Motorola FONE F3 Review

16th September 2007
The Motorola FONE F3 is one of the cheapest phones on the market at around €40 or so. But this attractive device is a lot more impressive than you might think.
> Motorola FONE F3 Review

Sony Ericsson K770i

Sony Ericsson have been doing very well in sales recently - last Christmas they hit the number one spot in some European markets, ahead of Nokia. The reason for this was their strong line-up of Walkman and Cyber-shot handsets - and the Sony Ericsson K770i is the latest in this long line of phones, due to hit the market this autumn.The Sony Ericsson K770i is a lightweight 3G phone, coming in at 95 grams and just 14.5mm thick. There's a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus, plus a 1.9" 240x320 pixel display.
Because it's a Cyber-shot branded phone, the K770i comes with more than just a camera. There's a built-in "photo fix" application for helping to adjust those pictures that just didn't quite come out correctly. Plus the K770i has stereo Bluetooth, FM radio, Memory Stick Micro expandable memory (256Mb included in the box), a multimedia player, an email client, web browser and RSS reader. If you're familiar with previous Cyber-shot branded phones, then you'll know what to expect.
Sony Ericsson are quoting an astonishing 10 hours talktime when used on GSM, but this drops down to 2.5 hours when used on a 3G network. Standby time in either mode is a maximum of 16 days which is impressive.
t appears to be a good phone, but apart from the slightly peculiar 1970s style brown colour there's very little that makes the K770i stand out from the increasingly crowded range of Sony Ericsson phones. There are a lot.. really a lot of Cyber-shot and Walkman phones in the range and Sony Ericsson are in danger of stretching the brand too far. Yes, a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash is pretty good, but the K810i and K850i are much better imaging phones and are far more worthy of the "Cyber-shot" branding.

Still, the K770i is unlikely to disappoint, with it's compact frame and unfussy good looks. Just don't expenct people to go "wow" when they see it - the K770i is far too understated to be a head-turner. Sony Ericsson say that the K770i will be available in selected markets from the autumn.

Motorola RAZR2 V9

Expected Q2 200715th May 2007
The Motorola RAZR2 V9 looks almost identical to the RAZR2 V8 - it's just a little thicker but otherwise the differences are slight.

Unlike the V8, the RAZR V9 is a 3G phone with HSDPA support giving a maximum download speed of 3.6Mbps. It's not the first HSDPA RAZR though, Motorola have been an early adopted of 3.5G in their clamshell devices.
As with the V8, the RAZR2 V9 features a very large 2.0" 240x320 pixel display with a touchscreen and haptic (tactile) feedback. This means that many of the V9's functions can be controlled from the external display. At 2 inches diagonal size, we believe that the RAZR2 has the largest external display of any phone we've seen.
Motorola tell us that the RAZR2 V9 features video calling and a close examination of the handset reveals that there only appears to be one camera.. so presumably video calls are made using the external camera and screen.
The camera itself is a disappointment. It's just a 2 megapixel affair with no autofocus or flash and a pretty low video resolution of 176x144 pixels. In this respect the V9 isn't that competitive with a lot of the high-end 3G phones it competes against.
The RAZR2 V9 can play back a variety of audio and video formats, using the external display as a media controller. Internal memory is 45MB (a lot less than the V8) but this can be expanded by up to 2GB using microSD cards. Stereo audio playback is either via a wired headset or compatible Bluetooth accessory.
The phone is designed to be tough with a stainless steel casing around an internal chassis to make it strong, and the external display has been coated to resist scratching.
Again, there are many other improvements that the RAZR2 V9 shares with the V8 including a much improved user interface, voice recognition and feedback and a web browser, email client and a range of other applications.
It may not be the first HSDPA RAZR, but it's certainly the best effort to date. The two elements that are most offputting are the so-so camera and the somewhat unimaginative styling.
Motorola say that the V8 and V9 should be available in certain markets from July 2007.

Motorola U9 (PEBL2) Preview

Announcement expected soon 19th August 2007
We don't know much about the Motorola U9 - except that it exists. Possibly called the PEBL2 or perhaps another addition to the ROKR line-up of phones, the U9 breaks the RAZR-style tradition somewhat.
From the outside, we believe that the Motorola U9 shares many features from the RAZR2 line, including the large exterior display. Our impression of the U9's exterior is shown on the right

The only official photograph from Motorola is on the left which shows a PEBL-style clamshell with a upgraded RAZR-type keypad.
The Motorola U9 isn't a 3G phone - according to the documentation we've seen, the U9 is a quad-bang GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz device with GPRS and EDGE. It doesn't mean that there won't be a 3G version though - remember that the RAZR2 V8 and RAZR2 V9 are GSM/3G variants of the same phone, so perhaps there's a Motorola U10 somewhere with 3G support.

