Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with AT&T cell phone service, the Sony Ericsson T60LX provides features such as 2-way text messaging, Internet capability, voice dialing, and more, all displayed on a large 7-line backlit grayscale screen. There's also a Handspring-like feature called Smartback that lets you plug in optional accessories like a Bluetooth-compatible device and GPS device to expand your phone's capabilities.

For calling, the T60LX provides vibrate alert mode, ringer profiles, voice dialing, and "Magic Word" voice commands. There's also text messaging with T9 predictive text entry, and text templates. You can customize your phone using new faceplates, and downloadable ring tones and more via the WAP wireless Internet connection. For organization, you'll get voice memo and a calculator, as well as a calendar and 500 contact list that are syncable with MS Outlook, Schedule+, or Lotus Notes on your PC via the included XTNDConnect software.

This phone runs on TDMA service, and is equipped with a battery rated at 2.50 hours talk time and 230 hours standby time. It weighs 4.40 oz and measures 4.80 x 2.13 x 0.92 inches. ... Read more

Features

• Features 2-way text messaging, internet capability, voice dialing
• Large backlit screen, internal antenna, and joystick navigation
• Compatible with SmartBack attachable accessories, such as GPS and Bluetooth
• Sync with your PC via included software or optional Bluetooth
• Runs on TDMA service

Features

• Voice dialing with up to 18 contacts
• Downloadable ringtones
• Replaceable front and back covers
• Organizer with calendar, contacts and tasks
• Includes battery, charger, headset and user's manual

Amazon.com

: If you’re looking for a phone that’s light in your pocket but heavy on features, the A500 has all the bells and whistles. One of the most appealing phones we’ve seen this year, this compact silver wonder has a sleek rounded design that’s eye-catching without being too glitzy and an external LCD screen that displays caller ID, time, date, battery life, and service. Even more amazing, the inside of this flip-top holds a brilliant 128-by-160 color TFT display, making it ideal for the features it’s most touted for: surfing the Internet, playing Java-based games, loading multimedia screensavers, and viewing photos.

The A500 completely charged in about an hour while we got ready for work so we were able to just grab the phone and go. We liked the oval four-way navigation button at the top of the keypad, which you use to scroll through menus or customize to get to four different phone features in a hurry. However, we found it hard to hit the Web access button (located in the center of the nav button) or press the Menu, Talk, End, OK, and Back buttons (which form a semi-circle around the four-way nav button) without knocking into the four-way navigation button. We had a few misdials when using the keypad, but found the spacing to be a little better than on the buttons above it. The cool blue backlighting on the keypad buttons made dialing from a dark office a piece of cake. We especially liked the green backlighting on the Talk button and red on the End button to differentiate those two buttons.

As a Sprint PCS phone, the A500 supports all the multimedia extras, and we tested them out. We used the standard aquarium screensaver, which looked amazingly crisp and bright on the full-color screen. After pondering holiday favorites, such as "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" or "O Christmas Tree" to download for our polyphonic ring tone, we selected a maniacal clucking chicken sound. As for games, the A500 is loaded with Space Invaders and demos of Cybiko’s CyRace and Sega’s Monkey Ball, which all look great on the color screen. The games are a little difficult to play with such tiny controls but if you are a diehard you can buy a joystick attachment for the A500. Other fun screen savers, ringers, games, and applications are downloadable through PCS Vision, but you should expect to pay a buck or two for each one. The A500 also joins the picture-taking craze by offering the ability to download photos from a Sprint PCS camera and email them to friends. This is more of a frivolous feature, but can be valuable for emailing photos immediately when vacationing or house hunting.

We expected an amazing Internet experience on the A500 with its color screen. While the experience was good, we were surprised that Internet surfing on this phone mainly uses a text-based menu so the great graphics aren’t always utilized. In addition, we found connection and page loading times from the same location (a private home) to be a bit inconsistent. Still, the superior contrast and 12-line screen made reading an ESPN article much more pleasant than on most competing cell phones. E-mail and text messaging (among other Sprint PCS-enabled phones only) also had a wide range in terms of load and send time. Text input was a bit tedious, but you have the choice of T9 input, which speeds typing up a bit. We did find the character count of 128 characters per message to be limiting for anything more than the simplest correspondence.

And what about the standard phone features? They may seem almost secondary on this phone with all the other shiny objects attracting your attention, but they are actually quite good. The phone book only holds 250 entries but includes a chunk of information with each listing including multiple phone numbers, e-mail address, and birthday, plus the option to set speed, voice, and/or group dialing; a special ringer or image; and a VIP status for each of your contacts. Unfortunately, the name field only allows 12 characters and can’t fit a first and last name for most contacts, which is a real drawback for business use. Another disadvantage to the A500 is that it doesn’t let you assign the same number to two contacts (i.e., roommates or co-workers with the same work number).

The A500’s voice transmission came through loud and clear during calls and the ringer on the phone is also on the loud side. If you like to have the alert sound for tasks or meetings scheduled in the A500’s planner, we recommend you turn the sound way down during quiet meetings so you don’t startle everyone around you. Our tests of voice dialing on the A500 found that voice recognition worked perfectly. The voice memo feature, which records either one 60-second long memo or 10 short recordings (300 seconds total), also was error-free. One final and unusual bonus on the A500 is its airplane mode, which allows you to access some of the phone’s features, such as games or the planner, during air travel without interfering with the aircraft’s electronics.

Overall, this is one of our favorite phones of its era (an era lasting about six months in the world of cell phones). We think the flashy aspects of this phone will appeal to techno-geeks who want to wow their friends with the latest and the greatest. The multimedia features are more focused on fun than productivity so the A500 is probably best for light business users and those who are ready to upgrade to a phone with a high-quality color screen. --Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Amazingly crisp graphics on color screen
• Supports PCS Vision multimedia features and downloads
• Optional digital camera attachment
• Airplane mode

Cons:

• Tight button placement on keypad
• Inconsistent Internet connection/loading times
• Limited character count in text messaging and phone book
• Can’t assign same number twice in phone book

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phonebattery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency(including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, andbattery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handsetmanufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings,they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer tothe times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery liferanges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience atleast the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital andanalog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, asanalog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone.Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to themanufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phoneon, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook.When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when thephone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped thecalls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately andcontinued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged thebattery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength,this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting thatseveral phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers'ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established acarrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out.Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, againassuming consistent carrier signal strength.

... Read more

Features

• Compact, data-ready flip phone with external caller ID.
• 20,000 pixel multicolor display
• High speed data transmission for quick Internet surfing
• Voice recognition and customizable ringers, wallpapers, pictures and more
• Store more with internal phone book that manages up to 250 entries

Amazon.com

Similar to Samsung’s much-hyped A500, the N400 has an amazing 128-by-128 color screen, an easy-to-view menu, and all the multimedia features that come with the Sprint PCS Vision network—wireless Internet and e-mail access and downloadable Java games and apps, ringers, and screen savers. All that, and it has a speakerphone function, too.

The N400 fully charged in about 4 to 5 hours and powered up quickly. Unlike its cousin, the A500, this phone does not have an external LCD screen; however, we didn’t miss it. When the earpiece to this flip phone is closed, it frames the main screen so your display is still exposed for screening your calls. We also loved the elegant placement of the navigational buttons, which we found much improved from the A500’s tightly clustered button layout. With the flip phone closed on the N400, you can still access the Menu button on the left and the Back button on the right so you can do everything but use the phone features while the top is closed. A joystick between these two buttons makes scrolling up and down through menus or left to right during messaging fast and easy. Opening the flip top gets you to the phone keypad and Talk and End buttons, so there is no danger of accidentally hitting a button and calling someone with the top closed. Cool blue backlighting on the keypad buttons made dialing from a dark office a piece of cake.

