As cellphones slowly evolve into PDAs David Shapshak hits the airwaves with the latest handsets
You may not know it, but your cellphone can do more than just make calls. A quick glance at the features that accompany most handsets is more like perusing a new computer than a phone.
This is precisely the point. Your phone is slowly evolving into a personal digital assistant (PDA), while handheld computers are gradually sporting more phone-like functionality.
Some years ago researchers said most phone users used only 20% of a phone’s features. This was around the time short messaging service (SMS) was still considered a white elephant that delivered notifications of voicemail. However, SMS has demonstrated how non-voice uses for the phone can both be overwhelmingly popular and a source of income for the networks.
The conversion from a voice communicator to a data one might take some education, but that can’t be blamed on the phone manufacturers. In Japan, for instance, the phone is for most people a primary source of connectivity where, like in Europe, text messaging is huge.
Europe, parts of Asia and Africa use the GSM system familiar to most South Africans, while Japan’s largest operator provides iMode the first working version of the mobile Internet the success of which operators the world over hope to emulate.
In South Africa, upgrades to the cellular network in the near future will let you make use of a range of much faster data access. And with them come a whole lot of swanky new features in the new range of cellphones.
There is no time like the present to upgrade your handset, but make sure it is designed to handle general packet radio services (GPRS), which will give users an “always on” mobile Internet connection. Unless specified, all phones reviewed below are capable of using this super-fast data service and are WAP- enabled. They mostly have voice-activated dialling too, as well as infra-red capabilities.
Nokia 8310
Nokia is the undisputed king of cellular sales. Estimates vary but the Finnish manufacturer remains the top-selling brand of cellphones in the world.
Early on in South Africa, its 2110 series captured the hearts and minds of an eager neophyte cellphone population. Subsequent replacement ranges the 6110 and 6210 have done as well; as have its smaller range of 8210 and 8510s.
It is replacing all ranges with phones that have even more features. The 6310, however, is the only phone in the range that has Bluetooth, the revolutionary wireless technology that lets electronic devices communicate with each other up to 10m.
The 8310 is their must-have small phone essentially an upgrade of the 8210, but with a much snazzier set of changeable covers anything from red and pink to blue and gold and its operating system (OS) does all of the things that the larger, more feature-laden 6210 did.
So, you can have a single name for a contact and store a variety of numbers or e-mail addresses under that name (up to 500). A new feature is a to-do list, which was what I used to use the calendar function for, but had to reset items if I didn’t get to them that day.
It has a built-in radio, which is dead easy to tune and operate, and which I found myself listening to like a teenager. Perhaps it was the cricket or perhaps the novelty of getting such clear reception from a cellphone, or perhaps the ease of having the phone mute the radio when a call came in.
The dual headset, which comes standard as part of the package, doubles up for calls and the quality of both its speakers and mic are impressive. Using the voice recording function, it will record up to three minutes so you can “tape” a number while talking or dictate a note to yourself. Aimed at the top end of the market it is both elegant and functional, and weighs just 84g.
Nokia 5210
This is my favourite of the new Nokia phones, principally because it is “ruggerdised”. This tough, outdoor phone is built to withstand the shocks and drops most cellphones usually live through. Siemens make a ruggerdised phone too, which until now was the only phone that was compact enough and didn’t resemble a brick, like the previous Nokia in this range. Ericsson also made one with a fin-like aerial but it was a touch bulky.
The 5210 is almost as small as the 8310 but is feature packed: it has a thermometer, stopwatch, countdown timer and picture editor, but no setting to automatically tell you how long your call was when you end it, something I have grown used to.
However, it sports all the other features of the revamped OS. It also has a concealed flap for the headset jack.
Sony Ericsson T68
The first serious contender with a colour screen, the Sony Ericsson is an all- round star. Americans would call it “neat” and indeed it is.
Its screen is clearly the standout feature, but so are the four-way navigation joystick and its messaging capabilities. Apart from SMS, it does e-mail very well too designed, of course, to run over GPRS. It has the T9 “predictive input” dictionary but unless it is a short e-mail, I found it better for checking my mail when away from my computer.
You can select a variety of colour backgrounds, which demonstrate the possibilities of enhanced messaging service (EMS), the big brother of SMS that will let you send colour messages.