We're not certain when Motorola will announce the U9 / PEBL2 or whatever they will call it, but certainly they're in desperate need of a boost to their product range, and if the U9 is based on RAZR2 technology then this could be just the thing they need.

Nokia N95 8GB

Expected Q4 2007 29th August 2007 NEW! - Play / download MP3 podcast
The Nokia N95 8GB is a little bit more than just the existing N95 with a paint job and memory upgrade - this version of the N95 has a larger screen and enhanced GPS, plus N-Gage gaming.
The display has been upgraded to a 2.8" panel from 2.6", and according to Nokia it is also brighter and clearer than ever before. In fact, the screen is the same size as the HTC TyTN II - but the big drawback with the Nokia N95 8GB is that it doesn't have a touchscreen.

Underneath the snazzy new exterior, the Nokia N95 8GB packs in an awesome number of features. It's a 3G phone with HSDPA high-speed data, quad-band GSM with GPRS and EDGE and WiFi. The N95 8GB also has stereo Bluetooth, infra-red and USB connectivity.
The camera is one of the N95 8GB's strongest points - it's a 5 megapixel unit with autofocus and Carl Zeiss optics. Video capture resolution is up to 640 x 480 pixels, and the N95 8GB also has a video out port. Images and video clips can be uploaded directly from the phone to a number of compatible weblog or picture sharing sites. Along with some other high-end Nokias, the N95 8GB can use the N-Gage Arena gaming service.
One criticism of the original N95 (since resolved in a software update) was the amount of time that it took to get a GPS fix, now Nokia have upgraded this to A-GPS which is quicker. Basic mapping functions will be included, but full Navigation support will require a subscription.

There's comprehensive multimedia support too, the N95 8GB can play back MP3, AAC, M4A and WMA audio files plus video clips. There's an FM radio too for good measure. The N95 8GB retains the unusual two-way slider mechanism that allows users to switch between the number pad and a set of dedicated media keys.
An addition, there's a web browser, email client and set of personal information management applications. The N95 8GB can also view common email attachment types such as Microsoft Office and PDF files.

As you can guess by the name, the Nokia N95 8GB now has eight gigabytes of internal memory, although unlike the original N95 it does not appear to be possible to add a memory card. Nokia say that this can hold up to 6000 songs or 20 hours of videos.
To be honest, there wasn't much wrong with the original N95 (apart from the lack of a touchscreen) and there's no pressing reason to upgrade if you're an N95 user.
The physical characteristics of the N95 8GB are very similar to the original at 99 x 53 x 21mm in size and slightly heavier at 128 grams in weight. Maximum talktime is around 3.5 hours on 3G, 5 hours on GSM and the standby time is up to 11 days.
Nokia say that the N95 8GB should be available during the fourth quarter of 2007 for a price of around €560 / £380 / $700 before tax and subsidy.

Nokia 5610 XpressMusic

NEW! - Play / download MP3 podcast
The Nokia 5610 XpressMusic is a midrange 3G slider phone that is full of features that you'd previously only expect to find in a high-end device.

Priced at around €300 / £200 / $400 before tax and subsidy, the Nokia 5610 comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera, 2.2" QVGA display, quad-band GSM with dual-band 850/2100 UMTS, microSD expandable memory (up to 4GB), an FM radio, stereo Bluetooth and a novel slider key for one-touch media access.
The XpressMusic branding should tell you that Nokia consider this to be a multimedia phone, the 5610 can directly access Nokia's new Nokia Music Store service, it comes with dedicated media buttons and it can play back MP3, AAC, M4A and WMA files. But the Nokia 5610 XpressMusic also scores well when it comes to the camera, not only is it a 3.2 megapixel unit, but it has a flash, autofocus and can capture video clips at up to 640 x 480 pixel resolution. These sort of digital imaging capabilities were previously restricted to high-end N-Series phones.

It isn't a smartphone - the Nokia 5610 XpressMusic is a Symbian Series 40 device which means that the software can't be expanded, but then most people aren't bothered about that. It does seem to deliver pretty much all the features that most consumers would want, and at a pretty reasonable price.
The Nokia 5610 XpressMusic will be available in red and blue colour combinations during Q4 2007

Nokia 5310 XpressMusic

Expected Q4 2007 29th August 2007 NEW! - Play / download MP3 podcast
The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic weighs just 70 grams and is only 9.9mm thick, but it is a surprisingly feature packed phone, and one that offers very good value for money too.

