Siemens S45

the Siemens S45 is a good business phone but has to may falls which need to be improved

The phone is not direct enough. You have to push to many buttons for every thing you do. You cant just send a text you have to go to directorys then pick names out, then pick numbers for names. I think the nokia menu and use is much better

While shopping for a new phone, I came across the Ericsson T65, Siemens ME45, Siemens S45, and Siemens M50 after narrowing down my requirements to GPRS-enabled handsets for under US$ 184.

Between these units I ended up with the S45 because it offered the most feature for that price range, as well as the best ergonomics between the phones mentioned above.

The software user-interface (UI) is neither better nor worse than Nokia's benchmark usability with some good additions. For starts, the keypad numbers (0~9) can be assigned to commonly-used functions like compose new SMS, GPRS, SMS inbox, organizer, dictionary, WAP bookmarks, etc, instead of just quickdial numbers. If the number pad isn't enough, you can cram more shortcuts into a Favourites list. The key usage throughout the UI is consistent (Ericsson's T65 had redundant keys) with some differences in the WAP browser which I assumed was unavoidable since the browser is licensed from OpenWave.

Other than GPRS, the S45 featured a calender/organizer, alarm clock, stopwatch, countdown timer, english to chinese dictionary with both simplified and traditional chinese text, lunar to gregorian date conversion (and backwards too), games (battlemail kungfu, stack attack and baloon shooter), voice recorder, voice commands for both phone functions and phone numbers, infra-red interface, and file browser for the built-in memory complete with file viewer for bitmaps and MIDIs.

My unit being an asian unit (also know as Siemens 6618), it featured impressive support for chinese language. The menus can be viewed in traditional and simplified Chinese as well as English, and four available input methods for Chinese text (Pinyin, Bopomofo, Stroke-T, Stroke-S), as well as an impressive English to Chinese dictionary which I have yet to come across a word that I cannot find in the dictionary. The calender also offers lunar dates by pressing the asterisk* key. Gregorian to Lunar date conversion is also present, complete with the animal associated with that lunar year.

WAP over GPRS was effortless, with a time and data volume counter to help keep track of charges incurred. Multiple GPRS profiles also allows for easy switch between using the WAP browser, or downloading information to the computer thru the infra-red interface. GPRS was noticibly faster than dial-up WAP.

The most innovative part of the phone was the general memory available for use by the phone book, voice recorder, ring tunes, bitmaps, and offline SMSes. I used the software from Siemens and a USB IrDA adaptor, which allowed me to browse and manage the files on the phone through the computer easily. Automatic file format conversion was natural and intuitive, but the voice recorder to WAV conversion took a rather long time. MIDI files from the computer can be sent to the phone and used directly as a ring tune.

Total available memory is 384KB. In additional to the 10 SMS storage, you can also archive SMSes to the general purpose memory, limited only by the amount of free space you have.

The phonebook (Siemens calls it addressbook) features fields for name, company, e-mail, address, three phone numbers and a fax number. The phonebook also utilizes the general purpose memory to store up to 500 entries. However, the fact that the phone manages the SIM phonebook seperately is rather annoying because I have to look through both books to find a number sometimes.

The profiles features was rather useless, because holding down the asterisk* key also mutes the ringer (which is what I used Nokia's profiles for mostly). But I did like the call filtering feature, selectable between phonebook numbers or VIP numbers. This way only people in my phonebook or VIP list will cause the ringer/vibrator to react when they call.

The side scroll buttons were rather useless too, with their functions being replicated by the other keys. The side scroll buttons felt rather low-quality as well compared to the rest of the phone. For SMSes, the phone supports EMS, allowing maximum of 760 characters and attachment of pictures and sounds. SMSes can also be sent through GPRS (not supported by my operator, so I didn't get to test it).

Cosmetically, the rounded shape appeals to me, with no sharp edges to get caught in my pocket with. The orange illumination looked really classy against the silver casing, with a fade-out. Battery life is good, with a full charge lasting an average of 5 days. The SIM holder is a bit of a pain because it was difficult to get the SIM card out. The keypad is rather stiff, and it hurts my thumb when writing SMSes longer than 100 characters, especially when I've grown some nail. However, the keypad buttons are large enough to be pressed quickly without having to use my nails, which is more than I have to say for the Ericsson T65 and Nokia 88xx series.

