As a replacement for 6220 classic, Nokia's 6720 classic isn't a mobile phone that will get the heart racing with excitement. A faster processor, better battery life and a 3.5mm headphone jack are improvements over its predecessor, but the lack of a Xenon flash and camera lens cover are strange omissions.
Aesthetically, the Nokia 6720 classic mobile phone has undergone a bit of a face lift. Whereas the 6220 classic had a bland design and finish, the 6720 classic with its glossy brown finish, looks like a classier mobile phone. Its body is also slightly curved so the handset can rest closer to your face when in use — but it's nowhere near as distinctive as the HTC Hero's Jay Leno chin. Nonetheless it’s a nice design in its own right.
Anyone planning to use the phone outside of Australia's metropolitan areas will be pleased to know that the Nokia 6720 classic is BlueTick rated by Telstra, which means it's recommended for use in rural and regional areas of Australia.
The controls and keypad layout of the Nokia 6720 classic mobile phone are second to none, even if the keys are a little on the small side. Tactility is excellent and the buttons emit a firm clicking sound when pressed, adding to the solid look and feel of this handset. We weren't fond of the five-way navigational pad or the rear battery cover — the navigational pad is wobbly and clicks too loudly when pressed while the battery cover feels flimsy and is difficult to click back on once removed.
Predictably, the Nokia 6720 classic runs the Symbian S60 operating system. Those familiar with Nokia mobile phones will have no issue with the OS — the 6720 classic is easy to use, it has smooth transitions between the menu screens and it is quite fast and zippy for general navigation. It's a significant improvement on many of the earlier Symbian phones, but you'd expect this in light of the regular updates of the OS.
The Nokia 6720 classic has an extensive feature list for a mid-range mobile phone, headed by built-in GPS with Nokia's Maps application. Nokia provides a 10-day trial of turn-by-turn navigation before you have to subscribe — the subscription cost varies from $3.49 per day, $10.50 for 30 days and $97.99 per year. The small screen size isn't ideal for navigation use, but we found the GPS was reasonably speedy to pick up and maintain a signal. Keep in mind that you need a data connection to download and update maps and to get an initial GPS fix. If you're after a driving solution we suggest waiting for the dedicated Nokia 6710 Navigator or checking out the iPhone 3GS' dedicated navigation apps — Navigon's MobileNavigator, Sygic's Mobile Maps 2009 and TomTom's Australia iPhone app.
Oddly, Nokia also charges for traffic information on the Ovi Maps application ($1.49 for one day or $30.99 per year). Considering Google Maps offers live traffic as a free service, we not sure why anyone would consider paying for Nokia's version. Google Maps isn't pre-loaded on the 6720 classic, but it is easily downloadable.
The Nokia 6720 classic has a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, but the lack of lens cover and Xenon flash means it’s a step down from its predecessor's kit. The camera takes reasonable photos, although the single LED flash isn't powerful enough to take good shots in low light. Colour reproduction is good, but like most camera phones, image noise is a real issue.
The Nokia 6720 classic is available on Telstra's Next G network, so it’s a HSDPA-capable phone running on the 850MHz 3G network band. Wi-Fi is a notable omission but Bluetooth with A2DP and USB via a standard micro-USB port are other connectivity options. Naturally, the 6720 classic offers access to Telstra's BigPond range of content and services, including Mobile Foxtel, Yellow Pages and WhereIs maps. Our Telstra review unit didn't come pre-loaded with Nokia's Ovi Store application, but this can easily be downloaded, or accessed through the 6720's Web browser.
A standard 3.5mm headphone jack makes the Nokia 6720 classic mobile phone a reasonable multimedia player and an included 1GB microSD card should satisfy most storage needs. An FM radio is also included.
Follow GoodGearGuide on Twitter: @GoodGearGuide
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.