBerries support 3rd party software just fine; I use 3rd party apps all day every day. And yeah, GPS may be crippled but BlackBerry Maps is already there. And besides….Google Maps works like a charm! And I don’t know where everybody else lives but where I live Sprint customers are always twisting into pretzel shapes trying to find a signal! lol “Can you hear me now? What about now?” Since I’ve been with Verizon I NEVER LOSE MY SIGNAL! In elevators, around computer equipment, or in the boondocks, and I’m still able to make calls, surf the net, and send/receive text and multimedia messages. And the moral of this story is: In my neck of the woods, Sprint sucks!
May 13th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
What about mms? From what I remember about my vzw pearl and my sprint pearl that I had from when I worked there, the sprint offering did not have a method for sending pictures through text messages. Both could receive pictures. Verizon’s showed up as a picture and Sprint’s showed up as a web address.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
“What about MMS”? I second that question! I called Sprint customer care twice and got two different answers. My Pearl did not support MMS. I just ordered my Curve today, so I should have it tomorrow (I’m an indirect dealer for Sprint), but I would love to know if I’ll be able to send picture messages or if I’ll be really upset again.
May 13th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Whats the deal with the Verizon curve and nationwide calling? Does anyone know the pricing yet cause i’m going to europe for a month and wanted to know if it would be cheaper if i just bought the curve and added the feature for a month or the nationwide calling plan w.e, or would it be cheaper another way?
Thanks
May 14th, 2008 at 12:19 am
I have sprint and i love it!
May 14th, 2008 at 10:55 am
MMS is not supported by Sprint’s Curve, check out our review on the homepage.
May 14th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
How is the background noise compared to the 8830 which picks up a ton of blackgound noise? Any apples to apples?
May 14th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
M: I had the Verizon 8830 (World Edition) for a year and couldn’t stand the background noise. No one could hear me well when I was walking on the streets or even at slightly-crowded restaurant. I just reviewed Verizon’s Curve 8330 and bought one for myself this weekend. It has changed my life! People can hear me perfectly fine on the streets, even my Mom (who has a serious hearing loss). I have retired my Bluetooth headset…
May 14th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Joanna,
Thanks, this is what I needed to hear. I love the 8830, but not the noise (or at least my listeners do not)!!!
Now to try an work over sprint… thats the hard part since I am under contract.
May 14th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Guys, i need help…
I picked up the pearl based on an early upgrade promotion back in Jan and want to upgrade to the Curve,, I cannot stand the 1/2 Qwerty….
They want to charge me full retail price for the curve, which is $400+, what do you think? I was considering on going to Sprint since the same service as I am getting is $40 less (given the unlimited plans), but have been with Verizon for years and can only say good things about their service and customer service..
Any ideas? Someone please help….
May 16th, 2008 at 11:57 am
antman,
my wife had a similar dilemma with sprint this week. here’s what you should try: call verizon to cancel your service. they will ask you why you are canceling. you say you are unhappy with your current phone and need to upgrade but the cost of a full-price curve is too much. say you can switch to sprint and get a much better deal both on the phone and service plan. sprint offered my wife a significant discount on the phone to stay (as she has been a long time customer). i realize sprint struggles to keep customers but my guess is verizon would also offer some incentive to stay. the trick is not to speak with the general sales or customer support people; speak with the service cancellation crew who seem to have more leeway to make a sale.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:37 am
bostie: There is no “service cancellation crew” at VZW. When you call in to cancel, it is CS who you talk to about retentions. Unlike Sprint, we will not throw in the farm to keep you from threatening to cancel because of the Sprint Curve (in this case). If you are under contract, we also know you are either on the standard $175 ETF per line, or the variable ETF. That also needs to be taken into consideration. I’m not saying we’re going to be a hard ass and not try to help you out, like maybe add a courtesy credit if you order a Curve, and the other option we can give you is 1 year pricing on the Curve, even if you are in contract and not eligible for your 20 month upgrade. 1 year pricing is certainly better than full retail pricing, and if there is a rebate you’d get that too even at 1 year prices. I just wanted to throw in my two cents that VZW does not have a “retentions department”, which is another layer of Sprint, and another of their downfalls as too many layers of CS. (I had Sprint for 10 years, I know!)
May 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
You guys all have some interesting views, but a lot of wrong information. 1. MMS is capable with all BlackBerries. Compose as an email and use the picture mail domain. Ex. 9999999999@sprint.com. Sounds cumbersome, but hey that’s what an unlimited address book is for. Same the MMS(picture mail) domain as another email address. That way, when you want to send a picture, you type that person’s name it comes up with the address automatically. Same steps in MMS as it is to compose an email. For the record, no photos just appear with MMS. The presentation of the notification is just different from carrier to carrier. You still have to take some step to download the full photo or video to see it. None of the carriers will permit the network to automatically download a photo or video to a receipent. Because everyone doesn’t have data. It will always allow the receipent of the media to view or download the media by choice. If you do a search for “MMS domains”, you’ll fine the domains of all the carriers.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
does this model of the curve for Verizon have any capabilities for going overseas?
May 18th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Brendan,
It will work in overseas countries that are on the CDMA network. It does not have a SIM card and the only Blackberry VZW offers that will work on GSM also is the BB 8830 World Edition.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:53 am
You should have also considered the price of the service. Last I checked Sprint was $10-$20 cheaper per month for the same level of service.
