Nokia 6190 Phone (T-Mobile)

• Moderate size and lightweight
• An upgraded 5190 with smaller, lighter case and more features
• 35 ringer tones and 250-name phone book
• Up to 300 minutes' talk time, 225 hours' standby time with standard battery
• Includes Jabra EarSet, NiMH battery, and charger

At 5.8 ounces and 5.2 by 1.9 by 1 inches, with a stubby 0.8-inch antenna, the 6190 is a bit slimmer and lighter than the 5190. In addition to the numeric keypad, the phone has Talk and End buttons, two smart buttons that work with onscreen prompts, a two-way toggle navigation button, and volume control buttons along the left side. The backlit display lights up for 15 seconds whenever you touch a key. Unlike the 5190, Nokia 6190 doesn't have a removable faceplates, (or at least faceplates that are officially removable, although you can do it with a screwdriver at the expense of voiding your warranty). And as a bonus, however, the 6190 is shipped with a Jabra EarSet for hands-free use.

Like all GSM phones, the 6190 uses a carrier-provided SIM card that defines all call provisioning and features. (Basically, this little chip holds your entire cellular personality including your phone number; you can even use it in another GSM phone.) Specific features of your phone depend on your carrier and plan, but the 6190 supports caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, voice-mail alerts, broadcast news and messages, and two-way SMS text messaging.

In addition to being able to store 250 numbers, the phone lets you assign each phone-book entry to a group that has a distinctive ringer style, so you'll know if someone from work or school is calling before you answer the phone. Although there's no standard vibration mode, a vibrating battery pack is available.

The 6190 has the same calculator and alarm clock found in the 5190, but adds a calendar mode so you can set reminders for calls, meetings, birthdays, and other events. For each event, you can enter text and set alarms. The 6190 also has four games, one more than the 5190, although none of them will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Standard security features include card, phone, and keypad locking; restricted calling modes for incoming and outgoing calls; and monthly calling charge limits. While the 6190 doesn't include standard connectivity cables, an optional data kit enables fax and data transfer.

The 6190's standard NiMH battery is rated for a maximum 300 minutes' digital talk time and 225 hours' digital standby time. In real-world testing, our sample phone held a call for 275 minutes and lasted for 210 hours in standby mode, an impressive result. A step up in features and a step down in weight from the Nokia 5190, the Nokia 6190 combines ease of use with powerful customization features. Overall it's a rugged little phone that's a pleasure to use. --Testing and evaluation by Brown Consulting Associates, edited by Thom Arno

Pros:

• Smaller, lighter, more features than the original 5190
• Capacious phone book with calling groups
• 35 ringer tones
• Long battery life

Cons:

• Lacks standard vibration mode
• Not Web enabled

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.