Blackberry Torch 9810

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm not a BB user but wanted a good phone at a low price for my mom and I always found that model very good. But I want to know that since the phone is a few years old, is it worth buying it now? That is it already outdated with the advances in technology?
Also found that $130 is among the cheapest on ebay listed as new. If not, the lumia 520 is a better alternative?

Frankly, you haven't really stated what your mom requires in a phone or ecosystem. If she doesn't need email on her mobile device, I'd almost rule out the BB entirely since that's truly what it does best. The Lumia might make more sense since that ecosystem is still functioning. Otherwise, why not a simple flip phone?

My mom is not too much into things like internet and email on her phone. So will be used for basic things only but it should be a smartphone. The reason I listed BB9810 and lumia 520 is that they are good phones that fit in the budget. The lumia mostly because it is recent windows phone and BB because it is a good phone with the best of both world(touch and Qwerty keyboard) and has a good user experience.

The phone will be unlocked, not on a carrier. I just want to know if for the same prise, is it worth going for the BB which is older than the lumia? So that in a few years, the BB phone is still usable and does not lag behind other phones considering that it is already a few years old.

I won't bore you with all that but let's say you buy a phone then go to the carrier. Whoops, I'd be repeating the web here.
Bob

Not sure I understood what you said. I was just saying that I have to buy an unlocked phone as phones on a contract cannot be used in my country.

Shop till you drop but the BB is very dead here. Even the diehards have moved on.
Bob

...why are you picking a smartphone(?)

There are plenty of unlocked GSM phones to choose from. Flip a coin. Even some of the lower priced Android handsets would be worth looking into. I wouldn't necessarily equate a Windows Phone with a good user experience- that's somewhat subjective