for the love of god...a PRACTICAL cellphone...

This is a darn good question and deserves a credible response! I, too, am not looking for a phone to try to do everything for me. I don't need it to consolidate my PDA or any other device. Just be a GOOD PHONE!

Can't wait to see the serious answers to this question!

 

Nokia 6016i/6015i/6019i.

I own/use one. It's uber powerful. Lasts forever.

 

The most basic current model I can think of at the moment is the Motorola V180, but I think even that one still has video on it. I had replaced my V60t with a Motorola V551 and my V551's battery lasts longer than the V60t, even with bluetooth on all the time. My V60t wouldn't last a full day, I would have to plug it into a charger about 2 or 3 pm or it would die before the end of the day. As it is now my V551 will last almost 2 days on a charge, and I talk about 500 - 700 min/mo and always use my bluetooth headset. You're right though, I don't use a lot of features on my phone. I don't use text messages, videos, & I rarely use email.

My current list of requirements are as follows:

• 
  Bluetooth
  Voice dialing
  GSM
  Motorola
  Flip phone

Anything else is nice, but not required

 

I used to feel the way you do regarding color vs bw screens. But I was wrong and if you invest a little time looking at the Nokia or Moto web sites you will find phones that are the same size and weight as your old v60i. And the stated battery lifes are the same. For example, my Nokia 6230 and Moto V551. The nokia screen is faster than the moto I found.

The v60i was 3.42" x 1.77" x 0.97" and 3.88oz; the V551 is 3.5" x 1.9" x0.9" and 4.3oz. The GSM battery lifes are the same. The V180 is lighter and my Nokia is only 3.4oz and 4.1" x 1.7" x 0.79".

True, today's phones are more integrated than the older sets, but they are less expensive too. Most of the new features are built into one chip and the phones are not bulkier...in fact they have become smaller, with the exception of the Nextel or pda type phones. The V60i was no slouch when it came to features either, BTW.

Because it has a camera, bluetooth or whatever, it doesn't mean you have to use them or turn them on...it saves battery life. They use no battery power when inactive.

My wife has techno phobia, but she is happy with the v551...she just uses the buttons to make and receive calls. She doesn't use the phone much, and the battery will last days for her. (The moto specs are 8 days of standby and 4 hours of talk, but they are estimates) The rest of the features are unused. The RF is much better than the phone she had before too. The RF on my Nokia is the best that I ever had.

Do a little research and you will find a phone that is equal to your old v60i.

Welcome to the WA forums, BTW.

 

Before we start rattling off model numbers. It would be good to know which carrier bariswheel is with. And to NoBite, are you on GSM or TDMA with AT&T (Cingular)?

 

OOPS! You know you're right. We should ask what carrier he is planning to use the phone with. My suggestion of a v180 is no good if he signs with Verizon.

 

...Why on earth would that be??? How could they be incompatible w/ each other... they are cell phones, aren't they??? I've never heard this before!!! j/k!!!

 

Hi, guys. I am currently with Alltel. My service migrated with the AT&T sell-out. Soon to be with Cingular. My current phone is the Motorola V180. FWIW, my battery life is about 1-1/2 to 2 days, when I don't talk on it much. :-(

 

Different carriers use different technologies. A Motorola V180 operates on the GSM network. The main carriers that utilize GSM are Cingular & T-Mobile. Verizon uses CDMA. The technologies are very different. It is like trying to use a an american SAE tool set to work on a japanese car. Japanese cars use metric bolts and an SAE toolset is useless. Just as you can't use a 3/4 inch wrench on a Japanese car you can't use a GSM phone on a CDMA network. It is the wrong tool for the job.

 

I agree,

Nokia 6015i - Verizon

Nokia 2115i - Virgin Mobile (Really Sprint)
(Black & White)

Really, Nokia all the way.


Motorola comes in second.
Samsung Third.

 

LOL...good one Wiggy...

