3GScottishUser
13th April 2005, 10:29 AM
From Mobile Today's Dealer Panel (01/04/2005):
Orange reckons 3G is 3G peasy, but try telling that to the tireless folk on the shop floor. They know that selling the phones is a darn sight tougher than coming up with a simple advertising campaign.
Despite Oranges ubiquitous 3G advertising, the content, tariffs and, most importantly, handsets are pretty uninspiring, the panel says. In fact, Samsungs Z107 is typical of Oranges slim portfolio of 3G handsets. Theres a running theme with [Oranges] phones: big, boring and old-looking, says one dealer. [...]
Bell reminds the panel that the Z107 was supposed to be Vodafones launch 3G phone this time last year, indicating how old this device is two-and-a-half years! And, he adds, the only change in that time has been the addition of a TFT screen.
While Vodafone has moved on, offering handsets such as the Sony Ericsson V800 and Sharp 902, Croucher reckons that using Vodafones cast-off handset makes Orange look weak.
But our guest from Orange Retail is typical of many of the Orange stores we spoke to, saying: Its probably our best 3G phone; better than the Sanyo and better than the LG. But, sadly, its not better than the [Nokia] 6230. [...]
Camera resolution is a third of a megapixel and it includes a flash the panel feels the camera is adequate. Battery life is a hefty three days, according to El-Khatib, but the presence of a supplementary battery in the box concerns the panel. Its always a bad sign, according to Croucher; apparently the inclusion of an extra battery is code from manufacturers that the original is poor.
Samsungs reputation as a provider of excellent phones is not helped by the Z107. The panel laments the absence of Bluetooth with some bitterness. El-Khatib says business and techie customers who are interested in 3G find Bluetooth indispensable. For a lot of our customers, its like giving customers a phone without a battery, he explains. In fact, he was so incensed that he emailed Samsung: I told them I couldnt believe they made a 3G phone without Bluetooth. [...]
Panel Summaries:
Alex Croucher, KJC, Southampton
Id be mad if I chose this over other 3G phones.
Joseph Bell, Isis Telecom, Ealing
An old phone.
Edward El-Khatib, HFH Communications, Shropshire
No one wants a brick, 3G or not.
Orange store, Sales assistant
I like Samsungs but I wouldnt get this one.
VERDICT: MISS
Dated looks and a poor feature set.
Full Mobile Today Dealer Panel review of Samsung Z-107 (http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/artman-test/publish/article_279.shtml)
Orange reckons 3G is 3G peasy, but try telling that to the tireless folk on the shop floor. They know that selling the phones is a darn sight tougher than coming up with a simple advertising campaign.
Despite Oranges ubiquitous 3G advertising, the content, tariffs and, most importantly, handsets are pretty uninspiring, the panel says. In fact, Samsungs Z107 is typical of Oranges slim portfolio of 3G handsets. Theres a running theme with [Oranges] phones: big, boring and old-looking, says one dealer. [...]
Bell reminds the panel that the Z107 was supposed to be Vodafones launch 3G phone this time last year, indicating how old this device is two-and-a-half years! And, he adds, the only change in that time has been the addition of a TFT screen.
While Vodafone has moved on, offering handsets such as the Sony Ericsson V800 and Sharp 902, Croucher reckons that using Vodafones cast-off handset makes Orange look weak.
But our guest from Orange Retail is typical of many of the Orange stores we spoke to, saying: Its probably our best 3G phone; better than the Sanyo and better than the LG. But, sadly, its not better than the [Nokia] 6230. [...]
Camera resolution is a third of a megapixel and it includes a flash the panel feels the camera is adequate. Battery life is a hefty three days, according to El-Khatib, but the presence of a supplementary battery in the box concerns the panel. Its always a bad sign, according to Croucher; apparently the inclusion of an extra battery is code from manufacturers that the original is poor.
Samsungs reputation as a provider of excellent phones is not helped by the Z107. The panel laments the absence of Bluetooth with some bitterness. El-Khatib says business and techie customers who are interested in 3G find Bluetooth indispensable. For a lot of our customers, its like giving customers a phone without a battery, he explains. In fact, he was so incensed that he emailed Samsung: I told them I couldnt believe they made a 3G phone without Bluetooth. [...]
Panel Summaries:
Alex Croucher, KJC, Southampton
Id be mad if I chose this over other 3G phones.
Joseph Bell, Isis Telecom, Ealing
An old phone.
Edward El-Khatib, HFH Communications, Shropshire
No one wants a brick, 3G or not.
Orange store, Sales assistant
I like Samsungs but I wouldnt get this one.
VERDICT: MISS
Dated looks and a poor feature set.
Full Mobile Today Dealer Panel review of Samsung Z-107 (http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/artman-test/publish/article_279.shtml)