The XpressMusic branding means that this is a midrange music phone. Priced at around €225 / £150 / $300 before tax and subsidy, the 5310 isn't too expensive and is in reach of many prepay customers. For the money you get a tri-band GSM phone with a 2" 240x320 pixel display, microSD expandable memory, a multimedia player, a 2 megapixel digital camera, stereo Bluetooth and an FM radio.
There are also dedicated media keys on the side of the 5310 XpressMusic, and the handset can play back MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA and M4A audio clips through a standard 3.5mm jack plug, stereo Bluetooth headset or a set of speakers.
Memory is expandable up to 4GB, and Nokia say that this means that the 5310 XpressMusic can store a maximum of 3000 songs

It's a nice looking handset and we think that the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic offers good value for money in a very lightweight package.
Nokia say that the 5310 XpressMusic should be available during Q4 2007.

Nokia BL-5C Battery Recall

Nokia have recalled a staggering 43 million batteries because of "overheating" problems, covering some of Nokia's best known handsets.
> Nokia BL-5C Battery Recall

Nokia 5700 XpressMusic

Expected Q2 200729th March 2007
If the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic looks a little familiar, then there's a good reason. Broadly speaking the 5700 is an update of the 3250 that hit the market early last year, sharing a similar swivelling keypad and the Symbian S60 operating system.
It's a fairly substantial step up from the 3250 in terms of technical specifications - the Nokia 5700 Xpress Music is a 3G phone with quad-band GSM, it has an improved QVGA (240x320 pixel) display in 16 million colours, stereo Bluetooth plus a dedicated audio chip to help with music playback. Nokia have added all these features while trimming 15 grams off the weight.
As with the 3250, the Nokia 5700 has a two megapixel camera and microSD expandable memory, up to 2GB on the 5700. Internal memory is pretty limited at about 35MB or so, and we're not clear about what memory card is included in the pack.

The Nokia 6700 XpressMusic supports a variety of multimedia types including MP3, MPEG4, AAC and WMA files although we'd expect to find an FM radio in this type of device and the 5700 doesn't seem to have one.

The styling has changed from the rather dull looking 3250 too and it's rather more in line with the popular Nokia 5300 and 5200 models.
There's nothing in the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic that we haven't seen before, but it still seems to be an appealing package for consumers. Nokia say that the 5700 should be available from Q2 2007 at a price of around €350 before tax and subsidy

Nokia 5070

Expected Q2 200730th March 2007
Let's get straight to the point about the Nokia 5070 - this is a very cheap phone at just €100 / £60 or so before tax and subsidy, and it's a quite attractive handset too.

As you might guess from the bargain price tag, there's not an awful lot going on with the Nokia 5070.. in fact it is almost identical to last year's Nokia 6080 and Nokia 6070 models.. although it is a fair bit cheaper than the badly overpriced 6080.
The Nokia 5070 is a basic but functional device with a 128x160 pixel CSTN display in 65,000 colours, a VGA resolution (0.3 megapixel) digital camera, FM radio (with stereo headphones in the box in most retail packages) and really not much else. The software includes a web browser, email client, MP3 ringtones and some PIM functions. Internal memory is just 16Mb with just 4.3Mb available to the user, but then there's not an awful lot going on under the hood so this shouldn't be a problem.

There's no Bluetooth, no expandable memory and no MP3 player but it's worth remembering that the Nokia 5070 is a very cheap handset. It's quite light too at 88 grams, although the battery life is a little disappointing at just 3.5 hours talktime. The 5070 does support EDGE data, but it's a bit of a moot point in a handset with limited capabilities such as this.
The Nokia 5070 isn't the sort of handset that most Mobile Gazette readers would want for themselves, but it is something that looks quite appealing for the bottom end of the market, and it looks more expensive than it really is.
Yes.. we called the virtually identical Nokia 6080 a tired old relic, and the 5070 is very much more 2003 than 2007.. but then the 5070 shaves €60 off the cost and it delivers a good value for money package.
Nokia say that the 5070 should be available from Q2 2007 in two tri-band GSM variants.

Nokia 6500 Slide

Expected Q3 2007 31st May 2007
Despite its name, the Nokia 6500 Slide (Nokia spell it slide in lowercase) has very little in common with the Nokia 6500 Classic. Both are non-smartphone dual-band 3G devices with 240x320 pixel displays, and really that's about it.

Overall the Nokia 6500 Slide is a pretty accomplished handset.. but we do get an impressive that it's a bit of a "parts bin" phone made from elements we've seen before with very little new to offer.
Unlike the monoblock "Classic", the Slide is a fully featured 3G phone with video calling. It also has dual-band UMTS and quad-band GSM, plus GPRS and EDGE data which means that the 6500 Slide can be used worldwide. The screen is a pretty large 2.2" 240x320 pixel panel in 16 million colours.
The Nokia 6500 Slide also has an integrated FM radio and TV out function so that slides and video clips can be shared.
The camera on the Slide is hugely better than the Classic, in fact it looks like one of the best cameras in Nokia's range. It's a 3.2 megapixel unit with Carl Zeiss optics, dual flash, autofocus and VGA-resolution video capture. These type of capabilities have commonly only been seen in high-end N-Series devices before, and the Nokia 6500 Slide is firmly placed in the middle of Nokia's range.

