Nokia 5500 Sport review
Network and connections
Nokia 5500 Sport is a Tri-Band GSM device, meaning it is able to work on three different frequencies (900, 1800 and 1900 Mhz). For data transfer, the phone supports EDGE connectivity, reasonably fast, in addition to the slower GPRS connection. There is also an infrared port (IrDa) that completes the wireless section of the device together with Bluetooth technology, very useful for exchanging files and for using compatible accessories. Finally, it is worth remembering the possibility of direct synchronization with a PC through the USB cable.
Design and features
Staying true to its name, this Nokia model stands out for its sporty design and linear (candybar) structure, with a stainless steel frame. Nokia 5500 Sport comes with very rounded corners and a slight narrowing at the center that enhances its ergonomics. The antenna is built in and does not further increase the size of the device, which turns out to be rather thin, although not particularly light. The upper half of the body is taken up by the large screen, which is fairly exposed. The lower half, on the other hand, houses the keypad, with the convenient pad for quickly navigating through menus.
Main features
As for messaging, this model offers the user all the currently available standards: it allows sending and receiving Sms, Ems, Mms and E-mail, aided by the T9 writing system. Among its various features, Nokia 5500 Sport also offers hands-free calling with built-in speaker. The phone also includes the possibility of making multiconferences, to speak with several users at the same time. Furthermore, the voice recorder allows recording parts of a conversation and jotting down voice Memos. It is also possible to make calls using voice commands. The Push-to-talk function, on the other hand, allows the phone to be used like a walkie-talkie, using the dedicated key. Finally, Nokia 5500 Sport features the innovative calorie counter and step counter functions, specifically designed for sports enthusiasts. The available memory is quite large, a full 64 MB, and it is expandable via microSD cards.
Entertainment and multimedia
The digital camera built into Nokia 5500 Sport is of excellent quality. It has a sensor definition of a full 2 Megapixels. This feature ensures excellent quality shots, at a maximum resolution of 1600x1200 pixels, and the recording of videos in QCIF format. The camera also features 4x digital zoom, self-timer and built-in flash. It is also possible to manually adjust contrast and brightness thanks to the dedicated control, so as to take sharp photos in any environmental condition. Regarding customization, Nokia 5500 Sport allows downloading the newest games without compatibility issues, thanks to support for Java technology (J2ME). This model is also equipped with an AM/FM radio and a multimedia player. The phone offers wide format compatibility: it is in fact able to play MP3, AAC and WMA files for audio, and 3GP and MP4 for video.