| Nokia 5140 |
| General |
| Network | Gsm 900 / Gsm 1800 / Gsm 1900 |
| Announced | 4q, 2003 |
| Status | Available |
| Size |
| Dimensions | 106 X 47 X 24 Mm, 86 Cc |
| Weight | 100 G |
| Display |
| Type | Cstn, 4096 Colors |
| Size | 128 X 128 Pixels, 5 Lines, 27 X 27 Mm |
| | - White Backlight
- Adjustable Display Brightness
- Wallpapers
- Softkey |
| Ringtones |
| Type | Polyphonic, Monophonic |
| Amount | 10 Polyphonic + 10 Monophonic Tones |
| Customization | Download, |
| Vibration | Yes |
| Memory |
| Phonebook | 500 |
| Call Records | 20 Dialed, 10 Received, 10 Missed Calls |
| Card Slot | No |
| | - Editable Message Templates
- Up To 150 Sms Messages
- Up To 50 Mms Messages
- Max 64 Kb Java Apps. |
| Data |
| Gprs | Class 10 (4+1/3+2 Slots), 32 - 48 Kbps |
| Hscsd | Yes, 43.2 Kbps |
| Edge | Class 6, 177.6 Kbps |
| 3g | No |
| Wlan | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Infrared Port | Yes |
| Usb | Yes, Pop-port |
| Features |
| Messaging | Sms, Mms, Email |
| Browser | Wap 2.0/xhtml |
| Games | Adventure Race + Java Downloadable, |
| Colors | |
| Languages | Major European Languages |
| Camera | Vga, 640x480 Pixels, Video |
| | - Push To Talk (voip Service)
- Stereo Fm Radio
- Java
- T9
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Stopwatch
- Improved Durability
- Thermometer
- Flashlight
- Integrated Handsfree
- Automatic Volume Control
- Digital Compass
- Sound Meter |
| Battery |
| | Standard, Li-ion 760 Mah (bl-5b) |
| Stand-by | Up To 300 H |
| Talk Time | Up To 5 H |
|
Nokia - 5140Get energetic with the Nokia 5140
Major features
Tri-band EGSM 900/1800/1900MHz network compatibility
Dust/Splash resistant Xpress-On™ shells
FM Stereo Radio
VGA digital camera
Digital Compass & Thermometer
User interface themes
Built in flash-light and level
Push-to-Talk (PTT) service
4,096 colour LCD @ 128 x 128 pixels
Pop-Port™ interface with USB
Infrared connectivity
CSD, HSCSD, GPRS and EDGE data compatibility
xHTML browser over TCP/IP stack
SMS/EMS, MMS, and e-mail messaging
Java application and gaming environment
Problems/Issues?
Xpress-On™ shell removal
Small & low-quality display
Harder than usual buttons
No Bluetooth
Sales package (should contain):
1 x Nokia 5140 handset
1 x BL-5B 760mAh battery
1 x Nokia 5140 manual
1 x Stereo Pop-Port™ Headset
1 x Carrying strap
Overview
Introduction
Only few manufacturers have dared to create mobile handsets for the purposes of being dust and splash resistant for the rugged and harsh environments the world brings to us. For many people, rough environmental conditions are a part of everyday life – and everyday life usually involves (for most) a mobile phone. Not just any mobile phone, a strong and resistant mobile phone.
The Nokia 5140 is the big sister of the 5100, which was very successful in its own right. The 5140 has many of the same features of the 5100 and much more for increased functionality and connectivity. Nokia and Siemens are the two main companies creating these kinds of devices, and Siemens have just released the M65 – their answer to the 5140.
Read on for more about one of Australia’s first Push-to-Talk enabled handset, the Nokia 5140.
New/outstanding features
The Nokia 5140 impresses in most aspects. Upgrades from the 5100 include a VGA camera with video and still capture, Push-to-Talk capability, HSCSD and EDGE data speeds, full user interface themes, and an upgraded new look. Features that both handsets share are the same 4,096 colour LCD display, Pop-Port™ interface, polyphonic ring tones, Handsfree speakerphone and FM stereo radio, and many other features.
