Aww, baby’s first cell phone
Written: Nov 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Utilitarian quality analog cell phone
Cons: Analog ONLY phone, discontinued, poor battery life with little talk time.
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| kfj001's Full Review: Philips 636 Cell Phone |
NOTE: The Nokia 600 series cellular telephones have been discontinued, as that they are Analog and most cellular providers are moving up to TDMA/CDMA (Digital).
How I met this phone
When I first saw the Nokia 636, I thought “what a nice looking phone”. Of course, this was in 1996, and I had not even thought for a second that the world of cellular communications was about to change right before my, err, eyes.
Basically, I ended up with this phone because it was being given away at our local Cellular One booth with their “dirt cheap” rate plan. And that’s me, DIRT CHEAP.
Features…
I have to compare this phone with what’s available TODAY. After all, you’re not reading this in 1996, your reading it now.
The Nokia 600 series (and the 636) are about as basic as they come. They don’t get any less featured then this.
This was one of the first phones to feature multiple ring tones. Now, this is a common requirement among cell phones, but then, boy was it something to behold.
This phone also features a “quick dial” directory, so you can program your favorite people to call into a “directory” featuring their name, and (of course) number.
Did you run out of good things to say?
I can’t make it any clearer how generic this phone IS. It’s exclusively an ANALOG cellular phone, making it not distributed by MOST cellular providers these days.
If you do get one, by some reason or another, you can expect this:
Talk Time
The Nokia 636 has pretty basic talk time. Actually, by today’s standards the ~150 minutes of battery life you get out of this thing is sad. The same goes for its ‘standby’ time, the meager 45 hours pales in comparison to my Nokia tri-mode phone, but that’s another story.
Functionality, period.
Don’t expect to surf the web, check e-mail, get messages, voicemail or anything else on this phone, all that is WAY past this thing’s sell-by date (technologically anyway). This thing is designed to take a number, have the ‘send’ button hit, and transmit your voice over the airwaves to its destination.
Quality….
This is an ANALOG phone, your conversation will be the stereotypical cell phone conversation involving shouting, static, static, shouting, yelling, static, and oh yeah, did I mention cut-off’s? Unless you’re in an area with a LOT of phone towers, little other EM traffic and not many electrical appliances (a perfect environment for cell phones, that DOESN’T exist) your going to have an old fashion, cell phone conversation with whoever you call on your Nokia 636.
Summary
This phone is old, it’s not a terrible phone, but its terrible technology that’s been dated, and outdated for years now. This model is not energy efficient, doesn’t offer many perks (like funny ringing tones) and will only work with the most basic of service (ANALOG/AMPS) which most providers are avoiding like the plague. But hey, if it still works, some cellular phone providers might be willing to (re) activate your old Nokia for an analog phone plan, and maybe you can squeeze some life out of this thing, but if your in the market for cellular phone service PERIOD, don’t even bother with this dinosaur and get yourself a quality dual or tri-mode phone. You will be happier.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
kfj001
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Member: Kyle
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Reviews written: 138
Trusted by: 30 members
About Me:
"Testing", "Destroying", it's all just one big, gray line to me.
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