When classic meets techie

What makes a classic?

It is that which lasts forever. You know, it is something that transcends time, goes beyond trends and is always desired.

However, when it comes to technology, it always seems that the gadget of the moment is one that is of the most futuristic design and has the greatest and “techiest” functions.

No longer.

Nokia recently launched the Nokia 6120 classic. This beauty is a slim, light, 3G cellphone that runs a full smartphone operating system. It is that kind of phone whose looks bring back memories of the first cellphone I ever got my hands on, but for the ultra slim body.

Black and basic would be the first two words that come to mind when describing the 6120.  No complicated keys to deal with, just a press-and-go type of phone. Simple, smart and uncomplicated. Just what Nokia phones are all about, ask any Nokia loyalist and you will understand what I mean. People remain loyal to Nokia because no matter how many changes and technological reincarnations its phones go through, it makes sure that the basics stay and that using its cellphones would be easy and fun, too. 

How would I describe the Nokia 6120? It is like meeting a great friend after a long absence, or perhaps even meeting a true friend for the first time; you just make a connection, quick and easy.

So it is with the Nokia 6120. But that does not mean that this cellphone is a techie weakling.

Far from it.

If you are looking for an opportunity to try an S60 smartphone but also want something pocket-friendly, light and unobtrusive, the Nokia 6120 is perfect. At 89 grams and 105 x 46 x 15mm, the 6120 classic will fit in most pockets. It delivers 320 x 240 pixels and manages 16 million colors, both of which are top-notch specifications. But because the screen is only two inches from corner to corner, it can be a bit too small to display some information well enough, like when browsing through the Web.

After all, this phone has great 3G data speed and retrieving information is easy. The compact Nokia 6120 classic makes these tasks faster and easier by utilizing HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), an evolutionary technology offering downloads up to 10 times faster than the usual WCDMA networks. Thumbnail views of webpages are available and these are marked with numbers identifying different areas of a page. Hit a number and you go to that area. This is all great stuff, but still, reading text on the small screen can be quite straining on less than perfect eyes.

Nokia has also managed to design a well sized number-pad when using the phone for voice calls. There is 35MB of built-in memory and a microSD card slot on the back, left-hand edge of the casing. The music player delivers well, and there’s an FM radio, too. Battery life is good; we got a little less than nine hours of non-stop music from a full battery charge. The letdown was that in order to listen to good music on this cellphone it is a must that the headset is used.

As is standard for 3G cellphones, there is a front-facing camera for video calling and a back-facing, two-megapixel camera for shooting stills and video.  The many applications pre-installed are a calendar, to-do list manager, mobile e-mail, note taker, calculator, clock with alarms, voice control, voice recorder, unit converter, and IM. For e-mail attachments you get the Adobe PDF reader and QuickOffice for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint viewing.

“Mobile phones have taken on a much larger role in our busy lives,” said Peter Ropke, Nokia’s senior vice president for mobile phones. “We recognize that having the capability to utilize the mobile phone in many ways gives consumers a better balance between work and play. With the HSDPA technology, S60 operating system and the wide range of features of the Nokia 6120 classic, consumers will be able to make their daily lives more manageable.”

Hereabouts, 3G technology has offered Pinoys an enhanced mobile experience with faster browsing, streaming, music downloads and e-mail and Internet access. The new Nokia HSDPA technology makes these applications, and many others, more accessible.

The Nokia 6120 classic seems to be targeted toward consumers who are busy with careers, family and friends. They find brands important, but more importantly, they recognize good quality and they appreciate products that make life easier.

The Nokia 6120 classic is the latest S60 3G phone, a versatile and compact low cost 3G/HSDPA smartphone. It has classic and compact design combined with advanced features, creating a strong desire for owning it.

And just like the classic beauties, the Nokia 6120 looks destined to remain on top of the cellphone market for a long time. After all, more and more people are turning to cellphones that are stress-free to use, yet have all the high-tech qualities of more complicated-looking gadgets.