 

Except there's no Nokia's offered by VZW at the moment...unless I missed something...

 

Well I don't know about the Verizon Nokia's, but go to the www.nokiausa.com website at the 6230 specs...it will blow you away with features. Also, the nokia software interface is universally considered the best and the RF seem to superior as well.

 

I did check out the specs at the website and they are quite impressive. Can you give a real-world review?

My first phone was a Nokia. Never a moment's problem with it. Extremely basic, but reliable. Then, I was drawn in by the shape and feel of the Moto clam-shell design. Now I have a v180. It's okay, but not really all that overwhelming. I'm on my second battery. This one looks like it's about ready to bite the dust. Some of the functions are not intuitive. But, I still like the ergonomics. If you can make a real case for the "friendliness" of the Nokia 6230, it might be a strong candidate for my next phone when I rotate to Cingular next month.

Thanks!

 

Probably for some of the same reasons I'm into Motorola, or why I always buy GM cars. People like to buy what is familiar to them. If people are overall pleased with their purchases when it is time to upgrade or otherwise replace them they will most likely stay within the confines of the tried and true.

As far as a 10 year old design goes, if I could buy a modern-day StarTac I would. I was dissapointed that the StarTac was discontinued when mine broke years ago. I bought a V60t to replace it, and enjoied the new features available on it, but still missed the familiar shape and feel of the StarTac.

 

Why are people so into Nokia's?

They are monsters in Rx/Tx, fantastic battery life, sound great, strong speakerphones, usually zero trouble.

People stick to what works.

 

I can't give a review specifically for the Nokia 6230, but my boyfriend (who has Cingular) has noticed a huge improvement after switching from his Motorola v180 to a Nokia (not sure what model). He went through two v180s, the first one broke so that his callers couldn't hear anything except static (although he could hear us just fine), the screen on the second one died within a few weeks. He's pretty pleased with his Nokia, it's really reliable and is the first cell phone he's ever had that gets reception throughout his apartment. I've also noticed a huge increase in call quality and that he doesn't drop calls nearly as often. It's definitely nice that he finally has a phone that works well, especially since it means that he'll stop using mine.

 

I've had the 6230 since Nov. 2004. It is the best phone that I've ever owned and it probably is Nokia biggest seller ( a similar version is sold in the Euro-asian markets). It is considered a professional phone by Nokia classifications. The software is very similar to several generations of Nokia models, and works very well with the free Nokia PC suite that links the phone to your computer (for backup, SMS message sending, ringtone editing, etc). It's RF is superior to my Nokia 6340i. The software does more things than I found that can be done with Moto phones. Generally, a much better software engineered phone in many people's opinions. The front and back faceplate are replacable, if they get damaged.

The 6230 was 'enhanced' for Cingular in very late spring, for 'ENS'. Recently a bug popped up in this latest version, and is temporarily off the market (for cingular, not elsewhere) in the last few weeks. The bug effected only the newer versions; mind is unaffected. I'm sure it will be back, or replaced with the newer 6230i version (see nokia.com). BTW, the 6230 needed for US markets is labelled 6230b. This is tri band for 850/1800/1900.

Another phone to watch is the 6270 quad band phone expected later this year. It is a quad band phone covering 850/900/1800/1900. See the world web site, www.nokia.com.

The 6822 is indeed a nice phone, but I don't like the keyboard that much personally.

 

What many people don't realize, is that one can buy Nokia phones directly from the website, either with or without contracts.

With the 6230 and 2 yr Cingular contract, plus the rebates ( they always run, but the current one ends 9/21), you can get the phone for free and free shipping direct from Nokia...better than ever offered by Cingular.

Good luck with your phone search, and yes, if you wait, the phones just get better, and you can overlook the extra fancy features if you don't need them. But a fold out keyboard is pretty slick.

 

Yes, I have my eye on this one too. Boy, you have really change your attitude since your first post here