Summary:
Worldwide network support, an arresting design, and hardware-based voice-activated dialing capability are some of the highlights of the Nokia 8890, one of the company's hottest new phones. World travelers will appreciate being able to use the phone in more than 120 countries, and others will be swayed by its cool, ultracompact design, intuitive menu system, and slew of call management features. We also found call reception and quality to be excellent, in part because the 8890's retractable antenna has been significantly enhanced over that of its predecessor, the Nokia 8860. Not surprisingly, this sleek package doesn't come cheap. The 8890 is Nokia's highest priced phone, and it's more than twice as expensive as other global phones. The 8890's compact size does not diminish its functionality or usability. Its sleek chrome buttons are slightly raised, and we had no trouble placing calls with one hand. The Send, End, and menu navigation keys are located above the sliding keypad cover, and, after a bit of programming, we could access phone-book entries, place voice-activated calls, and use any of the PIM functions without even opening the keypad cover. Even though the 8890 has an amazing array of menu options and customization features, we found them easy to locate and understand due to Nokia's built-in tutorial and concise explanations.
The 8890 comes loaded with call management features, including a 250-name phone book, a calendar that can hold up to 50 appointments, predictive T9 text input, customizable profiles, scratchpad memory, voice-activated dialing, and two-way text messaging. Two-way text messaging lets you send and receive e-mail messages, and you can also get sports, news, and weather updates as text messages. Like other Nokia GSM phones in the United States, the 8890 does not have a minibrowser for wireless Internet access.
The infrared modem enables seamless data transfer without having to tether the 8890 to your PC. It also enables two-way instant messaging from phone to phone within a limited direct-sight range. Cool new features such as electronic business cards and picture messaging further enhance its capabilities.
The 8890 has an easily activated keypad lock to prevent accidental calls. Opening the sliding keypad cover automatically enables the keypad, while closing the cover essentially locks it. The 8890 also offers an initial security code, call restriction modes, and a lock code that can activate or deactivate memory and menu options. One nice thing about the lock code feature is that you can store numbers in a secret unlocked location, which will let you make calls even if the phone is locked. Added features include an alarm clock, four amusing games, and built-in vibrating alert.
As with almost all Nokia phones, the 8890's battery life is outstanding. Its lithium-ion battery boasts two to three hours of talk time and up to six days of standby time. In our testing, the phone held a call for 185 minutes and lasted for 140 hours in standby mode.
Aside from the lithium-ion battery, the 8890 comes with a universal charger and a Nokia headset. If you are looking for a sophisticated wireless phone for use all over the world, the 8890 will serve you well. --John Schommer, edited by Thom Arno
Pros:
- Can be used in more than 120 countries
- Ultracompact size
- Attractive brushed-aluminum casing
- Infrared modem
- 2-way SMS with picture messaging
- PIM functions
Cons:
- Not Web enabled
- Battery tricky to remove
How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time
When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, because analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.
Our Tests: We tested digital mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.
To test digital phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Because no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.
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