It’s not the most up-to-date technology, nor is it colour or polywotsit, but my 3210 ten does everything I need it to.
I first bought the phone a year ago off a friend who had upgraded his to the 3310. £100 he had spent on this newer model. I bought mine off him for just £20. I make that £80 difference.
And what did he get for his extra £80? Well, his phone was unmistakably smaller and lighter, but the keys were difficult to see, let alone press. Oh yes, and he had pictures that bounced around the screen, whereas mine stayed still enough to see.
The ’’brick’’ (as my friend liked to label it) that I had just acquired fulfilled all of my phoning needs. There is a phone book to hold the names and numbers of 90 friends (I’ll be lucky), an alarm clock loud enough to wake the heaviest of sleepers, even three games in case you are easily bored. You also have the option of sending someone a text message, or even speaking with someone who is nowhere near you. Now that’s magic.
For those avid texters out there, the 3210 also includes ’’predictive text input’’ which tends to cut text times by half. This was in fact, I believe, the first phone to incorporate this now-standard feature. And in case you fancy yourself as the next Beethoven there is also a composer with which you can create your own ringtones. If, that is, you are not happy with the 40 ringtones built into the phone already.
The only thing I felt the phone was lacking was a vibration motor. There have been several instances in the past where circumstances have called for me to switch off the sound, and it always seems to happen when I am expecting a call.
So, I had a look on the internet for a solution, as so often I do. For £7.50 I found not only a small motor but also the cable to connect the phone to my PC to activate the motor. I later discovered that the very same cable could also activate 2 more games on my phone that were previously hidden (for what reason I have no idea).
And so, my phone is complete. My friend now has yet an even newer model. This one set him back £150. Now he can store 200 names and numbers! I can hear him chuckling to himself as he watches me answer my brick. I think I’ll stick with my trusty 3210 for a while. I’ll get my £27.50 worth yet.