How to Make Phone Calls on a Blackberry

Because your Blackberry is essentially an "always on" broadband Internet device, it is different from a cell phone. Long-time cell-phone users may experience some frustration while learning how to make phone calls on a Blackberry, but using a Blackberry as a phone is actually remarkably simple. Once you make two or three calls, it should begin to feel like second nature.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Voice plan
• Blackberry

Make Phone Calls on a Blackberry

1. Prepare to make a phone call by opening the phone application with a click on the phone icon. The "Phone" screen will appear.

2. Type the number you want to call or select it from the list of numbers accessible on the phone screen if you have already called this number in the past.

3. Click to initiate a call to the number you have typed or selected. Begin your call.

4. Answer an incoming call by clicking on the incoming call icon. This icon appears on your screen when someone calls you.

Optimize Your Blackberry for Phone Calls

5. Use the speed-dial function for greater efficiency. To assign a speed-dial key to a phone number, locate or type the phone number on the phone screen, then hold down any key until "Click OK to Confirm" appears on your screen. Make sure you avoid choosing a key that you've already assigned to another phone number.

6. Buy a Bluetooth headset to use when making phone calls with your Blackberry. The headset will allow you to talk, listen and multi-task hands free. You can also use the headset to listen to music.

Tips & Warnings

• The Blackberry 7100 series and some later Blackberry devices let you call directly from the Home screen, which can be very convenient if you use your Blackberry frequently for telephone calls. You can customize other Blackberry device to allow the same convenience by using the trackwheel to choose "Options" from the "Phone" menu. Navigate to the "General Options" screen and choose the "Yes" toggle next to the "Dial From Home Screen" selection.
• There's no mystery to setting up a voice plan for your Blackberry. Just check out the choices offered by the major wireless providers in your area and buy a plan suited to your calling needs. You may want to shop for a data plan at the same time to take take advantage of any bundling offers the provider may market to Blackberry users.