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Author: The Editor

  • Nokia 2220 Review
    Welcome to the Nokia 2220 review. Released in mid-2010 the 2220 is one of the newest models in Nokia bargain or cheapest new mobile phone line-up. Price at less than $60 outright this is a very basic GSM only phone but it does have limited data connectivity.  So if that is all you are after then read on. The construction quality is very good for a basic phone.  Likewise the screen quality good for the price but it is low resolution. In fact we can say that about the keypad and functionality included in the phone are good of a basic mobile phone.  When to held it it felt like a small rock so it will presumably be quite a sturdy phone.  The only thing interesting about the 2220 is that it can do IM and email notifications as well thanks to its basic data connectivity. Replying to emails though would be quite a lengthy experience due to the non-QWERTY keypad. Remember this is a cheap phone so does nothing exceptional. The user interface and operating system uses the latest S40 enhancements so if you've used a Nokia before you will be at home with how it operates. However it is not the most responsive phone on the planet. Since it come in a variety colors the model is targeted as first time users and school children who want to stay in touch. The Nokia 2220 does talk and SMS messaging easily and sure it is a cheap mobile phone BUT spending a mere $20 more will get you a more functional phone in the Nokia range or other brands.  If they priced this phone under $40 it would make it a must have for those who want a simple mobile phone. To conclude we think that the 2220 is a decent basic phone with the features high end phones used to have 10 years ago.  However in 2010 unless you only want basic talk and text then look else where. This phone is priced cheaper than most pre-paid packages available so the bonus of getting an network free phone is a bonus - but remember that it is only a dual band phone so may not work on all networks in your country.  Try to find a Quad-band GSM phone if you don't know anything about the which frequencies your phone network uses. Specifications
    • Nokia 2220
    • Network Dual-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Based on country)
    • Design Slider
    • L97.14 x W47 x D15.85 mm Weight 93.5 grams
    • Display/s TFT 128 x 160
    • Camera 640 x 320 pixels
    • Video Camera 128 x 96 pixels @ 10FPS
    • Connectivity Not included
    • CPU ???Mhz
    • Memory
    • Up to 10Mb available to user No expandable memory
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, vibration and others
    • Features Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio Speaker Phone/Hands free BL-4C 3.7V 860mAh Up to 20 days Standby Up to 5.3 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $60 AUD Mid-2010 (Outright)

  • Samsung C5220 Review
    Welcome to the Samsung C5220 review. The Samsung C5220 released in early 2009 is a basic flip phone offered solely in Australia for the Telstra mobile phone network.  Hence this is a GSM and a NextG (3G) capable phone so get data connectivity at a good speed. We believe its the replacement for the older A411. The C5220 does not offer much standard functionality but due to its relatively cheap pre-paid and outright costs we can not really complain. What is does best is to connect to the internet Telstra portal for content and additional functionality.  The Telstra portal has improved over the years and has a number of free and subscription based content like news, video, music and TV. The C5220 is priced from as low as $59 as a pre-paid package you can't expect much. Construction and looks are average, with a all plastic body and plasti-metal keypad.   In black it looks like just another flip phone but in metallic red the C5220 looks  a little classier.  The external screen is a black and white screen and the internal a 2 inch colour TFT. Both screens are not really high resolution but easy enough to read and competitive with others int he price range.  The flip closes with a typical whack of a plastic toy but feels sturdy enough a year of two of usage.  The key pad is good to use but not as nice to look at or use as the A411 and A412. The interface is the old icon based navigation system used by Samsung since the early 2000's so everything is easy enough to access.  Speed of the interface is good and the annoying music key presses which can be turned off is still there.  The interface can be confusing since there can be quite a lot of information displayed at the one time. Network reception quality on the C5220 is very good but call quality is only average.  The Telstra/ZTE models are superior to this model in this regard and even the ancient Motorola V3XX is so much better. The C5220 can be sync'ed with your computer and used as a wireless 3G modem.  Although not as fast a standalone USB 3G modems it does work. Overall the Samsung C5220 is a decent enough basic mobile phone.  It will do voice and calls, SMS, MMS and emails and some very basic web browsing with ease. If that is all you want then this is a good choice just don't pay too much for it. The Telstra branded ZTE phones are just as good as the Samsung in this price range so you'll have to decide based on look and feel rather than what functionality it can actually do. However if your budget can spare a few more dollars and you'll be able to get a much better mobile phone. Specifications
    • Samsing C5220
    • Network Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 Single-band 3G 850 HSDPA 3.6
    • Design Slider
    • L99 x W49.5 x D18.2 mm Weight 100 grams
    • Display/s Internal 2 inch TFT 176 x 220 pixels External 1 inch FSTN 96 x 96 pixels
    • Camera 1.3MP
    • Video Camera 174 x 220 pixel
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2 microUSB
    • CPU ???Mhz
    • Memory Up to 35MB available to user 4Gig micro-SD card slot
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, vibration and others
    • Features Music and Media player Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 Speaker Phone/Hands free 3.7V 960mAh Up to 250 hours Standby Up to 2 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $100 AUS 2010 (Pre-paid)

  • Favorite mobile phone design

    There are lots of mobile phones in a variety of designs. There is the candy bar, QWERTY, flip or clam shell, touch screen, slider, slider QWERTY, twist, touch slider and so forth.  Each design has its pros and cons.

    We do have a preference for the QWERTY and flip phones for convenience, design and ease of use. However we are definitely open to trying new designs to see if they are any good.

    QWERTY keyboard phones are usually very easy to use and allows you the ability to properly reply to emails and SMS on the run.  As a result of the keypad they usually have large screens.  Some keypads are naturally better than others but most are very easy to use.

    Clam shell or Flip phones are so convenient and usually stylish.  There is nothing easier than flipping open your phone to answer a call or flipping it shut to end it.  The keypad is nice and large and the internal screen protected.  it is unfortunate the most manufacturers don’t make top range flip phone anymore (2010).

  • Nokia 2710 Navigation Review
    Welcome to the Nokia 2710 review. Released in mid-2010 the 2710 Navigation edition is a unique phone since its selling point is the inbuilt A-GPS receiver with full and free navigation, mapping software and map data in a cheap as possible GSM only phone. Priced less $190 (mid-2010) the phone is as cheap as many standalone GPS navigators without mobile phone functionality. The low outright price also makes it competitive with pre-packages that comes with a phone so you have to decide what you really want first.  For example the similarly priced pre-paid E63 - which has a lot more functionality but it will be locked to a particular network.  (It usually costs extra to unlock the phone). The GPS navigation software on the 2710 is the OVI Maps software is common to most of Nokia's phone's so it does work quite well as a proper navigator. It has all the essential features you really need in a mobile GPS system.  We cannot complain due to the price. The 2710 also has a reasonably large 2.2inch 240 x 320 pixel screen which is pretty good for a cheap phone and a loud speaker that was harsh at loud volumes. In the hand the phone is solid and the keypad good to use. Being one of the cheaper Nokia models it runs the S40 operating system so if you've used a Nokia before you will feel instantly at home. Everything is logically located in the menu system and responsive for the price.  It can also run our animated screensavers and wallpapers so we can definitely recommend it (shameless plug). The 2710 also feels good to use for the category. The 2710 is a good phone for those who want voice and text messaging and a free GPS navigator as well.  It can do data but being GSM network only it is restricted to slow GPRS speeds.  That said it would work quite well with emails without attachments of course. We also thought that the call quality signal reception was surprisingly - one of the best. To conclude we think that the 2700 Navigation is a very good cheap mobile phone.  The only draw back is the very plain design. However we think travelers and would love the anonymous design which makes it less likely to be a target for theft yet has all the functionality to stay in touch. The inbuilt GPS and downloadeable world maps will make your travels much easier. It would work well as a first mobile phone or those only interested in talk and testing. Other than that, with lots of standard software and even a 3.5mm headphone socket it will make a great little media player for those after a reasonably priced and decent first mobile phone. Specifications
    • Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
    • Design Candy bar
    • L111.2 x W45.7 x D13.7 mm Weight 87 grams
    • Display/s 2.2 inch TFT 240 x 320
    • Camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 320 x 240 pixels @ 15FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2
    • CPU ???Mhz
    • Memory Up to 64Mb available to user Up to 16Gig microSD card
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, vibration and others
    • Features Accelerometer Compass (Magnetometer) Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free BL-5c 3.7V 1020mAh Up to 20 days Standby Up to 12.5 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $180 AUS 2010 (Outright) Under $160 AUS mid-2010 (Outright)

