I've been using the INQ1 phone for about a month now and in this review will be giving some first impressions on it. I'll return and update a bit more later.
The INQ1 is billed as the 'Facebook phone', but that's not really why I bought it. I've been using Blackberry handsets for years and ... Read review
Advantages: Lots of useful social applications Disadvantages: It's not a fancy touchscreen smartphone!
I've been using the INQ1 phone for about a month now and in this review will be giving some first impressions on it. I'll return and update a bit more later.
The INQ1 is billed as the 'Facebook phone', but that's not really why I bought it. I've been using Blackberry handsets for years and I was looking for a cheaper option on a different network after falling out with my existing network. I decided to take out a Three contract as ... ...Software
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The INQ1 comes bundled with a few things you might enjoy.
Skype is the biggest winner for me. If you have the right price plan you can make Skype calls for free and Skypeout calls (using your Skype credit) to international numbers. Much cheaper than just using your mobile. Skype chat is also included.
Windows Live Messenger is also installed, I think Yahoo Messenger is available if you ... more
I've been using the INQ1 phone for about a month now and in this review will be giving some first impressions on it. I'll return and update a bit more later.
The INQ1 is billed as the 'Facebook phone', but that's not really why I bought it. I've been using Blackberry handsets for years and I was looking for a cheaper option on a different network after falling out with my existing network. I decided to take out a Three contract as their '3 Like Home' product matched well with my travel plans for the next 12 months.
The Hardware ========== When I first saw the phone online I didn't think it looked anything special, when I went into a Three store with my girlfriend to take a look, neither of us were particularly impressed. After having it a few days I grew to like it :-)
It's not a big phone, more comfortable in my pocket than my Blackberry, it's also not a tiny phone so if you want something micro then this isn't it.
It has a slider to get to the keypad, I find that a bit annoying myself but I'm getting used to it. The keys themselves don't go well with my thumbs, I always seem to slide off onto the wrong key. Couple this with my need to adjust to using a number pad to write emails and text messages and you can imagine I'm missing a full keyboard. For anybody interested in an INQ, I understand they are working on a full keyboard version for the coming months.
Memory for the phone is expandable with Micro SD, it came with a 1GB card. If you take lots of photos and videos then you'll want to expand that.
If you like to carry MP3's on your phone then it has a player, but a bit of a design weakness is that you need headphones that connect via the USB socket, so no standard headphones can be used. I hope they change this in later versions.
Quite a number of users have complained about the battery life. As the phone is constantly receiving email, instant messages and Facebook updates I suppose it's going to have an impact on battery life. I left the phone to charge fully when I received it and in active use it lasts around two days, with all the online stuff switched off it lasts for a week. Charging is via the USB connector, it comes with a mains charger but can also be charged from your PC.
Software ======= The INQ1 comes bundled with a few things you might enjoy.
Skype is the biggest winner for me. If you have the right price plan you can make Skype calls for free and Skypeout calls (using your Skype credit) to international numbers. Much cheaper than just using your mobile. Skype chat is also included.
Windows Live Messenger is also installed, I think Yahoo Messenger is available if you use that.
Google features on the phone include Gmail. If you want to use Google Maps there is no GPS function and the phone doesn't seem to support the use of the estimated location function.
You can receive push email from the network, just setup all your work, POP, imap and Gmail accounts and you'll get the email sent to your phone. It's not particularly instant, but that's more down to the network. The email interface isn't brilliant, but for reading messages it's okay.
Web browser. I'm not sure what browser is used, but it's not great. Browsing on a mobile isn't much fun anyway, but you can install Opera if you prefer.
The marketing for the phone boasts that it includes last.fm functionality, this isn't listening to music from last.fm, it just scrobbles what you play on the phone MP3 player to your last.fm account. Totally useless for me!
Facebook is supposed to be the in demand application for the phone. I find that it doesn't update very often, but it's handy for a quick check of what people are up to when I'm not near a PC.
The general phone software is easy to use and responsive, when running multiple applications it is possible to switch with one button taking you to the home screen so you can scroll easily through the applications. I was very impressed with how the contacts page takes all my contacts from Windows Live Messenger, Skype and my phone book and puts them all in one place. With a few easy clicks you are able to merge them, so one name gives access to a person on Skype, Messenger or you can call them or send an email.
PC Software ========= Other than taking a simple backup the PC software is useless. You can't really synchronise your calendar, but you can copy contacts and text messages to/from the phone quite easily. I don't really use this much.
Other stuff ======== Of course this also works as a phone. No complaints there, works well. It's customisable as you would expect, it comes with some nice wallpapers and ring tones. It has a few clever little things like quiet times so I don't get an alert about email at 4am but I will at 4pm.
With all the data usage this phone can create you may be worried about the amount of data it will use. You can set permissions for individual applications and all of the included software has easy options to switch them off (not logging into messenger or Skype by default for instance). Some, like Facebook have an option that specifies not to update whilst roaming. If you're still worried, Three allow you to bar data access whilst roaming anyway.
The camera on the phone works well, with the accelerometer it adjusts between landscape and portrait without any button pushes. When you view the photos on the memory card from your PC they're already the correct orientation, little things can make a big difference :-) The camera is 3.2MP but has no flash. Photo quality is quite good, but the lack of a flash will bother some people.
If you have any specific questions about the handset let me know, I'm enjoying using it. It's only available on Three for the time being (the company is owned by the same parent as Three) but there are rumours they may launch some future handsets on other networks.
