Remember the massive hype surrounding the launch of WAP mobile technology in the late '90s? Remember the disappointment? Slow access times, limited functionality and prohibitive cost made it a poor alternative to the much more glamorous i-Mode mobile service enjoyed by Japanese consumers.
Nearly six years later, i-Mode has finally reached the UK, courtesy of O2. Crave has got its mitts on one of the first compatible handsets, the NEC N343i, and first impressions are quite positive. The N343i bears an uncanny resemblance to the iPod nano, right down to its glossy white front panel and metallic rear -- so it'll definitely get you noticed on the train.
Unfortunately, it's not the most sophisticated handset we've seen. It only has a VGA (640x480-pixel) camera, it lacks Bluetooth, and it doesn't support an add-on memory card -- so don't even think about using it as an MP3 player.
As compensation for this dearth of features, you get i-Mode compatibility. As all good geeks know, i-Mode is a proprietary packet-based information service based on a compact version of HTML. It can work over a number of protocols, including 3G -- which is how O2 is dishing it out.
Just hit the I button on the top right of the N343i's keypad and you'll be taken to the i-Mode main menu, where you'll find all manner of curious content. There's news, weather, sport and entertainment provided by a host of third parties, ranging from the BBC to Stringfellows -- so you can read the latest political analysis while looking for pictures of scantily clad nightclub owners.
The N343i is a pretty basic phone, but if you're on the lookout for a stylish budget handset that gives you access to some interesting online content, it could be the phone for you. Watch out for a full review soon. -RR
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