| Nokia 9210 Communicator |
| General |
| Network | Gsm 900 / Gsm 1800 |
| Announced | 2000 |
| Status | Available |
| Size |
| Dimensions | 158 X 56 X 27 Mm |
| Weight | 244 G |
| Display |
| Type | Tft, 4096 Colors |
| Size | 640 X 200 Pixels, 110 X 35 Mm |
| | - Second Display (80x48 Pixels) |
| Ringtones |
| Type | Monophonic, Wav |
| Customization | Download, |
| Vibration | No |
| | - Audio Speaker
- Ringtone Formats: Rng, Wav, Au, Wve |
| Memory |
| Phonebook | Many |
| Call Records | |
| Card Slot | Mmc, 16 Mb Card Included, |
| | - 14 Mb Application Memory
- 2 Mb + Card Capacity User Memory
- Processor: 32-bit Arm9-based Risc Cpu At 52 Mhz |
| Data |
| Gprs | No |
| Hscsd | Yes |
| Edge | No |
| 3g | No |
| Wlan | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Infrared Port | Yes |
| Usb | |
| Features |
| Os | Open Symbian, Based On Symbian V6.0, Series 80 Ui |
| Messaging | Sms, Email, Fax |
| Browser | Wap, Html |
| Clock | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes |
| Games | No, |
| Colors | Black |
| Camera | No |
| | - Java
- Attachment Viewers
- Video Player
- Office: Word, Spreadsheet And Presentation Viewer
- All Pda Functions
- Imaging (digital Camera Connectivity) |
| Battery |
| | Standard Li-ion 1300 Mah, (bll-3) |
| Stand-by | Up To 230 H |
| Talk Time | Up To 4 - 10 H |
|
Nokia - 9210 CommunicatorOne of a kind with the Nokia 9210
Major Differences
4096-colour, high-resolution, wide LCD screen
External memory card slot (MMC standard)
Symbian OS-based
“Mobile office” features
Internet applications - e-mail, WAP & WWW browsers
Audio, video and imaging support
Speakerphone feature
Concatenated (long) SMS messages support
PC and SyncML synchronisation compatibility Problems/Issues?
Composing SMS messages restricted to simple tap method in phone mode
Sales package (should contain):
1 x Nokia 9210 Communicator unit (RAE-3N)
1 x Li-ion battery for Nokia 9210 Communicator @ 1300mAh (DLL-3)
1 x headset (HDC-8L)
1 x RS-232 adapter cable (DLR-2L)
1 x belt leather case
1 x memory card (pre-installed inside Communicator)
1 x performance travel charger (ACP-9)
1 x PC connectivity software CD-ROM
1 x Nokia 9210 Communicator “owner’s guide”
1 x Nokia 9210 Communicator “getting started and accessories guide”
1 x Nokia 9210 Communicator “settings checklist”
1 x Nokia 9210 Communicator “add-on applications guide”
Overview
I know that some of you think the Nokia 9210 is a big chunk that can stay at home for good - rather than bringing it around and showing it off to family and friends. It’s sad that we can’t have the 9210 anything but smaller. But if this was to be the case, I am sure that it will be a more impractical device than it is right now.
The Nokia 9210 Communicator isn’t just like another Nokia, or any other branded phone. In addition to the typical - but very simple - Nokia menu (there are only like 5 to 6 main menu items, instead of the usual 9 to 11), you will find the remainder of these functions on the Symbian OS-based part of the Communicator.
Remember, when you go through this review, don’t always just think of the size of this thing - but what it can really offer is the real question! :)
New/outstanding features
Again, the Nokia 9210 Communicator isn’t just another mobile phone - but making and receiving calls is just one of the many features offered. On the “mobile office” side of things, some of the applications offered under Symbian OS include Microsoft Office-like features - including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation viewer and email. The 9210 also supports calendar, contacts and to-do list data from applications such as Lotus Notes/Organiser and Microsoft Outlook/Schedule+.
The high quality, 4096-colour LCD screen and partially-full keyboard makes you want to use the phone more while it’s opened up! Although most of the phone’s functions and features can be accessed through the Symbian OS interface, you can still access simple phone functions from the standard phone interface on the outside.
Other mobile office features include a fax feature (send and receive), the ability to play video clips and listen to wave sound files, and the viewing of photos taken from a compatible digital camera. A speakerphone function is also available when required.