It may sound like I'm not enjoying this phone, but really it's only the lack of a keyboard and quality email interface that it is missing for me. It's not really designed as a powerful business orientated phone so I don't think it's fair to mark it down on these points. I think it exceeds expectations when you consider the cost of the handset.
UPDATE.....
Well after using the handset for a further month I've really grown to like it.
A few thoughts about Three.... as Three are currently the only network to provide this type of phone I should mention something about their service. I've found their website to be more useful and clear than my previous provider O2, I can actually see my usage and my bill wherever I am in the world, not like O2 who sometimes let you see a bill and then only if your IP address is in the UK :-) I'm sure lots of people have good and bad stories about every network however!
The network coverage isn't 100% brilliant, any gaps in the Three network are covered by the Orange network and you don't get all the fancy stuff like Skype when you are switched onto Orange. Living where I do in the middle of nowhere it can mean that if you're in a car and using Skype then the call gets lost a lot as you move in and out of the Three network. This isn't a big problem for me, it's more useful to have it like this than to not have it at all.
I've really been making use of the 3 Like Home service and I can say that you really are allowed to use your bundled texts, unlimited email and 1GB internet package whilst roaming on foreign 3 networks. I'll mention a little about price in a moment.
About the handset.....
As I mentioned I've really grown to like the handset, but mainly because it has Skype on it and the internet is quite fast. I have yet to use it as a modem for my laptop, haven't had the need yet. When you've got all the chat clients and everything connected it can be a bit of a drain on the battery so I only switch on what I need. I usually go for a couple of days with Skype and MSN in the background, making a few calls here and there and checking my email periodically. I don't like the email client unfortunately, I guess the screen isn't big enough and the keypad is awkward for typing anything lengthy.
The call quality is very good, better than some of the handsets I've tried from my friends. It isn't quite up to the standard of my trusty old Blackberry, but then this phone isn't really a direct competitor, being substantially cheaper. I've had some Skype calls drop out as mentioned, most of the time there is no problem if you're in a more populated area. The only phone call I had a problem with was to customer services, there was some awful echo on the call which I suspect was caused from their end as I haven't had the problem since.
What will it cost you.....
At launch this phone was £79.99 on PAYG with £10 included, it briefly increased in price but is now back at this level. It is free if you take out a £15 a month contract that gives you unlimited UK texts, email, Skype, MSN and internet (be sure to read the plan details to understand what 'unlimited' really means!) This particular deal is an 18 month contract, but others are available.
I'm happy with this choice of phone but I think I'll be looking for a QWERTY model in the future.
Advantages: It's cheap, good contract deal, looks and feels OK, some nice features Disadvantages: EVERYTHING else. Slow, pain to use, useless signal, poor usability...
Before I start, you should know a little about me.
I'm a student, and a self confessed nerd to be honest. I like my gadgets, which is why I've owned 10 different phones in approximately 6 years. Having owned 10 different phones, I feel I'm pretty well endowed in terms of experience to be able to discuss a mobile phone on here.
I got the INQ because, basically, 3 were practically begging people to buy them. At the time I purchased (or rather, upgraded ... ...unlimited 3 to 3 calls and unlimited internet all for £15 a month. But only on the INQ. So, I went for it, with the basic idea that 'if it's crap, I'll keep using my old phone with the new contract and enjoy the freebies on that'.
Thank god they didn't take my old phone away from me.
Without a doubt, this is the worst phone I have ever owned. Ever. Ever ever ever. I mean where do I start here? Firstly, there's the usability of the thing its self. ...
jreay21 31.01.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of INQ1
Advantages: Looks good, good features Disadvantages: Poor reception very often, poor battery life
The INQ1 mobile phone looks great and, to begin with, is great. However, no sooner than the novelty of a new phone has worn off you will quickly start to notice the many flaws the phone has.
Most notably, the INQ1 will not last more than a few hours if you intend to use it and too many times i have found myself finding that the phone has gone dead even though it has been sitting in my pocket. Whereas most phones can survive the day on a quick half ... ...without fail, drain the fully-charged INQ1 considerably within ten minutes of internet-usage.
The next main problem with the phone is the poor reception, and at times it is laughable. I have had the phone around 4months and i would say in a typical half hour conversation i am looking at re-dialling at least 6 times due to the phone losing its connection.
The INQ1 can be extremely frustrating at times and has survived numerous connections with the ...
Advantages: easy to use and looks good Disadvantages: mind of its own
The INQ looks good in both black and silver beleive me I've had both but although it looks good mine had a mind of there own. Mine turned its self on and off when it felt like it deleted my phone book, pictures and they boths desided to freeze while on the internet or typing a text quickly. Although its very easy to use how can you use much when its turned its self off again. You go make a phone call and your phone numbers have gone where I dont ...
Advantages: It looks cool Disadvantages: too many to name, biggest disadvantage is that we were even subjected to such a mess of a phone!
...list of problems with my INQ1 so far!
-It likes to think its always charging even when its not plugged in...I think the phone was born to be a comedian because occasionally it even tells you "charge complete" when like I said its not even on charge!
- it likes to hang up on people
- the button that ends the call...doesnt end the call it just gets rid of the screen, you have to hit the off button 3 or 4 times to end a call.
- doesnt tell you that ... ...plugged in, while with the INQ1 it faces the floor.
- no flash on the camera and the picture quality is very poor.
I could go on and on but I think you all get the point, If offered this phone RUN SCREAMING (well not litrally I dont want my review to be responsible for people ending up looking a fool, but you get my point!) ...
internet on the move, sleek design and good keypad layout 