Using the Bluetooth wireless technology, its headset is streaks ahead of all other manufacturers. A single earpiece with mic connects to a small module that clips on to your collar, or hangs around your neck, and has two answer/ put down buttons. Bluetooth ranges up to 10m, so the phone can remain in your pocket or bag, while you can still take the call using the headset.
The small “joystick” lets you navigate the much improved, colour operating system. The top level of this uses all icons and then a very detailed list of text options the joystick can be tapped down to select the desired one. The contacts directory now lets you store multiple numbers and addresses under one name entry. The phone weighs 84g.
Sony Ericsson is a joint venture between Ericsson and the Japanese electronics manufacturer and already seems to be bearing fruit with this model. Other recent developments include teaming up with two gaming companies so it can challenge Nokia in the ever- growing mobile entertainment market.
Motorola V.66
In Saudi Arabia there is a booming, albeit niche, trade in gold and jewelled bevels that clip on to the front of the V.66 (pronounced V dot 66). As if this sleek and sexy phone isn’t eye candy in its own right. Back home, your bevel choice is cheaper but as varied.
This dinky phone with Motorola’s characteristic clamshell opening is both light and functional (79g), and while GPRS-enabled it is also tri-band (so you can use it in Europe, Asia and the United States). Despite its size, it has a personal information management (PIM) system and syncs exceptionally well with a computer, so transferring appointments and notes is easy.
It has Motorola’s own predictive input system, called iTAP, and also has a voice recording function called VoiceNotes.
Motorola’s Accompli 008 was the first GPRS-enabled phone on the local market and is a good PDA combo that can run Java the programming language that is being strongly punted to run applications on cellphones, especially games.
The V.66, like all Motorolas, can be set not to answer the phone when you flip open the clamshell lid in case you want to see the caller’s name. It comes standard with a headset and while its size is a strong selling factor, it hasn’t failed to put lots of power under the hood.
Samsung A400
The Samsung A400 wins the wired headset award hands down for its innovative convergence of the mic and earpiece with the cable that lets you hang it around your neck.
Although this method of carrying your phone is not common here, it is rampant in Korea, where Samsung hails from. The phone is light enough to dangle and has a flip-open cover, so the keys are protected.
It is being sold for its health- and life- enhancing features so you can check your daily biorhythms as well as keep tabs on your weight and body fat percentage. It even has a small menu of how many calories you burn doing a variety of everyday tasks from washing the dishes to gardening.
The interface is user-friendly and, while the selection of ring tones is extensive, I struggled to find one that was discreet. It will sync with your computer and its PIM system includes a scheduler, to-do list, multiple alarms and the ever- present calculator.
Siemens SL45i
I know a journalist who “tapes” all his interviews, often as long as an hour, with his Siemens SL45i and then transcribes them at the office. It will record up to five hours’ worth and you can name and edit these recordings on the phone.
WAP-enabled, it will also run Java applications small mini-programs that you can download from the Internet, including anything from games to stock-price tickers and has a nifty navigation “four-way cursor”, a round disk you can use to navigate.
This stylish silver phone packs a whole lot of punch, which is even more remarkable for its size (it weighs in at only 88g). It is the only phone I’ve seen that has a slot (on its side) for a MultiMediaCard a form of the remarkable postage stamp-sized storage medium. The phone has an MP3 player and comes standard with a 32 Megabyte MultiMediaCard that can store up to 45 minutes worth of MP3s. If a call comes in, the music is paused. It has the T9 predictive dictionary and voice commands and dialling.
Another journalist I know is now a die-hard fan of the Siemens OS, which I found awkward to begin with but once I found my way was very satisfied with it. It synchs impressively with your computer and the organiser is top drawer.
LG 600
Lightweight flip-open phones are the standard format in Korea, LG’s homeland. This one has a second screen on the front flap that shows the caller’s number, as well as other details.
The interface is simple and clear but it has all the necessary features, including some good games, and has voice dialling and recording. With the global focus on messaging, it has a very useful predictive dictionary that “guesses” words as you write, suggesting options before you have finished.
A central button in the middle of four navigation keys makes it easy to select from the menu, while I liked the shortcut that takes you straight into your dialled, received or missed calls.