Test report and technical data Siemens M55
Siemens M55 - A trendy first-rate talent
Plus of the Siemens M55: Java-Engine, Colour-Display, Digi Cam
Minus of the Siemens M55: Data-transfer functions less progressive
In connection with the CeBIT '03 I was introduced to the Siemens M55. We are all quite familiar with the Siemens M-Series since its mobiles are wide spread over the market and correspondingly favoured. However the Siemens M55 shows itself from a very different side than what we are used to from former M-models, hereby setting new standards for the mobile entertainment-world.
Just a couple of days ago the Siemens M55 has entered shops, that's why it does not circulate all too much until now. I already got to see the Siemens M55 a while before it actually hit the market, since a relative of mine works in a technical development department, what enables him to take home some new technical devices before they are actually launched. That was the exact case with the Siemens M55.
The Siemens M55 is a middle-class mobile. This is clearly proven by its features und equipment, since the Siemens M55 is definitely equipped with more progressive features that the Siemens C-Series, however does not mount up to the features of the more exclusive Siemens S-Series. When developing the Siemens M55 the greatest accent seems to have been put on the innovations in the multimedia - / entertainment features of the Siemens M55. This is very obvious when regarding the colour-display, the pluggable camera and the java-technology of the Siemens M55.
The Siemens M55 provokes its conspicuousness and fun-character especially due to its daring, yet appealing design.
The trendy appearance of the Siemens M55 is predominantly attributed to the dimensions of 101 x 45,5 x 21 mm and the weight of 87 g of the Siemens M55 and, not to be forgotten, to the colouring of the Siemens M55. Several grey-tones and a rich in contrast orange keypad are combined on the cover of the Siemens M55, hereby overturning the seriousness of the Siemens M55.
A colour-display with a resolution of 101 x 80 Pixel and 4.096 colours is the highlight of the design of the Siemens M55. In comparison to international standards that is sure no state-of-the-art achievement, however it sets a good benchmark for the Siemens M-Series.
The Siemens M55 entirely turns down its classical outdoor-ability, which does not mean that the Siemens M55 is especially fragile though.
A high ease of use of the Siemens M55 is made possible by various graphical assistance of the menu of the Siemens M55. Regrettably the keys of the Siemens M55 are placed slightly too close to one another but an appropriate handling of the keys should still be possible.
Siemens traditionally does a good job with batteries. That's why the Siemens M55 has quite something to show in that term and only rarely lets his user down. With a stand-by time of 250 hours and a talk-time of 6 hours the Siemens M55 can be used for quite a while.
According to current standards, the Siemens M55 is a TriBand device, over and above that the Siemens M55 sure is equipped with numerous features, especially with entertainment-features.
Not only a pluggable digicam with flash and numerous polyphonic ringer-tones apply as highlights of the Siemens M55, but especially the data-transfer-performance of the Siemens M55 counts as such. Provided with the java-engine transferring data is made possible. In addition to that the user may act as sound-dj and mix his / her very personal ringer-melodies.
Self-made pictures with the Digi Cam of the Siemens M55 can be sent to other mobiles not only via MMS, but also as e-mail, thanks to the java-engine. Of course there is quite an offer of games to be found in the Siemens M55 as well.
Many features of the Siemens M55 are not worth mentioning, since they count as standard today. Among these are for example an extensive organizer and a hands-free speaking system.
Still remaining, the info on data-transferring with the Siemens M55, which shall however be shorter than what we are used to. Neither is the Siemens M55 equipped with an IrDA-interface, nor with bluetooth. Transferring data to other PDAs is only possible via an external cable. GPRS ( cl. 8 ), an e-mail client and a wap-browser are trying to make up for this deficit of the Siemens M55.
Thus, handling data with the Siemens M55 is chiefly based on the net.
Over all it is quite striking how much the equipment of the Siemens M55 resembles the features of the Siemens S-Series, the Siemens M55 almost seems to compete with the S-Series. When taking a closer look at the facts though, one shall perceive, that there is a greater difference in the data-transfer performance of the less high-performance Siemens M55 and the exclusive S-Series.
During the few minutes I held the Siemens M55 in my hands, I did have quite some fun with the Siemens M55. I do think about getting the Siemens M55 for myself, however I still want to wait until the Siemens M55 is available for a more admissible price.
Test-review of the Siemens M55:
Technical features: +++
Reception quality: +++
Ease of use: +++
Battery stand-by time: +++
Design: +++
Instruction manual: +++
Value for money: +++
Overall rating: +++
++++/excellent, +++/good, ++/satisfactory, +/poor
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