Nokia 6170 mobile phone

Posted by T3 Online on Wed 31 Oct 2007

A clumsy clam-shell worth avoiding

The good news is that this tri-band phone boasts some up-to-the-minute technology, but the bad news is that most of it won't be of any use to you. Nokia's stainless-steel-clad clam-shell looks austere and efficient, with a strange sort of retro-futurist cool. It has a 4,096-colour outer screen backed up by a reasonably clear 65,000-colour screen inside.

However, after that, things start to go downhill. The 6170 might incorporate the alternative technology to 3G - EDGE - but that's really only taken off in the US. And although Push To Talk may be a great idea, it's useless until at least one UK network can manage to get it up and running.

And there are other problems. Nokia's still relatively new to the clam-shell scene, but you'd think it could get something as basic as the hinge right - it feels flimsy and loose; not something that's going to stand up to extended use. Bizarrely, the on/off button is on the side, which means it can be switched off if it's pressed for a couple of seconds while it's in your pocket.

That stainless-steel fascia on the inside may look swish, but it doesn't sit flush with the plastic casing, which means it rubs uncomfortably against the ear when in use - there's no excuse, really. To top it all, there are no one-touch options for the camera or any voice-recording features out of the box. Basically, the whole thing screams "What are they thinking?"

The Finnish giant has laid some golden eggs recently, but with the 6170 it looks like it may have cracked a rotten one.

(Free with contract)