A phone for all occasions (Nokia 3330)

Member Name: 137699

Product:	Nokia 3330
Date:	17/12/02 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb array of features, Fantastic text friendly keyboard, Robust construction

Disadvantages: No infra-red or electro luminescent display, Suspect reliability, A bit chunky for some people

My work has had a fleet of these 3330 phones for over 12 months now. I had one myself, until I finally succombed to the more flashier phones on the market.

As the 3330 goes, it is basically a 3310 with WAP technology. Looks identical, and accepts all the same accessories, including xpress on covers.

The phone itself is a mid-range model- has some nice features such as voice activated dialling (with the optional hands-free kit), profiles, and settings which allow you to group together entries in your phonebook to share the same ringtone, and ring-in-logo. It is a nice comfy size to use, not as small as some, but not as chunky as others, and the buttons are a nice size, and not fiddly to use. In fact, the 3330 really excells as a text-messenger!

It lacks some of the features of the higher-range such as infra-red, the electro-luminescent (glow in the dark) display etc., but it certainly has all the essential stuff.

The operating range of the phone (i.e. operable distance from transmitter) is the best of any phone I have had. I was using it on Vodafone, and it was very unusual for this phone to be out of signal just about anywhere, and it was rare that it would drop a call. The speaker is also very loud, meaning that you can use it even in busy london streets.

You can do all the usual Nokia stuff, such as download ringtones & logos, and as such it makes a superb phone for a teenager. But as a business user (like myself) you could also get a range of nice business-like covers (the grey one they give you is a bit lame), and there are some professional ringtones pre-loaded.

As a more chunky phone, it is made of very good quality plastic, and takes being dropped with ease.

Sadly, the reliability of these phones is a little suspect. All of our fleet have suffered similar problems. They don't like being used on the car charger too long (even with genuine nokia chargers!), or being in hot cars in summer - they
simply turn themselves off at random intervals, or freeze, which is really annoying when you're in the middle of a lengthy text message, and the phone decides to freeze (i.e. the display sticks, and you can't press any buttons), or simply switch itself off. Also, on some, the battery life deteriorated prematurely, i.e. needing to have a new battery purchased every 3-6 months.

Still, if you can live with these problems, than this is a very versatile, and robust phone.

Summary: