Design
Compact and stylish, the 2610 features a candybar design sporting a bright 128 x 128 pixel display capable of displaying over 65,000 colors. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a center toggle on the control pad. A standard hands-free headphone jack is provided, as are volume control keys, and there's even a "Go-To" button that can be assigned by the user for quick access to favorite applications. Lastly, the included speakerphone allows you to talk handsfree, and because the phone sports an internal antenna, there's nothing to snag or break off.
Calling Features
The 2610's built-in address book can store up to 300 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers. Choose from up to 34 built-in ringers, plus 5 additional, downloadable ringtones. There's also a vibrating alert for when you want to be discreet. More ringers can be downloaded from Cingular's MEdia Net service.
Messaging and Tools
If you need text messaging capabilities, the 2610 has you covered as support is built-in for sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages. Instant messaging is also supported too, and comes preloaded with AOL, Yahoo!, and MSN IM clients. When it's time to connect to the Web over Cingular's MEdia Net service, you can do so at blazing fast speeds over the supported GPRS data protocol. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built-into the unit--a plus for text messaging users.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the 2610 including a calendar, a calculator, and an alarm clock. The 2610 lets you carry these tools wherever you go so you can create appointments and view your schedule at a moment's notice.
The 2610 also allows the user to dress up the phone with different custom graphics and wallpapers--a great way to add subtle flavor to an otherwise boring day.
Entertainment
The 2610 has plenty of fun built-in, too, thanks to the pre-loaded games that make your daily commute on the train or bus something you almost look forward to. Java support was also bundled with the phone, as well, so you can really get your feet wet with some advanced gaming during down time.
Vital Statistics
The Nokia 2610 weighs 3.21 ounces and measures 4.09 x 1.69 x 0.71 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.0 hours of digital talk time, and up to 288 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS 850/1900 frequency. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
Nokia 2330 Phone (AT&T)
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Nokia 2610 Phone (T-Mobile)
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Average Customer Review: 
based on 13 reviews
Great phone - unless you are outside or in the car
August 8, 2007
Reviewer: B. Sheridan (Plymouth, MI United States) -
I only needed a basic phone - no MP3, camera, or FM radio. This phone delivered with great reception, good sound quality, great battery life, and a very small size. Inside a building it works great. Why the low score? The tinted plastic over the display makes it impossible to see the display outdoors and in the car. If the sun is out, forget it! I even managed to figure out how to remove all of the wallpaper backgrounds and to maximize the contrast. Still, don't plan to use this outdoors. Nokia should recall this product to replace the tinted cover. Update: Yesterday this phone took was accidently dropped onto a very hard ceramic tile floor and it still works perfectly! A similar drop ended the life of my digital camera a few months ago. So, if I were to rate this cell phone now I would give it 3 stars, maybe even 4 stars. I like reliable, sturdy stuff and this cell seems to be unusually well made.
fairly durable phone
December 3, 2007
Reviewer: anonymous
I was looking for a durable phone that could take a blow or pressure and keep working. I also did not want random pieces of it falling off when it was struck. I'm a fairly small individual and I also needed a phone that had to be small enough to fit into my pocket comfortably with no protrusions to gouge me. I did not need a camera or any extraneous features like that. This phone seems to be fitting these criteria perfectly. I was planning on spending quite a bit on a phone to meet those criteria, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this phone was free on my plan.
I have dropped it a couple of times from about 10-12 feet up onto concrete and it keeps working just fine. It has slid for about 20 feet across a piece of concrete. It does have some minor scuffs after this but nothing significant. It does not have any buttons on the sides so there is nothing there to have fallen off when it hit the concrete. It has been submersed in a water tank and seems to have come back from it well also.
As far as visibility of the display issues that other people have mentioned in their reviews, I have noticed that it has what seems to be a "power save" type situation it kicks into where the display is difficult to read. Hitting certain keys seems to kick this "mode" off. Other than those situations I have had no more difficulty reading the display than on other candy bar style phones I have had from Nokia. I have used it in direct sunlight and in various other lighting situations.
A welcome return to simplicity by Nokia
February 8, 2008
Reviewer: A viewer
Here's how I rate this cellphone:
1. Voice quality and reception: +1
2. Battery life: +1
3. Fast opening and browsing of menu and sub-menus: 0
4. Build and keypad spacing: +1
5. No useless accessories: +1
Bottomline: 4/5.
The other reviewers are right about the screen in sunlight: it sucks. But if you're like me and are chained in a cube for the daylight hours, it doesen't matter that much.
The only thing I dislike about this handset, is that it is quite slow in opening its submenus. I would have thought that such a basic, stripped phone would be lightning fast; indeed, it was one of the reasons I bought it, but not so. Gone are the days you could unlock your phone and call a contact within a second.
Besides this con, it is solidly built, has exceptional voice quality, and is easy to dial with if you have thick fingers.
No wonder they pay you $150 to take it...read on
April 5, 2008
Reviewer: J. Wickiser "trandate" (Space Needle) -
NOT even an 'entry level' phone as they would have useful basic functions. Entry level should have a screen you can see in the light and a reliable ringer. Display has no brightness adjust only contrast which is useful for making the screen harder to see not improve. Using any wallpaper but white makes the screen impossible to see/read text even indoors in all but a dark room. Fonts have a setting to enlarge (Nokia knew the screen was junk) text but the small display prevents this. Calls have barely audible sound quality to understand the conversation (not due to signal). Buttons are too small for hands larger than medium-sized fingers and don't always make contact first time. Screen back-light doesn't always light when first button is pressed. When backlight is off screensaver time display is impossible to read when activated. Battery time is good most likely due to screen being dimly lit. User settings are all over the place in a unintuitive fashion making personal settings a time consuming chore instead of one menu.
I can do w/o camera, web, mp3, radio etc. but to fail in the basic functions of a cell phone is pretty bad & not acceptable. No wonder they PAY you $150.00 to take the phone.
NO STARS
George b
September 23, 2007
Reviewer: George Brookner "George B." (Connecticut) -
I see this highly rated and don't understand how that can be, unless screen visibility is of no concern to those reviewers. Look before you buy this one!
I'd never recommend this 2610 because of the single issue that the display is unusable in daylight & barely marginal for inside viewing. It's a shame because the sound is good. Maybe that's why AT&T gives them away free - hoping to get rid of them.
durable, reliable
September 4, 2007
Reviewer: J. E. Pickenheim (Brooklyn, NY) -
i think nokias, in general, are great. this particular nokia is very good looking. very basic, also. dropped it about 10 times the other night (while talking about how i always drop/break phones...) and it has maybe 2 scratches on it, at most. still works perfectly. seems extremely durable, no dropped calls, no defects. those are the things that matter in a phone, to me. 5 stars.
Durable basic phone for those who like to squint
March 13, 2008
Reviewer: L. M. Fuke (Silicon Valley, CA) -
This Nokia is about as simple and basic a telephone gets nowadays.
You get good sound quality and easy texting in a compact unit.
The major drawback is very poor highlighting of menu icon selections.
If you have activated many features, this cell will frustrate you.
It's a crapshoot what you actually select. I had to buy 2X magnifying specs in order to utilize menu features.
Also, the signal strength and battery power indicators can be very difficult to see - minor points considering AT&T functionality (damned
good) and rapid battery charge rate.
The vibration indication for incoming calls is very effective, and ring
tones can be adjusted easily.
In regards to pricing, AT&T sometimes will give this cell free for activating two years service. The highest price AT&T ever charged for this Nokia is $9.99, in refurb condition.
I've had my Nokia for half a year, and I appreciate it; it's not perfect, but it is useful. A phone should be a phone, not a portable entertainment system. Thanks to the magnifier specs, I don't have to squint at the screen anymore.
Pass on this turkey!
June 18, 2008
Reviewer: JD Adams (Woodbridge, CA United States) -
I love older-style candybar Nokia cell phones. They're inexpensive, practical, attractively styled and great for people like me who just want to make phone calls. The classic, square-keyed 3595 is my all-time favorite, but popular demand for silly frills quickly killed it off. This looked like a viable replacement. I just recently jumped back into the Cellular market and needed a decent no-frills phone, so I chose this one, as it was the only no-frills phone offered by AT&T.
Buying this phone was a big mistake. Even at $10.00 (with contract), it was overpriced.
Right out of the box, the annoyances begin. Holding this handset to my ear, I honestly could not understand anything the other party was saying. The speakerphone was clearer, but as per usual, neither have enough volume to really make anything out.
Worse, I can't read a darned thing on the screen. The default colors are so washed out that even in low light conditions, I can't read it! Changing the profile helped a bit, but not much. Forget about reading anything outdoors, even if you shade the display.
The ringtones are awful. If I wanted 'muzac', I'd buy a Motorola. Worse, they don't ring loud enough, and I can barely hear it, even if the phone is in my shirt pocket. Bah. Apparantly long battery life trumps decent sound and a readable display.
Need a handsfree earbud? Not in this box, sorry. Car charger? Forget it, it isn't in there either. Frankly, I wouldn't buy this phone for a DOG.
Pros: Good antenna, long battery life, simple to operate, small and easy to hold thanks to rubberized sides and back. The speakerphone works well. Inexpensive and built to last forever. Ability to move/copy phonebook list to/from SIM card and internal memory. (Very nice feature actually, wish more phones could do this.)
Cons: Too many to list. Awkward buttons. The screen is terrible. Some games are unplayable demos that try to pick your pocket. The graphical menu is annoying and no text menu exists. Forget about using the USB port to sync with a PC. No accessories, not even a $2 earbud.
Bottom line: Much better Nokia products exist for the same money.
*****
Long-term update:
*****
After 2 whole weeks with this thing, I've given up and have decided to put it up on eBay. I bought a good used 3595 to use instead. This little phone was so downright annoying at times that I almost threw it out the car window. When you answer a call and put it up to your ear, the voice quality is so bad that I can't understand a thing the other party is saying. And I'm tired of using the speakerphone to cover this flaw.
Terrible Phone - AT&T lies
September 23, 2009
Reviewer: Sergio R Schubert
Phone is awful - how is this a $149 phone when it was available on prepay for $20 with $25 free airtime? They send it to you for 'free" - lock you into a 2yr contract and then charge you 10x the actual cost of the phone for ETF. Consumer protection needs to come to the telecom "industry" and it needs to come soon
Basic
January 8, 2009
Reviewer: SPB "Susan" (NYC area) -
I am very happy with this phone. It gets great reception (of course, I live in the NYC area) and it's durable. I had to have my daughter and brother set it up for me, customize it so to speak, but it's great for making a call and getting a call. Simple, basic and reliable phone for non-techies.