With Wi-Fi and GSM, the Nokia 6086 can move seamlessly from internet-based calling to standard cell networks on T-Mobile's new UMA service.
Review summary of the Nokia 6086:
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 If the Nokia 6086 seems like a basic phone without many features or frills, it's supposed to be, as it is one of the two phones available with T-Mobile's UMA service, HotSpot @Home, at launch. Since the @Home service seems aimed at bargain hunters looking to save on monthly cell phone (and perhaps land line) bills, it makes sense that the phone should be a simple affair. Power users might be put off by the sub-par display quality and lackluster design, but if T-Mobile can explain the service well to folks looking for a simpler device, the Nokia 6086 will certainly do the job for which it was made. Release: June 2007. Price: $1.
Pros: Simple phone might be a good match for HotSpot@Home customers. Small design, though not tiny. Comfortable buttons.
Cons: Lacks features. Poor displays, inside and out. GSM reception could have been better.
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Full Nokia 6086 Review:
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Design - Good
The Nokia 6086 is an unassuming phone. In brushed grey with some mirrored accents, it feels compact, but not small. It isn't heavy, but you won't want to keep it in a shirt pocket. Overall, the phone could be mistaken for a well-kept model from 2002, or a low-end phone today. The buttons are big and raised and round, though the keypad as a whole is a bit narrow. The internal screen is color, but the resolution and color depth are obviously low, as text looked blocky and pictures seemed pixilated. The external screen is monochrome blue, but was barely legible under any lighting. The menus are simple Symbian icons, and the edges of the icons seem jagged on the poor display.
Calling - Good
Call quality was even over T-Mobile HotSpot@Home's Wi-Fi connection or the standard GSM network. Voices were clear, though a bit warm and digitized. Still, static was never an issue, even as GSM reception dipped. Wi-Fi reception was very good, and the phone had a much better range than the Apple Powerbook or Dell D420 laptops against which we tested it. We got Wi-Fi reception two flights down and out the front door from the Linksys router T-Mobile is offering free after rebate with the @Home plan. Unfortunately, GSM reception wasn't as good, leaving us with 2-3 bars in New York City, and even less as we got deep into the Jersey suburbs.
The phone has some solid calling features, like Bluetooth, a speakerphone, speaker-independent voice dialing and conference calling. The speakerphone was a bit quiet, but usable in a sealed car. Voice dialing had some trouble with our names, and tended to select applications on the device instead of contact list entries.
Moving from Wi-Fi to GSM calls worked seamlessly, with one understandable exception. As we left Wi-Fi coverage and headed into a cellular dead spot, we lost our connection. We don't consider this a knock against the phone. In fact, this is one of the reasons why we think UMA service is a good idea, because it makes up for these dead areas and gives you strong reception at home.
Messaging - Mediocre
The phone handles SMS messaging as well as Instant Messaging for AIM, Yahoo and MSN. The display made text a bit harder to read than we'd like, but the font size was kept large enough that it wasn't illegible. Typing on the narrow keys was okay, and the smoothly rounded keypad had plenty of travel. Still, contact list integration with the messaging apps was sub-par, requiring some menu drilling, and the messaging setup lacked many options or fields for power users. MMS with the VGA camera worked fine, as easy as sending a text message.
Odds and ends
The phone also includes a VGA camera and a music player, and can accept microSD cards to store multimedia files and pictures. The VGA camera was disappointing, both in image quality and resolution, and images were only usable as wallpaper on the phone. The music player, while basic, played a good selection of file types, including AAC files, and these could all be used as ringtones. Performance on the phone was a bit sluggish, it took some time to spring to life once turned on, and browsing quickly through our myFaves icons, the phone's display had trouble keeping up.
Price and availability
The Nokia 6086 is available from T-Mobile for free with a contract agreement and an instant discount of $140.
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