Nokia 6820

Got a new phone. Nokia 6820. Looks almost like my 6610, but some big differences: - Flips open to a full set keyboard. - Camera. - BlueTooth (exchange files, phone as a modem). - Built-in email client software. - Now on Cingular network (previously T-Mobile).

The email client is not as good as the one I downloaded to my 6610. That was by a company called Reqwireless. Unfortunately they are no longer selling it and I can't move it to my new phone. Too bad.

I bought the phone directly from Nokia to get a $150 rebate, and to take advantage of number portability. I would have purchased from Amazon, but they don't have a portability arrangement for Cingular.

The downside of buying from Nokia was that the phone came with factory default settings, not set up for any particular provider. I had to go to a web page to install the Cingular settings for email, browsing, messaging, etc. It took a few tries, but I think I got everthing going.

The phone gets reception just about everywhere, just not good reception. I always seem to have just one or two bars.

Overall I really like the phone. It works well and functions perfectly. Recently I was checking email with the phone keyboard open and call came in. I was able to answer it with speaker phone, talk, then hang up and continue reading email. That kind of smooth functionality I have only seen in few products, like Nokia's.

The camera is not high quality, but fine for taking quick snaps when you don't have your real camera handy.

I was seriously considering the Treo, but it's still expensive even with discounts or rebates. Also, I already have a Palm Zire 72. If I didn't have that, I would have been more likely to go for the Treo.

I have both my laptop and Palm able to dial up to the Internet via the phone. That was useful recently when moving offices and our internet was not set up for several days. It's not terribly fast, but it works.