Miles
23-05-2006, 11:12 AM
Samsung Z320i 3G Phone Review
Note : This review is written by an editorial member of 3G staff for the readers of www.3G.co.uk and for the members of the 3G Forum. A full list of 3G Phone Reviews by phone manufacturer and date order can be found here http://www.3g.co.uk/3GPhoneReviews.htm.
http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/May2006/SAMSUNG%20Z320i.jpg
Best features
I-mode
Video calling and streaming
1.3-megapixel camera
120MB internal memory
Specification Details
Size 97x48x22.9mm
Weight 105g
Display 262,000 colours
Resolution 176x220 pixels
Camera 1.3-megapixel / VGA
Video calling / streaming Yes/Yes
Video recording / playback Yes/Yes
Audio playback MP3, AAC, AAC+
Connectivity Bluetooth, USB
Internal memory 120MB
Memory card slot No
Java Yes
Games Powerful Kicker, CannonBall
Messaging SMS, MMS
Email client I-mail
Ringtones Polyphonic, MP3
Internet browser I-mode
Frequency Tri-band + 3G
Talktime 300 mins
Standby 200 hours
http://www.3g.co.uk//PR/Dec2005/BuyBlack.gif (http://shop.3g.co.uk/)
Mobile internet phenomenon i-mode has gone ballistic in Japan but here in the UK, it’s only just getting underway. Is the flagship Samsung Z320i going to kick-start the UK revolution? We take a look.
Six months into its UK career and we’re still in the dark about i-mode’s success. O2 has yet to release any subscription figures, so perhaps it’s too early to pass judgement but we’re left wondering whether i-mode UK will experience at least a small slice of the phenomenal success afforded to its Japanese counterpart.
Two factors will determine if i-mode thrives in the UK: education and handsets. O2’s original ‘Faster than WAP’ marketing campaign was destined not to register with the punters who wouldn’t know or care what WAP is (my other half stared at me blankly when I asked her if she knew what WAP did.) Thankfully, to try to make a connection with the public, O2 is currently using the ‘eBay on your mobile’ angle. Considering eBay is a worldwide phenomenon, this seems a canny move.
Similarly, the early i-mode handsets from NEC to hit the prepay and mid-range levels weren’t the most inspiring. The phone that did catch our attention was Samsung’s 3G-enabled Z320i. Now in the shops, this slider is O2’s flagship model and appears to be the handset that might ignite i-mode.
Anyone familiar with the D600 will appreciate the Z320i. Its build and smooth slide action are very similar, with the Z320i only carrying a little extra weight and bulk. Its design also flaunts more pronounced cubist angles to discriminate it from Samsung’s army of black sliders. As with all i-mode phones you get dedicated i-mode and i-messaging keys but otherwise it’s classic Samsung in feel and quality.
Running off 3G speeds means your i-mode web pages should appear rather briskly and our test confirmed this. The service was slick from start to finish and rarely faltered. The Z320i’s bright screen made viewing easy on the eye and this remains i-mode’s greatest UK ambassador so far. But while i-mode’s website payments remain transparent, subscriptions could prove expensive. Sure, the majority of the sites are free to access but sign up to four or five and you could be looking at a bill of £10 plus the data charges to surf the web. Could payment costs be reappraised, O2?
As O2’s i-mode flag-waver, you would expect the Z320i’s other features to follow suit but, alas, they remain a little underwhelming. The 1.3-megapixel camera is steady and pretty much in line with the D500 for quality, while the 120MB of internal memory, although initially appearing quite ample, clouds the lack of expandable memory opportunities. If the Z320i carried the D600’s features combined with its 3G capabilities then this could have been a major contender.
O2’s i-mode handset range may be limited to around five phones, but there will be more to come (i-mode enabled Motorola SLVR L7s and L6s are mooted). However if you’re looking to invest in i-mode right now, then the Z320i is the handset on which to experience it.
Top 5 i-mode sites
- eBay mobile (free)
Just like the online auction site but, er smaller. Log on, make a winning bid and pay up for that piece of burnt toast sporting the face of Jesus Christ. All from your mobile phone.
- Sky Sports and News (free)
Two separate sites but both feature up-to-the-minute stories and breaking news. Sky Sports is also hot for footy transfer speculation. Will keep us going well after the World Cup.
- Filmnight.com (£3/month/5 credits)
Brad Pitt is dating Angelina Jolie? Filmnight is the place to catch up on movie gossip and trailers and get hip to the latest releases.