Push-to-Talk is a new feature currently being trialed on Optus and Telstra networks. It's a digital version of walkie-talkies – and uses a wireless protocol on the mobile phone (GPRS, EDGE, etc) to transmit your voice directly to another compatible handset. The 5140 has a button on the left hand-side of the handset which (when PTT is set up) needs to be pressed once to activate the service and talk to a single person or a whole group. The 5140 is the first handset available in Australia with the service.
Most of the upgrades in the 5140 are welcomed with open arms from the 5100. The VGA camera is really a feature that every phone should have these days as they are used all the time. The 640 x 480 maximum resolution is fine for the small display the handset uses, and MMS messaging is heaps of fun. The video support is always a plus too. For more about the VGA camera on the 5140 visit the additional page two, Camera Performance.
The Nokia 5140 supports a whole range of different data protocols. GPRS which is used the most (and currently the only protocol supported in Australia on 2/2.5G networks) allows data to be transmitted and received at 48kbp/s. The handset however also has support for EDGE and HSCSD, which can transmit data at 384kpb/s (provisioned for, maximum in most supported areas is about ~100kbp/s) and 115kbp/s respectively. These high-speed data rates allow you to connect to services quickly and download the data you want in the blink of an eye.
User interface customizability is something the 5140 really does have. Most Nokia phones allow changing of the UI's colours – but they're pretty basic and don't compare to for the Sony Ericsson themes which change the whole look of the phone. The Nokia 5140 however has themes which include backgrounds which are the backgrounds for the menus too. If you personalize your background though this will not be the background for the menus. The display on the handset is ordinary, a 4,096 colour LCD. Personally I think this size is out-of-date and not suitable for handsets of this calibre.
The Pop-Port™ interface on the 5140 can connect to headsets, USB data-cables and more for high-speed transfers. The single interface is very convenient as everything fits in the same way; there aren't separate plugs for each accessory. Infrared is supported on this handset as well, but Bluetooth isn't.
Physical aspects
For a mobile phone to be dust and splash resistant it has to be thoroughly thought out and the 5140 is definitely that. It is available in two colours in the sales package, Red or Blue. I received the Blue handset from my trial but the only change between the shells is the colour so everything remains the same. There are other Xpress-On™ shells available from Nokia in different colours to suit your mood and personality.
The Xpress-On™ covers of the 5140 are made out of hard rubber and durable plastic for the best support of the main board of the phone and display. The back section of the handset which is plastic is semi-transparent so you can see inside the back of the phone. The Pop-Port™ interface on the bottom of the phone is covered, like the 5100, with a rubber flap. This sits securely in place and is very good at keeping foreign matter out of the port. There are no other ports on the 5140.
When compared to the Nokia 5100 handset, the 5140's Xpress-On™ covers are thicker than the 5100's. The main boards of the handsets are both around the same width, with the 5100 being longer than the 5140. The 5100 is also wider than the 5140. The overall measurements of the 5140 are 106.5mm x 46.8mm x 23.8mm, and the 5100 is 108.5mm x 49.5mm x 22mm. The 5140 is heavier, at 106.5 grams and the 5100 at 104grams.
The left and right side of the handset, on either side of the display have convenient functions. The right side is the PTT button and the left side is the volume up/down buttons, which can be used during a call or when the phone is idle. The small infrared window on the 5140 is located on the right side of the handset, nearest the bottom.
A small opening at the top of the handset, with a yellow film positioned below it is the Nokia 5140's integrated torch. Two smaller holes below this are the speakerphone openings. The on/off button of the handset moulds into the rest of the phone, and is opposite the torch/loudspeaker openings. The bottom of the 5140 (either side) has wrist/neck strap inserts; unlike the 5100 which has these inserts on the top and bottom.
The 5140's sales package has a carrying strap which consists of a elastic strap and plastic holder which attaches to the phone and then can be wrapped around your arm or hand. The elastic can be tightened or loosened so the handset will be literally strapped to you. The carrying strap is a little hard to get attached to the phone but once it is it's very secure and there is no chance of it coming off unexpectedly.