Some of the things that you would have done with the standard numeric keypad can similarly be completed through the Communicator’s interface instead. Examples include the composing/reading and sending/receiving of SMS messages, viewing call register lists, configure phone settings, and using WAP (of course you would want to, since it’s in full colour rather than just black and white!)
Physical aspects
The toned silver casing of the 9210 gives off a greater sense of style over simple professionalism that came from its predecessor, the 9110. Remember when we had those black and dark phones (bricks or boxes, whatever you want to call them) back in the early mobile phone days? The 9210 is no exception when it comes to a required level of aesthetics without sacrificing functionality.
It is a fact that the 9210 is quite a big phone to hold in the average hand. Fortunately, it’s not painful to take and receive calls in the normal fashion - having the reverse side of the phone on your ear instead of the front, and be able to hold the phone with the least of difficulties. With the phone buttons on the other side, you may probably need some getting-use-to! :)
Having the outer LCD screen a tad larger would have been a good thing (looks kinda puny relative to the phone’s entirety). But I found the keys right under the screen to have those fine curves that enhanced the phone’s overall design.
The 9210 feels very solid in any situation - having it either opened or closed up. What I found most fascinating was the little clip that held the unit closed, which does a fantastic job! Opening and closing the unit didn’t require a lot of effort and with the unit closed it feels shut really tight.
As with keyboards on such devices, you will find problems trying to type properly compared with your efforts on a standard 101-keyboard on a PC or notebook. Although this is to be expected, the partially-full keyboard is laid out quite well considering the amount of space it can utilise. Again, it will take a bit of getting-use-to.
"The built-in speaker is used instead of the earpiece."
User Interface
The Symbian OS graphical user interface (GUI) isn’t all that different to your average Windows one. With the biggest difference being no mouse to point and click, sufficient buttons are located on the keyboard and on the right-hand side of the screen for you to make necessary command and shortcut selections. Quick access buttons above the top row of numbers bring up frequently-used applications and/or groups. The top menu bar, usually hidden, can be activated by simply tapping on the ‘Menu’ key on the right of the space bar.
A 4-way navigational key is also available on the lower right-hand side of the phone for moving around menus and selecting items.
Something that I’ve found useful with the interface is that it has the ability to display dialogs while you are either doing something in an application or just simply have the phone opened up. Information such as a caller’s name after a missed call, the receipt of an SMS message, and so on. You can sometimes choose to further investigate the information from these dialogs, and come back to what you’re doing after that, or simply ignore them - all through simply tapping a few buttons.
On the outside of the 9210, accessing the phone’s menu from the small LCD screen is pretty much the same as to any other Nokia that you may have used.
Making and receiving calls
There are three ways you can conduct a phone conversation on the 9210 - through the earpiece whilst holding the phone, the headset method, or through the built-in speakerphone feature.
Talking with the phone in your hand is like holding a standard phone’s handset from home or the office. As the earpiece is located at the back of the phone, you may find the area a bit flat to actually rest on your ear comfortably. I would have preferred something more comfortable - but it’ll suffice.
Using the headset method is pretty standard - plugging in the adaptor at the base of the phone and talk as you would.
The speakerphone feature is activated by opening up the phone where the built-in speaker is used instead of the earpiece. Leaving it in front of you on a desk or table and talking normally yields pretty good call quality.
Calls made through the 9210 are logged similarly to other Nokia phones - but have the difference of being able to display a detailed list of calls dialled, missed and received. Incoming and outgoing SMS and faxes are also logged too.
Messaging
One would usually do SMS messaging on the 9210 through the Communicator’s interface, where you at least have a QWERTY keyboard to type with. I would have also preferred it if they had implemented the T9 predictive input system as well when I chose to write messages through the outside numeric keypad, as I found it difficult to type on this keyboard because of its size.
Concatenated (long) SMS sending is supported on the 9210 - where a message of up to 1,500 characters can be sent (equivalent of around 9 to 10 standard SMS messages).
Battery life
On a full charge and average use of the Communicator interface, I was able to get around 2-3 days out of the phone. If you decide to use the phone’s Symbian OS-based functions a bit more than making and/or receiving calls, you will need to charge your phone more frequently - as the colour LCD and its backlight is sure going to drain a bit of battery. Considering the level of functionality of the phone in an overall sense, being able to get 2-3 days’ worth of use can be said as good battery performance.