As a Sprint PCS phone, the N400 supports all the multimedia extras and we tested them out. We used the standard aquarium screensaver, which looked amazingly crisp and bright on the full-color screen. The standard polyphonic ring tone--a maniacal clucking chicken sound—was far too realistic. As for games, the N400 is loaded with Space Invaders and demos of Cybiko’s CyRace and Sega’s Monkey Ball, which all look great on the color screen and are easy to maneuver through with the joystick controls. Other fun screen savers, ringers, games, and applications are downloadable through PCS Vision, but you should expect to pay a buck or two for each one. The N400 also joins the picture-taking craze by offering the ability to download photos from a Sprint PCS camera and e-mail them to friends. This is more of a frivolous feature, but can be valuable for e-mailing photos immediately when vacationing or house hunting

We expected an amazing Internet experience on the N400 with its color screen. While the experience was good, we were surprised that Internet surfing on this phone mainly uses a text-based menu so the great graphics aren’t always utilized. In addition, we found connection and page loading times to be fairly slow (about 1 minute average). Still, the superior contrast and 10-line screen made reading a CNN article much more pleasant than on most competing cell phones, and we think that the interface would entice most consumers to access news, weather, and sports scores pretty regularly via the Internet connection. E-mail and text messaging (among other Sprint PCS-enabled phones only) were also slow in terms of load and send time. Text input was a bit tedious but you have the choice of T9 input, which speeds typing up a bit. We did find the character count of 128 characters per message to be limiting for anything more than the simplest correspondence.

And what about the standard phone features? They may seem almost secondary on this phone with all the other awesome facets attracting your attention, but they are actually quite good. The phone book only holds 250 entries but features multiple phone numbers and the option to set speed, voice, and/or group dialing and a special ringer or image for each of your contacts. Unfortunately, the name field only allows 12 characters and can’t fit a first and last name for most contacts, which is a real drawback for business use. Another disadvantage to the N400 is that it doesn’t let you assign the same number to two contacts (i.e., roommates or co-workers with the same work number).

The N400’s voice quality was adequate and the speakerphone was loud and crystal clear. We found it convenient to shift into speakerphone while on a call by pressing the small button on the upper left side of the phone and liked that we didn’t have to be using an earpiece to activate it. The ringer on the phone is also on the loud side. If you like to have the alert sound for tasks or meetings scheduled in the N400’s planner, we recommend you turn the sound way down during quiet meetings so you don’t startle everyone around you. Our tests of voice dialing on the N400 found that voice recognition worked perfectly. One final and unusual bonus on the N400 is its airplane mode, which allows you to access some of the phone’s features, such as games or the planner, during air travel without interfering with the aircraft’s electronics.

The phone fell just short of its rated standby time, making it through 5 rather than 7 days.

Overall, this phone is on our list of favorites, and we would recommend springing for the N400 if upgrading from a basic phone to one with a high-quality color screen. We think the flashy aspects of this phone will appeal to techno-geeks who want to wow their friends with the latest and the greatest. The multimedia features are more focused on fun than productivity so the N400 is probably best for light business users. --Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Amazingly crisp graphics on color screen
• Great button layout
• Supports PCS Vision multimedia features and downloads
• Optional digital camera attachment
• Speakerphone for safer phone use while driving
• Airplane mode

Cons:

• Slow Internet connection/loading
• Limited character count in text messaging and phone book
• Can’t assign same number twice in phone book

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phonebattery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency(including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, andbattery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handsetmanufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings,they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer tothe times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery liferanges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience atleast the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital andanalog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, asanalog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone.Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to themanufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phoneon, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook.When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when thephone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped thecalls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately andcontinued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged thebattery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength,this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting thatseveral phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers'ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established acarrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out.Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, againassuming consistent carrier signal strength.

... Read more

Features

• Color display, visible when phone is closed for easy caller id
• Custom ringers and images available via download
• Built-in speakerphone
• Phone book stores 250 entries
• Includes battery and user documentation

Reviews (3)

This phone is crap
Everything that the reviewer below (Sarahnoid) said is accurate.

This phone offers a lot of attractive options - surf the wireless web, speakerphone, slim design, nice phone book, etc.

Of course, on the negative side, IT OPERATES HARDLY, IF AT ALL.

I have owned this phone for almost two years. In those two years (my service plan is thankfully almost over), this phone has repeatedly dropped coverage in the midst of calls. Never mind that I have been standing in the same freakin' room, in the same POSITION.

The battery, fully charged, is good for a hour, maybe two tops, of sporadic use. If you don't use it at all, it might stay powered three hours. This model also likes to shut off once you plug the charger into the phone. As if plugging in the charger is injurious.

So, if you don't mind a weak antenna, a worthless battery and the always-fun propensity for shutting down in the midst of operation, then this is the phone for you.

I wish it were possible to give 0 stars.
This phone was sent to me as a replacement when my fabulous Sanyo lost an argument with gravity.It is, quite possibly, the most worthless piece of crap I've ever owned.It's so horrible that I've called Sprint on several occasions trying to get a replacement for this phone, as it doesn't work very well, if at all.I'm always told that since it was issued to me through the insurance policy I took out on my plan, I have to go through the insurance company.The insurance company then tells me that if I get another phone via the insurance, they will cancel my insurance, as two phones in a year is some sort of red flag--nevermind that the one they sent me is worthless.

If you're lucky, it won't suddenly die when you're talking."Three hour battery" when talking is generous.I'm lucky to make it an hour.I feel I'm constantly charging the damn thing.The voice dial that comes with the phone dials the wrong numbers, if it recognises your voice at all.If you can move two inches to the right or left without dropping the call you're on, it is an act of God.Connecting to the internet to text or get email?Don't even bother.You'll never get on, and if it does make some sort of connection, it's simply to tell you there was a connection error and to try the entire 15 minute process again.

But the best part?The phone jams up.It freezes like a bad computer.You could be mid-dial and the screen will freeze on whatever number you just punched.Nothing will get you out of the freeze except removing the entire battery and starting up the phone again.This will happen whenever you most need to make a call.And it will happen repeatedly.As in, 5 times in a row.

That this phone is still sold is practically a crime.It is a complete rip off.The reception is horrible.It jams.You cannot connect to the internet.You can put in 12 characters for a phone book entry.12.Got a first name longer than 12 characters?Tough.Don't even waste your time thinking about putting a last name in.

And just to further my point:I am stopped at least once a week by someone who recognises my phone.They always ask me how much I like my phone and when I tell them I hate it, they immediately go off on a tirade on how big a piece of junk this phone is.That it jams.That it drops calls.That it doesn't connect.That it's about as useful as a cup of sand in the desert.

I believe the phone is now discontinued on amazon.com.If I ever saw anyone buying this phone in public, I would do everything in my power to convince them to do otherwise.Do yourself a favour and do not waste your money on this p.o.s.Get yourself a Sanyo.Just don't drop it like I did mine.

Good little tank of a cell-phone...
Samsung is a good phone company because in the two years I have owned their products, they still work for me just as well as they did when I first opened the box up.

I had this phone's older brother first. The N200 seemed to be invincible. I could drop it and it would take a licking and continue ticking. The decision was easy once it was time to upgrade. I had heard not-so-good things about the new Sanyo 5300 and found a heavily-discounted N400 at the Radio Shack near my house.

A year or so later, this phone has done me well. It has a few dings and scratches but so far, has been there for me whenever I need it. If you DO pick one up, I would recommend going to a Sprint Store to get the firmware flashed and updated.

The phone has the ability to screen calls thanks to an ingenious flip design that enables you to still see the call-screen even with the lid down.