Even the bundled travel charger was good. I can safely say it is the smallest charger I have seen. I have a few gripes however. The screen area is too flat and unprotected leading to it being easily scratched. When my unit received it's first scratch, I set out to find a belt case for it, which was rather hard to come by I found out. In the end I paid dearly for the original belt case for the SL45, which fits the S45 rather well too.

Overall, the S45 is a very usable and powerful phone given its pricetag that gives the Nokia 6510 and 3510 a run for their money.

I found this to be a very good handset. I was overjoyed when I opened the box and found a data cable and software. The functions are very impressive and you can store many things on the phone. You can even create folders and save files on the phone. Lots of storage space in phonebooks and contact list. The battery lasts for ages and takes under and hour to recharge fully. The GPRS work very good as well as the W@P. The volume is a bit low for me, but acceptable. The only negative points are the terrible ringtones. It sounds like a C25. The navigation buttons are a bit small, but much better than the Ericsson T65, and the navigation key in the middle can be used to perform almost all functions as well as confirmation button. All in all a great little phone with some serious applications and all the stuff that I need.

Hi, i think my S45 is great! I work for the WAP/Data Dept of O2 and have access to test every mobile but i chose this one

. With the latest software version 21 it adds an extra GPRS timeslot to make it 4+1, Nokia GPRS mobiles are currently only 3+1 (3 downlinks, 1 uplink or 2+2) this means that the S45 will outrun any other current mobile for pure GPRS speed.

That was my main reason for buying this fairly priced/great performance mobile. The menu can be difficult to use, but fine after a while.

The Siemens S45 mobile phone is great value for money, got mine from carphonewarehouse for £99.99, great details on phone but could do better on volume. Should do better ringtones and changeable covers.

Well done, you have observed the first sensible rule of capitalism - don't believe the hype, it's nearly always craap. However, after reading extensive reviews, some from this site, i bought the Siemens s45 mobile phone. It must be understood that this fone is very much aimed at business.

The deal: I got a pay-as-you-go fone on T-mobile from argos.com for £99. very good deal. shop around, everywhere else sold the fone for no less than £180 on payg.

The fone: this fone has just over 1/3 MB of flexible memory, which can be accessed by the PC as a drive via the data cable. This may seem like little memory, but when ringtones only take up 1 or 2 KB each, you see my point. the fone has voice recognition for foen numbers and fone functions. this is however very patchy. eg, saying "lesbiian" aparently sounds like my recording for "calculator" this gave me & my best mate stomach ache from the hysterics. anyway, the fone has EMS, however i tried it with several other new fones and the only one to recognise the ringtones and animations i sent was my mates T68. all others just spurted out garbage and charged me 30p for 3 joint txts. that should change over time. the dictaphone is good, giving over 2 1/2 minutes of OK quality sound. not good enough for business purposes, but OK for recording the meaning of life (before you forget it) when you are drunk.

The software: the PC software that comes with it (updatable from internet) is very poorly written, but means you can use paint to design bitmap images 100x50 pixels and downloasd them to your fone as a screensaver or operator logos.

I personally feel that this looks 500% better than the previous ME45 and other vain attempts at a mp3 fone, but it has exactly the same software

This is really more of a 1st generation primative computer software. yea - it certainly could do with a fair ammount of debugging, but its a lot more versatile than most other fone software. They have tried to squeeze a lot into this fone, and they have largely succeeded in creating a great business fone.

If you can get it for between £100 - 150 then go for it, but don't get it on T-mobile PAYG - craap, i'm getting it unlocked for 15£ and getting an O2 online sim.

Saw this Siemens S45 mobile phone on pay as you go for only £90 in the argos sale, so thought I'd upgrade from by M35. Took a SIM from Virgin mobile no problem at all. Great phone, tons of features (been looking for a decent IrDA phone to use with my PDA), plus the benefit of a data cable and software included - so easy to sync with Outlook.

I'm not wildly keen on the more recent Nokia phones that are verging on style over content and I find the Sonys a bit fiddly to use. The S45 is a fantastic alternative.

Have found with the Siemens S45 mobile phone that if you want to keep a large number of appointments, then it won't satisfy you indefinitely.

Got the Siemens S45 mobile phone as an upgrade for £35 with BT Cellnet. Definitely worth the money as it's superior in virtually every respect over my previous mobile (a C35i).

Have seen some references to a speakerphone, but can't find this feature myself. Any ideas anyone?