As with most other handsets, the 6500 Slide relies on its expansion slot for memory. There's a reasonable 256MB included in the standard sales package, and this can be expanded to 4GB which should keep most people happy.

The software on the Nokia 6500 Slide is pretty impressive considering that it isn't a smartphone. The multimedia player supports MP3, MP3, AAC, eAAC+ and WMA formats, and the handset even includes built-in versions of Flickr, Adobe Photoshop and PictBridge. Nokia say that the 6500 Slide also includes "push email", and of course it will have a web browser and all the usual stuff you'll find on a 3G phone.
Given the Nokia 6500 Slide's capabilities, it's just plain odd that it isn't an S60 smartphone, but presumably this allows the phone to slot into a particular market niche. And although the other bits and pieces seem to have been raided from other Nokia handsets, they're all pretty good bits and pieces

It's not a light phone - 125 grams is fairly typical these days for a 3G slider. The battery life is quoted as 6 hours talktime and 13 hours standby time, although it isn't stated if that's on GSM or 3G. Priced at around €370 / £230 / $450 before tax and subsidy, the Nokia 6500 Slide does offer a practical alternative to more expensive N-Series devices.
Nokia say that the 6500 Slide should be available from Q3 2007.

Nokia 8600 Luna

Available now 31st May 2007
One of Nokia's worst kept secrets, the Nokia 8600 Luna is a high-fashion slider phone made from stainless steel and glass. Confusingly, this is a better specified phone than the 8800 Sirocco, but it has a few shortcomings too.

One notable improvement on the 8600 Luna is the display - it has a 240x320 pixel panel in 16 million colours. On the back is a pretty standard 2 megapixel camera, and the 8600 Luna has an MP3 player. It's a quad-band GSM phone with GPRS and EDGE data, plus Bluetooth support. Most people will want this phone for its looks though, and the smoked glass sliding panel is particularly sexy.
Dig a little under the Nokia 8600's gorgeous exterior and the limitations start to become apparent. There's no expandable memory on the 8600, so users are limited to the 128MB supplied internally. The 8600 Luna also lacks stereo Bluetooth, and it isn't 3G capable.
It's a heavy phone, weighing in as 143 grams and measuring 107 x 45 x 15.9mm. In exchange for this bulk the 8600 Luna offers a disappointing battery life of 3 hours 40 minutes talk and 10 days standby time. It's just a little bit heaver than the old 8800 Sirocco.
So.. the Nokia 8600 Luna is somewhat flawed but it looks fantastic. The smooth sliding mechanism and attractive smoked glass features give the 8600 plenty of "wow factor". However, these looks come at a premium price - the 8600 Luna will retail at around €700 / £450 / $800 before tax and subsidy. In the UK it will be around £140 at launch when taken with a £35/month contract.
The Nokia 8600 Luna is available now, at launch exclusive to the Carphone Warehouse group in Europe (including the Phone House, e2save and OneStopPhoneShop.)

Nokia 7500 Prism

We got our first glimpse of the Nokia 7500 Prism last month, when the handset was announced by Nokia China.
As ever, the Nokia 7000 series are for "fashion phones", and the Nokia 7500 (and its sibling the 7900) certainly fit into that category. The unusual angular design and repeated triangular pattern across the Nokia 7500 may not be to everyone's taste.. but it is certainly a highly distinctive handset and one that's pretty decently specified too.
Before we look at the technical specifications, it's worth taking a closer look at the Nokia 7500's design detailing. Nokia have gone to some effort to make sure that the whole phone continues the same theme, including the 7500's user interface. This overall look is sure to polarised opinion, but generally speaking these designs sell well (even the truly awful Nokia 7260).
Unlike some of Nokia's past fashion phones, the Nokia 7500 is pretty well specified. It has a 240x320 pixel display in 16 million colours, a 2 megapixel camera with flash, microSD memory expansion (up to 2GB with 512MB supplied as standard), Bluetooth, stereo wired headphones in the box and interchangeable "accent" colours (basically just a set of plastic inserts).
As you might expect, the Nokia 7500 comes with a multimedia player, web browser and email client plus an assortment of other software.
It's quite a lightweight phone - the Nokia 7500 Prism comes in at 83 grams. Talktime is a little on the short side at 2.8 hours, with 10 days standby time. This is a tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 device, and the 7500 Prism also has GPRS and EDGE data. Overall, the Nokia 7500 measures 109 x 44 x 14mm.
The Nokia 7500 Prism is good value too - at around €210 before tax and subsidy it should make an attractive prepay handset as well as a contract one. The Nokia 7500 Prism is already available in certain Asia-Pacific countries, presumably with other countries to follow during Q3 2007.