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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