Audio

While more expensive, more advanced phones on the market support FM radio and / or MP3 download and playback, the A870 does nothing of the sort. Audio is limited to MIDI ringtones. A small selection of ringtones are pre-installed, with a larger variety available for download from the Get It Now menu. The phone features voice recording, but recorded files may not be used as ringtones.

The A870 also offers VibeTonz, which makes the phone vibrate along to the beat of select ringtones (and apparently select games as well). According to the manual, this feature "brings the powerful sensation and realism of touch to your A870 handset, dramatically enhancing the quality of your communication experience." Who could argue with that?

VoiceSignal allows for various voice-activated commands. Most basically, users may dial a number by speaking digits or the name of a pre-saved contact. VoiceSignal also works with other convenient commands so that consumers may look up contact information, go to a menu, send a message, or check phone status by voice. The phone also features Digit Dial Adaptation, which helps better adapt the phone to a speaker's voice if the standard recognition settings are not working well with said voice. The A870 is also equipped with a speakerphone.

As with the camera, this phone's audio capabilities will not replace a separate specialized device. The audio capabilities are strictly average and, although downloading and recording allows for some audio customization, this phone will not serve as an MP3 player. Consumers can expect a satisfactory mid-level phone audio experience: a variety of MIDI ringtones, standard voice recognition, sound recording, and the potential entertainment of VibeTonz.

Messaging

As with other features, the A870 offers nothing revolutionary in terms of messaging, but again, it does offer all the messaging that can be expected from a moderately-priced phone.

Users may send both text and picture messages, as well as "Sketch" messages and postcards, the latter two corresponding to "handwritten messages" and the postcard feature described in the Camera section above. In addition to words, messages may consist of graphics, animations, sound, and quick text.

Graphics and animations include a selection of preloaded icons which may be supplemented with downloads. Sounds includes preloaded and downloaded tones as well as saved recordings. Quick text allows for insertion of frequented sentences and phrases such as "What's up?" and "Would you like to join me for a date tonight?" With each message, users may send up to seven pages of up to 160 characters each to up to ten recipients. The phone uses a system called "Word" for predictive typing; traditional Abc form is also available.

Instant messaging, chat, and third party mail are available through the Mobile Web network. IM services include AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger, and Yahoo! Instant Messenger. Automatic e-mail options include Hotmail, AOL Mail, and Yahoo! Mail, with a "Find More" option available. Chat allows for both public and private chatrooms, the former including UPOC Chat, Lavalife, Friendz, Lifestyle, and Power Chat.

With text and picture messaging alongside access to internet messaging services, the A870 delivers an average but functional text-based communication system.

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