| Nokia 6310i |
| General |
| Network | Gsm 900 / Gsm 1800 / Gsm 1900 |
| Announced | 2002 |
| Status | Available |
| Size |
| Dimensions | 129 X 47 X 17-21 Mm, 97 Cc |
| Weight | 111 G (ultra Slim Battery) |
| Display |
| Type | Backlit Full Graphics |
| Size | 96 X 60 Pixels, 6 Lines |
| | - Blue Back Light
- Dynamic Font Size
- Softkey |
| Ringtones |
| Type | Monophonic |
| Amount | 35 Fixed, 10 Over-the-air And Composed |
| Customization | Download, |
| Vibration | Yes |
| | - Ascending Ringing Tones
- Personal Alert Tones
|
| Memory |
| Phonebook | 500 Names X3 Numbers |
| Call Records | 20 Dialed, 20 Received, 20 Missed Calls |
| Card Slot | No |
| | - 3 Phone Numbers Per Name
- 150 Text Messages
- 10 Voice Dial Numbers
- 100-250 Calendar Notes |
| Data |
| Gprs | Class 4 (3+1 Slots), 24 - 36 Kbps |
| Hscsd | Yes, 43.2 Kbps |
| Edge | No |
| 3g | No |
| Wlan | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, V1.1 |
| Infrared Port | Yes |
| Usb | |
| Features |
| Messaging | Sms |
| Browser | Wap 1.2.1 |
| Clock | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes |
| Games | 1 Java + 3 (snake Ii, Space Impact, Bumper), |
| Colors | 3 - Jet Black, Mistral Beige, Lightning Silver |
| Languages | Major European And Asian Languages |
| Camera | No |
| | - Downloadable Java Applications
- Syncml
- T9 For 10 Languages
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Voice Record
- Voice Command
- Infrared Transfer Of Data Between Phones
- Enhanced Ui For E-mail Over Sms
- Timed Profiles |
| Battery |
| | Ultra Slim, Li-po 1100 Mah (bps-2) |
| Stand-by | Up To 17 Days |
| Talk Time | 3h 15min - 6h |
|
Nokia - 6310iIII bands with the Nokia 6310i
Major features
Tri-band support (EGSM 900 / 1800 MHz, GSM 1900 MHz)
Built-in Bluetooth connectivity
Java midlet support (J2ME) - plus 2 applications & 1 game
WAP over GPRS
Wallet feature
T9 predictive text input
Dynamic phonebook feature
Voice functions (commands, dialling, memo/recorder)
Personal organiser functions (alarm, calculator, calendar, to-do list)
Stopwatch and countdown timer features
Synchronisation with the phone’s organiser features Problems/Issues?
No Bluetooth “timeout” function
Sales package (should contain):
1 x Nokia 6310i handset (NPL-1)
1 x ultra-slim Li-Polymer battery @ 1100 mAh (BPS-2)
1 x travel charger (ACP-12 type)
1 x Nokia 6310i user guide
1 x Nokia 6310i PC Suite CD-ROM
Overview
Not too long ago, I managed to get my hands on a Nokia 6310 to do a review upon (if you’re interested in having a read at that first, click here). Two months down the track, the “i” version comes along boasting a list of upgrades that most 6000-series phone users (until today that is) will find appealing. But for those who have already acquired the 6310, you may be sadly disappointed at Nokia’s decision in not offering these changes in what you already have.
Nothing is ever too late - although Nokia’s decision to offer a tri-band GSM model has come long after the choices that both Ericsson and Motorola have already given us potential users. Although the 1900 MHz GSM band hasn’t been all that popular, people in those markets are starting to see the benefits of this system - especially when it comes to communicating on a global scale.
New/outstanding features
Probably the most important feature of all offered by the 6310i is the tri-band compatibility - meaning that users of the phone will be able to access GSM networks across the five continents of the world that supports GSM. For people outside of North America who wanted to take their existing GSM mobile phone and roam seamlessly with their SIM card intact, this was not possible as the GSM frequency used in both the US and Canada is different to the rest of the world. Tri-band makes this possible by supporting all three GSM bands available.
