Siemens A55: Basic mobile beyond the basics
July 7, 2003 | 12:00am
Today’s discriminating mobile phone buyers look for feature-packed mobiles even in the low-end or entry-level slew of models. Fortunately, for those in the market for a low-cost mobile or a secondary phone, manufacturers are making it a point to cram as much value in their feature sets even for their entry-level models.
The Siemens A55 seems to defy the formula used by manufacturers for their low-end mobiles. It is surprisingly small and "pocketable." Its lithe frame and rounded styling as well as its "fashion-phone" marketing slant would make the A55 appeal to the ladies’ market as well.
Most entry-level mobiles are made less attractive by their large size and clunky battery packs that weigh the unit down. This isn’t the case with the A55 whose six-hour talktime, 250-hour standby time battery is extremely small and slim.
The A55, which replaces the A50 series, offers a well-rounded feature set for an entry-level mobile, including the capability to interchange covers and a 101 x 64 pixel resolution with either orange or blue backlighting. The built-in phonebook has a meager 50-number storage memory that is expanded depending on your SIM card’s memory capacity.
The A55 is also WAP-enabled and can handle 16 polyphonic tones, features that you will not find in other makers’ entry-level mobiles. Missing are GPRS and Bluetooth connectivity, which are expensive features that are considered premium selling points in mid-range and high-end models.
If Siemens can manage to include so many features in its entry-level series, it should be interesting to see what sort of capabilities its up-and-coming SX-1 smartphone has.
It is possible to type in up to 760 characters in a message; typing also does not slow down as the text message gets longer. There are also some unique touches to the A55 such as the orange backlight that fades slowly rather than disappear altogether once users stop keying in buttons.
The A55 also comes with an assortment of games that, while being initially amusing, may not be for everyone. It would be nice if all handset makers allow users to discard features such as games or ringtone composers so as to make more room for phone numbers and contacts in the directory. What is key for a mobile is that it can handle a user’s phonebook independently from the SIM card’s.
There is also the inconvenience of an extra step in sending messages; this is inherent in the Siemens phone OS. While it may annoy users who are used to Nokia’s quick draw SMS system, it’s a speed bump that could eventually be overcome.
While relatively well-designed and seemingly solid, the A55’s casing looks frail but does snap together quite well. The type of plastic used doesn’t seem to be strong enough to survive drops and falls so users should be careful in transporting the unit.
The A55’s size and lightness make it easy to misplace the unit. It is small enough to fall off from your shirt pocket when you bend over.
Overall, the A55 is a notable budget mobile with enough features to satisfy users and above-par battery life for such a small unit.
The Siemens A55 seems to defy the formula used by manufacturers for their low-end mobiles. It is surprisingly small and "pocketable." Its lithe frame and rounded styling as well as its "fashion-phone" marketing slant would make the A55 appeal to the ladies’ market as well.
Most entry-level mobiles are made less attractive by their large size and clunky battery packs that weigh the unit down. This isn’t the case with the A55 whose six-hour talktime, 250-hour standby time battery is extremely small and slim.
The A55, which replaces the A50 series, offers a well-rounded feature set for an entry-level mobile, including the capability to interchange covers and a 101 x 64 pixel resolution with either orange or blue backlighting. The built-in phonebook has a meager 50-number storage memory that is expanded depending on your SIM card’s memory capacity.
The A55 is also WAP-enabled and can handle 16 polyphonic tones, features that you will not find in other makers’ entry-level mobiles. Missing are GPRS and Bluetooth connectivity, which are expensive features that are considered premium selling points in mid-range and high-end models.
If Siemens can manage to include so many features in its entry-level series, it should be interesting to see what sort of capabilities its up-and-coming SX-1 smartphone has.
It is possible to type in up to 760 characters in a message; typing also does not slow down as the text message gets longer. There are also some unique touches to the A55 such as the orange backlight that fades slowly rather than disappear altogether once users stop keying in buttons.
The A55 also comes with an assortment of games that, while being initially amusing, may not be for everyone. It would be nice if all handset makers allow users to discard features such as games or ringtone composers so as to make more room for phone numbers and contacts in the directory. What is key for a mobile is that it can handle a user’s phonebook independently from the SIM card’s.
There is also the inconvenience of an extra step in sending messages; this is inherent in the Siemens phone OS. While it may annoy users who are used to Nokia’s quick draw SMS system, it’s a speed bump that could eventually be overcome.
While relatively well-designed and seemingly solid, the A55’s casing looks frail but does snap together quite well. The type of plastic used doesn’t seem to be strong enough to survive drops and falls so users should be careful in transporting the unit.
The A55’s size and lightness make it easy to misplace the unit. It is small enough to fall off from your shirt pocket when you bend over.
Overall, the A55 is a notable budget mobile with enough features to satisfy users and above-par battery life for such a small unit.
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