In the market for a clamshell that's just a little bit different? Maybe the CF62 from Siemens is for you. Anthony Newman investigates.
Review summary of the Siemens CF62:
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 Price: $200.
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Full Siemens CF62 Review:
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Siemens has never been known for its clamshells, although it has released a couple. With the CF62, it hopes to change all that, packing a solid selection of features into a stylish - and increasingly popular - form-factor. But does the CF62 have what it takes to beat Samsung and Motorola at their own game?
 | Siemens' CF62 is a stab at creating a good-looking, low-end clamshell
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Exterior
Siemens has made some stunning handsets in its time - the SL55 first among them. But its low-end phones are rarely so pretty. The CF62 tries hard to break this mould, but only partly succeeds. At 85 g and 78 cc, with dimensions of 81.5 x 45.2 x 21.9 mm, it's fairly small and of average weight for an entry-level clamshell. Adopting an angular design, with integrated loop antenna, it looks like a boxy, smaller Sony Ericsson Z200, which is no bad thing. With no external buttons, the outer design is a polished mix of greys and silvers, with the focal point being the monochrome external display. This is illuminated in blue, and is easily visible.
Around the rim of both sides of the clamshell is a pale grey strip, which is translucent plastic. Just like the Motorola V80, although much less impressive, Siemens have integrated event LEDs, which flash in customisable patterns when system events occur. They're a cute touch, but because they flash just one colour, and are concealed so obviously, it's a much cheaper effect than on the Motorola.
As we mentioned, there are no external buttons on the CF62. Aside from a single data port, which annoyingly functions for the attachment of a charger, headset and camera, the only other feature of the phone is a removable battery cover on the back. Inside, the design is a little disappointing. The screen looks remarkably small, although it's very impressive in terms of resolution (130 x 130), colour (16-bit) and brightness, especially for a CSTN display.
Ergonomics
Opening the clamshell is easy enough, even with just one hand, and the hinge seems solid enough. It is worth noting at this point that in general the CF62 feels well built, but does creak a fair bit.
The numeric keys are spacious, flat grey slabs, separated by raised chrome strips, just as on the C62 tested earlier on infoSync World. These bars get in the way of an otherwise fairly pleasant button-mashing experience. The large silver d-pad won't win any awards, but is also functional. It should be mentioned that nearly every key is assigned to a function, making it easy to get around the phone's features quickly.
Features
The CF62 is tri-band GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz, with Class 10 GPRS for MMS and WAP 1.2.1 browsing. Although MMS is included, its utility is limited by the lack of an integrated camera. Furthermore, neither Bluetooth nor Infrared are provided with the CF62, making GSM / GPRS the only way of transferring data.
1.5 MB of included memory should be plenty to cope with the limited features of the CF62, although those looking to fill it with Java games should note that the CF62 was not a stellar performer; the processor is clearly somewhat emaciated. Lastly, the 600 mAh removable battery included with the CF62 is good for approximately 4 days of use, which is fairly average for a small clamshell.
The OS itself is surprisingly feature-rich and usable, which considering our recent experiences with the C62 was a pleasant revelation. As well as support for themes and wallpapers, and comprehensive security options to boot, we were glad to find not only voice dialling, but voice commands for up to 20 functions. Loudspeaker mode also makes an adequate appearance.
Other software includes a solid organiser and 500-name phone book, with each entry capable of holding 5 numbers and 2 email addresses, not to mention a picture. Utilities are also present: calculator, currency converter, dynamic light programmer, alarm clock, stopwatch, timer and WAP browser. Even SyncML appears to be implemented, although we didn't test this particular feature.
Performance
Arranged logically around a 9-icon main screen and list-like submenus, the CF62's OS exhibited some significant lag with regard to text input and menu navigation, however button presses fortunately aren't dropped in such situations. The implementation of T9 is decent and also more standard than some Siemens phones.
Reception on the other hand proved poor, despite the sizeable external aerial. In areas where other phones would cope, the CF62 lost reception, producing choppy calls and failed messages. Voice quality was adequate, when the rare situation of good reception was encountered. The polyphonic ringtones are typically patchy, but at least have the virtue of being both loud and accompanied by an insistent vibrating alert, as well as the delightful flashing lights.
Availability
The Siemens CF62 is available now in a range of markets, with prices ranging around the $150, or lower with contract.
Price and availability
The Siemens CF62 will start selling for $200 () in November 1999.
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