About the Nokia 6800
The Nokia 6800 is simply a phone made for text input. The basic looking phone hides a full QWERTY keyboard (though obviously with smaller keys than you're used to) under the numeric keypad. Just flip it up and turn the device 90¼ to use the keyboard. Its unique design is only featured on the 6800 series and offers the largest full keyboard of any consumer level mobile phone in the US. The only problem with the keyboard is that because it's quite wide, it's hard to handle with one hand. If you want to jot a text message while walking, you'll have better luck by using predictive text on the numerical keypad. While sitting down, or stationary, the keyboard is very hard to beat.
It's hard to beat the Nokia 6800 keyboard's ease of use. |
Besides the hidden keyboard, features of the Nokia 6800 include:
- POP3 / IMAP4 email
- WAP 2.0 web browser
- 128x128 color screen
- FM radio
Basics Even though the Nokia 6800 is made for text, it does a great job at voice. Call quality is excellent and dropped calls should be few and far between. It has the standard Nokia series 40 operating system that should be familiar to users of past Nokia models. A joystick in the middle below the screen serves as the main navigation tool. When the keyboard is flipped out it makes using the joystick slightly awkward, since it's to the side of the screen.
Data The Nokia 6800 ties in very easily with your existing email account and it even supports IMAP which is email technology that keeps email in sync across multiple devices (your phone and computer for instance). It doesn't have fully push email like a BlackBerry, but you can set email to be automatically checked at short intervals. Text and data plans from T-Mobile USA are some of the most affordable in the industry, which is a good thing since you will find yourself using these services a lot.
The Nokia 6800 opens to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard under the numeric keypad. |
Other features Like other phones with a built-in radio, the Nokia 6800 uses the wired handsfree unit as an antenna. This means you'll have to plug-in the handsfree before the radio will work, which is a minor inconvenience. The screen is large enough to handle most mobile web content, such as sports scores and weather information. Since the 6800 has GPRS, it downloads data at about the same speed as a dial-up internet connection. Java MIDP 1.0 support is included, so all sorts of applications can be installed. A currency converter, portfolio manager and two games come pre-installed. Custom ring tones can be downloaded in various formats, including MIDI.
Measurements and specs The Nokia 6800 weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 4.69" x 2.17" x 0.91". It's a little longer than most phones out there, but having a full keyboard more than makes up for it. The lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of talk time, and up to 10 days of standby time, but the numbers will vary depending on your usage pattern. It's a dual band GSM 800 / GSM 1900 handset.
In the Box Nokia 6800 cell phone, 1000 mah Li-Ion battery, rapid travel charger, mono boom headset, SIM card.
--Reviewed by Jon Gales, owner of www.MobileTracker.net
Compatible with AT&T cell phone service, the Nokia 6800 introduces a radical new phone design. At first glance, it looks similar to the company’s other compact wireless phones. However, this phone’s keypad flips up to reveal a full keyboard for quicker and easier text input. A four-way joystick presents an additional mode of navigation. The high-resolution 128-x-128-pixel 4,096-color screen automatically rotates from a vertical to a horizontal orientation when the keyboard is in use for easier viewing.
Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the 6800 features a 5-way joystick for easy navigation to a variety of handy features, including call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, voice activated dialing, any-key answer, auto-redial, speed dial, mute control, no-answer transfer, vibrating ring, differential ring, dedicated voice mail button, voice mail indicator, volume select/display, signal strength indicator, a phone book capacity of 500 entries, and more. Nokia also supports TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf), and hearing aid support for the Nokia LPS-3 Loopset (adapter and Loopset sold separately).
Messaging and Internet
The Nokia 6800 phone’s GPRS connection ensures high-speed data transmission so users can quickly exchange data via infrared technology and have fast access to Internet content via the XHTML browser. This device also integrates voice mail, e-mail, SMS, instant messaging, and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). Special messaging features include the option to use distribution lists to send messages to multiple recipients, and the ability to send up to four linked messages with up to 160 characters each using SMS concatenation. This phone is equipped with Java technology and comes preloaded with several Java applications (E-mail Client, Instant Messaging, Converter, Portfolio Manager), plus the ability to download more.
Organizer
Standard organizational features include a calendar with a monthly view, a to-do list with priority levels, and a Notepad application for jotting down brief notes of up to 3,000 characters. The voice memo function provides the capacity for 3 minutes of recorded memos. The phone book, calendar, and to-do list can all be synchronized with a PC using Nokia 6800 PC Suite software.
Cameras, Fun, and Games
For fun, this phone has two installed Java games (Triple Pop and Bounce), MIDI and mono-compatible 4-chord ring tones, eight different color schemes, various wallpaper patterns, and a stereo FM radio. An still camera attachment is also available separately.
Vital Statistics
The Nokia 6800 weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 4.69 x 2.17 x 0.91 inches. Its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at 270 minutes minimum digital talk time, and 240 hours minimum digital standby time. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
In the Box
Nokia 6800 cell phone, 1000 mah Li-Ion battery, rapid travel charger, mono boom headset, SIM card
1 nokia 6800
i bought the nokia 6800 about two months ago. this phone is by far the best phone ive ever had. it may be a little big, but it has a full keyboard to make up for it. it also has an fm radio, but the headset must be plugged it to use the radio, but all you have to do is put it on speakerphone and you dont even have to use the headest. also, the joystick kinda sucks but you get used to it. also it has an awesome battery. i had it for four days without the charger and i was using it every now and then and it had half battery left when i started charging it. also, when you use the voice recorder, the playback is kind of dull and scratchy but how often do you use a recorder on a phone. overall i would defintily recommend getting this phone.
2 A smart phone if you use it smartly
I have used this phone almost 3 months.
Good:
1 Very easy to write short message
2 with a cable (about $12) you can download any picture and midi music and personalize it.
3 Very useful speakerphone, so even you don't carry earphone you still could be handfree when you drive
4 FM radio is good feature because when I ride my bicycle and don't want miss any call, I could listen radio instead of carrying my MP3 player.
5 the best point is, I could connect it to my Zire 72 by infradred port, then I could dial-up go online without internet plan. Very good. I can online and check email at anywhere in T-mobile service area, no extra charge, only use your minutes.
6 with a small adapter ($3 in wal-mart), could use my regular #2.5mm earphone which I bought before for my Samsung phone. So I don't have to buy those "special earphone" in ridiculous price.
Bad point:
1 no bluetooth but I don't care, (a adapter about $49 could let it have bluetooth actually).
2 If I turn volume a little loud, the phone has some noise which makes my ear very uncomfortable. So most time I use earphone or talk with speakerphone.
For the price and excellent performance, definitely suggest if you don't care about bluetooth
3 Good Phone, Nice Features, Totally Content!
I'm very pleased with this phone. It's a nice upgrade from my nokia 3595. Let's get the cons out of the way first...Okay, I don't like that my keyguard doesn't automatically lock like my 3595. I'm okay with the shape, but it would feel more comfortable when you flip it open if it were shaped like a smartphone(squarish). Overall, the features like the radio, voice recorder and notepad really works for me. I can actually get a few notes(storylines/script notes) down when I'm driving down the street. I've had this phone literally less than 24 hours and I've already mastered it. I'm a gadget fiend, so that's probably why I quickly adapted to this phone. I love the "Go To" feature which is a shortcut for frequently used applications. This is a great phone for people who don't quite need a smartphone, but just something slightly below it. You'll wind up saving about $300. Lastly, I just want to say that the speakerphone is great for me as I'm always on my computer while on the phone. There's a camera attachment that you can purchase off of eBay for around $20 - 30 plus S/H and there's also a boom box type thing like for iPods that you can use in the home and play all of your radio tunes through(can also be purchased cheaply through eBay).
4 Below average POS Nokia
This phone is priced so low for a reason. Its a POS. That's right its junk.
Pro's,
1. You can make phone calls!
2. It has a good feature set, atleast in theory.
3. Its dirt cheap.
4. Your investment will be safe, it can't get any more obsolete!
5. Good for rugged use. Not much loss done if its broken or lost.
Con's,
1. Screen is like 2002 era. Even my T68i from 2001 has better screen.
2. Sound quality below par.
3. Big, bulky and fugly design.
4. Buttons feel cheap and are hard to press. Joystick is even worse.
5. For FM radio to work the headset needs to be plugged in. And even then it didn't catch most stations!
This phone was released in Q2 of 2003, 2 yrs ago. Its so obsolete that it doesn't even sell anywhere else in the world (6820 replaced it long time back). Shame on T-Mobile for selling crappy phones, they don't have any new phones in their lineup at all.
In short, if you are buying the 6800 to fleabay it and take the cashback, fine. Otherwise get a decent phone!
5 Smaller, cheaper, faster, better than Treo, Blackberry, etc.
Don't follow your friends and coworkers who pay more for Treos and Blackberries, then have to deal with a stylus and/or a teeny, tiny keyboard on a big, awkward, heavy phone. The Nokia 6800 is THE mobile professional's phone and PIM/PDA in one. It has 5MB RAM plus a SIM card to hold all your mobile data, and it really does last 1-2 weeks on a charge.
If you use Outlook or Lotus Notes you can synchronize your contacts, to-dos, memos (notepad notes), and appointments using infrared or an optional USB cable. This phone's perfect for people who do a lot of texting, instant messaging, and email--the T9 dictionary is the best predictive text input tool available and this phone's flip-open, full qwerty keyboard (with keys big enough and spaced out well enough for two-thumb typing to actually work!) makes it quick and easy to type. It also has voice dialing, voice commands, and a voice recorder for when you're in a hurry or have your hands full. And when you're sitting in a meeting without a pen and paper you can type notes on it too--even when talking on the phone, using the speakerphone capability.
This isn't an "everyday person" phone: it's a bit pricier (although you can get it free depending on what provider and plan you choose, and it almost always costs less than Treo, Blackberry, Palm, etc. PDA-phones) because it's not just a phone, it's a PIM/PDA; it only comes with two built-in games (which isn't a priority for businesspeople, although you can easily download additional games and other Java software); and it doesn't have a built-in camera (but have you ever seen a cell phone camera that was any good?).
My only complaints about this phone after having used it for over a year are: the GUI is a bit slow moving from screen to screen; the color display isn't as big, sharp, and impressive as some other phones with, well, bigger and sharper displays--but this phone was designed for text-based features anyway; the calendar doesn't support the complex recurrance and rescheduling features as Outlook so you sometimes get duplicate entries in your phone after synchronizing; the flip-open keyboard has a few characters in odd places that you have to get used to; and the proprietary accessory connector is horrible--impossible to tell whether you've got it upside-down, forces you to use Nokia's stereo headphones for the FM tuner, and often doesn't fully connect in the desktop cradle. Bluetooth and international GSM capability would also have been nice, as would MP3 playback capability.
The best thing you could do is go to a service provider's store where they have a real phone (not a shell) you can hold to see if you like it. If you're considering the 6820 just because it's newer, look carefully at the specifications because they aren't all improvements--also make sure you try typing on both keyboards because they're very different.
Oh one more thing, this phone is very durable, in my experience. I've fallen on it while mountain biking and playing sand volleyball, and while the window did crack, the phone kept working fine and the LCD didn't bleed or anything. I'm pretty impressed about that. Someday I'll send it in for repair, but it'd be hard to live without this phone even for a few days--it stores all my names, numbers, addresses, email addresses, directions to people's houses and businesses, personal notes, to-dos, appointments and meetings...and I probably send up to 50 emails and text messages a day because it's so convenient to type on.
6 Excellent Phone
Pros
Has IM capabilities
You are able to download Ringtones and Games and Wallpaper
has a sleek design where your keypad comes out of the phone
has a Radio, that has crystal clear quality
has a speakerphone for Deaf or Hard of Hearing people so that they don't have to use the phone the regular way.
Cons
You can lose the back easily
The downloads cost 1.49
The Keypad is annoying because you have to use two fingers to reach certian keys
The Radio only works if you have the headset which is extremely annoying.
The Speakerphone is sometimes too loud or too quiet so you have to spend quite some time adjusting the volume.
7 Very Nice Phone
I'm blown away by the capabilities of this phone. I have been using a crappy Motorola c331 for the last two years, so any new cell phone would probably impress me, but this phone alleviates the need for a PDA.
(...)
I couldn't believe how easy it was to synchronize Outlook with the phone. I downloaded the impressive, free Nokia PC Suite sofware(...) installed it, selected infrared connectivity on my phone and pointed the IR window at my laptop, opened the Nokia PC Sync application and it transferred 400 contacts and all of my appointments to my phone in 2 minutes. No configuration, drivers, or cables required. Phenomenal.
The phone comes with a decent headset, too.
8 It's alright
I've had this phone for a couple of weeks now. I hated it at first because of it being so bulky. I don't have as much of a problem with it anymore. It's very handy if you text message alot...that's it.
9 i bought this phone for the keyboard
What i like about this phone
1. keyboard
2. large screen
3. great internet like features
4. t-mobile has a great system where can get 300 text messages for $3.00
5. and a bunch of other things that are great
6. it's durable(if u tend to drop your cells alot on hard surfaces
Whats bad
1. like for example if your putting contacts in your phonebook, you have to open the keyboard, then close it back up to push enter. i think that nokia should have made a " select" or "enter" botton on the key pad too.
only get this phone if you send a lot of ims or texts, because if you don't do alot of that, then i would say get another phone.
10 T-mobile is like crack....
I had a Motorola T722i (the first camera-phone EVER and the phone that I got a year ago when I left verizon for T-mobile). I had decided that I needed a new cell phone, one that would make text messaging easy (as I get few minutes and 1,000 texts in my plan). However, I didn't want a cell that could take pictures, video, play music and film, and pretty much serve as my own personal filming company. I just didn't need ALL OF THAT. In conversing with a T-mobile employee, I realized that T-mobile, much like other cell-phone companies, screw over people who are already loyal customers, as opposed to giving all kinds of discounts, and even FREE phones, to newbies. That was depressing. So, after realizing that I am very poor, I ordered the affordable Nokia 6800. Even without being a camera phone, or having video capabilities, or bluetooth tech, it's a very good phone. As I said, I am big on texting and emailing over the cell-phone, and this phone makes that MUCH easier due to the flipping keyboard thing. It's also EXTREMELY durable, as most Nokia phones are, and that's good for me, because I'm extremely clumsy. For all of those reasons, I love this phone, and I've named it "Sweetness".
