Nokia's 6360, the company's update to the business-centric 6100 series, has an improved look and feel, a larger screen, more features, and a working IR port. Though it's neither slick nor compatible with next-generation networks, there's a lot to like here, especially if you're a fan of its popular predecessor.
Built for business
The full-figured (5.0 by 1.8 by 0.9 inches) 6360 sports a sleeker design and weighs less (4.2 ounces) than models from the Nokia 6100 series. The phone fits easily in a pocket and is comfortable to speak on for long periods of time. While it has the same keypad layout as the 6100, its buttons are larger and more tactile.
These aren't the only improvements. The phone has a bigger display (six lines), with easy-to-read fonts. And unlike the U.S. version of the 6100 series, the 6360 has a working IR port, which we used to beam contact info from an IR-capable handheld to the phone. However, we should note that we had minor formatting problems on the phone side.
The 6360 has many of the features a business user would need, such as voice-activated dialing and commands, wireless Web access, e-mail support, text and picture messaging, a 500-name phone book, a calendar, a calculator, a currency converter, and an alarm clock. On the fun side, Nokia has included five games, as well as the ability to add up to 20 downloadable ring tones and five images.
Long battery life
In terms of performance, the 6360 (TDMA 800/1900 AMPS 800) fared well in our tests using AT&T Wireless service in New York City; Orlando, Florida; and the San Francisco Bay Area. We could hear callers just fine, and they said they couldn't tell we were calling from a cell phone. Even more impressive, however, is the phone's battery life. We managed to get 13 days of standby time (Nokia says you can get between 7 and 14 days) and met the 5.2 hours of talk time.
With a price tag of $125 to $175, the 6360 is reasonably priced but not a bargain. Although its design is nothing special--and, frankly, a little bland--this workhorse will appeal to power users who need a durable, reliable phone that offers solid all-around performance. If you're a 6100-series owner who's trying to decide whether to upgrade, there are enough improvements here to justify the move, particularly when you consider that you can use most of your existing accessories with the new model. In the next few months, Nokia will release four more variations of this phone, which will work on all the various networks. So if the 6360 isn't currently offered by your carrier, a version of it will be on the market soon.
