Siemens C65 review: Affordable features

Marek Lutonský, 23 June 2004.

The camera

The integrated camera is a necessary feature for the current mobile phones. Siemens C65 takes pictures in 352x288 pixel resolution only. The camera has digital zoom, brightness and white balance controls and a self timer. The images look good on the phone display, but miss some details when viewed on the computer screen. With this MMS capable mobile, you can easily capture your life's most memorable moments thanks to the integrated CIF camera and send them to friends using MMS messaging or the infrared port. There is no way to record video clips with Siemens C65.

Pictures taken with Siemens C65.

There are no functional buttons on the side of the phone. On its left side you can see the infra port and a place for a carrying neck strip. On the backside you will find the lense of the integrated camera and a connector for external antenna.

Infrared port • a place for a carrying neck strip • a connector for external antenna

Phonebook

Most of all I was surprised by the Siemens C65's phonebook. It is capable of saving 1000 entries and has a very well developed memory structure. This makes it similar to phonebooks of higher-class models like CX65 and M65. To each number entry in the phonebook, you can add an address, an e-mail, an ICQ number, date of birth etc. You can arrange the entries in groups and set a different ringtone for each group.

A look under the back cover • the SIM-card holder • exchangeable cover shells and button block

If you compare this model with the higher-class phones of Siemens, you will surely notice the lack of capability for reading emails. When you write, you could relay on the T9 predictable text input. The phone features also MMS support. Changing time and date settings is as difficult, as by all other Siemens models.

The connection socket • the loudspeaker

The organizer and extras

Because of the small display dimensions, the calendar has simplified graphics, compared to the higher-class models. It has a monthly, weekly and a daily planning option, as well as variety of alerts reminding you of different happenings on dates. All the saved appointments, meetings and notes can be seen separately - one after the another.

Siemens C 65 offers you a unit converter, a stopwatch, a countdown timer and a capability for saving short text notes. There is also a sound recorder available, which is capable of recording for up to 2 hours! The phone has a WAP 2.0 browser as well, but I haven't tried how it works.

Siemens C65

Yet I have not written anything about the phone's memory. I think it will be enough just to mention that it is 10.3 MB - a respectable amount, considering the class of the phone. You can save a lot of ringtones, images, Java applications, etc.