Great phone. Lousy 'Navigation' button.
Written: Jul 23 '03 (Updated Jul 23 '03)
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Pros: Full-featured phone.
Cons: Navigation button is flaky. Takes some getting used to.
The Bottom Line: The QCP 3035 is a fine phone with lots and lots of features, including Text Messaging, wireless modem, as well as productivity tools.
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| eddyrt's Full Review: Kyocera QCP 3035 Cell Phone |
A year ago, I was looking to dump AT&T Wireless for something else. I had AT&T for 2 years. AT&T started out with great, customer-friendly service. However, I noticed a change of attitude for the worse, and I couldn't get a decent signal at my home. So much for taking advantage of free nights/weekends. In the past, I have had Ameritech Mobile (now Cingular - don't do it!), and have a Nextel phone at work. I decided to give Verizon a try.
After agonizing over the Verizon phone choices for two months, I decided to give the Kyocera QCP 3035 a try. I was looking for a web-enabled phone with a large display. I do not care for the flip-style phones. So I decided on the Kyocera QCP 3035. I knew that if I didn't like the phone or the service, Verizon would let me return and cancel within two weeks. I had nothing to lose.
I went to the Verizon store on Jackson Road, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and dealt with a knowledgeable man named "Jeff". The phone was activated, and I was on my way in less than 30 minutes. Good transaction, good store.
I have been using this phone and Verizon service for a year now. I am very pleased with the phone's features and Verizon's coverage and service plans. Verizon's customer service reps are generally polite, with varying degrees of competency. I have had to call them back five minutes after getting unsatisfactory answers to questions, just to get a rep with both oars in the water. Anyway, let's get to the phone review:
The Kyocera QCP 3035 has many features:
Speakerphone. Works very well!
Web Browser, which when combined with Verizon Mobile Web, allows me to use my Hotmail and Yahoo e-mail accounts, get directions, phone directory information, play online games, get weather, stock quotes, news, and more. Almost any wireless web service can be accessed.
Wireless "Modem". With the data cable, I can connect my QCP 3035 to my laptop and use the phone as a modem, to connect to the Internet at 14.4 kps., using Verizon Quick2Net. Verizon is the ISP, so there is no need to dial another service.
BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) or "Get It Now". This has enabled me to download games, such as Solitaire, Casino, Yahtzee, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and more. One can also download ringtones and other BREW applications. The games are nice to play when I'm hiding out at work.
Contacts. This phone has a Contacts feature that holds a lot of phone numbers, with additional areas for fax, work, mobile numbers, and email and postal addresses. I think it holds 200 entries, but I don't remember.
SMS Text Messaging. This phone will send and receive text messages. The addressee can be accessed from the Contacts list, if desired. When the Inbox and/or Outbox are getting full, the phone warns you to delete some messages. When a message arrives, the phone can alert you with four loud beeps, or be set to vibrate, or just flash the display backlight.
Voice-Activated Dialing. I haven't used this feature much, except to play around with it. It seems to work, though.
Vibrate-Alert. Phone can ring, vibrate, a combination of the two, or flash lights. There are a lot of choices, and a lot of embedded ringers to choose from.
Automatic Volume Control. There is a "Smart Sound" setting, which will vary the phone's volume according to ambient room noise. Nice feature.
Calendar / Scheduler. I use this a lot and it works very well.
Calculator, Tip Calculator, Alarm Clock, Stop Watch, Countdown Timer. I have used these once in awhile. The alarm clock has failed to go off sometimes. (Maybe I set it wrong?) The Calculator feature has come in very handy several times.
Voice Memo. You can record voice memos, and play them back later.
Languages. Choice of English or Spanish menus.
Tegic T9 Text Input. This has come in handy when composing text messages or e-mail messages. It works well.
Tri-Mode. This phone will work CDMA digital 800MHz, CDMA digital 1900MHz, and analog 800 MHz. In the Southeast Michigan service area, Verizon owns both the digital and analog services, so when the digital signal weakens, the phone quickly switches to Analog mode, so you stay in contact. There are Settings options to choose Automatic Digital/Analog, Digital Only, Analog Only, and Analog Call. There are also Settings options to allow or restrict Roaming.
Battery Life. I use the phone a lot every day, much of it for Data calls. I typically get a whole day out of a charged battery. I have spare batteries; both regular and extended versions. So battery life is not an issue with me. Kyocera offers the following data: Standard battery has up to 3 hours talk time, 5 days standby. Extended battery has 5 hours talk time and 8 days standby. For spare batteries and accessories, try using www.mywirelessdeals.com or eBay. You may save some money.
The worst things I can say have to do with the 5-way Navigation button. Selections are made by rocking the button left, right, up, and down. Execution is done by pressing the button in the center. This can be frustrating, because it has to be pressed "just right", or the wrong choice is made (or none at all). Now, after a year of heavy use, the Navigation button on my phone is starting to act up. Sometimes I have to press in firmly 4 or 5 times to make it work. Because of this, I'm now looking into getting a different phone. I notice that newer Kyocera phones have a 4-way Navigation button and a separate Execution button. I wish my phone had this. I hope Verizon will offer the Kyocera 3225 soon. It has all the features of the 3035, with the new Navigation button AND capability to use Verizon's Express Network. If I replace my 3035, I'll really miss it, EXCEPT the Navigation button.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 80.00
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Epinions.com ID:
eddyrt
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 1 member
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