Nokia 2700 Classic Black Unlocked Import Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Nokia 2700 is a basic GSM phone with next-generation Nokia styling--sleeker, more sophisticated, and no longer reminiscent of LEGO. For people upgrading from an older phone, the screen is gorgeous, displaying information large and clear with the help of tasteful wallpaper and themes. The classic user interface and shortcuts are carried forward from past Nokias I have owned, and it has been pretty easy for me to navigate.
Of course economics dictate that a phone this affordable comes with trade-offs. For starters, the one-piece back that gives access to the battery and SIM card is about as easy to open as a secret passageway. Apart from vague instructions on exactly where to press, the phone's all-plastic construction belies the force required to open it. The SIM slot does not pivot up like my previous Nokia, so inserting and removing cards is a pain. For people staying with the same carrier, this is a one-time inconvenience and not an issue. But given that this is an inexpensive quad-band phone (no US carrier uses all 4 bands), I'm thinking most buyers are going to want to swap the SIM for a local card in another continent. To be fair this phone is actually not sold or supported by Nokia USA, so was not intended for this market. One thing I am still trying to get used to is the screen going completely blank when the backlight times out. I've not found a way to customize how many seconds it stays on, but the printed manual--which states it is an abridged version that does not cover all features--has not helped. The 2MP camera is barebones, and I'm going to take the word of an outspoken European reviewer on YouTube that the video quality is pretty atrocious.
Nokia allows the 2700 to operate even without a SIM card inserted. This could be useful, especially when I want to move my SIM to another phone and possess only one card. I personally do not plan to use the built-in instant messenger, web browser, media player, micro USB port (requires cable purchase and is not compatible with Mac OS), download apps, or upgrade the capacity of the micro SD card (although latter is a nice feature). I am not even sure if these 'classic' capabilities can satisfy a user who really wants a smartphone but can only afford the 2700. Battery life is OK with a recharge required every 3 days if used sparingly and left on 24/7. I'm not sure if riding the subway 1-1/2 hrs a day causes the phone to hunt for a signal and drain the battery faster.
At the end of the day, this is a smart looking phone at a very reasonable price. For someone like me who uses a phone mainly as a phone, and wants it to be a 'candy bar' type that is not ugly, it fits my bill perfectly. T-Mobile works on it right out of the box, and I have yet to experience any reception problems in and around New York City. Well done Nokia. 4.5 stars.THREE MONTH UPDATE:
It turns out the back cover is easier to remove the 2nd and subsequent times, and it's actually not too hard to swop SIM cards. As noted in the comments, Nokia sells the 2730--a similar model for the US market.
So far, I have been pleased with reception and sound quality. No doubt about it, the battery lasts a couple of days longer--4 days in Asia and Europe vs. 2-3 days in NYC, despite more talking and texting overseas. I can't figure out why. Signal strength? Charging voltage? Some frequency bands draw more power?
Because it comes with a non-US power supply with round prongs, a cheap adapter was provided by the seller. When I plug it into the wall, the whole assembly droops and charges for only a little while before the connection is broken. I have taken to recharging from a power strip on the floor so the prongs point downward, but it's still a balancing act. I may have to bite the bullet and buy a US charger from Nokia.
The membrane keypad is low profile enough that I no longer lock the keys before putting it in my pants pocket. People with longer finger nails may leave permanent dents in the membrane surface. This, and the fact that the keys are close together, means it is not suited to heavy text messaging. The rounded square navigation ring works well for me.
I'm still very happy with my 2700. I know the profit margin is way better on smart phones, but Nokia, please keep offering these well-designed classic phones for the rest of us.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nokia 2700 Classic Black Unlocked Import

Click here for more information about Nokia 2700 Classic Black Unlocked Import

Read More...

RIM® Blackberry 8830 Worldphone For Verizon (CDMA) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)FINALLY! A SmartPhone that keeps you productive and doesn't hassle you with malfunctions!
As you can probably surmise, I'm coming over from the Windows Mobile platform. After several years of wrestling with those units (especially Treos), I decided to give the BlackBerry 8830 a try, and am I glad that I did. I've had the opportunity to own/use this unit for several months now. There is just no comparison. The 8830 lives up to its promises, and is actually enjoyable to use.
This model is
- Reliable: It just works, and it keeps working. No hiccups, malfunctions or resetting.
- A Great Business Tool: As a PDA power user, I need a unit that reliably synchs wirelessly with our mail server to keep my email, calendar, contacts, tasks and notes current. The 8830 does this real-time without getting bogged down and crashing. It excels in this area.
- Readable: You can change the default screen font in the Options settings to enlarge and/or embolden the display text across all functions.
- Call clarity: Conversations are clear and audible on both ends.
- Smart: RIM built in some nice behavior that changes the display brightness with environmental lighting and also changes the ring mode when the unit is holstered.
- The keyboard offers excellent tactile feedback.
- The blue-tooth has worked with headsets and hands-free speakers nicely.
- Robust: I dropped the unit a few times (once on a marble floor), and it still works great.
I've found several minor drawbacks:
- The ringer, even when loudest, isn't quite loud enough in noisier environments. Often, I won't hear the ringer in the car.
- There is only 1 alarm. I've been accustomed to having the ability to simultaneously set alarms that ring during the week, on weekends, etc. The 8830 offers these modes, but not concurrently.
- The speakerphone volume isn't very loud. Honestly, this seems to apply to most of the phones that I've owned.
- I've had problems with the voice-command accuracy.
Recommendation:
This is likley the best SmartPhone I've ever owned. Its very functional and very reliable. I highly recommend it.