User Interface & display
The User Interface of the 5140 is the same as other Series 40 handsets from Nokia, except for a few enhancements. The display on the 5100 is also the same as Series 40 devices, for example the 6610 and 5100 models. A single 128 x 128 pixel 4,096 colour display is used.
Take a closer look!
If you've used the Nokia 5100 the handset's display really has no changes. Keeping the handset at 4,096 colours may not have been a good idea but keeping the overall size of the handset down calls for a smaller display. The 65,536 colour 128 x 128 pixel LCD's weren't a major hit in the phones they were implemented in anyway, so the 4,096 colour LCD is probably best suited. Taking photos with the 5140 isn't as good as it could be because of the display, and images viewed full-screen or zoomed in (wallpapers) sometimes look less than expected. For messaging and other basic functions the 5140's display is fine.
Something I didn't like about the 5100 (and any other mobile phone for that matter!) was the slow user interface, especially when messaging. The 5140 is much faster than the 5100 for messaging, but the user interface lags behind a little bit, mainly when you get deeper into menu trees. An improvement from the 5100 though, which is great.
The main menu of the 5140 can be displayed in grid or list view like many other Series 40 devices. The themes of the 5140 change the icons in the main menu including the back of the menus – it really transforms the whole phone. The themes are colour-based and work around one centralized colour; the colours to choose from are Blue, Silver, Grey, Green, Orange, Pink, Red, Yellow, and Violet. The display's contrast can also be adjusted all from the Display menu under Settings.
The 5140 has a 5-way directional pad, and two soft keys. This allows quick selection of menus and for example message sending – you only have to push the directional pad in to send a message instead of going to Options, and then send. The directional keys are a little small and take some fiddling around to get used to. The two soft keys are used when the phone is idle to jump to the Go-To menu (left key) and Names (right key).
Making and receiving calls
Nothing has changed in this area from the 5100 or any other Series 40 device. You can conduct a call in one of three ways, and switch between either at any time. Use of the inbuilt loudspeaker, a Pop-Port™ headset, or the headset up to your ear is your options. The 5140 doesn't support Bluetooth so Bluetooth Headsets cannot be used with the handset. The sales pack of this handset comes with a stereo headset so you don't have to go out and buy one.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to trial the Push-to-Talk service on the 5140, one of the main selling points of the handset.
Like the 5100, the 5140 has automatic volume control when in call. This adjusts the speaker's volume depending on the outside conditions. If you were in a loud environment the volume would be adjusted to be loud enough for you to hear. If you then moved into a quiet environment the volume would be lowered so it doesn't blow you away. The automatic volume control can be turned on or off though the call options in the settings menu. This removes the need to fiddle with the volume control buttons on the side of the phone, but if you have to you can. The top button is volume up and vice versa.
The two hang-up/pick-up buttons on the handset are in the same position as always, the first on the right and latter on the left side of the handset.
The 5140 has a range of in-call features, including the ability to record calls. They will be saved in your gallery so you can listen to them afterwards directly from the handset or transfer them to a PC and listen to them there. To access these and other in-call functions just press the left soft-key. Here you can turn on the loudspeaker as well.
The handset up against your ear is comfortable and as the handset is shorter width wise from the 5100 the rounded edges shouldn't cause any discomfort.
Messaging
The Nokia 5140 has support for basic messaging, SMS and EMS, and also MMS and e-mail messaging. The in-built VGA camera can be used to capture images and video for your MMS messages. T9 predictive text is supported on the handset for quick-messaging. Presence enhanced contacts are also supported on the 5140.
The buttons of the 5140 are large enough to be used by anyone's fingers, but some are harder to press than others. Like the 5100, all of the buttons take a bit of extra pressure to get pushed down but this is expected as the phone is made to be tough and hard-wearing. The top and bottom line of buttons seem to be the hardest to press, especially the 0 button. All other buttons are reasonably easy to use. There is only very little messaging lag on the handset when using T9 predictive text.
