Great phone - naff network (Nokia 6210)

Member Name: dave27

Product:	Nokia 6210
Date:	29/06/01 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Flexible, Powerful

Disadvantages: Comes with a naff network (for me)

I've written elsewhere about my experience of using a HP Jornada and described how I intended to get connected to the net via a mobile so I could surf while I was on the move.

Well, about three months ago, the IT department at work upgraded my mobile phone to a Nokia 6210 because it was supposed to be the bee's knees and the handset to own (but more of that later).

When they came to try and set up my Jornada Nokia pairing for Internet access everything seemed to be going swimmingly at first, but then they came across real problems and they just couldn't get things working. Whether via an infrared connection or a cable, the same happened. The phone would connect but then immediately drop the line and/or say "No carrier detected".

You know what it's like when this sort of thing happens - ultra frustration, but then it's a matter of tracking down exactly what the root of the problem was and as they were trying out various things they attempted to connect using a different Nokia 6210 handset - lo and behold, success first time.

It was quickly apparent that the problem lay not with the Jornada, nor the Nokia, but instead with the network provider. The phone which connected was on the Vodafone network, while the problem one was with Orange and that seemed to be a BIG PROB.

This was confirmed shortly afterwards when one of our other guys said they'd had a similar experience elsewhere and the prob definitely lay with the Orange network. We're still trying to resolve things a couple of months later - I'd be grateful if anyone out there in Dooyooland can help.

Anyway, that's a side issue - back to the Nokia.

I've been very impressed with the handset since I got it, it's slim and sleek and stylish with no aerial and easy adjustment for things like keypad locked so you don't accidentally dial while it's in your pocket. (Anecdotal aside No 1 - I once
got left a ten minute message which was basically the soundtrack of a drunken party because my boss had inadvertently knocked one of the speed dial buttons of an evening. The keypad lock facility is ace).

The handset comes complete with some pretty neat software which means that you can do all sorts of very clever things, but I'm afraid that as far as mobile phones go, I'm a big Luddite, so I can't tell you how good or bad those add ons actually are, but they certainly look impressive.

Reception and clarity have generally been excellent and phone book and other functions have been similarly neat and well thought out.

And while the main benefits of the Nokia are its functionality and power, it's undeniably a sexy little piece of kit ('How sad you are' - Mrs D)

I haven't used the Internet connectivity yet and don't intend to because I just can't see the point with the tiny screen, but there's a great info update feature where you can subscribe things to sports headline updates. (Anecdotal aside No 2 - I got two bleep bleep messages during the Deportivo-Leeds Champions League match to indicate Leeds had conceded two and waited in suspense for that deadly third ring which never came until it was to celebrate the final score - YESSS!!!)

All told, the Nokia is a great handset and very stylish, just make sure you get it with a decent network.

Summary: