This is the continuation of the review written by whizkris.
Part I
https://mouthshut.com/review/Choosing_a_Mobile_Phone-68424-1.html
Operating System:
Usually mobile phone comes with its own operating system. Like a Nokia phone comes with a Nokia OS. But they are phone, which have operating systems like Symbian, Windows Mobile, and Linux etc.
Proprietary Operating System:It is developed by the company to suit its mobile phone model. Not many changes can be done in it. A firmware (firmware is the software which operates and interfaces with the hardware) can be upgraded for upgrading features and removing bugs.
Windows/Linux:The same power of the desktop operating system in a mobile phone minus the memory requirement and correspondingly the processing capability.
Symbian:It?s the best operating system for a mobile phone. It is built for the mobile phone and is present in a Nokia 36x0, 7650,7610,6600 and N-Gage phones. Sony Ericsson P800/900 uses Symbian, which is called the UIQ. Software and games are developed especially for this operating system, like the once developed for Windows and Linux in desktops.
Other software capability
Java:This gives the power to install additional software and games in your mobile phone, which has Java capabilities.
Blizzard:This is a kind of software support provided by Nokia N-Gage models for game developers.
Mophun:This is present in the Sony Ericsson Phones. T610 features Mophun support. This phone supports all mophun games.
Connectivity:
The way you connect your phone to your computer and other phones also make a factor when considering a mobile phone. The ease of data transfer and the synchronizing capability (sync calendars and contact list of your mobile phone with the computer) will play a larger role in making your phone more useful than just a mouthpiece and an earphone.
MMS:Multimedia Messaging Service. It?s an enhancement to the normal SMS. You can send multimedia content (pictures, sounds) through MMS.
GPRS:There are two kinds of services provided by Network operators for GPRS. A phone based GPRS service in which you can surf the web using the browser in your phone and the other is the www service in which you can access the Internet using your computer and your phone acting as a modem. These days, a phone with GPRS is preferred. Nokia 6610 is a GPRS phone.
EDGE:This is considerably a latest development to GPRS. Its data transfer speeds are higher compared to GPRS. And Hutch presently offers TV channels (video streaming) in EDGE phones. Nokia 6230,3220 are EDGE Phone.
Infrared:It?s used for connecting two phones or a phone and a computer or like devices. Infrared Technology uses an infrared beam to transfer data. So the two devices should be aligned in a straight line for data transfer to happen. These days the strength of the beam is higher making the angles bend up to 30 degrees.
Bluetooth:This is comparatively a newer technology. It uses junk radio frequency to transfer data. Usually phones come with a 10-meter range. There are presently bluetooth devices, which are capable of transmitting data up to 200 meters. But when you phone can only send for 10 meters, there is no point in going in for 200 meters, as the synchronous data transfer is a two way process. For normal data transfer (one way - sending from computer and receiving in mobile phone) a 200 meters would be of use. You can keep your phone in one room and keep sending files to it from another room. The advantage of having bluetooth in your mobile phone is that you have many wireless devices these days which are bluetooth enabled. Nokia has come out with a wireless bluetooth keyboard, which can be connected with your phone, and you can type messages and data through that to your phone. Also you have a wireless headset using the bluetooth technology. Sony Ericsson has come out with a remote control bluetooth car. You can use your phone to run the toy car.
Datacable:This is the most common mode of transferring data to the computer. Connect the datacable to your mobile phone and the other end to the serial/USB port, install the software in your computer and start transferring data.
Nokia presently comes out with what is called a POP-port. Its like an USB port for a mobile phone. All devices, which are connected to the POP port, are automatically detected by the mobile phone. For example in a Nokia 6230, the headset and the datacable go into the same POP port. Most of the Motorola mobile phones come with a small USB port for datacable connection.
Battery Life:
I know this is one of the most important features to be dealt with. But as we always look at the bottom line, I am putting this the last. Again here, there are two things:
1.Standby time: It's the time when the phone will consume less power and still stay on. When you leave your phone without doing anything, but just switched on, its called the standby mode. So if you don't use your phone and keep your phone just on, this is the time the phone will be on before the battery runs off.
2.Talk time: This is the most important thing you have to notice. Phones these days come with a good talk time. A talk time is usually around 4 - 6 hrs. Talk time is not just the time you talk, it also depends on the network (the signal strength - when the signal is bad, the battery consumption is higher and vice versa). Playing games, listening to music or ringtones etc are also counted as talk time. Even messaging is considered in the talk time.
Tip for Nokia 3310/3315: (Don't know on which other model this works!)
When you are in a place where there is very bad signal and you have a good battery try this:
Type *3370#
The phone will restart. 3370 = EFR - Enhanced Full Rate. The reception capability becomes higher and the battery consumption is also higher.To deactivate type #3370#.
When you are with a low battery and your signal is good try this:
Type *4720#
The phone will restart. 4720 = HRA ? Half Rate. The reception capability becomes poor and the battery consumption is also lower.To deactivate type #4720#.
Hope I have covered all aspects of the mobile phone. If I have left something, please let me know and I will add it to this list. I have used digicamhelp.com for getting data on how the pixel thing works and phonescoop.com for form factor definition.
Hope this review is useful for deciding on which phone to buy.
PS: There is a Part III also:
https://mouthshut.com/review/General_Advice_on_Cell_Phones-68440-1.html
