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NEC 616 Specifications
System: WCDMA 2.1GHz / GSM 900 / 1800 MHz (Dual Mode)
Size: 103 x 53 x 26mm
Weight: 131g
Standby Time: G120 hours (WCDMA) / 145 Hours (GSM)
Talking Time: G110 mins (WCDMA) / 120 mins (GSM)
Other features: * Newly added or enhanced functions compared to NEC 606
Display 65k TFT Screen / 320 x 120 resolution (*)
- Support to 3G data transfer G64kbps upstream A384kbps downstream
- Support to 2.5 data transfer: GPRS Class 8 (Maximum speed at around 50kbps) *
- Built-in 100K pixels, CIF quality camera, with flash and 2x digital zoom
- Support to MPEG4, MP3 (*), MIDI, WMA and other audio formats
- EMAIL functions (POP3, SMTP, IMAP 4) (*)
- Videoconferencing
- A-GPS global positioning (*)
- Bluetooth
- 40-chords polyphonic ringtone (*)
- JAVA MIDP 2.0
- xTHML browser (*)
- SyncML (*)
- Internal 19MB memory, 4MB available for MMS and multimedia files storage, 960KB for JAVA files,
30 ringtone storage and 500 phone records
- support Memory Stick Duo memory card for expansion (*)
- Caller ID Icons
review;
NEC 616 is NEC fourth phone specially designed for 3 Network. In fact it is understandable why Hutchison Hong Kong choose this as their first promoting model. Firstly, its look is quite different from its predecessor 606 and 808 and become smaller in size. Its bar-shaped and silver outershell is similar to other clamshell phones in the market, but with a more mature look and an incoming call display on the outside. The handset is similar to NEC 606 in terms of both having dual camera for the convenience of videoconferencing, as well as their keypad design. There is a special function key located on the right hand side for direct entry to items of VAS services from 3 Network. But we are not allowed to check out this shortcut index to see what services will be included in 3 Network. The exact items would only be unveiled until the release date. One should note that NEC usually releases their 3G handsets in two language versions, Chinese and English. Chinese version c616 will be released in Hong Kong, while the English version e616 is adopted in European and Australian market.
Excellent for Video Call
With no doubt, this NEC 3G handset supports a lot more multimedia functions. One of the selling points of 3G network is its support to video call. Regarding this point, NEC 616's camera is specially designed for both shooting surroundings and user himself, enabling "face-to-face" chatting on the phone or monitoring the surroundings. In the press conference, roaming video call service is demonstrated, with the NEC 616 in Hong Kong connecting to a NTT DoCoMo video phone in Japan. This demonstration has proved that NEC 616 has a better performance than 606. However, The Hutchison 3G also proved that roaming service between Hong Kong and Japan is not possible at that time until the upgraded from NTT DoCoMo network.
Regarding demonstration, the performance of NEC 616 in video call is better than that of 606.
During a video call, user's interface will appear at the bottom of right hand side, with the
other party's face can be seen clearly on the background. This is an improvement when compared to 606, with which both party's pictures get overlapped. Another feature of NEC 616 is that it allows users to talk directly to the phone without the use of handfree headset. But echoing effect will affect the quality and the volume of the sound received by the other party when handfree speaker is used. Therefore handfree headset is still suggested to be used for better sound. The video performance of 616 is more or less the same as previously-tested older models 606 and 808, which run at the same smoothness of NetMeeting in PC does. This is already outstanding result, considering it is done in such a small screen.