11 only 4 stars because Nokia uses non-biodegradable packaging
When you turn the phone horizontally and open it up, you'll be presented with a full keyboard. You can even start writing a message with the cover closed, and continue with the cover open.
With its efficient and unique design, you can write more easily and effectively. The concatenated messaging function lets you write much longer messages, and the distribution list function will allow you to send a message to several persons at a time.
With multimedia messaging (MMS), you can receive messages containing a text, a polyphonic tone, and an image, which can be saved as a ringing tone and as wallpaper; you can also send and forward messages containing images and text to other MMS compatible phones.
Polyphonic ringing tones and an integrated stereo FM radio offer you a high-quality sound experience.
SyncML compatibility allows you to synchronize personal data remotely over the network.
The phone also incorporates a mobile wallet application, offering you convenient and reliable online shopping via WAP.
With the Notes feature, it's easy to take short meeting minutes, capture your thoughts, or keep a diary.
Phone Features
Unique 2-in-1 concept with integrated full keyboard
SMS distribution list
MMS (Multimedia Messaging)
E-mail client
SyncML technology
Downloadable personal applications via Java? technology
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
HSCSD (High Speed Data)
WAP 1.2.1 Browser (via GRPS or CSD)
Wallet
WIM (Wireless Identity Module)
Stereo FM radio
Handsfree speaker
Polyphonic ringing tones
Wallpaper: full screen color image
Changeable color schemes (8 schemes)
Display brightness control
Screen saver: digital clock
Customizable and timed profiles
Clock, alarm clock
Calculator, currency converter
Stopwatch, countdown timer
Connectivity options: IR and cable
Security keyguard
Full Specifications
Size
Weight: 122 g (battery included)
Dimensions: 119 x 55 x 23 mm (maximum), 105 cc
Display
High-resolution, Passive Matrix Color Display
Supports 4096 colors within 128x128 pixels
Up to 8 lines (Latin) in message viewing
Adjustable display brightness control
Messaging
SMS distribution list (15 lists with to 50 contacts in one list)
Text messaging: concatenated SMS, send and receive message up to 459 characters in one message
Multimedia messaging: receive messages containing a text, a polyphonic tone, and an image, which can be saved as wallpaper and as a ringing tone; send and forward messages containing images and text to other MMS compatible phones.
Mobile email for lengthy messages
Mobile Chat
Picture messaging: 10 predefined and replaceable pictures plus 1 empty slot
Templates: quick and easy sending of pre-defined messages
Ringing Tones
40 polyphonic and 10 monophonic tones preinstalled
Preinstalled Java applications
Converter II (Currency, area, length, mass, temperature etc. conversions)
Portfolio Manager
Games: Triple Pop and Bounce
All applications user-removable
Call Management
Speed dialing: for up to 9 names (key 1 is always for voice mail)
Last number redial from dialed calls list (Dial-key brings out the dialed calls list)
Automatic redial (max 10 attempts)
Automatic answer (works with headset or car kit only)
Emergency calls to 112 without SIM-card and with key locked phone
Call waiting, call hold, call divert, call timer
Automatic and manual network selection
Closed User Group
Fixed Dialing Number, only allows calls to predefined numbers
Dual-band Operation
EGSM 900/1800 networks in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Automatic switching between the bands.
Sales Package content
Transceiver
Battery BLC-2
Travel Charger ACP-12
Stereo Headset HDS-3
CD-ROM with PC Suite software
Booklet: User guide, Club Nokia invitation module and Enhancement information
Email set-up leaflet
12 Half of a PDA?
I've had a 6800 for a year on ATT's service. The service usually sucks, but that's not the phone's fault as far as I can tell. I use it to take notes and check weather and traffic. The dialing directory is huge, the Nokia UI is easy to learn and use (I've been using Nokia cell phones since 1989, so take my usability comments with a grain of salt), and people prefer the speakerphone on the 6800 to my $250 Polycom on my desk.
Phones with moving parts have always scared me, but this one is very sturdy, and the keyboard is pretty easy to type on (with thumbs).
On the downside, the screen scratches easily and the headset connector is not 2.5mm; it's a Nokia custom connector. It's hard to hold the phone while keeping your fingers away from the internal antenna (as the manual suggests); practically impossible when the keyboard is flipped open.