It features a speakerphone...however, the speakerphone does not work as well as one would like it to. I never got the idea of a speakerphone on a cell-phone since you could do a hands-free headset and get better voice-quality. It works just well enough but I would advise against using it in a car since the noise in a car just adds to the break-ups and already-hollow sounding voice quality.

The battery has about a week's worth of standby-time and about three hours worth of talk-time, which I don't like very much. A three-hour battery is pretty worthless. What's more, you need a car-charger since it's horrible on the go and the car-charger doesn't come with it, only an A/C Adapter is found in the box.

It supports polyphonic and mp3 ringtones as well as color-photos (you can even take photos using a Sprint-manufacture digi-cam) and the ability to take them. It doesn't support mono ringtones but really does not need to since polyphonic and mp3 ringtones are better. Sprint also CLAIMS that the N400 does not support animated screensavers but the default Aquarium screensaver is animated, so I don't understand why Sprint says this.

You can save up to about 250 contacts with about 6 numbers per contact and a calendar/organizer. You can e-mail, surf the Wireless Web (which is a lot different than the actual Web seeing as how the phone doesn't have the ability to read HTML) and use text-messages. It supports voicemail, 3-way calling and voice-command dialing.

You can also play a ton of basic games...and, oh, by the way, you can make phone calls, too.

I am looking to upgrade soon but this little phone was a godsend. It's durable, light, and compact.

Nice product.

Matt ... Read more

Features

• Color display for enhanced Web-surfing, game playing and more
• Caller, ringer, and picture id
• Phone book with 300 entry capacity
• 285 hours of standby time
• Includes battery, charger & user documentation

Reviews (5)

Phone great, Sprint bad
I love this phone! It is jammed packed with great features like 3-way calling,speaker, memo, web access, calculator,key guard,voice dial ect...I just need a phone not a camcorder or a personel computer. But the thing I hate most is Sprint's service. I have people call me while I am sitting right next to my phone and it dosen't ring. I get voice mail several hours later. My friends who have other carriers are all talking on there phones while in rual areas and I have no service. I took my phone into a Sprint store and they said that it needed a "Software Update" 45 min later and I still have the same problems and I will never get a two year contract with any carrier. Things change too much in that time. I love this phone, I hate Sprint. I think I will go with Cingular next month when my Sprint contract runs out.

Sanyo 4900
This phone is very good quality with long battery life on both talk and standby times.I have had this phone for about 1 year and have had not problems with it at all.
Very well built and web ready with user-friendly applications all around.

Sanyo 4900 - Dependable, Reliable, and Easy to use.
I got 3 of these for my Girlfriend & kids to use. They are really quite a neat little phone, andthey work well with the Sprint Network. It sounds like you are on a landline when you are talking on them. The kids like being able to download games, and text message each other. We have had no problems with them, and I would recommend them to anyone.

SCP 4900

The SCP 4900 is a solid phone overall but it may not be for everyone. I have had this phone for close to a year and it has operated flawlessly for me but there is one drawback.

The phone is quite large. Very nearly the size of some cordless phones you'd find at home. So, if you haven't seen this phone in person you may want to take the time to check it out.

That said the phone has excellent battery life both in standby and talktime. I can't say specfically how long but easily days without concern for a recharge.

The speakerphone is hands down the best I've ever used. I have a few other phones as well and this phone's speaker phone is hands down the loudest & clearest, and the mic works great too.

Since the phone is large those who dislike phones with keys the size of a grain of rice will enjoy using this phone.

Another bonus benefiting from and/or causing the phones rather robust size is that the screen is quite large as well. The screen is bright and clear and has a nice graphical menu to navigate its many options. The graphical menu is quick and navigates very easily.

The phone is solidly built as well. I'm a bit of a clutz and have forced this phone to nosedive onto many patios and driveways with force and have not had any cracks or major scratches as a result. Also, none of the button labels have worn off of the phone which occurs on some phones over time.

The sound quality and reception is also fantastic. Driving down the highway with the windows down will not hamper a conversation on this phone. One of this phone's strongest perfromance characteristics is how well the mic isolates your voice and how clear the headset is. Also, I have two samsung phones that are pretty decent but this phone consistently catches at least two bars of reception when the samsungs can't find any; all on the Sprint PCS network.

Overall, this phone is a fantastic performer but again due to its size I suggest taking a look in person to see if it meets your mobility standards.

Best Cell Phones on the Market!This phone Rocks!
I have had about 5 cell phones over the past 7 years.Of all the phones I've had, the Sanyo's have been head and shoulders above the rest.

This phone has great features.The speakerphone is very clear.The Voice Recorder in the phone comes in handy.It doesn't have a camera like some of the newer phones, but the sound quality is great.In addition, the Wireless Web service Sprint offers looks pretty good on this screen.

This may be a discontinued phone, but buying one of the used models is still probably worth it. Don't be mislead by the marketing of other big name phones.Sanyo's phones are the best on the market! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Overview

Compatible with Sprint PCS cell phone service, the tri-band Samsung A500 features a WAP Internet browser, picture caller ID, and plenty of phone and organizer features built into in a clamshell flip-format and displayed on an easy to read, 128 x 160 4096 color TFT screen.

Calling Features

Used simply as a phone, the A500 benefits from a 5-way scroll key for easy menu navigation and dialing. Primary calling features include call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, voice activated dialing, any-key answer, auto-answer, auto-redial, dual-tone multifrequency, roaming indicator, speed dial, linked (credit card) dialing, phonebook look-up, phonebook scroll, mute control, no-answer transfer, one-touch 911, system select, usage alert, vibrating ring, differential ring, and a phone book capacity of up to 238 entries.

Internet

With a PCS Business connection, users can access e-mail and view full color versions of popular Web sites, download Java-compatible games, ring tones, and software, and take advantage of high-speed (cdma2000 1xRTT) data download. There's also 2-way text messaging, voice memo, USB compatibility, and 16-chord polyphonic ring tones.

Organizer

Organizer features include an internal phone book calendar, to-do list, voice memo function, world clock, alarm, countdown timer, and calculator.

Vital Statistics

The Samsung A500 weighs 3.4 ounces and measures 4.3 x 1.9 x 0.9 inches. Its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at up to 220 minutes talk time and up to 192 hours standby.

What's in the Box
A500 phone, standard battery, desktop charger ... Read more

Amazon.com

This Nokia 5165 model, which works with AT&T's Wireless's prepaid service, has quickly caught on in popularity. Like its predecessor, the 5160i, the 5165 is a lightweight personal phone with impressive talk and standby times that's loaded with classic, simple-to-learn features. Its changeable faceplates, 30 different ringers (and room for five downloadable tones), and an expansive world of accessories add up to a fun general-purpose phone that's a perfect fit for prepaid use. And handy refill cards allow you to purchase additional airtime minutes whenever you need them.

Weighing in at 6.2 ounces (including battery), the 5165 measures 5.2 inches high, 1.85 inches wide, and 1.2 inches deep. It's extremely rugged, and should stand up well to being thrown into bags and briefcases or occasionally dropped. And, its dual-band/trimode operation ensures you'll be able to receive cellular service anywhere it's available. The addition of predictive T9 text input, wireless business cards, and e-mail capabilities make it a viable business communications tool as well.

Four buttons handle most menu navigation: a hefty "Navi" key in the middle, up and down arrow buttons that control volume during calls, and a key marked "C" for "clear". Menu navigation is very intuitive. A tap of the Navi key brings up the first of a series of graphical menu items. Hit Navi again for additional menu options, or tap the up or down arrow keys to select a different menu. Top-level menu choices are a phone book, messages (SMS and voice-mail alerts), call log, settings (for calls, phone, and security), system, games (Memory, Snake, and Logic), clock, tones, and keypad lock. The brightly backlit display works well with the control keys to simplify finding and making choices. In text mode, the phone provides five 16-character lines.