Major differences...
"4096-colour LCD, 640 x 200 (Calendar)"
"Being able to view and edit Word and Excel documents"
4096-colour, high-resolution, wide LCD screen
The 9210 Communicator features a high-resolution, full colour screen featuring up to 4096 colours. Many of the applications, including the built-in Internet browsers and multimedia software, can fully utilise this feature to bring out the best effects possible.
External memory card slot (MMC standard)
Memory cards (with the MultiMediaCard standard) can be used with the 9210 Communicator. Information that you may have stored on these memory card, whether it is for backup or just from another device, can be accessed either through the appropriate applications or via the built-in file manager.
Symbian OS-based
The 9210 features the Symbian OS, an operating system optimised for wireless devices (such as mobile phones). Having an open standard, this allows for developers to easily write or create software based in either Java or C++ languages, which can ultimately be executed on the phone itself.
“Mobile office” features
Software found on the 9210, such as the word processor, spreadsheet, presentation viewer, calendar and contacts, have been designed to be compatible with Microsoft Office-based formats. For example, you are able to view and edit Word and Excel documents, while being able to review PowerPoint presentations and have complete access to contacts and calendar information from Outlook or Schedule+ programs. In addition, e-mails and faxes can also be sent from the ‘Messaging’ feature in addition to the standard SMS messages, and a voice recorder is also featured for those notes that you rather take down saying them!
Internet applications - e-mail; WAP & WWW browsers
In addition to e-mail, other Internet services can be accessed through the 9210. A WAP and WWW browser has been included allowing for the browsing of WML and HTML-coded pages in full colour. These pages can be surfed at speeds of up to 43.2 kbps if your network provider supports HSCSD (High Speed Circuit-Switched Data).
"Compose up to around 1,500 characters on a single message"
Audio, video and imaging support
The 9210 also provides support for the playing of audio and video files, as well as displaying images that have either been downloaded or resident on an external memory card. Images taken with a digital camera can also be viewed on the Communicator depending on compatible connectivity.
Speakerphone feature
If you dread having to hold the 9210 Communicator up next to your face to conduct a business deal, you now have the option of making that same phone conversation with the phone sitting flat on the desk or table in front of you! While having the Communicator opened up, you can conduct these calls while twiddling with your fingers!
Concatenated (long) SMS messages support
The 9210 is able to support the typing of long messages - giving the ability to compose a single message of up to around 1,500 characters long. This can be done through either the phone’s numeric keypad or the Communicator’s QWERTY keyboard (the latter is preferred, since T9 is non-existent on this phone).
PC and SyncML synchronisation compatibility
Software provided with the sales package allows you to synchronise information on a 9210 with those from Windows applications, such as Microsoft Outlook/Schedule+ and Lotus Notes/Organiser - keeping similar copies on both devices for convenience and portability. The SyncML standard, which is built into the 9210, allows for the universal synchronisation of remote data and personal information across differing platforms, networks and devices. This allows for information, such as those found in contacts directory and calendar data, to be synchronised with appropriate databases located on internal or external servers without protocol standards restrictions.
Problems/Issues?
Composing SMS messages restricted to simple tap method in phone mode
Although we’re given the option to type SMS messages with the Communicator’s QWERTY keyboard, there are times that I would rather do a few without having to open up the phone instead. Yes, I know there’s the option of typing one using the phone’s keypad instead - but without T9 predictive text input, it’s something that I rather not do.
It wouldn’t have been a drama to include T9 into this phone. Since the option is given where a user can write messages in phone mode too, I don’t see the point of including it if we’re going to go back to the good old days when typing a text message would be a major project!
In Summary
The 9210 Communicator is surely a phone that I consider as being “one of a kind”. With the number of useful applications built into the phone in combination with the user-friendly GUI adopted by the Symbian OS, anyone who has (or even hasn’t) used a Windows-based PC will find the 9210 mobile office device useful. I would recommend this phone for anyone who is always out on the move but always in touch with going-ons at the office (and rather leave their office laptop/notebook in the car boot or at home), and those who have previously used an older-model Nokia 9xxx-series Communicator to make the step up to this fantastic multi-purpose device.
This would really be something that I can’t leave home without. |
| Common misspellings on this brand: |
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