A built-in Java application is used for e-mail messaging on the handset, where you can connect many servers and accounts and download all your messages. You can reply to the messages directly on your handset and then send messages ASAP or next time a wireless connection is established to save on cost.
The handset has support for long-SMS messages, and a small number indicator on the top of the 5140's messaging window shows you how many characters you have left in the current SMS. If you move into the next message the number after the slash (/) will change.
Connectivity
The Nokia 5140 has two connectivity options for connecting to other local devices like another PC or device; Infrared and USB Data-cables via the high-speed Pop-Port™. There are many different options for wireless data connections – GPRS, CSD, HSCSD, and EGDE are all supported. There is no software or USB data-cable included in the sales package so if you wish to connect your phone you will have to download the software and purchase a data-cable separately.
The infrared port on the 5140 is on the right-hand side, the same position as it is on the 5100. You can see the port more than the 5100's port however as the panel is black and the design of the Xpress-On™ shells isn't so full-on.
GPRS is the only wireless protocol supported on the handset, and allows speeds of around 42kbp/s to be reached on the phone. The built-in WAP 2.0 browser can connect to all your favourite sites and download tones, Java games and applications, pictures and more. The browser supports xHTML pages, bringer a richer multimedia experience to your handset.
HSCSD and EDGE are protocols which have provisions for speeds faster than GPRS, but aren't supported in Australia at the moment.
Build quality
The Xpress-On™ shells of the 5140 caused me a bit of a hassle and were a definite downgrade from the 5100's shells. The quality of the handset other than the shells is very sturdy and some durability tests I gave the handset didn't make a big impact on the 5140. If you don't remove/replace the covers on the 5140 a lot you won't have any problems with the handsets build quality.
The Xpress-On™ shells of the 5140 take a lot of work to remove, especially the bottom one. The manual says that what you have to do is press the sides of the handset in and then pull down. When I did this only one side would un-click from the support, and the other side wouldn't budge. Moving it around and fiddling with it for a few minutes was the only way to get it off. The top shell just lifts off but doesn't seem to "click" into place like the 5100. When the Xpress-On™ shells are on they are very secure and well positioned.
During my trial with the 5140 I accidentally dropped it a couple of times and did purposely drop and throw it to test the durability. I dropped the 5140 onto a hard floor, threw it at the ground and also at a wall and nothing happened to the handset physically or internally that I could pin-point. One thing I did notice when I tested the 5140 is that when it is thrown at the ground/wall or dropped, it turns itself off. This may be a defence mechanism or also may be due to the battery moving in the back cover, although it seems pretty secure.
Battery life
The battery life on a handset like the 5140 has to be good, and I was most impressed with what I got out of the battery. The single 760mAh BL-5B battery was fine for the handset; even though it does have features like a camera and PTT (which I wasn't able to trial).
Average use of the handset with a full charge of the BL-5B battery should give you 2-5 hours talk time and 150-500 hours standby time.
Major features...
Tri-band EGSM 900/1800/1900MHz network compatibility
The Nokia 5140 can operate on three separate frequencies – the 900, 1800, or 1900MHz bands. This allows the handset to be used on different continents where the frequency used may change from that here in Australia. Where ever you go the 5140 can come with you – and still operate fully!
Dust/Splash resistant Xpress-On™ shells
The Nokia 5140's Xpress-On™ shells are what make or break the device in terms of durability. The covers securely cover all openings of the handset to make sure no dust or splashes can get to the main board which is also very well manufactured and doesn't contain any openings. If you can get the Xpress-On™ bottom shell off the top one will then slide off, and then the two will join back together in the middle.
The Xpress-On™ shells come in a range of different colour combinations to suit your mood and personality and the unique rubberized shells used on this and the predecessor handsets (5100, etc) offer reliability to the user.
FM Stereo Radio
The 5140 has, in the sales package, a stereo headset which connects to the protected Pop-Port™ on the bottom of the handset. This stereo headset also acts as the aerial for the Stereo FM radio and must be connected to the handset to allow the phone to pick up FM stations.
