Cingular 2125 - Absolutely Raises The Bar!

Initial Observation

Opening the package, there were a slew of items that came with the phone. A getting started CD (with a very easy setup and install of all that is needed) along with a few extras to install after you are up and running. As I emptied the box I found a quick Start guide, an AC charging cable, a USB to mini USB sync cable, a dual earbud earphone, battery, a nice belt-clip case and of course, the 2125.

The size (4.25 in X 1.8 in X.68 in) of the phone is pretty impressive as you hold it for the first time and its size has continued to impress me over the past two weeks that I have been using it. I was also impressed with the “balance” as you held the device…its weight appeared to be evenly distributed so it was easy to manipulate in your hand…I liked that. A basic 12 key design for input, 4 keys (talk, home, back, end call) surrounding a toggle joystick button and two soft keys for commands displayed on the screen.

Cingular made use of as much real estate as possible with the device giving you a screen that is about as big as it can be given the dimensions of the device. I was pleased that it did not have a large border around it. Above the screen are LED indicators, an infrared port, a power button and at the very top is a slit for the speaker (which is surprisingly good). The bottom of the device has the jack for the earphone and the mini-USB sync connector.

On the left side we find a button that will start the COMM Manager program and if it is pressed and held, it starts voice note recording. Just below there is the volume up/down switch. If the down volume is pressed and held, it initiates the Voice Tag function. On the right side, we find the camera button that will launch the camera when pressed and will also take a picture when pressed (the joystick will also take the pictures when pressed).

The back of the device sports a 1.3 mega pixel camera (with a self portrait mirror next to it) and a slide off cover for the battery. The cover slides off easily with a little pressure revealing the location for the battery, SIM card and memory card.

Preparation

I liked the means of installing the SIM card. A very slick holder allows for easy insertion and extraction of the card. The memory card holder was different from what I have seen or used but it too allowed for easy insertion and extraction of a card. I wish they had the memory card accessible from the outside of the device to make exchanging memory cards easier.

Inserting the SIM, a memory card and then overlaying the battery, I slid the cover back on and was now ready to fire up this baby. Turning it over and pressing the power button I waited for it to power up but nothing happened. It took a couple of attempts but then as I looked at the button and realized how it was made, I adjusted my “press” to have a little downward pressure and the device powered up.