Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is the first truly tiny and iconic mp3 phone I have seen and used. Despite being alarmed at the size of the keys, I find it easy to use, and gratifyingly small.
I'll attempt to be brief. For the previous 5 years ago, I have had touch screen 3G Motorola smart phones (A920, A925 and A1000), and before that, Nokias and a Palm Pilot.
No longer needing full PDA functionality, I wanted something small (for a change) with strong battery life, which would provide very good music player functionally. I also wanted: speakerphone, good quality headset, plus a tri-band or quand-band for usability overseas. I already have a good digital camera, and didn't want to carry around a phone thicker than my wallet. That meant the Nokia N95 was out of the running, despite the lure of GPS.
The good
*Walkman can be controlled when keypad locked, but not accidentally.
*Great battery life and ultra fast charging!
*Menus are easy to navigate and comprehensive.
*Clean crisp screen and versatile camera features
*Doesn't crash (can you tell I've had a few Motorolas?)
*Handles 3.5 mm headphones
*The noise reducing in-ear headphones with great sound
The bad
*Minimal amount of text it will hold in contacts, notes and calendar entries - its not quite a PDA in that way
*Working out how play lists work was a hassle
*Minimal instruction manuals in the box
Surprises
*How much I use the Blog functionality - I take a photo, type up the text and upload it to my site - very convenient diarising or blogging when on the run
*The ability to auto-stitch photos into a landscape shot
*The music syncing software allows you to specific (ie downgrade) the bitrate of songs being transferred so as to save space
*It copes with a 2GB M2 card despite saying it is only upgradeable to 1 GB
*Its feel very solid.
Verdict
Elegant, small and highly functional - I was surprised as how much easier and better phones can get in just every few years. Worth the change. The in ear noise cancelling headphones have brought my mobile listening experience to a new level.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Ericsson W880i Unlocked Cell Phone with 2 MP Camera, 3G, MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Pro Duo Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Flame Black)
With all the same robust phone functions, the Sony Ericsson W880i improves on its W800/W810 precessors with a super-slim 0.40-inch form factor encased in stainless steel, improved Walkman 2.0 software, and support for up to 900 music tracks. This tri-band GSM/EDGE phone is also ready to run on 2100 MHz UMTS 3G networks (found in Europe, Australia and Asia), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. Other features include a 2.0-megapixel camera with 2.5x digital zoom, an M2 Memory Stick card slot, Bluetooth, push email, an Access NetFront Web browser, a speakerphone, Macromedia Flash Lite 2.0 for interactive user experiences with video, audio, and graphics, and more.
This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides tri-band connectivity (900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz) as well as GPRS data connectivity. It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.
When paired with a compatible 3G network that uses UMTS 2100 MHz connectivity (found in Europe and Asia), you'll enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless services with speeds up to 384 Kbps--from data connectivity to your office to multimedia streaming, and take advantage of simultaneous voice and data services. In the United States and foreign territories where 2100 MHz 3G networks are not available, you'll continue to receive data service via EDGE network (depending on network compatibility).
Phone Features The W880i follows a long tradition of beautifully designed and crafted phones from Sony Ericsson. The same candy-bar style that graced the W800 is here, as is the horizontally-oriented camera unit on the back of the phone, allowing you to hold the phone just as you would a camera when you're taking pictures. The W880i's screen sports 240 x 320 pixel resolution with support for over 262,000 colors. Quick access buttons below the screen make it easy to control the phone's Walkman music features, while a five-way center button controls most of the phone's menus and features. The W880i contains 16 MB of embedded memory, but as mentioned, an M2 Memory Stick slot is provided, giving you storage capacities of 2 GB and beyond. USB and Bluetooth data connectivity is provided, and the phone supports USB mass storage so you can simply plug the phone into your computer and drag and drop files into the phone's memory using the included Disc2Phone PC application.
The W880i's phone book can hold up to 1000 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received, and dialed calls. The phone's voice activated dialing makes calling your contacts as easy as saying their names, while the built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are included and you can also use MP3 and AAC music files as ringtones. A cool application called Music DJ even lets you mix your own ringtones. Meanwhile, picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. For those times you want to keep things discreet, there's a vibrate ringer mode. And because the W880i is Bluetooth-enabled, you can use a variety of headsets and handsfree kits for total wireless freedom when you're on the go.
If you're looking for a mobile productivity partner, the W880i has you covered. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, and sound via MMS messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging possibilities. The phone also ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols, while the included Access NetFront Web browser allows you to surf full HTML web sites. Push email is also supported, allowing you to have instant email on your mobile phone, just like on your home computer. Messages are sent directly to your phone as soon as they arrive. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
The W880i also supports RSS feeds, allowing you to use your phone to view up-to-the-minute news and other content from selected Web sites and blogs. Just subscribe to the feed and let it come to you.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the W880i, including a voice memo recorder, a to-do list, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock. The phone also supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard, which lets you synchronize your PC-based calendar, contacts, notes and tasks with your W880i.
The W880i is a Walkman phone, and that means it offers a great mobile music experience. Load up your favorite songs in MP3 or AAC format on a memory card and listen to your heart's content. The user-friendly Walkman 2.0 music player application also includes a "Music Mode" that shuts down the phone functions so you can listen on an airplane or anytime you don't want to accept calls. Meanwhile, Digital Mega Bass and stereo widening combine to enhance your listening experience.
And don't forget about that powerful 2.0-megapixel camera with 2.5x digital zoom. Finally, you can get consistently great shots that rival the quality of a dedicated digital camera. The camera can capture video, too. Dedicated camera controls on the side of the unit will make you forget you're holding a phone in your hand. There's even an included application called Video DJ that allows you to edit video footage right on your phone. Make it look great with advanced editing options before uploading footage to your blog.
Vital Statistics The Sony Ericsson W880i weighs 2.50 ounces and measures 4.0 x 1.80 x .40 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 425 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS as well as 2100 MHz 3G UMTS frequencies (Asia and Europe).