- GMTV (free)
What’s your favourite GMTV presenter combination? Andrew and Fiona? Kate and Ben? While you decide, read about the programme’s morning’s news and topics or enter the great holiday compos.
- Lastminute.com (free)
There’s always someone who blurts, ‘I got a flight to New York for £1 on lastminute.com.’ Well it could be you so go and search out those bargains on your phone.
10 things you need to know about i-mode...
I-mode is essentially the internet scaled down to fit snugly on your mobile phone.
I-mode was developed by Japanese network NTT DoCoMo in 1999 and now has 42 million subscribers in its homeland (the equivalent of one in three Japanese people own an i-mode compatible phone.)
I-mode is faster than WAP because it uses a subtext of the full web programming language called cHTML, with i-mode standards dictating that web pages have size limits for quick delivery.
I-mode in the UK is exclusive to O2 and you will have to purchase an i-mode compatible phone to access the service.
I-mode in the UK currently has 131 content providers signed up, including eBay, Sky News and Interflora.
Accessing the contents of many i-mode websites involves a monthly subscription fee with either credits or an all-you-can-eat menu. You can opt out of the monthly subscriptions at anytime.
Subscription payments are very transparent and clearly stated on your monthly bill.
Browsing i-mode costs around £3 per megabyte of data – that equates to about 100 pages.
You can make secure payments in i-mode when booking flights and hotels, ordering flowers for delivery or paying off your credit card.
I-mode’s version of email, i-mail, comes automatically set up and your address is (your phone number)@o2mail.co.uk. The address prefix can be customised.
Pros
The i-mode performance over 3G was seamless and pages loaded swiftly.
Cons
The 120MB of internal memory seems generous but a card slot wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Verdict
The Z320i provides a sound i-mode user experience over 3G but its cute feature-set just fell short.
3G Total Score 84%
http://www.3g.co.uk//PR/Dec2005/BuyBlack.gif (http://shop.3g.co.uk/)
This review covers the above mobile phone only and does not address the performance of any 3G Network. The score is based on a 3G mobile phone checklist.
Copyright : You are advised that this material is the copyright of www.3G.co.uk and is our own personal view only. (C) All rights reserved 2005. Whist every care has been taken in the preparation of this review, the author nor 3G.co.uk cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or authenticity of the information it contains, or consequence arising from it.
Note : This review is written by an editorial member of 3G staff for the readers of www.3G.co.uk and for the members of the 3G Forum. A full list of 3G Phone Reviews by phone manufacturer and date order can be found here http://www.3g.co.uk/3GPhoneReviews.htm.
http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/May2006/SAMSUNG%20Z320i.jpg
Best features
I-mode
Video calling and streaming
1.3-megapixel camera
120MB internal memory
Specification Details
Size 97x48x22.9mm
Weight 105g
Display 262,000 colours
Resolution 176x220 pixels
Camera 1.3-megapixel / VGA
Video calling / streaming Yes/Yes
Video recording / playback Yes/Yes
Audio playback MP3, AAC, AAC+
Connectivity Bluetooth, USB
Internal memory 120MB
Memory card slot No
Java Yes
Games Powerful Kicker, CannonBall
Messaging SMS, MMS
Email client I-mail
Ringtones Polyphonic, MP3
Internet browser I-mode
Frequency Tri-band + 3G
Talktime 300 mins
Standby 200 hours
http://www.3g.co.uk//PR/Dec2005/BuyBlack.gif (http://shop.3g.co.uk/)
Mobile internet phenomenon i-mode has gone ballistic in Japan but here in the UK, it’s only just getting underway. Is the flagship Samsung Z320i going to kick-start the UK revolution? We take a look.
Six months into its UK career and we’re still in the dark about i-mode’s success. O2 has yet to release any subscription figures, so perhaps it’s too early to pass judgement but we’re left wondering whether i-mode UK will experience at least a small slice of the phenomenal success afforded to its Japanese counterpart.
Two factors will determine if i-mode thrives in the UK: education and handsets. O2’s original ‘Faster than WAP’ marketing campaign was destined not to register with the punters who wouldn’t know or care what WAP is (my other half stared at me blankly when I asked her if she knew what WAP did.) Thankfully, to try to make a connection with the public, O2 is currently using the ‘eBay on your mobile’ angle. Considering eBay is a worldwide phenomenon, this seems a canny move.
Similarly, the early i-mode handsets from NEC to hit the prepay and mid-range levels weren’t the most inspiring. The phone that did catch our attention was Samsung’s 3G-enabled Z320i. Now in the shops, this slider is O2’s flagship model and appears to be the handset that might ignite i-mode.
