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Motorola Flare GSM
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This is the GSM version of Motorola’s ‘Flare’
range of designer phones, and in spite of looking almost identical to its
analogue stablemate (Flare L), is a quite different kettle of fish. Flare GSM (internally
known as the 6200) is shirt-pocket sized, measuring only 140(h) x 58(w) x 28(d)
mm; it tips the scales at 220 grams with the standard battery attached. It uses
a full-size SIM card, which slides into a slot on the base of the handset, so
that it ends up behind the keypad; that’s an impressive piece of engineering in
view of the fact that the phone is only fractionally wider than the card!
It’s a love-it or hate-it kind of design, but
definitely not one you can ignore, either visually, or aurally, thanks to better
than average sound, and a choice of ten ringing tones. The rounded triangular keys are reasonably
well-defined, and the backlit LCD display is clear and easy to read. That’s
just as well, it has a large 255 name/number memory (100 on the phone, up to
150 on the SIM) and it packs an impressive array of advanced features, as well
as almost all of the currently available GSM services, including SMS (short
message service) paging, cell broadcast messages, call hold, wait and divert. The
phone’s security features, set-up options and GSM facilities are accessed from
a multi-layered menu. It’s not especially easy to navigate or use; it gets
easier but it’s worth keeping the crib card that comes with the instruction
manual, close to hand.
Once the standard nicad battery has been run-in
it gives a full 14 hours standby time after three 4-minute calls. The battery
indicator is not very helpful, though, there’s no level indication, it simply
starts to flash about ten minutes before the phone cut-offs. Received sound
quality is good, punchy without being shrill or tinny and this is maintained
down to two out of five signal strength bars; below that the connection starts
breaking up and it will drop the call with no warning. Transmitted speech
quality is also better than average, only rarely does it betray its digital persona
with tell-tale artefacts. Ignore the designer facade, this is a solid little
performer with a range of features that shows what GSM is all about.
PHONE FACTS
Ease of use ****
Features ****
Transmission quality ****
Reception quality ****
Value ***
Emission category: GSM Class 4
Features: full-size SIM, 255 name/number
memory (100 on phone, 155 on SIM), name/location search, speed dial,
auto-redial, call hold/wait/divert, SMS & cell broadcast, call bar, call
meter, call timers, phone/PIN/SIM/security locks, DTMF signalling, multiple
ringers and volume
WHAT CELLPHONE VERDICT 81%
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Ó R. Maybury 1995 2505
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