The 5165 lets you choose from 30 preprogrammed ringer tones, and you can also download an additional five from AT&T Wireless's Web site. Although there's no internal vibration mode, an optional vibrating battery is available. You can store electronic business cards in your phone book. Any friend or associate can forward his or her name, number, and e-mail address to your phone, and you can automatically store the information with some deft menu navigation.

One caveat regarding faceplates: In theory, all 5100-series faceplates should work with this phone, but in practice, only Nokia-brand faceplates seem to work. The problem is the keypad, the thin rubber pad inside the phone on which the actual keys are mounted. We tried several different faceplate models (both Nokia-branded and after-market models) and found the 5165's original keypad will not accommodate non-Nokia faceplates.

The 5165 supports the usual array of call and messaging features, including caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and voice-mail. A call history stores the last 10 numbers dialed, the 10 most recently received calls, and the last 10 missed calls. The phone supports two-way SMS text messaging, but isn't Web-enabled.

The 5165 offers four basic security features: an initial security code, a keypad lock, call-restriction modes, and a lock code that can activate or deactivate memory and menu options. The lock-code feature lets you store numbers in a secret unlocked location, allowing you to make calls even if the phone is locked.

The 5165's NiMH battery is rated to last up to 180 minutes of digital talk time and 200 hours of digital standby time. In our testing, we achieved 180 minutes of digital talk time and over 225 hours of digital standby time.

Overall, Nokia's 5165 is a noteworthy and reasonably priced prepaid phone. Choose your favorite faceplate color and ringer tone and start dialing!

--Brown Consulting Associates

Pros:

• Changeable faceplates
• Portable; intuitive to use
• 5-line screen
• Huge range of Nokia and third-party accessories

Cons:

• Lacks standard vibration mode
• Not Web-enabled

How We Tested Battery-Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery-charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile-phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery-life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital-carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we simply recorded the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and restarted the test. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. It's worth noting the talk-time performance of several phones significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. As no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing, and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier-signal strength. ... Read more

Features

• No prepaid minutes included. Comes with hands-free earbud headset, battery and charger.
• Simple-to-use navigation buttons and graphical screens, easy-to-read, large 5-line screen
• Changeable faceplates allow you to customize your phone
• E-mail and wireless business-card capabilities
• Allows you to migrate to a postpaid plan (credit check required)

Amazon.com

Early Adopters Pick: December 2002. The first phone with integrated camera capability (no external attachments required), plus two color screens for easy viewfinding and framing, a built-in flash, and flexible image settings.

The Sanyo SCP-5300’s biggest claim to fame is that it’s the first phone to have a built-in VGA-quality digital camera rather than space for an attachment—and we were sure impressed. While in the past we’ve described most wireless handsets with picture-taking capabilities as frivolous, the SCP-5300 made us change our tune. The integration of the camera into the phone combined with an intuitive user interface (UI) made shooting photos so easy, it got us taking way more photos (with good resolution, too) than we ever imagined. If you even suspect you may use the camera feature once, we recommend this phone to you. Like us, you’ll find yourself the camera invaluable for purposes you never thought of before.

After charging this phone, we got right into checking out the camera features using the excellent user interface. All we had to do was open the flip top, aim the viewfinder (embedded in the flip top) at our subject, and shoot our picture by pressing the obviously located camera button on the upper right of the keypad. The 2.1-inch 65,000-color TFT LCD display makes an amazing color palette for viewing or altering photos. We took several photos of stationary objects, pets, and children and found the medium resolution quality (320 x 240) to be good, while high resolution (640 x 480) was even more impressive. Pre-shoot settings let you adjust brightness; white balance; quality (fine or normal, although fine will eat up memory a lot faster); zoom (4X or 16X); and set color tone to color, black and white, or even sepia tone for antique-looking photos. Additionally, a self-timer lets you get into the photo. The high-luminence LED flash never produced any red-eye in our pictures of people and photos were never overexposed. However, we did notice that moving objects, such as in our photos of a running child, often came out blurry. While the camera offers a few online enhancement tools, they are only for rotating the photo view and don’t allow you to do any heavy-duty cropping or color brightening.

Once a photo was taken, it was just as simple to save it to our picture wallet, upload it as our screen saver, assign it to a name in our phone book, or email it to a friend. Photos saved to the picture wallet definitely slowed the phone down, but the online photo album seemed to hold a limitless number of albums or photos without affecting the phone’s battery. The SCP-5300 also comes with an extended battery, however, so you can give it a little boost if you must store a large quantity of photos for a while. In our email tests, photos sent from the SCP-5300 arrived in our inbox seconds later and boasted the same high-quality resolution as the smaller screen on the phone. One drawback while using the camera is that the ringer doesn’t operate and incoming phone calls go straight to voice mail. While not a major offense to some, this could be a problem for business users.

Besides the camera, Sanyo’s SCP-5300 has a few other features worth mentioning. Web access is zippy on this phone and we spent little down time waiting to get to sites. Emails and SMS messages transferred just as rapidly via the USB interface. As one of the Sprint PCS fleet of phones, this handheld takes advantage of all the multimedia features that Sprint offers. We enjoyed the rich polyphonic ring tones (some with animation, such as the bull-riding cowboy that appears on both the main and external LCD screen when set to the "Rodeo" ring tone) can be personalized for each caller, although we didn’t care for the underlying disco beat that accompanies all the classical ring tones. Java 2 capabilities also allow for fairly sophisticated game-playing considering the size of this wireless device.

The phone features on the SCP-5300 round out the asset list. Business users will find this mobile phone’s large phone book valuable for a large contact list. It holds up to 300 entries, 500 phone numbers, 300 email addresses, and 300 Web addresses and allows voice-activated dialing for up to 30 most-dialed contacts. A built-in answering machine and voice memo, a calendar, and the ability to synch up information with a desktop PC also sweeten the deal on this phone. Navigation is effortless with the intuitive UI and four-way navigation button on the top of the keypad. Our only complaint is in dialing: the keypad numbers are flush with the keypad—almost recessed—making accurate dialing more of a challenge. We also found the backlighting wasn’t adequate for locating numbers on the keypad when we tried dialing from a dark room.

We think this phone’s camera feature would be a huge boon to plenty of cell phone users. During our tests in public, we ran into some professionals (a fashion stylist and a real estate agent) who thought this camera phone would be extremely helpful to business. Other folks just thought it would be darn cool to snap and email pictures on the fly, such as scenic shots during road trips or pictures of a blind date right from the restaurant. Overall, for the first try on incorporating a new feature into a wireless device, Sanyo does a great job in creating a camera that’s easy to use and not at all clunky.

--Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Integrated digital camera
• Produces high-quality 640 x 480 digital photos for storage or e-mailing
• Fast mobile Internet and messaging connection
• Intuitive user interface
• Large 300-entry phone book

Cons:

• Ringer doesn’t operate while in camera mode
• Flat keypad buttons can cause misdialing

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phonebattery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency(including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, andbattery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handsetmanufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings,they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer tothe times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery liferanges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience atleast the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital andanalog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, asanalog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone.Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to themanufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phoneon, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook.When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when thephone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped thecalls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately andcontinued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged thebattery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength,this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting thatseveral phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers'ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established acarrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out.Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, againassuming consistent carrier signal strength.

... Read more

Features

• Large 65,000 color display
• GPS positioning
• Voice dialing and voice memo
• External caller ID
• Includes battery, charger and user documentation

Amazon.com

The T68i has the same slick features as its predecessor (the T68)--most notably Bluetooth technology and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) for mobile Internet connectivity. However, this upgraded version offers more memory and is the first phone to support MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), allowing you to send images, animation, and sound clips in your messages. The advanced T68i also maintains the revolutionary PC-like 256-color graphic interface, making it easy to program most settings without even glancing at the manual.

