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11:49 pm
September 7, 2010
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Hi Forum,
I just bought the Nokia 2720 a few days ago, it's my second speakout phone. While I was initially excited with all of the features of this phone, I've found that the one thing that a phone is supposed to do well (let you communicate) does not work at all on this phone. I simply cannot hear who I'm talking to if there is any moderate level of noise (e.g., I've had bad two experiences recently, one on a busy street and another in Home Depot. It's not like I'm trying to use it in a noisy bar or something).
My first speakout phone was one of the older black and white nokias that used to be the speakout lineup. I can't remember the model number, but it was the bottom-of-the-line model about 4 years ago. I was pretty happy with it -- sounded fine, battery lasted a long time. My only major complaint was that with the keypad on the front of the phone it tended to dial people in my pocket without me knowing it (I often forget to lock the keys). I called the hospital on one occasion, and my kid somehow managed to call 911 on another occasion, despite the keypad supposedly being locked. Also numerous experiences of bicycling down the road and then suddenly hearing a voice in my pocket saying "Hello? Hello?". That was one of the main things drawing me towards the 2720 -- having the flip phone appealed to me since there's no chance of it dialing in my pocket.
Anyhow, my questions are:
- Is there any phone in the current speakout lineup that I would be any happier about the sound quality, or all all of the Nokia's that speakout has currently the same as far as sound?
- I'm looking at the new 2220 model since it slides in and out, thus hiding the keys when you are not using it. Any word on the sound quality of that model?
- If I buy one of the models with the keys on the front (1661 or 5130), am I going to have the same problem as before with it dialing in my pocket, or have there been some improvements there (e.g., keys that are harder to accidentally press, or a locking feature that locks automatically after a period of not using the phone?)
- Speakout customer service had said that if I went into a store I could 'probably' exchange my 2720 for a different phone and they would let me swap the SIM cards. I haven't tried this yet. Does anyone have any experience with having taken back a phone to 7-11?
- Am I better off trying to find a better phone elsewhere and putting the SIM card in that? I don't really know anything about the restrictions there (which phones will work and which won't) but I'm sure there's more info on these forums around that.
Thanks
11:57 pm
September 7, 2010
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p.s., I did some internet searches to see what reviews said about sound quality on the 2220. I can't seem to get any consensus.
from: http://www.techarena.in/review.....review.htm
"We think the sound at Nokia 2220 Slide is enjoying the impeccable and have rarely seen such high quality sound on call at such a cheap phone."
from http://www.mouthshut.com/revie.....340-1.html
"Expected Nokia to deliver good voice clarity and battery life. Was shocked to experience poor voice quality.At max volume it is hardly audible.... I have been a mobile user for a decade, but has not experienced such bad sound quality except for Nokia's other failure model - supervnova. So much for my cribing."
11:46 am
September 8, 2010
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I called customer support using my 2220, and although automated messages was quite clear, actual rep's voice was tiny and barely audible at default volume. Then I called *777 and found that default volume is about middle and gets pretty loud at max. So I think the volume problem depends on who you talked to, rather than the phone itself.
2:31 pm
September 11, 2010
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I got the 2220 yesterday, and I agree with pretty much everything starvinmarvin said: the two customer reps I've spoken to were barely audible, but the automated messages were clear. Max volume is quite loud.
I've done a bit of research before deciding between the 2220 and the 2720. Apparently, low volume is a pretty common complaint with the 2720, and it seems that you need to position the phone just right (people generally say "one inch below what feels natural", whatever that means) in order to hear anything. Also, the "correct position" is quite uncomfortable for most people. In my experience so far, this isn't a problem with the 2220.
I've never tried taking back a phone to 7-11, but if you have problems, you might try buying one online at Newegg. They have a good-ish selection of unlocked GSM flip phones starting at around $40 and free shipping.
7:43 pm
September 7, 2010
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I ended up going back to 7-11 and trading my 2720 in for a 2220. Exchanging the phone was no problem, though I sort of felt sorry for the 7-11 manager trying to sort out the various phones and sim cards and everything while there was a big line up of people waiting to pay for their hot dogs or buy cigarettes. I took the SIM card out of the 2720 since I had already been using that on Speakout, and put it into the 2220 that I bought.
I immediately noticed a difference in the volume level between the 2720 and the 2220. I can actually hear what my wife is saying on the 2220! Hooray.
Overall, the 2220 seems to be a pretty good model. I like the slide-out feature and the fact that you can use the phone without having to slide it open, if you have the numbers programmed in. Also, it seems to automatically lock the keys after a certain period of time, which helps out a lot with my fears of accidentally calling people when the phone is in my pocket. It seems a bit more solid than the 2720, and is much more comfortable to use. I completely agree with the last poster that the 2720 requires you to hold it an inch below what feels normal, and press your ear against a sharp corner in a very uncomfortable way. By contrast, the 2220 feels like a flat surface against your ear, which is much better. The one thing I liked better about the 2720 was that it had bluetooth, which seemed like it would be good for transferring pictures and such from the phone to my computer. But that's not a really big deal for me, really I just want a phone that works as a phone. That's what I got, so I am happy now.
