Overview:
Nokia launched the 7600, dubbed as the Imaging Phone, in the fourth quarter of 2003. With much hype focusing on the phone’s unusual shape, the mobile vendor through its Web site claimed that the unit was bound to “raise a few eyebrows.” Well, not only did it raise mine; it also got my eyebrows furrowed.
A multi-capability 3G handset for WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) and dual-band GSM (900/1800) networks, the 7600 is also a MP3 player, digital camera and video recorder. Capable of switching automatically between network bands and modes, its connectivity features include Bluetooth, infrared, wireless Java and USB. While its 128 x 160 pixels display system, nestled in an eye-shaped body, supports up to 65,000 colors.
The 7600, being a fashion mobile phone, may find a ready market among women consumers. With this in mind, Technews enlisted three ladies, who are all well-traveled businesspersons and executives and are best described as early adopters of the latest in mobile technologies, to evaluate the 7600 handset. The ladies, Joan, Lucy and Jean, spent a couple of weeks with the mobile phone and here are what they have to say about
it:
· At first glance, (the phone) looks like a smaller version of GameBoy
· Hard to text with one hand… actually, had to use both hands in creating and sending text messages
· With Bluetooth function
· Camera with night mode and can set image quality to high, normal, or basic
· Capable of recording video with sound for maximum of 15 sec (Video Mode)
· Voice tag/voice dialing/record conversation
· Add images to a name like 3650 or 7250I
· Dual network: GSM dual band 900/1800 and WCDMA
· With camera but no radio, however, it has a music player for downloaded music tracks
· Media player
· One can listen (to music tracks) either with a headset or with the phone’s loudspeaker
· SMS sent sounds are not loud enough
· Composer or Nokia PC composer application included in Nokia PC suite software provided
· With picture message (no-preset photos) and MMS features
· No preloaded games but can download from the Internet at $20 each
· No Nokia Audio Manager software
· Unique but not practical
· Features are almost the same as the Nokia 6600
Nokia’s 7600 phone is either an avant-garde design or design-room creativity that lost its bearing. It is certainly unique. So different in fact, that one would be forgiven for expecting the unit to have some groundbreaking and revolutionary features.
The 7600 may have a revolutionary design, but as far as our featured reviewers are concerned, the phone’s features failed to justify its funky appearance.
Technews, however, notes that the phone packs some serious capabilities. It has a bright active matrix TFT color display, graphical user interface, built-in HF for speech, music and polyphonic ringtones. Its integrated digital VGA camera comes with 640 x 480 and 128 x 96 video resolutions, a self-timer, 15 frames per second video and sound capture, and can store images using the 29MB dynamic memory that is shared with the phone’s other functions.
It also has high-speed data features, depending of course, on network status of service providers, and a host of other features it shares with other late-model Nokia handsets.
In a way, the Nokia 7600 is like a Rochard test. One may either fall in love with its unconventional design, or avoid it like the plague. Technews solicited the opinions of female staff, and most of them were not too keen about the handset.
Bottom line is, if one goes for daring concepts in aesthetics he or she would find the 7600 enchanting. People who put emphasis on functionality over form, however, may find it too different and say “pass.”
Full Specifications:
Dual Mode Operation
· WCDMA and GSM 900/1800 networks
· Automatic switching between bands and modes
Size
· Weight: 123 g (with Lithium Battery)
· Dimensions: 87 mm x 78 mm x 18.6 mm, 103 cc
Display and User Interface
· Bright active matrix TFT color display
· 65,536 colors
· 128x160 pixels
· Graphical user interface
· Built-in HF for speech, music, and polyphonic ringing tones
· Three soft keys plus scroll key
Integrated Digital VGA Camera
· Image/video resolution: 640x480/128x96
· Self-time function (10 sec)
· Video capture up to 15 frames per second
· Phone display used as a viewfinder
· 29 MB dynamic memory for contacts, video clips, images, tones, messages, music files, add -on applications, calendar, and to-do notes.
· Dedicated camera key for instant capturing of still images or videos
Digital Music Player
· Digital Music Player for MP3 and AAC files
· Music file download over-the-air or from a combatible PC via Nokia Audio Manager which is included in Nokia PC Suite
· Listen with stereo headset or through internal loudspeaker
· MP3 and AAC files as ringing tones
High-Speed Data
· Up to 57.6 kilobits per second in circuit-switched data networks
· Up to 384 kilobits per second (downlink) and 64 kilobits per second (uplink) in WCDMA packet transmission networks
· Multitasking: Take and send pictures while you talk
Connectivity
· Infrared
· Bluetooth wireless technology
· USB with Pop-Port™
· Wireless phone connection to a compatible PC
· Send/receive pictures, video clips, graphics
Messaging
· Combine video/picture, text, and voice into multimedia messages
· Embedded e-mail client
· Concatenated text messages, picture messaging
Voice Features
· Voice dialing
· Voice recorder
· Integrated handsfree speaker
Browsing
· Advanced XHTML browser
· WAP 2.0 over GPRS data in both GSM and WCDMA modes
Video Services
· Video clip download up to 1.4MB
· 3GPP Streaming*
Applications
· Pre-installed Java™ based games and applications
· Downloadable Java™ applications, maximum download size 348kB per application
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