You can define your favorite stations and use the automatic tuning to save time or do everything manually if you wish. The FM station can be listened to via the headset or you can re-route the audio to the speakerphone if you wish.
VGA digital camera
A VGA digital camera is built into the back of the 5140, allowing you to capture images and video. The images captured can be up to a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and the videos captured can have an audio stream too.
The internal memory of the Nokia 5140 phone is only 4.2mB, so not many images and videos can be stored. They can however be transferred to another device via a USB data-cable (Pop-Port™ interface) or the Infrared port on the right hand-side of the phone.
For more about the camera, including example shots, check page two of this review, Camera Performance.
Digital Compass & Thermometer
Under the Applications menu is an "Extras" folder, which contains among other things a digital compass and thermometer. The digital compass needs to be calibrated before it can be used properly, which involves holding the handset flat and rotating it with the moving image displayed on the screen. Once this is done (it takes a few tries, you have to do it very slowly!) you can use the compass – which also shows degrees in the top left corner.
The digital thermometer is back in this model, just like it was in the 5100 from its non-colour predecessor. I never liked this feature during my trial as the handset was usually in my pocket, which was quite warm because of my body temperature. This gave me an incorrect reading of the temperature and was no use to me whatsoever. The temperature can be shown in both Celsius and Fahrenheit on the display next to the time if you wish.
One thing I noticed with the thermometer is that it's not shown when the phone is charging, because the phone will obviously heat up due to the power being pumped into the battery.
User interface themes
A step up from the basic coloured themes most other Series 40 Nokia devices have, the Nokia 5140 has user interface themes based around a single colour but they do more than change the colour of the user interface. The themes change the background of the menus (and wallpaper to the same image) so you aren't left with the boring white background anymore.
You cannot install extra themes on the 5140 but there are a lot of colours to choose from.
Built in flash-light and level
The Nokia 5140 has a built in flash light positioned at the top of the phone which is activated by holding down the hash (#) key. To turn on/off the 5100's flash light one would have to press the up button on the directional pad when the phone was idle. To keep the flash light on the up button would have to be quickly pressed twice. When you hold down the hash key on the 5140 the light will be turned on, and will stay on. To turn it off, just simply repeat the process of turning the flash-light on.
The small, clear bubble on the top of the handset (left-hand side) is a level. There is a small bubble located in the middle of it just like you would find in a spirit level. This is used in conjunction with the compass which requires the phone to be held level to ensure a correct reading.
Push-to-Talk (PTT) service
The first handset to hit the Australian Market with Push-to-Talk capability, the Nokia 5140 allows users to communicate with a single person or group of people with compatible phones instantly. The audio you send is (usually) transmitted directly though the loudspeaker of the receiving phone, and vice versa.
This new-age walkie-talkie service is now available on Telstra and Optus networks throughout Australia.
4,096 colour LCD @ 128 x 128 pixels
This 4,096 colour LCD is common for Series 40 devices and is not 100% suitable in my opinion for the handset. Because of the inbuilt VGA camera and WAP browser a larger display with higher resolution would have been much better suited.
More on the display and user interface can be found in the Problems/Issues section of this article as well as on page one, under the User Interface and Display heading.
Pop-Port™ interface with USB
A single interface, named the Pop-Port™ by Nokia allows every accessory compatible with a handset to use the same port removing the need for extra ports. The Pop-Port™ interface is high-speed, which can be used with a USB Data-cable for data transfers to and from the handset in the blink of an eye.
The Stereo headset in the sales pack is used with the Pop-Port™ to enable the Stereo FM radio to be used and Handsfree conversations to take place.
Infrared connectivity
Infrared is a connectivity option slowly being whisked out of new mobile handsets, but the 5140 still uses this – most probably because it doesn't have Bluetooth Wireless Technology.
The Infrared port is on the right-hand side of the handset behind the black window and can be used to receive and send data from one device to another.