Weighing in at about 4 ounces, the compact Ericsson T68i is substantially built and sports a sleek silver-on-gray exterior. A volume button on the phone’s side allows for adjustments, even during conversations. The keypad design has enough space between buttons to prevent misdialing, and the large screen enhances the color display. Rather than up-down buttons for scrolling through menus, the T68i has a joystick that allows both vertical and horizontal scrolling. After a short adjustment period to the joystick, we found it easier to use than directional buttons. We had to consult the manual to learn that pressing the top of the joystick gets you to the amazing desktop menu that this phone is famous for; however, once at the main menu, navigation is highly intuitive and users can access every feature via one of the nine icons: phone book, messages, calls, fun and games, settings, Web services, organizer, connect, and shortcuts. All subsequent menus are text-based and the seven-line screen makes it easy to read your options.

After the initial four hours of charging, the phone powered up in about five seconds and we could immediately start making calls and adjusting our settings. We chose a groovy daisy background as our screen saver, although uploading a digital photo is also possible. We tested the vibrating alert, which worked wonderfully. We also set "What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor?" as our ringer alert, one of 17 different prerecorded melodies.

Next, we programmed several numbers into the T68i’s phone book, which can hold a whopping 510 contacts. Rather than having to list one person several times for each of his phone numbers, the T68i let us create one record that lists home, work, and mobile numbers for that contact. This is a simple improvement, but it’s so handy it made us wish that all cell phones offered this feature. Additionally, the upgraded T68i offers the capability to upload a photo of each contact into his or her record so you can see a picture of who’s calling rather than just a name. The voice-dialing feature is much improved since the T68, which was a bit finicky on recognizing and accepting our prerecorded commands. The T68i presented no problems when dialing via voice commands.

The gem that puts this phone in a class by itself, though, is Bluetooth wireless connectivity, enabling users to link to the Internet and exchange information among other mobile phones, mobile computers, and handheld devices that use the technology. The T68i also uses GPRS, which offers the fastest Internet connection and data transfer currently available and allows users to simultaneously make calls and receive e-mail messages. Users must first set up a phone subscription that supports data transmission, and they will be able to send text messages, multimedia messages (via MMS), and e-mail to individuals or group lists. Bluetooth also synchs up your to-do lists and daily, weekly, or monthly schedules on the T68i with your PC calendar.

We were able to locate favorite Web sites and look up search terms on the Internet fairly quickly on the T68i. The seven-line screen gets a little more information into view than the former five-line screen on the T68 does. However, we still would prefer to save our surfing for the PC or laptop whenever possible.

The calling and messaging features on the T68i make it an ideal business tool for users who log a lot of travel time. Besides all the aforementioned diversions on this phone, the T68i also includes eight basic games for play during long flights or boring meetings.--Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Bluetooth wireless connectivity for data exchange with PC and other mobile devices
• MMS messaging enables you to send and receive animation, images, and sound clips
• GPRS for high-speed and constant Internet connection
• Intuitive 256-color graphic icon desktop
• Multidirectional joystick for easy menu navigation
• Phone book allows multiple numbers for each contact under one entry
• Can upload photo for each contact to display on screen during incoming call

Cons:

• Surfing Internet is tedious on five-line screen

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phonebattery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency(including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, andbattery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handsetmanufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings,they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer tothe times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery liferanges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience atleast the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital andanalog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, asanalog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone.Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to themanufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phoneon, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook.When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when thephone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped thecalls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately andcontinued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged thebattery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength,this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting thatseveral phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers'ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established acarrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out.Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, againassuming consistent carrier signal strength.

... Read more

Features

• GPRS connection for quick Internet access
• Bluetooth connectivity for wireless data transfer between other Bluetooth devices
• Color display with customizable screen savers
• Easy operation and menu navigation with joystick
• Includes battery, rapid charger, and handsfree headset

Reviews (1)

Good but can be Better
This phone is good :
Good Points:
very high volume
voice dialing
pocket size
High quality signal
Bad Points:
slow
small battery
scratches easily ... Read more

Product Description

Based on Motorola’s i90c phone, the i95cl offers some valuable upgrades that increase the functionality of the phone significantly. The new highlights include a full-color display with an eight-line screen, plus more memory to handle Java programs.

The phone is quite sturdy, but it sacrifices compactness for rugged design. Since it’s too big to fit in most pockets, the i95cl has a belt clip, but at almost 5 ounces it can weigh your belt down a bit. The retractable antenna has a durable feel, and the rubberized volume control and push-to-talk buttons on the side and speaker buttons on top are unlikely to break if the phone is dropped. Buttons on the i95cl’s interior are fairly flat but are spread apart so misdialing is not an issue. An LCD screen on the outside of the flip top is helpful for quickly checking time and date or for screening callers.

The phone was slow to power up (about 40 seconds), but considering the rich graphics, that’s to be expected. Upon start-up, the i95cl put us immediately into the message center. We had no text messages, but a voice mail from a colleague sounded crisp and clear. From the main menu, we easily accessed all of our settings without referring to the manual. The long eight-line, high-contrast screen with a large text and mellow, white backlighting made it easy to read our options from several feet away.

We set our background display to the American flag, (which looked impressive on the color screen), personalized our keys, and adjusted the ring. The i95cl has nine selectable ring styles—the usual tinny electronic-sounding rings--and 10 polyphonic musical files to choose from that sound almost orchestral compared to ring choices on most cell phones. After enjoying Pachebel’s Canon in D Major and Tchaikovsky’s "Waltz of the Flowers," we eventually settled on the "Star-Spangled Banner" for our ring.

The phone book holds multiple numbers for each person, and we had no problem entering a few friends. We set up voice-activated dialing for a few numbers as well, but found that giving a command with even a slight change in tone from the original voice recording caused the i95cl to reject our dialing request.

The i95cl’s Internet connection is one of the faster ones we’ve experienced, and Motorola has bumped up the memory and improved the processor and connectivity speed in this model. In addition to preset weather, financial, and shopping links, the phone lets users do Internet searches and send and receive two-way messages and e-mail (including instant messages with AIM).

The Java apps feature combined with the rich color screen was amazing to behold. Preinstalled apps include a calculator and two fairly sophisticated games. We found that Tiger Woods PGA Tour Wireless Golf has great graphics but is fairly slow and easy to win. The action-packed MotoGP motocross racing game played so well it felt almost like we were on a GameBoy. Subscribers to Nextel Wireless Web service can download additional Java applications from Nextel’s Web site or install custom apps from the Internet.

Motorola has increased the memory in the i95cl (since the release of its predecessor, the i90c) to handle robust Java applications—and it is a significant improvement. However, users still won’t be able to pack a whole lot of apps in there if they want to download a bunch of animated 3-D games. Each of the preexisting games takes up about 700-800 KB of data space and our phone comes with 1,479 KB of free space for new applications. That leaves room for only two additional games or several other business applications. In addition, Java apps share memory space with ring styles, wallpaper images, and voice records, so once users run out of space, they’ll have to start deleting some of these files. Still, this is a fairly recent breakthrough in cellular technology and the fact that Java apps can be stored at all is remarkable.

The i95cl also has the ability to function as a walkie-talkie, through a technology that Motorola and Nextel have been offering for years. Using Nextel Direct Connect, users can communicate with one person or a group via two-way radio. A PTT (push-to-talk) button on the left side of the phone, below the volume buttons, lets users talk without opening the phone or even removing the phone from their belt loop. The best part is that users don’t pay for minutes using the radio.

