| Philips Xenium 9@9 |
| General |
| Network | Gsm 900 / Gsm 1800 |
| Announced | 2000 |
| Status | Available |
| Size |
| Dimensions | 109 X 41 X 22 Mm, 85 Cc |
| Weight | 95 G |
| Display |
| Type | Monochrome Graphic |
| Size | 5 Lines |
| | - Soft Keys |
| Ringtones |
| Type | Monophonic |
| Customization | Composer |
| Vibration | Yes |
| Memory |
| Phonebook | |
| Call Records | 10 Dialed, 10 Received, 10 Missed Calls |
| Card Slot | No |
| Data |
| Gprs | No |
| Hscsd | No |
| Edge | No |
| 3g | No |
| Wlan | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Infrared Port | No |
| Usb | |
| Features |
| Messaging | Sms |
| Browser | Wap |
| Clock | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes |
| Games | Bricks |
| Colors | 4 |
| Camera | No |
| | - T9
- Voice Dial
- Voice Command
- Picture Messaging
- Organizer
- Calculator
- Euro Converter |
| Battery |
| | Standard Battery, Li-ion |
| Stand-by | Up To 600 H |
| Talk Time | 3 - 7 H |
|
Philips - Xenium 9@9Philips Xenium 9@9
Philips has been late to enter the WAP phone market, but with the new Xenium 9@9, the company shows it doesn't lag behind other cellulars. This is a light phone coming in at a svelte 95 g, with dimensions of 109 x 41x 22 mm. The newest incarnation inherits many of the best features of its predecessor, the Xenium 989, while adding WAP services.
Physicality
Like our previous review, the antenna does still get in the way. Hauling it long term may create wear and tear on the antenna, so handle with care. The keypad itself is easy to use and responsive. However, one occasionally needs to use the pilot key situated on the top left of the phone, another awkward access site. But on the whole, if you're familiar with the make of the phone: its metallic covering, electro-blue and smallish buttons, there should be nothing strange about the Xenium 9@9.
Voice It Out
The voice commands are still there for the Philips. It's a must-have especially if you've run out of the quick keys that the phone provides. The Voice memo and Voice Dial are surprisingly responsive, and the handsfree apparatus is highly sensitive and functional.
Navigation
Philips uses a rolling pilot key on the left side of the phone, and once you're used to it, navigating is a cinch. The carousel of icons ensures you're only about two key presses away from where you want to go.
WAPping
The Xenium screen, seriously, isn't very suitable for long-term WAP use. It's small and probably not what you'd want to use if you had to read War and Peace or other long articles on. You can disable the display header to get another five lines of text, but the screen is still left wanting. Speed-wise, the access is all right, although configuring the phone for WAP surfing still proved difficult. However, this may be more of a problem with WAP providers in general.
Host Of Features
You can't say the Xenium 9@9lacks features; with calendars, to-do lists and an alarm clock, that's the standard menu one would expect in a phone. However, you can't really store much more than a phone number with a name, which means you better hold on to that PDA. One feature still lacking is the IrDA port. This is indispensable to some, totally useless to others. It's really up to the individual user whether an infrared is a must-have in a handphone.
Sending A Message To You
With the T9 predictive text input system, the 9@9 makes inputting SMS a breeze. You can also send Emoticons but that's only to other Philips phones, which doesn't make this feature all that useful considering the small share that Philips has in the cellular market.
Long Lasting
As with the 989, the battery life proved a marvel here. A weekend didn't manage to drain all of the Xenium 9@9's battery life. For those who need a long battery life and good clarity, the Xenium is definitely worth considering.
Overall
Rounded up with a flimsy but thorough manual, the 9@9 retains the best features of earlier variations of the Xenium. However, hardcore WAP users may want to look elsewhere for a phone with a bigger screen face if they plan to do any serious WAP browsing. Philips may be better served in coming up with a new design for a WAP phone, rather than trying to force it on the Xenium series. |
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