Nokia 6230i review: On the top, again

As for the built-in radio, unlike other Nokia phones, this one comes with a new Visual Radio function. The rest of the functions are the same as at the 6230 model. The radio works with attached earphones only, which also serve as antenna. Alike the MP3 files, stations can also be listened to through the loud speaker. The radio is stereophonic with a capacity for 20 selected stations in the range from 87.50 to 108.00 MHz to be saved into the memory. Both the radio and the MP3 player can play in background, so usual work with the phone does not get disturbed.

Radio’s environment • context menu • saving stations • main display while listening to the radio

Nokia has improved its Dictaphone, which is able to save a one-hour non-break recording. The music player, the radio and the sound recorder all have new graphic environments. Unfortunately, the legends' symbols do not fit onto the keys at all. I feel like testing a beta version. Yet, what we are really testing is phone's final version.

Internet: Bluetooth works

Nokia 6230i supports GPRS class 10, EDGE class 10 and HSCSD. Unfortunately, EDGE does not appear on the display when the phone is connected to the net, so it is impossible to say, if the connection is fast or slow. We have been informed that Nokia's developers have already started correcting that problem, so it should be fixed in the next firmware.

In the phone itself mobile data transfers are possible through email and WAP browser and can be used for streaming videos and for Push to talk. Never mind the fact that the data profiles setup is a bit more complicated than usual, everything worked perfectly and right off. Using the built-in browser you can also access common web pages and read them on the small display, provided they are in text format.

The phone gets connected to the computer through a USB cable, the infrared port or through Bluetooth. Bluetooth installed in Nokia 6230i supports all important profiles, including those working with cordless earphones: Headset and Handsfree.

Unlike the older model, this time I did not run against any difficulties when using the PC Suite software package. While earlier the connection was possible through infrared port only, with Nokia 6230i Bluetooth got started straight away. First thing I tried was to synchronize the phone with Outlook - the result however invoked my disappointment for I found out that the name sorting problem was still present.

I did not have difficulties with connecting the computer to the net through GPRS/EDGE either. The Bluetooth modem got installed immediately. Then I inserted the set-up string, entered the phone number and that was it. I stayed connected for about half an hour and no problems occurred. It was impossible to make a call with Nokia 6230i while transferring was active. But if you are not currently downloading, the phone is fully accessible. While downloading, I even managed to send a SMS from the computer to another mobile phone, using PC Suite through a Bluetooth connection. To sum up, the phone is usable while connected to internet; just do not press the red button for this will disconnect you from the net.

You can either download PC Suite from Internet, or use the version, installed onto the CD delivered with the phone. There are no innovations here.

Nokia 6230i offers three games of relatively good quality. Street Race is a car race; Golf Tour is surprisingly easy to play golf (different from what we are used to) and Backgammon, which is also possible to play in pairs using SMS.

Street Race • Backgammon

Golf

The java applications set also includes a converter, a world clock and a translator. The latter supports five languages.

Standard java applications menu

Let's not forget to mention the simple calculator, the stopwatch and the countdown timer.

Calculator • context menu • stopwatch

On the top, again

It is clear, that what we are now praising in the new 6230i model could have easily been introduced by Nokia already last year. I mean the bigger and finer display, the email with attachments, the option for connecting the memory card as hard drive - features, the absence of which the old model was blamed for a lot.

In some way or other, Nokia 6230i is one of the best present-day mobile phones. It has almost everything! Our reproaches are directed mainly at the T9 dictionary, which is really bad this time, and to the phonebook sorting after synchronization. And that is it. The rest is more or less bits and pieces.

Nokia 6230i offers elaborated call functions and message work; it is excellent as far as data communication is concerned and goes among the best mobile phones, which offer work with music and multimedia.

Nokia 6230i' biggest competitor will be the oncoming Sony Ericsson K750i, which will hit the market within two months. It is also comparable with the S700 and K700 models as well as with the smartphones, which however are in a different category.