Overall, the slick features and conveniences on this phone far outweigh the issues with the bulky design. The multitude of communication options make the i95cl an ideal phone for business users who are communicating with employees both on site and long distance. --Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Supports Java applications, including 3-D games
• Large full-color display with high-contrast screen
• More memory and faster processor than its predecessor (Motorola i90c)
• Fast Internet connectivity
• Doubles as two-way radio without using minutes

Cons:

• Bulky design
• Voice-activated dialing doesn’t always recognize commands
• Java apps share memory space with ring styles, wallpaper images, and voice records

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phonebattery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency(including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, andbattery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handsetmanufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings,they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer tothe times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery liferanges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience atleast the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital andanalog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, asanalog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone.Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to themanufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phoneon, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook.When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when thephone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped thecalls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately andcontinued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged thebattery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength,this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting thatseveral phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers'ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established acarrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out.Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, againassuming consistent carrier signal strength.

... Read more

Features

• Voice-activated dialing
• Speakerphone function for hands-free calling
• Includes Java-powered applications
• Wireless web enabled
• Includes 750mAh lithium-ion battery, travel charger and holster belt clip

Reviews (21)

i loved this phone
i had this phone for over a year, i loved it best phone i ever had, the only negative thing i can say is that the case is kinda weak and the holster holds the phone backwards so it doesnt break the external caller id if dropped, this means you have to take the phone out of the clip to answer the phone, unless you use speaker phone, id recommend this to anyone that wants nextel, best phone they had

Great color phone for Nextel users
I've been a Nextel customer for years for both business and personal use. I've used almost all lines of phones. The i95cl was my favorite until i830 came along. The i95 is good for casual and especially heavy business users. The color LCD screen is huge compared to i730 and i830. Apparently Nextel had to reduce screen size in order to reduce phone size. That is one thing I miss in i830. I never had a problem with i95 size since it weighs about 5 oz. Great phone and I could not believe Nextel would discontinue it. *Note: I have an extra i95 for sale. It was my personal phone and in very good condition with some scratches. It is fully operational, travel charger and holster, shipping in USA included for flat $120.00. I will accept paypal only. Please email me if interested at leel1@netscape.com.

nice phone
Great phone alot better then sprint! Setting it up with the 800 # Well let's say pack a LUNCH! It took me 4 hours on the phone, and six different people to get connected! They need alot of work on that! After all said and done great phone, great coverage, walkie talkie feature breaks up now and then, but is really quick talking back and forth.No alarm clock? would be nice! if had to activate again would take it to a nextel dealer to do it instead of calling it in! nice pic on colored screen, games look nice.thinking of an upgrade to the i730, GPS but no alarm clock? a full feature phone with GPS to take you anywhere but NO alarm clock to wake you upwhen your there? I go camping and 4 wheeling where the GPS would come in handy and so would the ALARM CLOCK! think they might get the message and make it a downloadablefeature! HOPE THIS HELPS!

very solid phone
first, this phone feels huge.I carry it in my pocket every day, but I wish it was half as thick.That said, I've had the phone for a little more than a year and it works perfectly.I've dropped it several times, left it in a hot car, etc and never had a problem.I did buy a second battery when I purchased the phone, and one of the two batteries died after about a year.I just charge it every 36 hours or so and I've usually got plenty of power.I use the Java apps, I use their browser, mostly to check movies, and I use it with a short cable to connect to my iPaq.Everything works great.But it still feels like a brick -- I heard a comedian say that cell phones are the only thing men will brag about theirs being smaller...

THE MOST PRACTICAL PHONE EVER...
...IS THE I95CL...I BOUGHT MINE FROM A NEXTEL STORE...THE PHONE IS AWESOME...THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HOWEVER...IS HORRENDOUS...I ACTUALLY WAS ONLY ABLE TO SPEAK WITH ONE REPRESENTATIVE IN AMERICA FOR A DISCREPANCY IN MY BILL...OUT OF 4 CALLS...AND THE AMERICAN CUSSED AT ME AND TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD THE ABILITY TO SHUT OFF MY SERVICE...THATS FINE...NOW THAT I BOUGHT THE DATA CABLE IM ABLE TO TRANSFER MY NEXTEL SOFTWARE TO BOOST...VIVA LA REVOLUCIONE!!! ... Read more

Features

• High-durability design for tough work environments
• Rubberized grip exterior to prevent dropping, damage from bumps
• Includes Java-powered applications
• Wireless web enabled
• Includes 1300mAh lithium-ion battery and travel charger

Reviews (1)

Great quality, but very outdated
This was a fantastic phone 3 years ago, and while it still has that high level of quality that makes Motorola so great, it is very outdated at this point.Without a color screen, a camera, a calculator or calander, this phone isn't good for much more beyond calling people.It has a strong signal with great audio quality, but it doesn't even have any games (oh no!)So while I wouldn't be too hasty to get rid of this phone if it still serves you well, I also wouldn't run out and buy this phone new. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Nokia 9290 Communicator aims to replace all of your portable devices by combining a cell phone, PDA, and wireless office into one. On the outside, it appears to be just a cell phone, but when you flip it open lengthwise, this tool sports a full-color screen and keyboard, allowing you to do messaging and compose business documents from any remote location.

The cell phone component of this device features the familiar Nokia interface, so anyone who’s used a Nokia before will be able to modify settings in a snap, without referring to the manual. Considering that it performs many of the functions of a PDA with its built-in keyboard, the Communicator is lightweight. However, in comparison to other cell phones, this Nokia is a heavy 8.5 ounces. We found that the phone, which is about the size of an eyeglass case, was awkward to hold in smaller hands because of its wide uncontoured body. The buttons on the keypad are spaced well for easy dialing, but the placement of the mouthpiece and earpiece on the opposite side of the phone from the keypad is highly inconvenient. Dialing a number on one side and flipping the phone over to talk on the other was annoying. During phone calls, we accidentally hung up on our friends several times when we brushed the keypad against our hand or shoulder.

The phone opens in half lengthwise to reveal a backlit, high-resolution, 4,096-color screen. Most competing PDA/phone combinations feature a vertical screen, but we preferred the wider view offered by the Communicator, which still has enough height to provide an eight-line screen at a readable font size. From here, seven buttons along the top of the keyboard go to the Communicator’s main functions: desk, telephone, messaging, Internet, contacts, calendar, and office. The QWERTY keyboard below makes it easy for trained typists to input information; however, the keyboard has only one Shift key--on the left--which slowed down our typing considerably. Also, the tightly packed keys made typos inevitable.

The Communicator's design flaws, though, are more than made up for by its other features. The PC-like icon-based interface is completely intuitive, so you can jump right in and start creating documents and organizing them in the Windows-like file manager. The Communicator supports a wide range of e-mail protocols, allowing you to send and receive messages with spreadsheets, business presentations, video clips, digital images, and music files attached. With 56 MB of memory, the device has adequate storage space for all documents. A 16 MB MultiMediaCard, packaged with the Communicator, is included in that 56 MB; the unit accepts cards up to 64 MB so you can also upgrade your memory. Surfing the Internet on this mini-laptop’s wide screen is also a pleasure, as pages load in full color rather than in tedious text-only mode.

The PDA functions on the Communicator include a directory, calendar, and to-do list, which can be synchronized with Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes on your desktop computer. The contacts directory lets you load up several phone numbers, an e-mail address, and even a photo for each of your contacts. A key convenience is the ability to dial a contact from the organizer and talk hands free on the speakerphone while simultaneously editing a document or accessing the Internet. In addition, the Communicator uses the same charger as other Nokia phones, so there’s no need to buy new accessories if you’ve owned a Nokia in the past.