CSD, HSCSD, GPRS and EDGE data compatibility
Four wireless data service protocols can be used and are supported on the Nokia 5140 handset. GPRS, which is used most often on the handset, can support speeds of 48kbp/s. It only gets faster with HSCSD and EDGE data services – and CSD/GSM data is the slowest of the bunch and is barely used anymore thanks to big improvements in wireless technology.
xHTML browser over TCP/IP stack
The WAP 2.0 browser can display all your favorite WAP-based sites (WML) and also has support for the xHTML language which is richer in multimedia (images and sounds, etc). The browser connects with a wireless data protocol, explained above.
The browser can download Java applications (and games), 16-chord polyphonic ring tones, images, and a world of information in a few button presses.
SMS/EMS, MMS, and e-mail messaging
Basic and advanced messaging options are available to you on the Nokia 5140. Simple SMS and EMS (picture) messaging can be used for quick and easy messages, extra long messages are also supported as always on a Nokia device.
MMS messaging and e-mail use a wireless protocol connection to download/send messages. An inbuilt Java application is used to connect to e-mail accounts and servers you define yourself. MMS messages can contain everything, from images and video to animations and text.
Java application and gaming environment
Java applications and games are supported on the Nokia 5140, and one application and one game are pre-installed on the handset for your fun. More can be downloaded in a number of ways; via the built-in WAP 2.0 browser, via the USB capable Pop-Port™, and via Infrared connections with a PC or laptop.
The game bundled with the phone is Adventure Race, and the Application is Fitness Coach. Java midlets that aren't games are stored in the "Collection" folder under the applications main menu.
Problems/Issues?
Xpress-On™ shell removal
As already discussed in the Build Quality section of this article, I had a lot of difficulty removing the Xpress-On™ shells of the Nokia 5140. The actual shells themselves do their job fine (keeping out dust, splashes) but the removal is another story.
A lot of force is required to remove the bottom one and the top shell section doesn't click into place as much as the 5100's upper shell did. Once removed, they are easily put back in place. However the easiest way to remove the lower shell, I've found, is to push in the two sides and then wiggle one side then the other and pull down at the same time until the shell is released.
Small & low-quality display
The display on the handset is only 4,096 colours and measures a small 128 x 128 pixels. The handset is equipped with a VGA digital camera so a higher resolution and 65,536 colour LCD would have been much more popular.
Keeping size and cost of the handset down does come at a price sometimes though…
Harder than usual buttons
The buttons on the 5140 are harder than other phones, but this is almost to be expected after the same issue arose in the Nokia 5100. The only buttons that are extra hard to press are the top and bottom row, mainly the middle keys because they raise up further than the others – 0 and 2.
The buttons are made out of a rubberized mat and are thick to keep the elements out of the phone's main board.
No Bluetooth
The Nokia 5140 should really have Bluetooth Wireless Technology support built-in. As the phone will be used mainly by people in rough conditions, a wireless headset alternative is surely better than the wired stereo Pop-Port™ headset in the sales package.
There is a loudspeaker built into the phone, but it's just not the same without Bluetooth!
In Summary
The Nokia 5140 is the big sister of the 5100 device, which was released a while ago by the Finnish giant. The handset had some minor flaws which weren't much to worry about, but they have been fixed in this model. The 5140 is also upgraded with a VGA digital still and video camera, Push-to-Talk service compatibility, superior data capabilities and some other minor enhancements.
Optus and Telstra networks currently support the Push-to-Talk service which is a big hit in the United States and is bound to be the next best thing for corporations in Australia due to the almost limitless connectivity range of the devices. I wasn't able to test the PTT service on the 5140 however – sorry!
The splash, shock, and dust resistant Xpress-On™ shells of the 5140 make the handset perfect for those in rough conditions that need a resistant companion with added benefits like a digital camera, torch, and compass.
The 5140 only had one major disappointment for me, which was the lack of Bluetooth. Having Bluetooth in a mobile phone aimed at a rural environment would almost be expected by the consumer, but hopefully Nokia will learn from this and incorporate it into their next handset!
The Nokia 5140 is available now for around $599. |
| Common misspellings on this brand: nooia |
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