Another major change from the 6310 is the addition of Java support using J2ME. This feature allows users to load mini Java applications (called MIDlets) into the phone, which can range from being an application which keeps you up-to-date with stock prices whilst on the move or just a little game that you can’t keep your hands off when you have that time to waste.
Apart from that, the 6310i comes with all the features offered by its 6310 predecessor - including Bluetooth, dynamic phonebook, and WAP over GPRS. Oh, the backlight colour on the 6310i is now white - which somewhat improves visibility for both the LCD screen and keypad area (replacing the very-dull green backlight on the 6310).
Physical aspects
Not much to comment here. Physically, the 6310i is exactly the same as the 6310 and slightly different to the 6210. One exception I found was that the keys on the 6310i’s keypad are slightly easier and more comfortable to use - even though they are physically the same. This was apparent when you started to use the keypad with greater speed - especially when you’re someone who is getting good at typing SMS messages with T9 :)
The white backlight definitely improves the phone’s looks. Gone is the old and very-boring green backlight that we all have taken for granted many years back.
User Interface (UI)
A standard Nokia 6xxx-series interface is maintained physically (for example, two soft keys, answer & reject keys, up & down keys, and the standard 12-digit keypad). As for the software part, the phone uses what’s offered in the 6310 - with the addition of extra menu items supporting Bluetooth and Java. Easy-to-use and not difficult to get accustomed to if you’re a first-time Nokia user.
Making and receiving calls
Call handling and quality is virtually the same as the 6310. The user-friendly UI allows for easy handling of multiple calls (for example, call waiting and conferencing), while and improved audio quality allows calls to be taken with less “what?” and “I didn’t quite hear that” phrases used. A choice of either using the handset, car kit, wired or wireless Bluetooth headset is available for conducting phone conversations.
Remote activation of voice dialling is available through the wired headset, and on the upcoming Nokia Bluetooth headset (unfortunately, out of all the Bluetooth headsets that I’ve come to try with Nokia phones, none have been able to activate voice dialling from the actual headset itself).
Messaging
The 6310i offers one of the better interfaces to type SMS messages on. Thanks to a well laid-out keypad, a large-enough screen and a responsive messaging system with an option to add words that may not be in the built-in T9 dictionary, a user can seamlessly type their message without having to think about anything else but what he/she wants to say. E-mails can also be sent using the 6310i, but support is limited to servers that supports the e-mail service over GSM networks (that is, POP3 and SMTP is not directly supported).
Battery life
The 6310i is probably one of the only Nokia phones that have outstanding battery times for both usage and standby. Using the provided lithium-polymer (Li-Polymer) battery provided in the sales package, I was able to get a standby time of up to 14-15 days on its first charge (no usage, just purely standby). On using the phone, I managed to get around the same figures as the 6310 - around 4-5 hours’ talking time and 4 days’ standby. If you’re a heavy user of Bluetooth accessories, this phone will probably give you better battery times than the 8910.
Major features...
LCD display comparisons:
Nokia 6310 (left)
Nokia 6310i (right)
Tri-band support (EGSM 900 / 1800 MHz, GSM 1900 MHz)
The 6310i is the first Nokia phone to support all three major GSM bands used throughout the world (EGSM 900 / 1800 MHz, GSM 1900 MHz). With this phone, a user can now roam in all five continents throughout the world that supports the GSM system.
Built-in Bluetooth support
Wireless connectivity on the 6310i via Bluetooth allows for compatible devices to communicate with the phone at up to ten metres. Such devices include wireless headsets and computing devices (for example, notebook PCs and palm-top computers).
