| Announced in May 2009, the Nokia 6730 Classic is a | | | | yellow pages information to make for a pretty |
| basic smartphone that comes in a, well, classic | | | | powerful entry-level handset. The 6730's navigational |
| "candybar" form factor. Though sleek and shiny, there | | | | capabilities are what makes it different from other |
| is something a little retro about it as well. Available in | | | | basic cell phones. This model can be thought of as a |
| the classic colors of black or white, it's got a camera | | | | missing link of sorts between the cell phone proper and |
| (3.2 megapixels) with video calling, autofocus, and an | | | | smartphones in general. |
| LED flash; a 2.2-inch display (240x320) with a palette | | | | Thus the 6730 is a nice all-around smartphone that |
| of sixteen million colors; and an expansion slot microSD | | | | should appeal especially to the sort of mid-range |
| cards (up to 8GB total). There is a built-in stereo FM | | | | customers that is likely being targeted, who tend to be |
| radio tuner and, as might be imagined, the Nokia 6730 | | | | casual and budget-conscious users. The 6730 Classic |
| Classic also doubles as a portable music player, though | | | | is exclusive to Vodafone subscribers, however. |
| the audio jack is your standard 2.5mm found on most | | | | Vodafone is a global telecom company with over |
| cell phones. These days, all that means Bluetooth 2.0 | | | | three hundred million customers worldwide, and the |
| compatibility with A2DP. It runs on Symbian Series 60, | | | | Nokia 6730 is a product of the two companies' |
| 3rd Edition, so users can download additional | | | | strategic collaboration. Unfortunately, WiFi is not |
| applications, including games. Capable of 3G speeds, | | | | available. Nevertheless, the Nokia 6730 Classic is the |
| the 6730 also has power-saving abilities, with official | | | | least expensive 3G phone as of this review, and thus |
| talk times rated at up to ten hours (standby is five | | | | likely to be widely adopted the world over - especially |
| hundred hours, regardless of speed). | | | | by those in emerging markets where this handset |
| But perhaps the most notable feature of the 6730 is | | | | would serve as a wonderful introduction. It is only a |
| its navigational capabilities for motorist and pedestrian | | | | few years ago that a phone with all that the 6730 |
| alike. Don't forget that the 6730 is arguably not too | | | | offers would have been considered seriously high-end, |
| much more than an introductory smartphone. Yet the | | | | but thanks to the phenomenon of "trickle-down |
| on-board mobile navigation seems very sophisticated | | | | technology" such features today are considered a |
| for its class: turn-by-turn directions are combined with a | | | | commonplace. |
| database of points of interest and both white and | | | | |