Sony Ericsson’s T68i colour mobile phone weighs just 2.9 oz., but packs a ton of functionality that goes beyond voice. When Digital Journal tried it out, this tri-band GSM “world phone” proved more than adequate for run-of-the-mill phone calls. The clear reception, voice command support and extensive phone book (over 500 entries), are likely to please frequent callers. We also liked the vibrating alert and 18 ring tones which can be linked to contacts in your phone book, so you can tell who is calling just by the ring tone.
It was the non-voice features that really piqued our interest, however. For one thing, the phone offers several messaging modes: e-mail, SMS, and mobile chat. The 256-colour LCD display and the effective visual implementation of the multitap text entry system make one-thumb typing as painless as it can possibly get.
The T68i also provides mobile Internet access with its GPRS capability, the built-in browser and e-mail client. We were also able to hook it up as a GPRS modem for a laptop, using an infrared link. Data connectivity is a strong suit as well: Aside from IR, the phone boasts Bluetooth capability, thereby providing various options for synchronizing phone book and organizer data with your PC or PDA.
This phone is also a multimedia device. Its main menu is icon-based, and it offers themes, backgrounds, and screensavers. You can download sounds and images, or even create your own using the editing and recording software included. There’s also support for MMS, a multimedia messaging service that lets you include images and sounds along with your text messages. (This feature requires access to MMS servers.)
As if the T68i isn’t cool enough in itself, some optional accessories expand its functions even further. The HBH-30 Bluetooth headset makes hands-free operation a cordless affair and good reception within limited range, such as in a car or a small room.
And there’s the MCA-25 CommuniCam, a digital camera that connects to the base of the phone. The camera tops out at 640 x 480 resolution, but it’s small, light, easy to use, and produces decent enough pictures at above-Webcam quality. As with the ring tones, you can also link digital photos to the contacts in your phone book, so that a caller’s picture appears on screen when you receive an incoming call from the person.
The T68i costs $450 (CDN) when activated under a Fido monthly package or prepaid service, so it’s clear that multi-functionality doesn’t come cheap. But for users whose communication needs extend beyond voice, it would be hard to find anything else in the market quite as “all-in-one” as the T68i.
Cellphone Accessories:
Chatboard CHA-10:
Struggling with the small, smooth T68i keys? This tiny keyboard lets you dispense with the multitap system when composing SMS or e-mail messages. It provides instant access to your phone book, and rapid access buttons make it easier to access WAP pages. The Chatboard is a full QWERTY keyboard with special keys for logging into and attaching files.
Price: $35 (CDN)
CommuniCam Mobile Camera MCA-25:
Clicking snugly into the base of the T68i, this digital camera lets you take pictures at a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 in 24-bit colour. To compose your shots, you can use the built-in viewfinder, or use the T68i LCD display. The camera stores from 14 to 208 pictures (depending on resolution), and pictures can be transferred to phone memory or sent to another phone via MMS, or e-mailed.
Price: $195 (CDN)
HPM-10 Hands-Free MP3:
This hands-free accessory is combined with a compact MP3 player, which allows you to listen to MP3 tracks through the T68i in stereo via dual earpieces. Volume and song selection are controlled through the phone’s menu, and the music automatically mutes whenever a call comes in. A bundled multimedia card lets you store 30 to 60 minutes of music.
Price: $47 (CDN)
Bluetooth Headset HBH-30:
Attach this Sony Ericsson wireless headset to your T68i, and you can enjoy hands-free operation up to 10 metres from your phone. The sleek-looking HBH-30 supports voice commands for the T68i, is adjustable for either ear, and comes with its own charger. It is rated to provide four hours of talk time and up to 100 hours on standby.
Price: $195 (CDN)
Fido services for the T68i:
What’s a great phone without the supporting service? To make the most of the Sony Ericsson T68i, you’ll need more than just the usual monthly airtime package (ranging from $20 (CDN) to $70 (CDN) a month with Fido) or prepaid plan for the voice service.
You’ll also need to sign up for a GPRS access package. Unlike airtime packages, these plans are charged according to the amount of data transferred.
With Fido, you can opt for a pay-per-use plan that charges three cents per kilobyte (the average e-mail being about 4KB).
Or you can opt for a monthly package (on top of your airtime package). Fido offers a $50 (CDN) plan that gives you unlimited volume, or a $25 (CDN) plan that covers your first 2MB, with each additional MB costing $10 (CDN).
Other Phones:
Nokia 7210:
Tri-band GSM operability, a 4,096-colour, 128 x 128-pixel display, and a hands-free speakerphone are among the key features of this lightweight (2.9 oz.) phone with an unconventional horseshoe-shaped dialpad. This GPRS-ready phone offers data connectivity either through the infrared port or through an (optional) data cable. There’s also a built-in FM radio, polyphonic ringtones, and support for SMS and multimedia messaging services (MMS).
Motorola T720:
It’s the first colour display Java technology-based GSM/GPRS wireless phone to be offered to Rogers customers across Canada. You can download polyphonic ringtones, animated graphics, and wireless games (it comes with Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4). The T720 also comes with a large, colour display screen with an icon-driven interface, a two-line external caller-ID, Personal Information Management functionality, Enhanced Messaging Service, and changeable front and back face plates.
Sony Ericsson T610:
With a 65,000-colour, 128 x 160-pixel screen, 32-tone polyphonic sound, and a built-in digital camera, it’s clear that the T610 sets a new standard in multimedia phones. The phone even supports an optional MPF-10 Phone Flash accessory to allow for photography in dim environments. The 3.3 oz. tri-band GSM phone makes it easy to transfer images to other phones or devices, thanks to the Sony Ericsson QuickShare technology, designed to minimize the number of clicks required to share a picture by e-mail, MMS or Bluetooth. The T610 also comes with a generous 2MB of memory and supports Java and Mophun games.
BlackBerry 6710w:
BlackBerry users are used to being online all the time, but with this model, they can add voice to their repertoire as well. The 6710w boasts dual-band GSM capability (900/1900MHz), as well as a built-in speakerphone so you can take notes as you take a call.
