Mobily my little friend (Nokia 6021)

Member Name: robvr6

Product:	Nokia 6021
Date:	05/09/09 (87 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple to use, good battery life, does what it says on the tin

Disadvantages: limited features, small screen, older technology

The Nokia 6021 is the bottom end model, that is offered out more often than not, as a company mobile phone to users that do not require email and/or web functionality on the go.

***Specs***

The 6021 doesn't have very many features, there is no camera built in, the web browser works via GPRS so the connectivity can be poor, it has a low resoloution screen, and it wont play mp3 tracks etc.
However, what this small phone does have it does well. It has bluetooth connectivity, an IR (infra red) uplink, a very good battery span, and a clear and loud ear volume.

***Opinion***

I will admit that when I was handed a 6021 at work I initially thought "What the hell?" as it did seem like the bargain basement at the carphone warehouse had well and truely been raided to supply my colleagues and I with the most primative looking phones available.
How wrong I was. The Nokia 6021 is an ideal workhorse of a mobile phone, if all you need is a phone. As I have mentioned, the battery life is extremely good, and will happily go for 4-5 days with little use, and I can usually get a couple of days use from it with heavy usage.

The available features on the phone are basic but functional, including:

1)Messages - for text, Multimedia, and also flash messaging. the phone also supports email, however I dont use it, and i think it could be problematic tring to read any lengthy messages on the small screen.

2)Call Register - containing Dialled numbers, Missed calls, Recieved calls, Call duration (for incoming and outgoing calls), and also a data log to keep track of any web surfing you might choose to do.

3)Contacts - Where all of your stored numbers and details can be found, or added to.

4)Settings - Where all of the phones basic settings can be altered, such as your Profile (e.g. indoor, outdoor, and silent), time and date settings, and any call bars you want to place on the phone, incase it becomes lost etc.

5)Gallery - where any picture files, audio files, or pre set themes and screen savers can be viewed. This is also where you would find any items that have been sent via bluetooth to your phone.

6)Media - on my handset this just has a voice recorder, and can be quite handy for short messages.

7)Push to talk - If enabled this functionality allows you to use the phone as a kind of walkie talkie (if you have ever seen C.S.I. that is how they communicate with their mobiles!!) however I'm not sure how many networks in the UK support this technology yet.

8)Organiser - In here you will find your alarm clock, calendar, to do lists, notes, and 'wallet'.

9)Applications - This is where you will find the convertor, calculator, and games, which can be added to via the internet GPRS connection.

10)Web - this is the place you can start up an internet surf from, albeit a bit slow and awkward to follow on the screen.

11)o2 - the only available option to me in here is "get settings", which i have never used.

Most of the above options and software are standard fayre on most mobile phones these days, and are nothing to write home about, although I think the calendar is simplicity itself and very useful for storing reminders etc. The games that come with the phone are bowling, which is not bad at all, beach rally, a racing game that soon becomes annoying, puzzle, which is a Tetris-esque side scrolling game of huge addictive proportions, and the classic Backgammon.

The phone itself is a nice size, easily fittiong into the palm and weight is not an issue at around 2oz. I can vouch for the reliability of this model as I have had mine for 3 years now and it has not only served me well, it has outdone itself when it comes to survivability... It has been dropped, thrown, beaten, soaked, and kicked so many times that if it were really moblie my mobile friend it would have an injunction out on me.

the keypad is a good size, and I think it would only be a struggle for people with incredibly large digits to use (mine are not exactly slimline ladies fingers!). It has a 5 way toggle joystick that is used for navigating the menus, and this again has been kept simple and results in siomething that is rugged and easy to use, as opposed to the more technologically advanced phones that have joysticks that fall off (the Nokia n73 for example)

For those of you out there that want a hardworking phone and not a mobile miniature pc, this is a great little number. It will make calls and send texts till the cows come home and probably withstand a nuclear attack.

*** UPDATE ***

as of today, I have just ordered a new work mobile, as mine has started to give up the ghost, with the battery deteriorating and not holding as much charge, and for some reason it picks and chooses when it wants to make noise for an incoming call... 4 years of constant abuse and calls has taken its toll, but to be fair, thats not bad going. Expect a new phone review when i learn what im getting soon!

Summary: Great phone if all you need is a phone.

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Sound quality:
Variety of features: