Killer Networker (INQ1 Mobile Phone)

Member Name: icetsunami

Product:	INQ1 Mobile Phone
Date:	03/06/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent integration of online applications.

Disadvantages: Terrible camera and no video calling.

Here is the new phone from 3, the INQ1, the handset which claims to bring seamless integration of online and social networking features to your phone.

First glance reveals a quite nice small form factor slide phone with a nice brushed steel effect. It feels sturdy in the hand and the keypad is nice and responsive. I think personally that this is a nice phone aesthetically but have heard other who beleive it to look rather cheap.

Spec wise, it's quite a good phone in the budget range. Although it lacks wi-fi web browsing is dealt with by HSDPA and GPRS. It has its own email client and packs a 3.2 megapixel camera. Connectivity gives you bluetooth and USB and the 2.2 inch screen displays a resolution of 262k. The average talk time seems to be between 4 and 5 hours but is dependent on your use of other features such as web browsing.

This phone is an exclusive to the 3 network and makes good use of the network. Phone contacts are fully integrated with applications such as Facebook and Skype meaning you have direct access through one location on your home screen. Whats really good about the software is that the applications haven't been bolted on. It's clearly obvious that 3 developed the phone around the applications and that they have not just been included as an after thought. Unless you are prepared to go for a high end smartphone the INQ1 provides the only cheap way of having all your online content available from your home screen. It's a big selling point.

The camera is mounted at the rear and at 3.2Mp is capable of taking some good pictures. Unfortunately, the operative words are 'capable' and 'some'. There is no flash of any kind and in less than perfect conditions you wil struggle to get a quality image if you wish to upload it anywhere other than on the small screen of the phone itself. The exclusion of a front facing camera for video calls is frankly bizarre on a phone that bills itself as such an online whizz, and this from the network that really innovated 3G services.

In summary it is fair to say that what you get for your money is a very good phone indeed. It is perhaps the little touches that are missing which may end up disappointing some users. Kids should love it, the Facebook app and the free Skype VoIP calls are top drawer features. Business users won't get the same level of functionality and efficacy of say the Blackberry or the Palm Treo. General users who are used to spoiling yourself with expensive toys need to look elsewhere.

So, is it good or is it just ok? Well it's brilliant. But I won't be getting one. I'm too addicted to the bells and whistles of the flash phones. Like I said it's a brilliant phone, it is rather just a matter of what you are used to.


[Update]

After lengthy use of this phone it still maintains its position as a superior networking handset being especially appealing to kids due in part to the low price. Facebook and Skype integration are very useful though with the latter you actually need to know someone who uses this client to be of benefit.

Critically, the low quality camera has proved itself to be too poor to be of any use in real terms. This has a major hit on its aspirational value as once again its main selling point of being a networker becomes diminished. The images are of very poor quality and not really worth uploading to websites such as Facebook and Flickr.

Inexcusably, the updated version sees the inclusion of a camera which drops the resolution to just 2.0Mp. What potentially was an excellent phone has proved in time to be just ordinary and shamefully its successor is obsolete. In light of recent releases this handset is only really worth a look if you want some level of functionality for little money. As such, I would downgrade this phone to 3 stars.

Summary: Integrated apps work well but it will age quickly.

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