Introduction

Unique. Probably the best word to describe the Nokia 3200. From its bold vivid colors to its strikingly distinctive keypad, this phone is not for the tame. One might think that the 3200 is all looks, but underneath the exterior lies a robust set of features such as high speed EDGE technology, a built-in FM radio, loudspeaker, camera, voice recorder, and much much more.

Perhaps the most appealing quality of the 3200 is neither the radical looks nor the functions. The 3200 is geared towards the highly profitable youth market. Therefore, it is also very affordable.

But does that mean that Nokia left out certain items? Don't worry, from the 3200's wonderful traits, to its disappointing drawbacks, we'll cover all aspects of Nokia's latest chameleon-like phone in our in-depth review.

Design

The market for teenage youths is a lucrative segment. Budget conscious consumers want great looks, full sounds, and above all customizability to make it reflect their own unique style. Nokia's newest phone, the 3200, is nothing short of unique. The radical look and curves will surely either attract or repel consumers. There seems to be no middle ground with such bold and vivid colors.

What users may not realize is the incredible versatility and customizability of the 3200. The outer casing of the phone is made of two transparent plastic halves. The front and back plates separate to reveal colored templates. This is what gives the phone its design and color. Each phone contains three interchangeable template images for users to change depending on their moods.

But if consumers are particularly creative, 3200 users have the ability to apply their own distinctive flare. The templates are just pieces of paper with colors and patterns. To create their own, simply take any photo, picture, paper, etc., and cut it to the template size. The Nokia 3200 has ten sheets with templates that can be placed in the printer. A cutter accessory can be purchased to cut the print outs to the exact size or just do it yourself with scissors.

Just because the 3200 is for younger consumers doesn't mean it doesn't have all the great features found on high end phones. The 3200 comes with a built-in camera with the ability to take photos in two resolutions: 352 x 288 px and 80 x 96 px. While, not necessarily high enough quality to print out photos, the picture size is fairly good after viewing it on a PC.

For those mundane days, the 3200 can keep people entertained with its built-in FM radio. Users can tune into their favorite station and listen to music wherever they go with the included stereo headphones. The 3200 allows people to tune manually or automatically and save up to 20 radio channels.

A relatively new concept is included on the phone as well. A handy flashlight tool on the bottom of the 3200 where the charger port is. To help out in the dark nights when fumbling around for keys, the flashlight is activated by pressing the 7 / * key.

The 3200 is also Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) compatible. This means it can download and install J2ME games. Currently it is the most popular standard among cellular phone platforms with hundreds of games available for download. Some for free, others for a fee.

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