Click Here to see more reviews about: RIM® Blackberry 8830 Worldphone For Verizon (CDMA)

With the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone, you'll enjoy fast, clear communication from Verizon here in the United States as well as seamless voice connectivity as you roam the globe. It's the first CDMA BlackBerry smartphone capable of roaming globally on GSM/GPRS networks, so you can travel the world with full mobile voice and data coverage without having to change smartphones, phone numbers or email addresses.
This sleek and performance–driven smartphone has been redesigned with trackball navigation and a new backlit QWERTY keyboard. It also offers support for Verizon's high-speed EV-DO data network and built-in GPS so you can take advantage of Verizon's optional VZ Navigator turn-by-turn direction service. And it continues to offer all the communication features that you've come to expect from Blackberry smartphones, including email served up by the BlackBerry Internet Service and a full menu of messaging options (SMS, MMS, and IM). Other features include Bluetooth for communication headsets, MicroSD memory expansion up to 4 GB, and an integrated digital audio player.
Dual Connectivity Perfect for the fashionable world-traveling professional, the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition and Verizon Wireless' Global BlackBerry service allow customers to access e-mail and place and receive domestic and international calls in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and parts of Africa. When used at home here in the U.S., you'll connect to Verizon's 800/1900 MHz CDMA network, as well as its 1xEV-DO 3G high-speed data network--which offers download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.)
But when you're traveling within a GSM network coverage area (900/1800 MHz) outside of the U.S. provided by Verizon Wireless' global roaming partners, the 8830 provides easy voice connectivity while roaming the globe. To use the 8830 outside of the U.S., customers should dial *611 from their Verizon Wireless phones to add global service to their calling plans before they leave home. You will also need a SIM card to use the phone on a foreign GSM network. (Note that you won't be able to access GSM here in the United States, as U.S. networks use the 850/1900 MHz GSM spectrum.)
Verizon Service Options Getting on the Internet is easy using Verizon's Mobile Web 2.0 package, which allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with this phone. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service.
With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access Verizon's VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps.
With BroadbandAccess Connect (subscription required), you can use your smartphone as a modem for your notebook when you connect the two using a USB cable--or open a Bluetooth connection--enabling you to access the Internet or your company intranet. The tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check email, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with BroadbandAccess Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices.
Phone Features The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition features a large high-resolution color display and intuitive trackball navigation to help you easily view e-mails, attachments, videos, and Web sites, and a back-lit QWERTY keyboard that makes it easy to send e-mail responses or instant messages with Mobile IM. The improved BlackBerry Browserhas a new "Page View" option that displays a full web page on the screen along with a magnifying glass that allows the user to quickly and accurately point and zoom in on a specific area of the web page.
The large screen has a 320 x 240-pixel resolution with support for up to 65K colors--plenty of real estate to view your e-mails, Web browser content, messaging sessions, and attachments. It comes with a 64 MB internal memory that can be expanded via optional MicroSD memory cards (up to 4 GB).
With a BlackBerry data plans from Verizon, you can receive e-mails instantaneously from up to 10 e-mail accounts (personal and enterprise). And with BlackBerry push technology, you don't need to retrieve your e-mail. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new e-mail arrives. Support is also built-in for viewing e-mail attachments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and PDF formats).
The digital audio player lets you listen to your favorite tunes stored on optional MicroSD cards, as well as play video files in vivid color. Shuffle your songs or enjoy your favorite playlist while you reply to messages. It supports MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, and WMA file formats. The Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity enables you to talk handsfree with a communication headset as well as use the phone wirelessly as a modem.
Other features include:
Phone as Modem Capable: Use the included USB cable to connect to laptops for a wireless modem, or choose to run this capability via Bluetooth with no USB cable requirement.
Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), DUN (dial-up networking), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PBA (transfer contacts)
Dual–band 800/1900 Mhz 1xEV–DO networks
Dual–band 900/1800 Mhz GSM/GPRS (outside North America)
64 MB Flash Memory/32 MB RAM
BlackBerry 4.2 Desktop Software
Ringtones: Polyphonic (MP3, MIDI) + vibrate
Password protection and keyboard lock
2.5mm headset jack
Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4/T4

Vital Statistics The BlackBerry 8830 weighs 4.6 ounces and measures 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.55 inches. Its 1400 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 220 minutes of talk time, and up to 216 hours of standby time on CDMA networks. When on international GSM networks, the phone provides up to 300 minutes of talk time and up to 384 hours of standby time. It runs on the 800/1900 MHz CDMA frequencies and is compatible with the EV-DO data network when on the Verizon network in the US; in international territories, it's compatible with 900/1800 MHz GSM/GPRS networks.

Click here for more information about RIM® Blackberry 8830 Worldphone For Verizon (CDMA)

Read More...

Samsung B3310 Unlocked Cell Phone with 2 MP Camera (Jade Green) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For starters, the description was very vague, which was a problem for me. I'm an At&t customer that broke my phone so this was going to be a replacement for me. My sim card worked fine in the phone. I was able to call, text, and set my ringtones the way I wanted. The only problem is this phone is NOT a U.S phone. My provider couldn't set up the internet for me. So if you don't have a data package and don't use this service, the phone is great. There is a facebook and myspace app but you can't get on those sites. So that's what I found out about this phone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung B3310 Unlocked Cell Phone with 2 MP Camera (Jade Green)

Get 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Samsung B3310 Unlocked Cell Phone with 2 MP Camera (Jade Green)

Read More...