While there is definitely room for improvement in this phone’s size and design, we still find it to be one of the better Web-enabled phones out there. Plus, the convenience of carrying one device instead of a cell phone, PDA, and laptop is too good to resist. --Cristina Vaamonde

Pros:

• Full-color Internet surfing on wide screen
• Can simultaneously talk on phone and surf Internet or edit documents
• Contacts, calendar, and to-do list synch with desktop computer
• 56MB memory, including 16 MB MultiMediaCard; unit accepts up to 64 MB card

Cons:

• Heavy, bulky design
• Phone keypad is on opposite side of device as mouth and earpiece
• Key spacing is a bit tight on organizer keyboard

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phonebattery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency(including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, andbattery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handsetmanufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings,they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer tothe times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery liferanges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience atleast the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital andanalog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, asanalog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone.Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to themanufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phoneon, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook.When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when thephone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped thecalls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately andcontinued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged thebattery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength,this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting thatseveral phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers'ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established acarrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out.Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, againassuming consistent carrier signal strength.

... Read more

Features

• Menus and screen icons create a PC-like environment
• High-resolution, color TFT active matrix screen displays up to 4096 colors
• Send and receive e-mail with attachments
• Browse the Web wirelessly and see it in full color
• Talk handsfree on the speakerphone

Amazon.com

Sporting a silver aluminum casing and a sturdy flip design, the trimode Motorola V60i combines an intuitive user interface with handy features such as caller ID, voice-activated dialing, and SMS messaging, making it an excellent choice for basic day-to-day business use. With theV60i, Motorola kept all that was good with its predecessor, the V60t, and added some impressive upgrades such as interchangeable faceplates, the option to download ringers, as well as a few new games.

Tiny is the trend these days, and the V60i fits right in, measuring a minute 4.11 by 1.81 by 0.83 inches, and weighing only 3.4 ounces. Once the phone is flipped open, it feels quite small, but still is remarkably comfortable to use, regardless of the size of your hands.

At first glance, we were struck by the phone’s stylish exterior. Constructed of a lightweight aluminum, the casing feels solid, but not clunky. The casing is also highly resistant to scratching, unlike the plastic design of similar counterparts, and held up very well when we dropped it on an office floor.

The external LCD screen is another welcome feature, with caller ID alerts that did not require flipping the phone open. The headset jack is on the very top edge of the phone, a nice touch that keeps the headset cord untangled during use. With a special stereo radio headset from Motorola (sold separately), the phone can access FM radio. Compared to other phones this size, the V60i’s stub antenna did seem a bit large, making it difficult to slip the phone into a pocket comfortably.

Once we flipped the phone open and hit the power button, it took only six seconds for the phone to power up completely, the oval-framed four-line screen revealing improved graphics and quick access to the phone book and message menus. The keypad is comfortably designed, with the keys nicely spaced and just slightly raised, making for fumble-free dialing, while still maintaining the phone’s thin profile. Some phones tend toward top-heaviness when open, but the V60i is nicely balanced--a definite bonus for the thumb-dialers out there. Such balance is also important for accurate use of the phone’s side panel buttons. The buttons on the left side of the phone control call and ring volume, including the ability to discreetly silence a call or switch the phone to vibrate during a meeting. The button on the phone’s right side controls two different voice features. A quick press of the button activates voice dialing, while a press-and-hold move activates the voice recorder.

Three buttons below the screen and just above the numeric keypad basically control the phone. The key under the left corner of the screen gave us quick access to the phone book, and pressing the right key brought up the phone’s message menu, which keeps a listing of voice mail, text messages, and e-mails close at hand. The centrally located Up/Down key made scrolling the phone’s menu simple, and we were able to choose from a list of seven options fairly easy. That said, browsing the menu is not overly intuitive, and while this new interface was designed to give the user the ability to customize the menu to his or her needs, it could still use a bit of improvement. It took us quite awhile to figure out how to set up the voice-activated calling and short-cut features. How to delete a name from the address book was a mystery for longer than we’d like. Once we got voice-activated dialing set up, it was fun to use, and the sound was crystal clear, allowing us store up to 20 names for voice-activated dialing. The shortcut feature was new to us, and involved preprogramming a number or voice command that connects directly to any item on the phone’s menu, such as the date book or phone book. We were able to create a shortcut after some practice, programming the "1" key as the hot key to access the date book. We also recorded the word "date book" as a voice command to reach the same feature. By taking the time to sit down and preprogram the phone with similar shortcuts, and combined with the use of a headset, the V60 becomes almost completely hands-free.

The V60i also features a handful of other tools tailored for the business user. Besides text messaging, voice mail, and e-mail, it also works as a memo recorder. The voice-notes program lets you record notes to yourself, and the notes are saved for your aural perusal whenever you need them. To record a voice note, we pressed and held the button on the right side of the phone, and we were able to record a 20-second message. The phone is can hold about two minutes of voice notes, which is fine for recording ideas on the way to the office. Many of the phone’s personalization features, including the short cuts, quick-dial programming, date book, and even the ring settings, seem ideally suited for use in the business world. Our phone included 26 different ring tones, ranging from beeps, to sonatas, to funk (we were fond of the Uh-Oh ringer), along with five vibrate patterns to help you silently differentiate between voice mails, text messages, and calls. The V60i includes PIM functionality, and you can buy the TrueSync software and cable from Motorola to synch info on your phone with the calendar and phone book on your Windows PC. The one major business tool missing from the V60i is a wireless Web browser.

The V60i’s battery life was consistent with Motorola’s guidelines of 240 minutes of digital talk time, and 190 hours of digital standby time--good battery usage for a phone of this caliber. With no games or Web browser to drain the battery, charging the phone is a pleasantly rare occurrence.

On the whole, we find the Motorola V60i a solid, practical phone, ideal for the business user, and a refreshing addition to the AT&T Wireless phone family.

--Heather Campbell

Pros:

• Stylish, yet sturdy design
• External LCD screen with caller ID
• Menus customizable to suit user
• Voice-activated dialing and shortcut features
• Capable of e-mail and SMS messaging

Cons:

• No wireless Web browser
• Bulky antenna

How We Tested Battery Talk/StandbyTime

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables,including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and,when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone everyfew hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because thephone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.

... Read more

Features

• External display allows you to view text without opening the phone
• Voice-activated dialing lets you dial a number without touching the keypad
• Interchangeable metal housings
• Up to 4 hours' digital talk time and 6 days' digital standby time
• Includes battery, charger, and headset

Reviews (13)

Avoid this phone
This V60 joins a long line of very bad Motorola handsets I have had the displeasure of owning. I will no longer be getting any Motorola phones.

Bad:
1.Very low battery life. This phone needed to be charged at least every other day and I didn't talk too much on it (60min/day).
2.Not intuitive.Menus were not where you would think they should be placed. The SELECT and CANCEL buttons changed places depending on the menu. This was very annoying.Either keep the button on the right or the left at all times.Contacts were poorly organized. Most people have several numbers that could be organized under one entry, i.e. John Smith.Mobile, Home, Work, etc. This phone had a different entry for each type of number. Why not use a regular directory tree like Samsung or Nokia!?!?!
3.B/W screen for the price of a color...What a deal? This phone costs the same as the Nokia 6015, but gives you a state of the art (1990s) two color screen!What a deal!


Good:
Replaced the phone with a Nokia 6015. No problems since.

Don't walk away from this phone, run!It seems like this phone was designed as an afterthought....

