Anybody got a Nokia Lumia 610?

LucianH

Looking for a cheap and cheerfully smart phone on PAYG. Basic requirements are a reasonable (>4mpxl) camera, wi-fi, bluetooth and GPS. Since it's going to be a PAYG, don't intend using it for data - will only be using these features when connected to wi-fi. Don't also want/need lots of aps.

The question I haven't been able to confirm is related to the GPS functionality - does this require you to access the data services? I seem to remember reading in one review that the GPS uses internal maps and it doesn't need to access, say, googlemaps. Can't find the review again so hoping someone with the phone can answer the question.

z3phyr04

I've been testing one of these for some staff recently. Yes it does have both GPS and assisted GPS (which works through WiFi or mobile data).

Is there any specific reason you'd like to go for this one as it's pretty barebones even for Windows Phone? (NB. Battery is also awful.)

Jivesinger

Hi there,

I have a Lumia 610.

There seem to be 2 GPS-related applications built-in. One is Nokia Drive and the other is Nokia Maps, and I think between them they mean the answer to your question is "Yes and No".

Nokia Drive is like a cut-down version of a car Sat Nav. It has the ability to download maps of different countries before you go anywhere, and it seems to use WiFi to do this, if available. Also within Nokia Drive is a setting called "Connection" which can be set to "Offline" or "Online". So I've assumed that if I set this to Offline, it won't use data to navigate, although I'm not sure how I'd verify this.

Nokia Maps on the other hand is a bit more like Google Maps on a web browser. This doesn't have the offline/online switch, and I strongly suspect it does use data, although again I'm not sure how to verify.

So it depends what you want to use the GPS for; if it's just for car sat-nav style usage, I think you might be OK, but if you want a map while you're walking around an unfamiliar place, it may start using data.

Overall I've been very pleased with it, especially as they're at a good price at the moment. Like you, I don't use lots of apps so its low memory hasn't been a problem for me.

There's also a battery saving mode which means I can easily get 3 days from a charge because I don't make/get many calls, although I do use it to surf the web occasionally and get emails.

Jivesinger

Just seen z3phyr04's post which was written while I was writing mine... maybe I've been lucky with my battery then?!

z3phyr04

Jivesinger wrote: »

Just seen z3phyr04's post which was written while I was writing mine... maybe I've been lucky with my battery then?!

We have about 10 in on Vodafone network, had 4 replaced for broken earpieces so far and the one I've been using (to get to the bottom of the issues coming in about them) is lucky to get through 8 hours on a quiet day - have had occasions where it's switched off after 5. The issue seems to lie in the radio firmware on the device as if they're switched to 2G they last a lot longer - but that's just stunting the device further. They're used for phone calls and Email usually so bit of a different application but I've just checked the Drive application and it can indeed be used offline once a map is installed via WiFi.

Also, another thing to note is that these have a tiny amount of RAM so they're excluded from most of the live tiles functionality if this is one of the reasons you're interested in one.

Im_just_careful

You could look at the Lumia 800. Phones 4 U have this at between £120 (T-Mobile/Orange) and £150 (o2) as a PAYG upgrade.

You need a regularly used and topped up PAYG SIM but someone in the family has just got one and it seems a very good phone for the cost.

Ashley_K

I`ve had an Lumia 610, now i have an iPhone5, i bought him at a very good price. ( both from xphones4all ).