Nokia 5185i--Making Calls Your Way!
Written: Dec 13 '01 (Updated Dec 14 '01)
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Pros: Varied ring selections, interchangeable face plates.
Cons: Flimsy pull up antenna. Occasional echoing on some calls.
The Bottom Line: A decent inexpensive or free cell phone with a few nice features on it. Each user can easily customize the phone to their own specifications.
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| erinrounds's Full Review: Nokia 5185i Cell Phone |
Recently my husband and I had a decision to make, renew our cell phone plan or let it go. Since signing up one year ago with a screaming good deal on airtime, we were mostly pleased with our savings, however our original phones (Kyocera dual modes) had been nothing but irritating from the get go. If we were to stay on as Qwest wireless customers they were going to have to do much better in the way of an actual phone. After expressing our concerns to the customer service representative, our two new Nokia 5185i cell phones were on their way and we had a new one year contract with which to road test these cell phones and see if they measured up.
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First Impressions-
Right away upon opening the box containing my new phone I could see that the Nokia 5185i was different than my last phone. It seemed smaller, lighter and slimmer. It measures approximately 5 inches long (not including the antenna) by 3/4 inches wide. The other thing I noticed promptly was that my phone and my husband's phone were identical, and in contrast to our previous phones, they were not programmed with our names on the display. (*Note-these phones can be programmed with names or greetings to appear when they are first turned on, but the display can't be set to show your name at all times.)
This phone is also easily programmable. All I needed was the included manual and a few minutes and I was on my way. My husband was stunned, as he's always had the programming duties at our house.
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Features-
What can this baby do? Is the very first thing my husband had to find out. He is definitely the more interested of the two of us in these matters.
Oh Boy Games!
The Nokia 5185i comes programmed with 3 games, Logic, Memory and Snake (hubby's favorite). If you do get an urge to play a game sometime, the directions are actually programmed into the phone and you can select a level of play from beginner to advanced.
Alarm, Alarm!
My personal favorite feature is the alarm clock on the Nokia 5185i. You have to program it daily if you need it, but hey it even had a snooze option.
Ring Tones-
If variety is the spice of life, then this phone is zesty. There are 39 ring tones, or should I say tunes to choose from. (That reminds me, it's almost time to switch to Auld Lang Syne). The user can also select between ascending and descending rings, the ringer's volume (very handy for the courteous cell phone user going out in public), and even the volume of the key pad while dialing.
Number Storage-
The Nokia 5185i is programmable to hold up to 99 numbers in your phone book. You can also program one touch dialing for your most frequently called numbers.
Keep Your Guard Up-
Having two small children that have been able to tell the difference between a "real" phone and a play phone since before they could talk, this feature was a must. Two quick clicks and no outgoing calls can be made, but you can still answer incoming calls in your normal fashion.
You've Got Mail-
The Nokia 5185i has a mail box to either leave or save messages and notes.
Who's Calling Please?-
Another handy-dandy feature on this phone is the call log. This will let you know who called while you are away, who you've called, and how long you've talked (a necessity for keeping track of usage minutes). The Nokia 5185i also features caller I.D. to show who's calling, so you can decide before answering whether or not to waste your cell time on them.
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Standard Equipment Vs. The Options-
You new phone will arrive with a standard plug-in adaptor for charging your cell battery, the cell phone, and an instruction manual. Additional accessories available for purchase include custom color faceplates, longer life battery options, cases,and chargers. You can easily customize this phone to suit your own tastes.
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Battery Life-
The standard, included battery, according to the manual has a standby time of 70 hours, and a talk time of 120 minutes. I have actually talked many times closer to 2 or 2 1/2 hours on my standard battery.
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What Could Be Better?-
While this Nokia beats the pants off of my last phone, that's not saying too much. The Nokia generally holds up well, but does occasionally drop calls for no reason in particular. It also does not beep when it drops a call, so I have actually found myself still talking when the phone rings back in my ear.
I also have a bone to pick with the Nokia 5185i cell phone's antenna. Oh, how I yearn for a cell phone with a built-in antenna, my next phone must have one. This phone has a flimsy, pull up antenna that pokes me in the head, when it actually decides to stay up that is. Luckily, I don't need the antenna often, because it is a disappointment.
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All in all, the Nokia 5185i is an able performer, easily programmable, and has proven durable thus far. I would recommend this phone to anyone who wants an inexpensive phone to meet most of their needs.
Thanks for taking the time to read. This is my first review in the area of electronics, so comments are welcome. :)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): free
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