Excellent phone, never had a problem
I've owned this phone for over a year and never had any problems with it. Good reception too.If you have bad reception then its the provider not the phone.And if you wanted all the bells and whistles (mp3, color etc.) then you shouldn't have bought this phone in the first place.

zero customer service when things go wrong
After 2 antennas I called their customer service looking for an explanation and/or warranty consideration.I should have just talked into the phone before dialing....for all the good it did.This phone was not used as a football.It was treated like a $400 jewel.Yet, just using the phone gently seemed to break antennas, I think due to the property of most metals called "work hardening" - ie when you use a metal (antenna) too much, it eventually becomes brittle and then breaks.So I built my own.Take a piece of speaker wire about 4 inches long, expose some strands at one end.Remove the old antenna base. Jam the wire into the hole and secure it by snapping the back case over it.It's work fine that way for me for a couple of years now, better than the original antenna(s).

Dissappointed
for $145 this phone should have color, web browsering, and mp3 tones. The antenna broke on my phone and everyone else who who bough this phone. Even with the antenna i had a hard time getting dignals anywhere, while my friend's samsung worked fine.

Best product for use as a comunication device
The Motorola V60 cellular phone is the best phone i have ever owned. It is a very simple to use phone, yet for the more advanced users, you could get it to do almost anything you wanted. The phone always had a great signal in comparison to other phones i have owned with the same service provider. The phone was very compact, and its best feature of all was the battery. It would fully charge in only 3 hours, while it would last up to ten days on standby. During periods of normal use, i could get by with only charging the phone every 6 days or so. I really hope the new Motorola color phone that is taking the place of the V60 lives up to its predecessor. ... Read more

Features

• Trimode technology (800 MHz and 1900 MHz CDMA, 800 MHz analog)
• Voice-activated dialing
• Web enabled
• Includes lithium-ion battery and charger

Features

• Compact design with slim profile
• Large screen displays up to 6 lines of text with blue backlight
• Unique snap-on color accents around bottom of phone or can include flip cover for keys
• Voice dialing, custom ringtones, full PIM (scheduler) features
• Polyphonic ringtones

Features

• Includes camera attachment
• 256 color display
• Polyphonic ringtones
• Downloadable games
• Includes battery, headset and travel charger

Reviews (3)

agree with the indestructible part
I've had the phone for a couple of years. I've lost it in the car, dropped it a number of times, just like the other reviewer.The phone's latest adventure was that I lost it in the blizzard in Washington, DC a couple of weeks ago.It fell out of my pocket and got buried in 6 inches of snow, but I didn't notice for an hour or so.By then I was on the other side of the city.I called the people who lived at the place I thought I dropped it, and asked if they could try calling it to find it in the snow.They couldn't hear it.After more than a week, the snow melted enough that they found the phone.I had flown back across the country and even ordered a replacement phone.Their son told me yesterday he had it and brought it to me.It not only fired up right away, but after a little wiggling around it is now even charging back up and seems to work just fine.

Nearly Indestructible
I have a bad habit of dropping my cellphones. I have broken and paid for at least 3 cellphones. This ends up being a costly procedure. Cellphones even on the bottom end are usually about $150 US Dollars. I have had my sony ericsson T300 for almost a year and have done worse things to this phone than any other phone I have ever owned. I dropped it 10 feet off a loading dock onto black top STRAIGHT DOWN. It scratched the case, but everything still works fine. I was thrown in a pool with it in my pocket, it fell out of my pocket and remained at the bottom of the pool for several minutes, and after drying it out overnight, it still worked, even though two other people who wound up in the pool with their cellphones had to go to great lengths to get theirs to work again. My only complaint is it is a little slow to respond to menu entries. Signal is much better than my old nokia 3310 and features are amazing for the price. I HIGHLY recommend this phone to anyone who is sick of breaking phones.

Stay Away...save your money
I have owned 4 cell phone since I started in this new wave of technology. This phone has been the worst one of them all. The volume on the phone is terrible. The accessaries are VERY limited. The reception is horrible. The only thing I can say good about the T300 is that it is easy to navigate. ... Read more

Features

• Equipped with E-mail, text messaging, and picture messages
• Comes with mobile internet capabilities
• Synchronize phone book, calendar and to-do list
• Phone book with up to 500 contacts, with multiple numbers and text entries per contact
• 20 ring tones and 10 picture messages

Reviews (1)

Great phone...
I have had this phone for about a year and a half with Cingular and I have been very pleased with this phone. While this phone is kind of old, it has stood the test of time. I have several friends who hove the recent color screen phones, but the often get dropped calls while this phone keeps its great reception. Hence, I am a little reluctant to upgrade from it unless I truly am sure my new phone will be better. Plus, there are not too many phones that rival the 6590's small size (Please do not complain about the small number keys, how else could they make such a small phone? Plus they are not even too small.)

PROS:
- Excellent reception
- Excellent battery life
- Small size (Big plus)
- Easy to use

Cons (Only a couple minor ones):
- Power button doesn't quite push in that well (It has nothing to do with the size of the button)
- Not too many advanced features (i.e. No bluetooth, no color screen, no camera). This phone was made before these technologies really caught on though. ... Read more

Features

• Unique, swivel design
• Voice-activated dialing
• Large, 500 number phone book capacity
• Up to 2 hours' digital talk time and 5 days' digital standby time
• Includes battery, charger, belt clip and headset

Amazon.com

An attractive contoured design, swappable "phone wrap" fashion covers, a built-in FM radio, and a reasonable price are some of the highlights of the new Motorola V2282 phone. This is a GSM phone that measures 5.1 by 1.8 by 1.0 inches, and weighs in at 5.2 ounces. While relatively large, it is lightweight, balanced, and easily portable.

Motorola's characteristic smart-button navigation guides you through the V2282's menu options. The keypad design is less cluttered and confusing than StarTAC phones, although you still have to use the FCN (function) button to access menu options. The raised, oval-shaped keypad buttons are well-spaced and quite responsive, and we rarely misdialed a call. Plus, the phone felt good to hold, and we could dial one-handed. The four-line screen (two lines of text, two lines of status icons) is backlit and easy to read. A standard 2.5-millimeter communication jack for hands-free devices is integrated into the phone.

The V2282's handy call management features, including scratchpad memory, assignable ringer tones, one-touch speed-dial locations, multiple call timers, and any-key answer, help you organize your communications. You can store up to 255 numbers in the V2282's phone book, and entering phone numbers is easy. Just punch in the number and a unique descriptor, and assign it a memory location. Incoming and outgoing call logs help you keep track of your conversations, and the incoming call log also keeps track of missed calls. The V2282 supports carrier-dependent features such as caller ID, call waiting, voicemail alerts, and SMS text messaging, which lets you send and receive alphanumeric messages with other devices. Unfortunately, there is no way to tether the V2282 to a PC, so you can't use it as a digital modem, or import your computer's address book to the phone. Also, the V2282 is missing PIM funtions, profile settings, and built-in vibrating alert.

To keep your V2282 secure, you can use a three-digit code to lock the whole phone or to restrict outgoing calls to one of 10 numbers stored in special memory locations.

The V2282's NiMH batteries are rated up to 210 minutes' digital talk time and 135 hours' digital standby time. In our testing, the V2282 held a call for 220 minutes, and it lasted for nearly 140 hours in standby mode.

A basic phone for everyday use, the Motorola V2282 scores high marks in visual design and reliability. Interchangeable phone wraps, two-way text messaging, FM radio reception, and a very reasonable price are reasons enough to give this phone consideration.

--Thom Arno

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Impressive peanut-shaped design
• Swappable phone wraps with an included blue wrap
• Built-in FM radio

Cons:

• Awkward menu navigation

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, because analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Because no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength. ... Read more

Features

• Changeable faceplates
• Built-in FM radio
• SMS text-messaging support
• Up to 210 minutes' digital talk time and 135 hours' digital standby time
• Includes headset, PhoneWrap, NiMH battery, standard charger, and belt clip

Features

• Web enabled
• Full range of call-management features
• 400-name phone book
• Attractive silver-alloy finish
• Up to 4 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby time; includes NiMH battery and rapid charger