Nokia 5160 Cell Phone

Three weeks ago, one of my last personal bastions of resistance to technological change finally crumbled. On December 10, 2000, at precisely 3:54 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, I joined another hi-tech revolution.

I finally went "wireless!!"

That?s right, I did something that even a few weeks ago I would've considered unthinkable: I bought a cellular phone.

Lately, I've come to realize the increased necessity of owning a cell phone. As many of you know, I work in a shipyard as an electrician. My daily job site is an area where it's extremely noisy, and where there are very few telephones available for us working "grunts" to use. On more than one occasion, I?ve either been denied the use of a phone by my supervisor ("Stop wasting time and get back to work!!!"), or I have not received messages left by my wife (on those rare occasions when she has called me at work). It?s been an increasingly frustrating problem for me. My solution: treat myself to an early Christmas present, one that will give both my wife and me some added peace of mind.

After weighing the "pros and cons" of various cell phones and wireless calling plans, I finally decided on a package deal from AT&T Wireless (more about that in a separate review), a plan which included the Nokia 5160 cellular telephone.

Over the past few weeks, my new Nokia 5160 cell phone has proven itself to be an absolute gem...a genuine miniature workhorse that performs flawlessly! Although billed as a "basic" cell phone, it's loaded with an impressive array of features, many of which you?d expect in models with much higher price tag.

THE STUFF I LIKE BEST ABOUT THE NOKIA 5160...

* SUPERB RECEPTION! All the great features in the world ain?t gonna help you a bit if a cell phone doesn?t adequately perform its most basic function: providing clear, crisp, and reliable communications. On this score, the Nokia 5160 is superb. Reception and transmission are consistently static- and fade-free, even under seemingly marginal conditions. For example, I?ve been able to call my home and converse with my wife from inside the large metal building in which I work. (Many of my co-workers complain that their phones and beepers don?t work well there.) I?ve called my daughter in New York while riding in my truck, once again experiencing clear, crisp, "right next door" sound from my Nokia 5160.

* EXCELLENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: The Nokia 5160 has a solid, well built feel to it. The digital display and numeric keypad are simple in design and very user-friendly. The digital display is large and easy to read; letters and numbers are easy to see, even in low light. Pressing the "C" key will turn on, for a period of 15 seconds, the green colored backlight for both the display and the keypad.

The alpha-numeric keypad is so simple that it almost belies the many advanced features which hide underneath. The large Navi key resides directly under the display. On either side of the Navi key are the C (Clear) key (on the left), and the Scroll Up/Down keys (on the right). Below the Navi key is the numeric keypad, which is laid out like any normal telephone.

* EXCELLENT ASSORTMENT OF FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS: The Nokia 5160 is definitely a full-featured cell phone! Among its many features are: Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Voice and Text Messaging, and Caller ID (NOTE: you usually have to subscribe to a wireless plan, and pay extra charges, to get each of the aforementioned features). Also included (not as part of a service agreement) are last number redial, automatic redial, and automatic answer.

All functions are accessed via the Navi key. By pressing this button, you can access the menu, which contains the following functions:

? Phone book: you can list up to 100 contacts in your own personal phone book. All data is entered using the numeric keypad. The method of entering data seems a little "clunky" at first, but it?s easy to adapt to.

? Programmable keys: There are seven keys on the numeric keypad - keys 2 through 8 - which you can program with any telephone number you'd like. (Key 1 is already pre-programmed to dial your message center; key 9 is reserved for Emergency 911...an especially outstanding feature!

? Messages: You can review all your voice and text messages, if these features are provided by your service provider.

? Calling log: Lists your most recent calls, and the time used for each of them. Also included: a set of timers which logs the number of minutes you?ve used since you last reset the timers. A non-resettable lifetime usage timer is also included.

? Settings: Allows you to adjust your own settings for automatic redial, security, voice encryption, tones, and a variety of other customizable features.

? System: Permits you to search for additional wireless services which may be available in your calling area.

? Games: For those who need some "chewing gum for the mind" during those long, monotonous moments sitting in an airport or a waiting room, here?s some relief! The games aren't very complex or exciting, but they will provide adequate entertainment in a pinch.

? Clock: A fully adjustable, very accurate alarm clock. You can set the alarm tones loud enough to just about wake the dead, if you desire.

? Tone selection: You may select from among 30 different tones as your phone?s ringer. You can select almost anything... from the traditional "ring-ring" (bo-rrringggg!), to Beethoven?s "Ode to Joy."

? Security: You can elect voice encryption to guard against eavesdropping; and prevent unauthorized use of your phone by restricting outgoing AND incoming calls!

? Keyguard: When selected, this forces the phone to ignore unintentional key presses. It's an essential feature when you have your phone in your pocket, purse, briefcase, or bag.

* SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT: The Nokia 5160 is only 6" long (including the non-removable, non-extendable/retractable antenna) X 2" wide X 1" thick, and weighs only a few ounces. It tucks very neatly into almost any pocket or bag. (I usually carry mine in a hidden pouch in my backpack.) Its small size has many advantages (amomg them, increased portability and convenience) and one obvious disadvantage (it's easy to misplace or lose altogether).

* EASY TO SET UP: Simply take it out of the box, snap on the battery pack, and fully charge the battery (charging takes about three hours, although it's recommended you let the battery charge overnight the first time). Once you've done that, the phone is ready to use...as long as you?re subscribed to a wireless calling plan. (You can do that easily, usually in a matter of minutes, over any phone.)

* BATTERY LIFE: So far I've found average battery life to be almost exactly as advertised. With the standard battery installed, I usually can talk for about two hours without installing the battery charger; I can leave the phone on, without talking, for about three days before recharging becomes necessary.

CONCLUSION:

In the three weeks (an admittedly short time) that I've owned my Nokia 5160, I've been extremely pleased with its superior performance, reliability, durability, and usefulness. I?ve tested out every one of this miniature dynamo?s features, and they all work flawlessly. Its ability to provide clear and reliable communications is superb.

So, I?m very that glad my resistance to technological change has finally crumbled, and I'm extremely happy with my Nokia 5160!