Anyone familiar with the D600 will appreciate the Z320i. Its build and smooth slide action are very similar, with the Z320i only carrying a little extra weight and bulk. Its design also flaunts more pronounced cubist angles to discriminate it from Samsung’s army of black sliders. As with all i-mode phones you get dedicated i-mode and i-messaging keys but otherwise it’s classic Samsung in feel and quality.
Running off 3G speeds means your i-mode web pages should appear rather briskly and our test confirmed this. The service was slick from start to finish and rarely faltered. The Z320i’s bright screen made viewing easy on the eye and this remains i-mode’s greatest UK ambassador so far. But while i-mode’s website payments remain transparent, subscriptions could prove expensive. Sure, the majority of the sites are free to access but sign up to four or five and you could be looking at a bill of £10 plus the data charges to surf the web. Could payment costs be reappraised, O2?
As O2’s i-mode flag-waver, you would expect the Z320i’s other features to follow suit but, alas, they remain a little underwhelming. The 1.3-megapixel camera is steady and pretty much in line with the D500 for quality, while the 120MB of internal memory, although initially appearing quite ample, clouds the lack of expandable memory opportunities. If the Z320i carried the D600’s features combined with its 3G capabilities then this could have been a major contender.
O2’s i-mode handset range may be limited to around five phones, but there will be more to come (i-mode enabled Motorola SLVR L7s and L6s are mooted). However if you’re looking to invest in i-mode right now, then the Z320i is the handset on which to experience it.
Top 5 i-mode sites
- eBay mobile (free)
Just like the online auction site but, er smaller. Log on, make a winning bid and pay up for that piece of burnt toast sporting the face of Jesus Christ. All from your mobile phone.
- Sky Sports and News (free)
Two separate sites but both feature up-to-the-minute stories and breaking news. Sky Sports is also hot for footy transfer speculation. Will keep us going well after the World Cup.
- Filmnight.com (£3/month/5 credits)
Brad Pitt is dating Angelina Jolie? Filmnight is the place to catch up on movie gossip and trailers and get hip to the latest releases.
- GMTV (free)
What’s your favourite GMTV presenter combination? Andrew and Fiona? Kate and Ben? While you decide, read about the programme’s morning’s news and topics or enter the great holiday compos.
- Lastminute.com (free)
There’s always someone who blurts, ‘I got a flight to New York for £1 on lastminute.com.’ Well it could be you so go and search out those bargains on your phone.
10 things you need to know about i-mode...
I-mode is essentially the internet scaled down to fit snugly on your mobile phone.
I-mode was developed by Japanese network NTT DoCoMo in 1999 and now has 42 million subscribers in its homeland (the equivalent of one in three Japanese people own an i-mode compatible phone.)
I-mode is faster than WAP because it uses a subtext of the full web programming language called cHTML, with i-mode standards dictating that web pages have size limits for quick delivery.
I-mode in the UK is exclusive to O2 and you will have to purchase an i-mode compatible phone to access the service.
I-mode in the UK currently has 131 content providers signed up, including eBay, Sky News and Interflora.
Accessing the contents of many i-mode websites involves a monthly subscription fee with either credits or an all-you-can-eat menu. You can opt out of the monthly subscriptions at anytime.
Subscription payments are very transparent and clearly stated on your monthly bill.
Browsing i-mode costs around £3 per megabyte of data – that equates to about 100 pages.
You can make secure payments in i-mode when booking flights and hotels, ordering flowers for delivery or paying off your credit card.
I-mode’s version of email, i-mail, comes automatically set up and your address is (your phone number)@o2mail.co.uk. The address prefix can be customised.
Pros
The i-mode performance over 3G was seamless and pages loaded swiftly.
Cons
The 120MB of internal memory seems generous but a card slot wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Verdict
The Z320i provides a sound i-mode user experience over 3G but its cute feature-set just fell short.
3G Total Score 84%
http://www.3g.co.uk//PR/Dec2005/BuyBlack.gif (http://shop.3g.co.uk/)
This review covers the above mobile phone only and does not address the performance of any 3G Network. The score is based on a 3G mobile phone checklist.
Copyright : You are advised that this material is the copyright of www.3G.co.uk and is our own personal view only. (C) All rights reserved 2005. Whist every care has been taken in the preparation of this review, the author nor 3G.co.uk cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or authenticity of the information it contains, or consequence arising from it.