Nokia, the brand I trusted since the first day I started using mobile phone. Nokia 8890, the most expensive Nokia GSM phone sold by PacBell Wireless of San Francisco (by this time now, it should be called Cingular Wireless). The phone is nearly perfect in everyway. Clarity is no big deal to hassle about this phone because this is a GSM phone. The only downslide about this phone is reception. Cingular/PacBell Wireless is well known in servicing poor reception anywhere out of downtown San Francisco, therefore, it is no big surprise.

The reason why I bought this phone is because of its stylish look and the world feature. Claiming to be a world phone, many people mistaken this phone as a tri-band (as of 900/1800/1900MHz) phone, while its not. This is simply a dual band (900/1900MHz) phone operating on single-band single mode in the US. Since GSM 1800 is being introduced in European countries and around the world, this phone will be useless in those regions. Foreign language selections are also very wide; the most lovable part of this feature is that it includes two type of Chinese layout, both Traditional and Simplified. The hidden retractable antenna is probably the enhancement made due to massive complaints regarding the Nokia 8290¡¦s reception. However, I find that this antenna does nothing besides the look. After the release of the Nokia 8250, this is the second Nokia phone to have different color LED, this time however Nokia utilized the super-white LED. The LCD is so visible that it¡¦s like a headlight of a car. The authentic brushed aluminum housing is extremely durable; it is still alive after enduring a fall over 50 steps of stairs (yes, I dropped my phone down the stairs at CCSF¡¦s library.). Minor scratches are made, but no cracks appeared, not like the Nokia 8290 I use to have, fallen apart like a LEGO spacecraft after the same fall. The Voice Tag feature is also very nice, able to call anyone by shouting his or her name to the phone, like using a walkie-talkie. GSM phones has the ability to download ring tones for several years already, yet this have not changed, yet, Nokia added an additional four ring tone slot the phone, making it more stylish. Due to new management, Cingular/PacBell decided to charges users based on per-message-received-and-send, therefore, text-messaging service is no longer included. No more physical data cables are needed anymore because this phone is packed with an IR connector, able to transmit data via the IR port. Also, you will be able to play snakes with someone else via the IR port. Which is nice, just like a game boy.

The only thing I hate about this product is reception. I can barely get any signal on the street I live on. The signal meter starts dropping like the stock market did when the bus starts going up the hill, what a shame. Besides reception, this is a perfect phone.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 49.99