So I decided I had enough with MTNL. Massive bills, massive rentals, annoyed customer service reps.
I went in for the Reliance experience. Got myself a LG RD2130, the so called ’Moonlight’ phone. Prepaid version, at 300 rupees a month, I could live with that! the phone itself set me back about 4.7k
Form:
Right off the bat it is beautiful. I mean seriously, it is a gorgeous phone. A dual metal finish, with solid metal silver-grey on the face plate and brushed grey all over. The difference in tones between the keys and the face plate make it look stunning in light. The light translucent blue clear button gives just the perfect minimalist touch of color. The enclosed antenna makes the phone smooth all around and easy to hold with no protruding edges.
Function:
The software of this phone is incredibly intuitive. I have used all the GSM phones from all the major manufacturers and have never found such a simple and innovative software in any of the phones. It allows for storage of 4 different numbers, email, a memo, assign groups and assign ringtones for each entry. Searching a number can be done by name and by number. If you just press the first 2 digits of a number or a name, it gives you all the matching ones from the dir.
Message writing is a bit anoying because of excessive features. there is a CAP T9, a regular T9, all CAPS, all small, First Letter Cap, Hindi, Symbols AND smileys. This is tooo much too choose from. Also the T9 does not have a learning mode, so you cant add new items like Proper names to the Dictionary. You always have to drop into Abc and spell out the name, it does get annoying after a while to keep doing this.
Menus:
Names - directory of names and numbers
sub-menus
Add Name - to add a new entry
Find - find by name or number
Groups - assign multiple entries to groups. you can disable call alerts for groups.
Speed Dial - 99 memory speed dial!!! can you need more?
Help - to guide you through all the functions
Messages - messages
sub-menus
Write
Inbox
Outbox
Archive - you can save messages here
Drafts - save messages you have written here
Templates - generic templates for quick messaging
Erase Messages
Message Settings
Help
Call History - self explanatory
sub-menus
Missed
Received
Dialled
Incall Memo
Call Duration
Data History
Erase History
Help
Profiles
you get 6 different pre-configured call profiles, you can edit them to your hearts desire.
Display - control wallpaper, backlight duration, screensaver etc
sub-menus
Language
Service Area
Clock
Wallpaper - you get 2 walls, you can d/l about 5 more from messages or R-World
ScreenSaver - not exactly a cool scrensaver like the GSM phones. You can just choose between either the wallpaper or the profile name with the clock
Backlight - duration
Contrast
Menu Style
Help
Settings
sub-menus
My Menu - cool list of shortcuts you can create from all the different menus and access it by pressing the middle clear (blue) button.
Call - in call features like any key answer, auto redial etc.
Phone - phone features like Key guard, NAM, data settings, version check etc
Security - all those pin codes that they dont bother giving you. Mess with this and you will have to take your phone to a nearest RIL WebWorld for unlocking.
Oraniser
sub-menus
Scheduler
Memo
Alarm
Calculator - very difficult to use this calc. Not user friendly at all!
World CLock - this is another one of those hidden nifty features of this phone! very nice!
R-World
sub-menus
R-Menu
Multimedia - stuff you have saved from your R-World Visits
Games - only 2, BlackJack and Mobile Hawk
Reset R-Menu - when R-world messes up your phone, you can sort of ’’reboot’’ it
All in all, this is a very nice phone, there are some issues with the network, as compared to the other LG phone with the antenna. But I live closeby to a RIL tower, so that is no an issue with me, but some people have complained. However, having said that, Reliance will be VERY prompt in telling you to go to their LG dealer at GrantRoad and get the software upgraded, after which you should have no problems with the network.
This is after all a CDMA phone, and among the tiny amount of choice we get in CDMA phones, this one is a great value for money.