May 31st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
VZWRep,
I am considering either the Curve or Pearl and will be staying with Verizon. But there seems to be conflicting stories all over the net about whether they will allow 3rd party GPS software to be used on the phone. $10 a month is a total ripoff especially when I can buy software for $60-70. Your assistance would help
June 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am
List sprint clowns. Sprint put the nail in the coffin when they purchased Nextel. Cmon. Really?? Who uses a stupid radio anyway? It’s 2008, not 1980. Nextel sucks. IDEN is dead as far as Sprint is concerned.
The FCC approved the purchase of Nextel as long as Sprint did the following
—–
Sprint Nextel is giving up its 700 MHz and some 800 MHz channels in exchange for 10 megahertz of spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band. The carrier has until June 26,2008 to move off most of its 800 MHz spectrum and make it available to public-safety agencies. The complicated spectrum shuffle was designed to prevent interference to first-responder radio systems
—–
What does that mean for you Sprint customers. A crap pile of IDEN customers being loading onto an already bogged down Sprint CDMA network. Result. Even more fast busys, dropped calls, call failed etc.
Ever been around a nextel phone and your TV or radio starts freaking out 1-2 seconds before the phone rings..That’s called interference morons. Another Hint..That button on the top of your nextel phone is a speaker phone on/off..USE it..I don’t want to hear your stupid conversation!
Sprint has been lying to it’s customers for years about having the best of both worlds. IDEN and CDMA. That’s like saying you can run Mac on a Windows machine. The 2 networks are as different as MAC and Windows. For those of you clueless Sprint customers w/ur head in the sand. Look at the facts. Sprint has had 6 straight qtrs of massive customer losses. Hmmm. They have the highest churn in the industry. Stock is at an all time low and they can’t even keep customers by giving away the farm.
Sprint roams off VZW for voice and data in some areas, however they will not have EVDO data when roaming.
VZW has the best coverage hands down. I have VZW for 10 years. Everyone friend and family member is now w/VZW and has for over 5 years. The wriiting is on the wall. Sprint is all over the map. Wi-Max..no Wi-Max. Iden..no Iden..Iden+CDMA..Ever call a CS from Sprint. 1st you are routed to another country and you can’t understand them. 2nd-mention canceling and they will hang up. You have Nextel, Nextel Partners and then all their indirects. Nobody is on the same page.
Lastly..The future..at the last wireless spectrum auction. VZW bought up 9.6 billion in C block, ATT 6.8. Sprint..?????? that’s right notta..they don’t have any money..They spent their 36 billion nut on Nextel’s 18 mill radio customers..Now that 18 mill base is less then 15 mill.. T-Mobile Deutch Telecom might want to stay clear of buying this lemon..
June 4th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
well lets jus say that i work for sprint and in the past i also worked for verizon. Sprint is way better when it comes to the features on the Curve. it provides navigation,Sprint TV, unlimited text messeging, music, and web usage. i mean what else can you ask for??
June 6th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Jake SD - sorry I haven’t checked back on here recently. If you still are reading the messages here, yes the GPS is locked down and you can only use VZ Navigator at this time on your Blackberry. Even I find this sort of annoying but not much we can do about it.
Brittany, yes Sprint is giving away the farm these days, aren’t they?
June 7th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
VZWRep - since when did givng extras for any service or item seem like a bad deal? Verizon needs to step up to the plate!
June 8th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
RocketMan …… just look at the past 12 months comparing Sprint and the other two carriers ahead of it. The numbers speak for themselves. Especially look at the Sprint churn numbers even the past 2 quarters, and look how low the stock has gone, its staggering. I would say its Sprint that better step up to the plate and try to be profitable, stop SERO and giving away the farm because its not working and the stock is the proof. Looks like its a good candidate for T-M (GSM) or, more than likely and hopefully another CDMA carrier.
By the way, I had Sprint with 5 lines beginning in 1998 and the last phone ported out in January, 2008, so I do see what happened first hand and until about 2 years ago loved and defended Sprint vigorously.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:05 am
wow, you guys are Blackberry GURU’s!! I just got mine from Sprint and I’m still playing with it. I’m coming from a Razor and it’s a big step. Thanks to all your inputs….
June 12th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I have been with sprint for 8 years and they sent me the wrong phone(Pearl) due to outsourcing and mis understandings and applied my rebate credit. When I sent the phone back they claimed they would reset my loyalty date. Needless to say it never happened. I missed a chance to get the curve on E-bay for only $99.00 due to this. After several hours on the phone also emailing and online chat I finally got my phone and credit for the rebate. They were very confuse and were not empathetic to my situation and the hassle I went through not to mention I DID NOT HAVE WHAT I WANTED and that was the curve. I ended up paying $79.00 for the phone after credits. I LOVE MY CURVE it is a great asset to business as well as very entertnaining everyone who picks it up is just blown away with the features. Sprint has gotten me upset in the past but I appreciated their prices and the original nationwide system is what go t me to go with them in the beginning. I remember when verizon used to charge you .10cents for each call to a landline they have ruined more peoples credit than the law allows.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Verizon has the best service but it has the worst calling plans in the business. I have the curve 8330 and I pay close to $200.00 a month for my service because I have the unlimited calling plan+blackberry data plan+unlimited txt/pix msgz….my bill is astronomical but Sprint has the exact same phone but it’s a $100.00 cheaper,for all the features that I just listed. So I’m really considering taking a leap to cut cost,and not have my phone bill cost me the same monies as my friends car note.