How to Learn to Use a BlackBerry Curve Phone

If you've been using a standard cell phone for years, using a BlackBerry for the first time can be confusing. Instead of using the BlackBerry like an ordinary phone, think of using your phone like a computer. The middle trackball or trackpad is the mouse, the applications on the Front menu are like the applications/documents on your desktop, and the applications on the Home screen are like the applications/documents on your Start menu. With a little practice and help, you'll learn the ins and outs of your Curve in no time.

Instructions

    1

    Hold the "Hang Up" button down to power your phone on. It make take a minute for the phone to fully power on.

    2

    Push down on the "Menu" button to the left of your trackball or trackpad. This will open your Home screen, giving you access to all of your applications.

    3

    Press the green "Call Answer" button to view your call log. Contacts with a green phone picture to the left are the people who have called you. The contacts that you have called will have a blue phone to the left of the contact.

    4

    Type the name, or the first few letters, of a contact on your keyboard to pull up the contact on your phone. Highlight the number of the contact that you want to call, then click your trackball or trackpad or press the green "Call Answer" button.

    5

    Move the trackball or trackpad with your thumb to get used to using it like a mouse. To select items, use the trackball or trackpad to highlight the item, then click down on the ball or pad to open that item.

    6

    Select "Messages." Push down on your trackball or trackpad to open your Options. Select "Compose Email," "Compose SMS Text," or "Compose MMS." Then, select a recipient to send the message to, write the message, and click your trackball/trackpad and select "Send." Choose SMS Text to send a regular text message, or choose MMS to send a text with media (sound, pictures, video).

    7

    Select the "Envelope" icon that shows your email address. When you open this folder, you'll be able to send and receive your regular email right from your phone. Click on the email to open and read it from your phone. You can click your trackball or trackpad to reply or forward the message.

    8

    Select "Address Book" from your phone. You will see a list of all of your contacts. Click on one of the contacts to see their names, phone numbers, and even contact information and birthday. Click on their phone number and select "Call Work" or "Call Home."

    9

    Select "Calendar." Move the trackball or trackpad up and down to see different times in the day. Move the trackball or trackpad left and right to view different days. To add an event to your calendar, select the day and time the event will take place. Click your trackball or trackpad and enter a Subject, Location, Start Time and End Time of the event. You can also have recurring events and be reminded of the event from your phone.

    10

    Click "Browser" to connect to the Internet. In the top address bar, type in the address or keyword you want to browse. Select "Go" and be connected to the web page or the Google search engine.

    11

    Click "BlackBerry App World." Once connected, you can view and look up different apps that you can download right to your phone. Click on the app that you want and select "Download." There are thousands of different apps to choose from.

    12

    Select "Options." From here you can delete old apps, change your text font, add security options and change your phone's theme.

    13

    Download the PDF Curve User Manual for a comprehensive guide to get to know your phone.

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