Java MIDlet support (J2ME) - plus 2 applications & 1 game
Small Java applications, or MIDlets, can be loaded onto the 6310i’s internal memory. Two pre-loaded Java applications (conversion utility and world clock) and a Java game (Racket - a game from the old 7110) are included in the original sales package. When a greater number of Java MIDlets become available, some of these will be able to access the Internet via, for example, WAP.
WAP over GPRS
The built-in WAP browser allows a user access to WML pages which provides simple, on-the-move information. WAP access can be made through either the traditional dial-up to a server (via CSD or HSCSD) or through high-speed GPRS access.
Wallet feature
This feature allows for the saving of sensitive information, such as credit card details, personal notes and information, which is protected by a code. The wallet becomes a handy feature if you use WAP and make purchases online - where information saved by a user can be quickly retrieved when required.
T9 predictive text input
To make typing SMS messages and e-mails using the 6310i simpler, the T9 predictive text input system allows for words to be “predicted” via tapping each letter as they appear on the keypad. Before T9, a letter may require more than one tap of the key before being displayed on the screen - making the experience of writing an entire message time-consuming and ghastly.
Dynamic phonebook feature
The 6310i’s phonebook allows for multiple entries for a single name. Traditionally (and while using the SIM card memory), a person would only be able to save one name per number. Using the 6310i’s internal phonebook memory, one is able to save up to 5 numbers and 4 text entries (for example, e-mail, postal or web address and notes) for a single contact (name) entry.
Voice functions (commands, dialling, memo/recorder)
Similar to the 6310, the 6310i offers various voice functions allowing for convenience through remote activation of features and dialling. The voice memo function allows for the recording of personal memos (while the phone is on standby mode) and phone conversations (during calls).
Personal organiser functions (alarm, calculator, calendar, to-do list)
The standard personal organiser functions are included with the 6310i - including a month-view calendar, calculator with currency conversion, and a to-do list.
Stopwatch and countdown timer features
The 6310i also comes with stopwatch and countdown timer features - adopting this from previous 33xx models.
Synchronisation with the phone’s organiser features
The provided CD-ROM with the 6310i sales package comes with software that enables a user to synchronise information - such as those from a phone book or calendar - with those found on a 6310. When the information is updated on either PC or phone, a synchronisation procedure will merge these updates providing identical copies of your information in two places. All the convenience of a diary now can be found in a 6310i.
Problems/Issues?
No Bluetooth “timeout” function
So far, I have reviewed a few phones that come with Bluetooth and have the option of “timing out” the wireless transmission when the phone has been idle for a pre-defined time. An advantage of this would be battery conservation - as having Bluetooth enabled full-time requires a higher level of battery power, which in turn decreases the overall standby time.
No Nokia phone so far, including the 6310i, allows for Bluetooth to turn off after a pre-defined period. Maybe Nokia doesn’t see the need for this option to be put in - but for those who want to get the most out of their batteries, this is something that will bother many who would not want to go switching Bluetooth on and off when they need and don’t need to use it!
In Summary
In my opinion, when putting both the 6310 and 6310i together, the latter does come out as the better phone in terms of looks and functionality. Gone is the green backlight that I loathe, now replaced with a set of white that provides sufficient illumination. This, by itself, already won me in the “looks” department. As for functionality, tri-band would be a big plus (even though I don’t consider myself going to the US or Canada in the near future). As Java support is something new to mobile phones, it is a little extra that I don’t mind having.
For those who have already switched to a 6310 from another model and “just maybe” thinking about this one, my suggestion would be to consider whether you need the slightly-greater functionality or not. The 6310 is a great phone in itself, but only excluding tri-band compatibility (being the only real major potential difference). If you really need to move around a lot in the world, then… yeah, the 6310i is a better choice in this regard :)
And if you’re a 6210 user considering upgrading, then I strongly recommend this upgrade. Considering the price tag of the 6310i is very similar to when the 6310 were first brought out, and with all the additions since the 6310, there is simply no question about it. |
| Common misspellings on this brand: |
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