  • LG Chocolate BL20 Review
    Welcome to the LG BL20/BL42K Chocolate review. The BL20 Chocolate also known as the BL42K was released in late 2009 and is the replacement for the original KG800 Chocolate model that was released back in 2006.  The 'Chocolate' model brand is LG's 'fashion' mobile phone.  The Chocolate is a stylish mobile phone - because it looks stylish by looking like a small featureless black box.  Despite the name the phone is definitely black and not chocolate brown. Maybe licorice would be a more suitable name? The Chocolate's construction is solid slider phone covered in glossy occasionally transparent black scratch resistant plastic or glass.  The only thing that looks tacked on is the rear main camera. Surely they could have designed the phone without the camera sticking out.  Getting a suitable protective case is recommended since any permanent scratches would decrease the joy of looking at a all black phone!  Speaking of which the top, bottom and keypad are a bright reddish orange color that stands out but strangely suits the phone's overall design theme. The Chocolate's main feature is the front touch sensitive main navigation buttons.  When activated they glow a nice red and provide a haptic or a buzz when touched correctly.  The display screen itself is not touch sensitive. The slide out keypad while feels good but not as nice as say the Sony Ericsson models but works better due to the larger keys. We still think it is hard to beat the standard keypad on Nokias for those expert at blind SMS. Using the latest Chocolate model is actually pretty good!  The navigation system is a fast and updated version of it S-Class icon interface with a few new animations.  However variable application launch times are to be expected. The hidden screen is a 2.4 inch model that also looks good and large enough for most. The keypad is not the best for JAVA games but at least you can install them and other apps. The Chocolate has all the latest functionality for a mobile phone in 2010. Being a 3G capable phone you have usable internet download speeds and well a decent browser for this type of phone.  The 5Mp camera produces very good pictures but not the best and the novel feature included is an optimized camera setting for taking pictures of text or other graphics.  We don't think this feature it is a selling point though.  We didn't try the function due to a lack of time.  In fact we where hard pressed to write about anything outstanding about the Chocolate. Overall the Chocolate is a pretty decent mobile phone.  However there is not anything exceptional apart from its stylish looks.  It will do voice and calls, text and emails and some web browsing with ease.  If that is all you want then this is a good choice just don't pay too much for it.  That said it is relatively one of the few models that work well on the 850Mhz 3G networks. Specifications
    • LG Chocolate BL20/BL42K
    • Network Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/2100
    • Design Slider
    • L106.9 x W50.8 x D12.3 mm Weight 115 grams
    • Display/s 2.4 inch TFT 240 x 320 pixels
    • Camera 5MP LED flash and Auto focus
    • Video Camera 240 x 320 pixel @ 15FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2 microUSB
    • CPU ???Mhz
    • Memory Up to 60MB available to user 16Gig micro-SD card slot
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio Speaker Phone/Hands free 3.7V 900mAh Up to 18 days Standby Up to 5 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $299 AUS 2010 (Outright)

