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Nokia 3230
The Nokia 3230 is a compact smartphone that lets you capture 1.3 megapixel photos with its built-in digital camera. You don't need to carry your old PDA, or organizer with you anymore, since this phone has the functionality of an average PDA. This tri-band phone can be used on GSM networks around the world (assuming you have roaming activated).
Key features: The distinctively designed Nokia 3230 comes with 1.3 megapixel digital camera. In addition to camera, this phone has plenty of other features, such as MP3 player, FM radio, several communication options and a wide selection of software.
This tri-band GSM phone connects to 900, 1800, 1900 MHz networks for voice calls and data communications. You can access email, view web pages with the built-in Internet browser and send photo messages (MMS, or multimedia messages) over GPRS, or faster EDGE data communications if your network provider offers it. A new feature, called Push-to-talk, has its own button on the side of the phone. Push-to-talk means that you can use your phone as a Walkie-talkie, but your friends must have Push-to-talk on their phones as well.
The Nokia 3230 provides three methods for local connectivity: USB cable for hooking up to your PC, infrared for sharing information with other phones and Bluetooth that can be used for both purposes.
There's plenty of choice for music in the Nokia 3230: you can listen to the FM radio, or take your best songs from your computer and play them in the phone's MP3 player (it's a RealPlayer). A memory card is a handy media for dealing with music and images and this unit comes with a memory card slot, which is located under the battery – a totally unnecessary nuisance for users. A 32MB RS-MMC (Reduced Size Multimedia Card) memory card is included (this is not necessarily the case in all parts of the world).
The phone is powered by the Series 60 Platform and Symbian OS operating system software. It means that there's plenty of software already in the phone and thousands of add-on applications are available for download. The Nokia 3230, like other smartphones, include similar set of software than a mid-range PDA, and it's possible to download all kinds of additional software, polyphonic ringtones, images and MP3 music to the phone as well.
Although the joystick that's used for navigating menus is excellent, the keypad is somewhat clumsy. First, the keys are small, and people with big fingers won't find it comfortable to use. Second, the phone's top end is heavier than the bottom end, which means you have to really hold the phone tightly while tapping the keypad. Once you have learned your way around the phone and would like to quickly navigate the menus and launch new applications, the phone doesn't respond as quickly as it should – it simply doesn't have enough processing power.
Who likes this product: This phone is ideal for those who want a camera phone and an advanced smartphone – without paying the price of a high-end phone. Remember to try out the keypad and make sure that your fingers can cope with it.
Style: The Nokia 3230 looks beautiful, but we understand people who don't like the style at all. To a certain extent, the design can be regarded as bold, retro look that either turns you on or leaves you cold.
Value for money: The Nokia 3230 is excellent value for money: you get a full-blown smart phone for a price of a megapixel camera phone. Once you learn a few basic tricks, you can download new software, music, images and other fun stuff to the phone from your computer for free.
