Thursday, February 18, 2010

MyPhone Q21

 Let’s face it! You have at least two mobile phones competing for your hand space. This is common amongst young professionals like us who keeps the sentimental value of our old sim (Smart/Globe) and still want to take advantage of the lower call and text promo offered by Sun Cellular or Talk ‘n’ Text.

Recently, there is a breakthrough to the cycle with introduction of dual-active-sim capable phones in the Philippine market. Nowadays, there are at least 3 brands that offer dual-active-sim capability in almost all models they release. They are Torque, Myphone, and Cherry. These brands provide at least one year of service warranty for every purchase.


Dua-active-sim phones can have both sim cards active, receive messages simultaneously but can only receive and make one kmncall at a time. The good thing is, after typing your message, you can choose which network to use to send it from. Browse and search phone numbers from two sim cards at once.

Personally, one phone (read: one GSM network subscription) is enough, however, having both subscriptions, I felt the need to be hassle free and welcomed the idea of a dual-active-sim capable phone. Choosing was easy for there are only 3 brands that offer such feature. A timely introduction was made when a friend allowed me to “try-first-buy-later” her new Myphone Q21. (And that’s a friendly deal)

So weighing my options got more interesting as I was doing the full functionality review of Myphone Q21.

Just a heads up on the 4th column:
Yes means it is useful to me everyday
No means it is a function/feature but I won't use it anyway
NE means it is a function/feature but not useful everyday
Na means this phone does not have the feature.
Specifications

Function/
Feature
Detail
What this means to us?
Is it helpful everyday?
2G Network
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
This phone can be used in 212 countries embracing GSM
Yes
3G Network
No
High-speed alternative in data transmission for internet connection, enables video call, etc
Na
EDGE
No
alternative method of data transmission
Na
Video Call
No
See the person we talk to over the phone face to face
Na
Dual Sim
Yes
Use 2 sim cards from same or different service provider simultaneously
Yes
Dimensions
112 x 50 x 20.5 (mm)
Comfortable to hold with both hands
No
Keypad
Full QWERTY keyboard
Free your right/left hand from all the texting as you use both
Yes
Navigation
Five-way navigation key
5-directions for easy navigation
Yes
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, monophonic, MP3 ringtones
Choose several alert types and modes
Yes
Speakerphone
Yes
Share the conversation with everybody with you
Yes
Audio Jack
No
Listen to music or speak on the phone over a headset
Na
Phonebook
Up to 1000 Phonebok Entries
This should be enough space for all your contacts in the next 3 years if you add one entry everyday.
Yes
Call records
Detailed, max ???

Yes
Weight
103.8
Light to carry around, heavy enough to know its there
Yes
Display Size
2.2” 220 x 176 pixels
Already a good size and shape for taking or watching pictures and movies
Yes
GPRS
YES
Surf through your network’s WAP enabled service (almost the Internet)
No
WLAN
No
Unable to hook up to the Internet through WIFI spots
Na
Bluetooth
Yes, with AD2P
Easily share phonebook records, mp3s, videos, and the likes
NE
Infrared
No
Share and communicate with other infrared gadgets
Na
USB
Yes
Through USB, it can be charged, used for file storage, webcam, or modem
Yes
Internal Memory
1MB

Yes
Card slot/External Memory
Micro SD / T-Flash up to 2GB
Not included: An extra 2Gig of memory for music files, movies, pictures, sound recordings.
Yes
Camera
Single 1.3MP
Takes fair snaphots of your next shopping items and wish lists.  In well lit conditions, makes a decent webcam for video conferencing.
NE
Secondary Camera
No
Capture your video while on speakerphone over video call
Na
Flash
No
Lightens up your photo subject 
Na
Display Type
TFT
Works well in the dark, but almost invisible under the sun.
Yes
Type
BAR
Easy on the hands when handling.  Requires both hands for fast texting.
Yes
Touch Screen
No
Navigate and launch applications through the touch screen
Na
OS
Basic OS
User friendly enough
Yes
CPU
Basic CPU
Fast enough
Yes
Messaging
SMS, EMS, MMS, Chat, Email
-
Yes
Browser
WAP 2.0
Surf WAP/WEB sites through GPRS, Wifi, EDGE, and 3G
Na
Radio
FM radio
Tune in to local FM radio stations 24x7
NE
Media Support
MP3, WAV and AVI
Listen to music and watch videos in limited formats
Yes
Document editor
Ebook reader
More like a notepad reader.  Only reads text files.
NE
Push to talk
No
Use your mobile phone as a Walkie-Talkie
Na
Voice command
No
Activate functions by voice
Na
Organizer/Calendar
Calendar, To-Do list
Mark your calendar with important dates, appointments, and to do lists
Yes
Printing
No
 Print direct from your phone
Na
Battery Type
Standard Li-Ion 1150 mAh
Good battery life.
My normal usage would get me to 3 days until Low-bat 
Yes
Video
AVI at x frames/sec
Playback captured and downloaded videos
Yes
GPS
No
Use your phone as a dynamic map
Na
Games
Yes
I like the puzzle game, but can be loaded with more Java applications.
NE
Colors
Available in 1 color - Black
Na
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0
Install numerous java applications
NE


Based on my daily mobile phone use, I have 22 Yes’s.  My Q21’s cost-functionality ratio would be 4,500 Pesos divided by 22 functions/features I use everyday is to 204.54 pesos per function/feature.  The smaller the ratio, the more it is both cost-and-functionally effective for its user.  The Q21’s cost-functionality ratio won’t be of too much help until it is compared to another phone of choice.   

 Watch out for the cost-functionality review of another phone of choice. The Nokia E71.

1 comment:

  1. Hey. How yah!
    Thanks for the second thought about buying wisely. I promise you, that if my sun phone dated 8 yrs old retires, i'll use this formula.. and consider the value-for money concept in place.

    On second thoughts I wish i can say i am a blond and not so smart :) but let's just say I am Ms Carefree.

    - id go with the flow of the fad, colors.. thin and lite phones.. and the advertising that goes with the label... id flash my expensive cellphone ( which i just flash, i dont use) for just the show of choice..
    - a lot of people are like me.. (you know.. )

    and then read this blog and think, what the "wisdom tooth" did i spend that money for ? hehehe

    all models no matter how expensive will soon depreciate.. so i guess, its a wise choice to bring something u know u will be ' really' use.. and not just think i'd save for something the advertisement is screaming at me.

    - majestas-

    ReplyDelete