3 Skypephone S2 - reviews
3 Skypephone S2 (review by TheGadgetStylist on 22/08/2008)
Ease of Use
Style and Design
Battery Life
Camera
Music Player
Mobile Internet
Reliability and Quality
Overall
The 3 Skypephone S2 is the second installment in 3's Skypephone adventure. The original Skypephone surprised many with the range of features and cute design packed into a great value phone, leaving the S2 with quite a legacy to live up to.
Styling
As with the first Skypephone, the Skypephone S2 is a budget priced phone aimed at people who prefer PAYG or cheaper Pay monthly contracts. Skypephone '1' was available in a funky looking white and pink or white and light blue case that was reminiscent of the original iPod. I loved it's stand out styling and fun looks.
Skypephone has grown up. The 2nd generation is launched in a much more conservative black and silver case, with a nicely finished metal battery cover on the back. I suspect that 3 want the product to look more serious to match it's impressive set of features, whilst broadening it's appeal at the same time. I have to say I miss the funky look of the original phone, but I can understand why 3 have been more cautious this time round. The new look is backed up by a high quality feel - no creaking plastic casings - and a solid feeling when it sits in your hand. Think Audi A3 rather than VW Beetle.
Facebook,Applications and Ease of Use
Here's where the Skypephone really excels. The Skypephone S2 features much much more than just Skype, leaving the name a little redundant and more of a brand exercise than a description of the main purpose of this phone. Yes you can still make Skype to Skype calls to anyone in the world for free and use Skype Instant Messaging for free, but there's so lots of other great stuff wedged in now. There are a range of built-in applications (a bit like the iPhone Apps) for Facebook, Google Mail, Google Maps and MSN Messenger that make great use of the Skypephone S2's 3G mobile internet capabilities.
The Facebook App is particularly good. It's quick to load and update, easy to use and incorporates your Newsfeed, Pokes, Inbox, Requests and Wall. This is much quicker and easier to use than the usual hassle of loading your mobile web browser and navigating to the correct url or bookmark and signing in.
Another great feature more often seen on more expensive phones is an RSS reader. This can be quickly set-up to track the latest news stories and features from your favourite websites. Why not sign up to the GadgetStylist RSS feed?
The Apps and major features, including access to your texts and phone book, are very easy to find and use. The Skypephone S2 introduces a 'carousel' style shortcut menu on the phone's home page which let's you scroll through icons for each of the main applications. The carousel looks a lot like the Apple Mac 'dock' that see at the bottom of the desktop on a Macbook or iMac. Using the carousel also let's you keep the Facebook or Web browser session open in the background rather than signing out every time you want to quickly check something else on your phone.
Features
The 3.2 megapixel camera is easy to use and produces good results when capturing photos and video. The only downside is the lack of auto focus and a flash which is important on a night out, but for £69.99 on PAYG you can't have everything.
There's a basic music player on board and headphones in the box so you can listen to music on your commute. The flight mode let's you use it on a plane too. All of the basics perform well - good battery life that lasts up to 3 days of normal use.
Mobile Broadband
One great feature is the ability to use your Skypephone S2 as a mobile broadband dongle. There's a USB cable in the box and all the drivers are built into the phone. Don't forget to add a data tariff or bolt on to your account first though!
Verdict
The range of features, the excellent built in Applications and the ease of use make this phone much more than just a Skype-phone. For some it will become their Facebook-phone or MSN-phone. Phones with slick, usable applications like this give 3G a purpose and it's great to see a mobile phone operator focusing on applications that people actually use.
If you're in the market for an iPhone or a Samsung Tocco then the 3 Skypephone S2 clearly isn't going to be what you're after - but if you want a PAYG or cheap contract phone phone that's easy to use, seamlessly connects to Facebook whilst on the move and has a full house of features then this could be for you. £69.99 on PAYG and only £15 per month on a contract
This is the best featured and most rewarding to use phone in it's price range. Top marks to 3 (again!) for daring to be different and for creating another innovative product that puts customer wants and needs central to it's design.
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