Multimedia streaming as main selling point
Functionally, NEC 616 do improved in several aspects, comparing with the two earlier NEC 3G handsets. One of the improvements is an increase in standby and talking time, from 43 hours of 3G mode standby time of the older 606, boosted up to the current 120 hours. Decrease in weight can also be seen, from 150g of the previous model to a new record 131g. Though the maximum resolution supported is maintained at 352 x 288 CIF and digital zoom at 2x, flash function and video shooting at 174 x 144 pixels are newly added in. What distinguishes 616 from 606 is its support to video streaming and real-time playback. Users do not have to wait for the video until it is fully loaded and save their time. In this announcement event, Hutchison 3 Network has also demonstrated this video streaming technology, delivering different informative contents, including weather, traffic, stocks and movie trailers. In case of longer videos for download, 3 Network will arrange 10 seconds MMS extracts for users' preview, and ask for users' confirmation to download the full video. We can see from the demonstration that video playback are made faster using streaming technology. We have also tested the picture presentation of this model in the event by looking at high resolution video in its 65K colour display. We find that its performance is better than any other 2.5G handsets. This is evidence to 3G's high transfer speed, which made it advantageous to deliver far better viewing pleasure for the same content.
An upgrade in specifications
NEC 616 is loaded with 19MB memory, with Sony Memory Stick Duo for backup support. GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) and GPRS of 2.5G are also supported. According to Hutchison's
announcement, a number of one million 616 handsets will be imported by the end of 2004. But it is not clearly stated whether this number is applied to English or Chinese version in the official press release. We guess that this should be applied to 3 Network all over the world. For Hong Kong market, the initial price is set at HK$4380 and 3's tariff will be in the range of around 27 Euros or US$33.8 to 55 Euros or US$69. One thing, which readers should notice is the terms of different service, plans. Each plan does include a certain number of text and multimedia SMS, video calls, and data rate. Very high normal voice call airtime is also given for users of each plan. According to 3 Network, there are already 1200 base spots in use for Hong Kong users. Such number of base stations are comparable to Normal 2.5G GSM network in Hong Kong. although the network coverage is not yet unveiled. But based on the findings and testing data we have in hands, the coverage should be quite ideal in full scale across the Hong Kong whole territories. The coverage situation is not the same as UK or other parts of the world due to the small areas of Hong Kong.
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[ This Message was edited by: axxxr on 2004-03-05 14:21 ]
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Posted: 2004-02-27 19:57:29
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Wheres the review? Thats just a spec list?
Might be buying one today.
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Posted: 2004-03-05 15:04:00
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mmm ok!!...
Why do u want to get this phone anyway?...If i was u i would wait for the Sharp GX30 which is due in a couple of weeks!..Much better specs and a 1.3 megapixel cam aswell!!..Just check this thread!!
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=51386
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[ This Message was edited by: axxxr on 2004-03-05 14:18 ]
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Posted: 2004-03-05 15:14:37
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Mem Stick DUO?
That's good. The more gadgets use it, the more they'll become cheaper.
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Posted: 2004-03-05 15:19:24
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Quote:
On 2004-03-05 15:14:37, axxxr wrote:
Why do u want to get this phone anyway?...If i was u i would wait for the Sharp GX30 which is due in a couple of weeks!..Much better specs and a 1.3 megapixel cam aswell!!..Just check this thread!!
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=51386
[ This Message was edited by: axxxr on 2004-03-05 14:18 ]
Sorry I don't do Vodafone. I don't like the branding and them in general.
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Posted: 2004-03-05 20:21:01
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Or the moto v80. That looks super sweet. Though It's not 3g and has no expandable memory
This message was posted from a T300
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Posted: 2004-03-05 21:41:18
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The V80 is just the V600 with a new case.
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Posted: 2004-03-06 03:23:00
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@smoke dog - did you get a 616?
This message was posted from a P900
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Posted: 2004-03-06 07:01:40
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The 616 is coming on Monday. Don't plan to keep it, just seen the Moto E1000.
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Posted: 2004-03-06 15:27:00
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My first impressions of the NEC 616.
Quite a nice phone, one of best 3G phones out at the moment. Apart from the Motorola A925, but that just too big.
Size wise its almost the size as my P900, but it does look or feel it. The size is nice and bright and contrast can be adjusted. The ringtones are very loud and vibrate is quite strong. Strong than the P900, which is not hard.
Overall speed of the menu and texting is quick. But the menu structure can be confusing, you are never quite sure what to press.
Overall impressed and disappointed in equal measures. More impressed with the 3G service (when its work) than anything else.
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Posted: 2004-03-08 20:51:13
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