Cell Phone Interactions: Web, SMS & Infrared

Nokia's 3360 is WAP enabled although access will depend upon your individual provider. You can browse the internet and check and send email so you'll be in touch with the cyber side of your communications. The cell phone has SMS messaging, although messages are limited to 160 characters each. You can set up message templates with your most common text to save time, although with the predictive T9 text input your message input time is already significantly shortened. T9 technology allows the cell phone to predict the word you are typing as you enter it, giving you full-word options to select from a list. The Nokia 3360 has organises your text messages into an inbox, out box and archive section so you have a record of your communications. The Nokia has infrared technology and also works as a wireless modem, although it is not as fast as a land line. These two features give you maximum flexibility with synchronizing your cell to your PC and Palm Pilot allowing you to transfer your date calander, address book and even use your PC for collecting email via the cell's modem!

The Ericsson t68 has all the messaging features and browsing - SMS, WAP 1.2.1 and email accessibility. You can bookmark your favorite websites just like with your PC browser, and email is easy to access, navigate and organise. The Ericsson has GPRS technology which allows you to access the web and still receive regular incoming calls, and also means your web downloads will fly. SMS messages can also be sorted into inbox, outbox and archive, and there is even an SMS message counter which lets you know how many text messages you send each month to help you stay within your budget. The predictive T9 text entry technology allows you to add new words to the database and saves heaps of time entering messages. One of the major selling features of the t68 is the MMS technology which allows you to send multimedia messages - you can embed sound files and images into your messages! The phone is infrared enabled to easily transfer data between other cells, your Palm Pilot or you can synch to your PC as well (though the software is not included with the purchase price).

The popular Siemen's S40 has a UP 4.1.16 web browser which gives you complete access to browse the internet and your email. SMS messaging is well set-up and easy to navigate, and you can even save your unfinished messages and return to them later. The cell phone allows preconstructed message templates to be saved. As well as normal text input and predictive T9 text this phone also offers a third typing entry system where you select off a menu selection of characters. This is a unique text input idea and is a particular favorite with S40 owners. S40 has infrared technology for synching your address book and calander details with either your Palm Pilot or your PC (using Microsoft Outlook).

Ringers and Sound

Although overall the Ericcson t68 has a tinny-sounding tone, the customizable sound features of this cell phone are great. There is a good range of included ringers tones (and a very weak vibro-alert too!) and you can download or compose an additional 10 tones for the phone. You can even swap ringers with your friends using the infrared technology! The t68 allows you to set ringer profiles for "groups", identifying up to 10 callers as family, friend or work collegue by the ring the phone gives when they call. The sound quality isn't quite up to scratch though, and with a soft ring, poor ear phone sound, lots of background noise and no mute feature, if sound is an important feature for you this may not be the best choice in cells. The t68 has a voice dialling feature, but it only recognizes your voice about half the time and although you can start a call merely using your voice, you can't use the voice dial to end a call. The dictaphone allows you to record up to 40 seconds of voice memo.

The Nokia 3360 is a winner in the sound department! The overall sound quality is excellent, with minimal-no background noise, an attractive tone from both the general speaker and the bonus hands-free earpiece included with the phone sale. The ear piece has a hands-free microphone which picks up your voice clearly. There are 25 built in ringer and once again you can program or download up to 10 additional sounds. The 3360 is designed to enable you to set up group identities of work, family and friend contacts and program specific ringers for each group. There is a vibro-alert and reliable voice activated dialling.

Siemens s40 cell is the most lacking in sound quality of the phones in this review. Although the ear piece has a fairly loud sound level, the sound sent from the phone is poor with lots of background noise and the general speaker is faint. The phone comes with 47 built in ringers but you can only add up to 5 of your own. There is a strong vibration alert, and you can also customize event tones to sound when particular features of the phone are activated. There is a dictaphone for recording your own voice memos or recording phone calls but unfortunately there is no voice dialling.

Cell Phones: Additional Features

The Nokia 3360 is packed with additional features such as:

• 3 games which you can connect to the vibration alert
• multiple langauge support
• call log for incoming, outgoing and missed calls
• regular calculator
• currency convertor

The phone comes with the bonus ear piece and a travel charger, and has a built in message reminder system and alarm, voice mail capabilities and on-screen indicators for volume, incoming messages and reception.

The Siemens S40 cell phone sports a range of additional features such as a clock with built in alarm, calculator, callwaiting, a standard call log and a very convenient call-barring feature which lets you ignore calls from specific phone numbers. But you'll be let down with the lack of both games and graphics on this cell - features that are virtually standard these days.

Ericsson's t68 has almost as many features as the Nokia:

• speed dialling
• call log for incoming, outgoing and missed calls
• incredibly accurate stop watch
• calculator
• alarm clock with snooze feature

With the mutimedia technology messaging abilities and the color screen (you can even select from a range of color schemes!) the t68 is where the future is heading in cell phone technology.