  • Nokia 7100 Supernova Review
    Welcome to the Nokia 7100 review. Like a few other lower end mobile phones we have been meaning to do a write up on the phone for a while now (since its late 2008 release) but once again for what ever reason just never got around to finishing it. The 7100 Supernova is a basic slider phone designed for as Nokia calls it 'emerging markets' essentially a basic mobile phone.  The 7100 in mid-2010 is priced under $129 unlocked so is reasonably good value.  We think it will drop to under $99 by the end of the year. The 7100 is a GSM only phone but capable of data thanks to EDGE and GPRS compatibility.  However do not expect high speed data.  Surprisingly it has a number of features that surprise given its position and price in the lineup.  Hardware extras such as a decent screen, Bluetooth, able to play various media formats including the capability to record radio broadcasts and a small camera. Other than that it has got a huge speaker grill at the back for reasonably loud audio output.  The main flaw is the missing expandable memory slot. In your hands it feels light and sturdy - like most Nokia phones.  The slide mechanism feels good for the price like wise the keypad and screen. The screen is not big but larger than similarly priced phones thus commendable. It runs Nokia S40 operating system so if you've used a Nokia before you will feel instantly at home.  Everything is logically located in the menu system and reasonably responsive for the price.  You can't really fault the 7100 for anything significant taking its intended purpose into account. At a stretch perhaps the tiny 4MB free memory is sad but.. However when you do compare it to phones priced a little more then its value price becomes odd.  You see for a mere $20 more (at thie time this was written) you can buy the 6600 Fold which has much more features and technology. To conclude we like the 7100 Supernova, it does everything well for a cheap mobile phone but you will be happier in the longer term with its relative the 6600 Fold.  If you have a few more dollars the 6700 Slide is also a superior mobile phone. Nonetheless the 7100 would be perfect for those who just want talk and text functions in a slider format but not value for money considering a few more dollars will get you significantly better mobile phone. Specifications
    • Nokia 7100 Supernova
    • Network Dual-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Dependent on country)
    • Design Slider
    • L98 x W48.4 x D15 mm Weight 103.5 grams
    • Display/s 2 inch TFT 240 x 320
    • Camera 1.3MP
    • Video Camera 128 x 96 pixels @ 7FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2
    • CPU ???Mhz
    • Memory Up to 4MB available to user
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, vibration and others
    • Features Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio Speaker Phone/Hands free BL-4S 3.7V 860mAh Up to 19 days Standby Up to 8.5 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $129 AUS mid-2010 (Outright)

  • Nokia 6600 Fold Review
    Welcome to the Nokia 6600 Fold review. The 6600 was release in late 2008 and is only vaguely related to the 6600i model. Initially a mid-range model it is now by 2010 it has become a bargain standard model. Construction is solid and glassy plastic with metal accents so looks better in real life then in pictures.  The curves on the phone make it look smaller than its already small size if you get the drift.  Honestly looks and feels good and will not embarrass.  We like flip phones or clamshells because they don't need extra or excessive external protective covers.  You can put it in your pocket and know that the screen and keypad will still look good and work. Firstly the 6600 is now a cheap GSM and 3G capable mobile phone.  I dare say one of the best deals out there, for a regular phone. It comes with a lot of software and hardware features like a bright OLED screens, 2 web browsers, Nokia Maps, camera with a flash, a another video call camera, good build quality and the ease of use.  Being 3G capable you can get data at decent download speeds and the Opera web browser means that even full websites can be viewed properly. Since it is S40 based it will run all our software as an animated wallpaper or screensaver we can naturally recommend it then!  It doesn't have much on board memory for new apps BUT since you can use microSD cards you should be fine  Despite having the older Nokia maps software the 6600 does not have a built in GPS hardware so you'll need an external module for true navigation. Using the phone is typically Nokia easy and fast, helped by being about to customize just about anything related to the user menus and of course ring tones and icons.  The larger keypad works well and we prefer it to slider phones.  We also thought the call quality was better than the 6500 which we current test software on.  We can also add that the signal reception is also very good - better than the 6500. Overall a very decent but standard phone for voice and video calls, SMS and catching up on Facebook and emails.  See the price history below. Sure its not as good value as the Nokia E63 but the very few are (network locked).  So if you want good flip phone the 6600 Fold is the one to get.  Purchase it outright and happiness will be long term. Specifications
    • Nokia 6600 Fold
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/2100
    • Design Flip phone
    • L87.7 x W44 x D15.9 mm Weight 110 grams
    • Display/s Internal OLED TFT 240 x 320 External OLED TFT 160 x 128
    • Camera 2MP
    • Video Camera 640 x 480 pixel @ 15FPS
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2
    • CPU ???Mhz
    • Memory Up to 15MB available to user 4Gig micro-SD card slot
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Accelerometer Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free USB charging BL-4CT 3.7V 860mAh Up to 12 days Standby Up to 4 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Approx $159 AUS 2010 (Outright)

