Top Five Recommendations for a Blackberry

As a relative newcomer to smartphones I took it upon myself to start digging. The first step was obviously to find a phone that both worked in my area and worked for my wants and needs. Luckily I found that in the Blackberry Curve 8330, though any similar Blackberry will work I felt I needed the full-size keyboard along with a camera and video recorder. Blackberries really are as easy to use as most say.

1. LCD Screen Guard
   Having a protective layer of film over the screen is essential to keeping the display scuff-free. There are different types of screen guards which offer mirror reflections or blur the screen for privacy from nearby busy-bodies trying to see what you're up to. A great investment to ensure the life of your Blackberry (even though replacement screens can be found on eBay for $5).


2. Holster/Carrying Case
   Unless you really like the pouch that probably came with your Blackberry, having a better case or holster for your belt is a big plus. However, not just any case is worth buying--make sure to get one that puts the unit in Sleep mode to conserve battery life!


3. Memory Card
   Having additional storage is a must-have for anyone wishing to use their handset to the fullest. A cheap, four gigabyte chip could provide endless photos and decent video recording. They can be gotten at a local retail store for $25 or more--but on eBay for half that price. Shop around and save some major cash for this basic upgrade.


4. Car Charger w/ IC Chip
   While many people now use a Blackberry for personal use, and are not far from a charging outlet for long, I recommend a car charger because browsing websites and other activities can really use up the battery. An "IC" chip will prevent overcharging of the battery.


5. Extended Battery
   Giving yourself a second battery is a great idea, but having one that is even better than stock is a plus. Check eBay, cautiously, and enjoy a cheap, yet functional replacement allowing you to surf YouTube even longer.