Back to basics doesn't quite work

Kyocera's low-cost line of CDMA-phones take you back in time with extended antennae, but do little else.

Just when you'd got used to mobile phones with cameras, bluetooth, music players and other such features, Kyocera's come up with a range of CDMA-models that have none of these.

The San Diego-based supplier of telecommunications equipment, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cameras, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems and industrial ceramics, is offering these phones in the CDMA mobile sphere with Reliance Infocomm.

Kyocera Wireless entered the market in 2002 when CDMA 1X-wireless networks were launched.

A first-timer who has to compete against established brands like Nokia, LG, and Samsung, Kyocera has begun its Indian chapter with launch of 6 new phones. The models are fairly basic, both in features and performance, priced between Rs 3,999 and Rs 14,599.

It is the Kyocera KZ830 that takes you back in time. The phone is a coloured clamshell, complete with an antenna. Externally, the phone is impressive but looks are deceptive. A 256K and 96x128 pixels LCD display, fails to impress since the images on screen appear quite blurred. An external LCD screen (black and white) looks equally useless.

The phone stores limited number of text messages, 50 to be precise, and the phone book memory can take up to 300 entries. During testing, the battery supported the phone functions up to 15 hours which also includes extensive data download from R-World. The phone gets very hot quite soon.

Downloading ringtones, music and wallpapers from R-World are, however, restricted by the fact that KZ830 comes with a memory of just 8 MB.

Since the phone's audio quality is poor, and it doesn't have speed dialing, speaker phone, screensavers, a scheduler or bluetooth, the phone is strictly for those who like their gizmos simple and straight. At Rs 5,200, it can work well for only a limited number of people.

The Kyocera KZ860 is a much better product. It comes with an integrated VGA camera and a 65K 128x160 pixels TFT colour display. The pictures are of a good quality. A protruding stub, topped by a bad keypad design kill the phone's looks though.

Inability to shoot videos and send MMS doesn't help either. The phonebook can store up to 300 entries and with 12 MB internal memory, it is a slightly better tool to store data and pictures. Sadly, the memory cannot be expanded any further.

The good bit was the efficient internet connectivity (courtesy R-Connect) and an enhanced R-World experience on the Brew 2.0 platform.

Data transfer rates, however, ranged between just 35-45 kbps which is just good enough to check e-mail. Both the KZ830 and KZ860 have removable user identity module (R-UIM) support which is a SIM card designed for use with CDMA based mobile phones.

So, if you buy one of these phones and want to switch from Reliance to Tatas, or vice versa, you can do this. Not being able to switch from one service provider to another was a big drawback with CDMA phones earlier "" in GSM phones, this was always possible since you just had to replace one company's chip with the other's "" and R-UIM phones have done away with this problem.

Priced at Rs 11,100, the KZ860 would have a tough time battling with entry level camera phones like the Nokia 2865, which is an entry-level candybar phone, offers FM radio, a speakerphone and also Bluetooth connectivity.

The cute looking 121.9 mm x 48 mm x 22.8 mm Slider SE47 is a welcome change from Kyocera. It weighs 96 grams and comes with a 128x128 pixel display that's pleasing. The extendable antenna actually suits this one. The only thing that was bothersome was the reaction time of the phone.

For instance, during testing the phone took about 5-7 seconds to start up which is more than what phones from competitors take. The lack of a camera is a negative. The keys are small, but you can get used to them. There is no backlight provided for the "call" buttons and that literally leaves you groping in the dark.

At 8 MB, the memory is disappointing. On connecting it with computer, it gave the same bit rate as KZ860 (around 35-45 kbps), although connecting to R-World was faster with Slider. The battery consumption is very high and within 4-5 hours of usage, the SE47 got drained out.

There is not quick access to the ringer volume or the silent/vibrate option, and you have to go through the entire menu to do so. The phone cannot be set on silent or vibrate while charging. Even if priced at Rs 7,800, the phone will have to try hard to impress consumers.

If Kyocera's plan is to deliver low cost products in a bid to grow its share in the overall mobile phone market, it needs to take a closer look at its product line up. And it may want to add a few more features considering what the competition is offering.