Nokia 1661

Many mobile phones tend to the over complicated side of things these days. Far from being a mobile phone they are in fact complex computers that are more powerful than laptops were 5 or 6 years ago. And whilst that is very useful to some for others it just makes things more confusing and busy.

Which is why many mobile phone manufacturers are having an almost ‘back to basics’ campaign, with most releasing ranges that recapture the essence of the mobile phone. That it is, first and foremost, a phone and that any other features are useful, not the main selling point. The 1661 is Nokia’s take on this stripped down view of mobile phone technology.

Right from it’s very design you can see who the target audience of the Nokia 1661 is. A very well laid out and minimal design means that there are not hundred of confusing multimedia buttons and options. The buttons themselves are in fact well laid out, with plenty of space for fumbling fingers – meaning that even those who aren’t experienced at typing out text messages should be able to do so quickly and easily.

It is a lightweight phone, weighing in at under eight two kilograms, perfect for those who simply want the phone to be there from time to time, rather than to stick out and say something about them. In fact the whole phone, from it’s black and grey casing to the small measurements says ‘understated’.

That is not to say that it is an underpowered phone, a 1.8 inch TFT screen that shows up to 64,000 colours means that it can certainly display a picture when needed, which can be stored in the 4 megabytes of storage space that comes with the phone – perfect for storing all the numbers needed, without bothering with space for movies etc.

Other options are there when you delve ‘under the hood’ so to speak. A built in FM radio is available for music lovers, or those who love radio chat shows, news and weather updates or sports commentary of course.

Audio and voice recording features are present in the phone and it also has full polyphonic ringtone capability – meaning you can make your ringtone into pretty much anything that you may want it to be!

There is space for 500 contacts in the phone book, as well as speed dial, conference calling and hands free options available, confirming that this is a phone that looks at the phone’s main job first and everything else second.

The Nokia 1661 is not a phone for those who love their gadgets and optional extras, but it was never designed to be either. What you get with the 1661 is a stripped down, reliable and easy to use phone that is perfect for those that only have occasional use of their mobile and who don’t want it to be all singing and all dancing – simply a phone they can use to text or call when needed.

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