  • Telstra T202 Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2010 Telstra T202 mobile phone review.  The T202 can be seen in two ways, a very cheap or budget mobile phone or niche mobile.  We consider it primarily a niche model for the elderly or those with physical issues.  However due to its limited functionality and price a great solution for your child's first mobile phone. Priced under the $60 pre-paid range it is like an expensive toy too! The T202 has the biggest keys for a modern mobile phone we seen and the key selling point.  Certainly helps those who find the keys of the latest mobile phones annoyingly small.  Even the buttons on touch screen phones are not big enough.  Although the buttons are big the screen is not so large however the numbers displayed are readable for those with poor eyesight. Once again the pictures distributed do not really look like the actual phone.  In your hands the phone is like an old style TV remote control, it works well nonetheless.  We like the design - its cute! The menu navigation is simple but with few graphics and just word to describe what option you are trying to access. In terms of functionality the T202 is rather basic GSM only phone but it does meet the the needs of the target users, elderly folk. Admittedly the T202 would also suit the younger crowd as something different or would cut down on phone bills since it can't access the internet.  It can only do voice and text messages.  This is cool for the school aged kids who demand to be different and do not care about the latest fashionable phone. Telstra have determined that the users of this phone need a medical reminders and programmable SMS and phone numbers, a selectable one touch 'short cut' key, a torch and a FM radio.  Excellent battery life is a given.  We like the voice announcements when you press the numbers.  It all seems fair enough considering it can be found for under $50.  One last thing, no-one would want to steal this phone that's for sure! Conclusion So if you want a very basic phone or just could not be bothered with the latest functionality in modern phones the T202 is a perfect choice.  Talk and Text are the T202 best functions. Sure there are other basic phones to choose from but they are not designed with big buttons and an easy to ready display.  Perfect for those who can't get the hang of the latest phones or child whose parents don't want them to waste their cash on data downloads and other unnecessary but entertaining apps. Specifications
    • Telstra T202
    • Network Dual GSM 900/1800 MHz
    • Design Candy bar 108mm x 49.5mm x 15.1mm Weight 82 grams
    • Display/s External QCIF
    • Camera N/A
    • Connectivity USB
    • CPU
    • Memory 64MB internal memory 40MB available to user Up to 4Gig MicroSD or Trans Flash cards
    • Ring tones Standard
    • Features SMS MyWords predictive text Speaker Phone/Hands free Calender/Phone Book 300Hrs Standby, 300Mins Talk Time 1000mAh Li-ion battery
    • Package contents XP/Vista Compatible PC suite Mac OSX Compatible software Personal hands free kit Travel charger USB cable
    • Price history Less than $50 AUS 2010 (Pre-paid pack)

  • Sony Ericsson Spiro Review

    hyp4mhz
    Welcome to the 2010 Sony Ericsson Spiro review/information page. The SE Spiro is marketed as a Walkman phone so you can expect a fully functional music player on board.  However it is only a GSM phone which means it will be reasonably priced.  It hasn't been released yet so we can only tell you the basics of what's included on the Spiro. Essentially if you like listening to music or the radio then the Spiro has you catered for.  It can do the usual voice, SMS and Facebook, Twitter and email too if required but due to the lack of 3G it won't be a fast experience.  It will come in a wide range of colors too so even the boys will be happy with one. Overall this should be a reasonably cheap phone for people with basic communication needs but want fully functional music system. Specifications
    • Sony Ericsson Spiro
    • Network Dual-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Dependent on country)
    • Design Slider
    • L92 x W48 x D16.75 mm Weight 90 grams
    • Display/s External TFT 240 x 320
    • Camera 2MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera Yes
    • Connectivity Bluetooth V2
    • CPU ???Mhz
    • Memory Up to 5MB available to user MicroSD up to 16Gig
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features JAVA Apps Music and Media player Organiser/Calender SMS, MMS, IM, Email JAVA MIDP 2.0 FM radio with RDS Speaker Phone/Hands free BST-43 3.7V 1000mAh Up to 13 days Standby Up to 10 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $xxx AUS 2010 (Outright)