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“A full-featured mobile phone; outstanding amongst its...”

written by ChrisD7 on 06/08/2011

The K800i came out around summer '06. It was my choice as an upgrade from my "opal blue" (T-Mobile exclusive) D750i (different coloured/featured K750i equiv.) from summer '05.

*** FEATURES *** (over and above basic phone features)
* BATTERY LIFE *
Sony Ericsson phones, in my experience at least, have always had sufficient battery life & performance to go days without needing a recharge. I'm glad to say, I still keep mine handy as a backup phone, and can leave it mostly unused (i.e. few if any calls) for about a week.

* BLUETOOTH *
Personally, I've always insisted on Bluetooth -- and Ericsson were first out with it in a mobile phone ( I had the R520m: http://www.esato.com/phones/Ericsson-R520-4 ), and I've never since had a phone without it! ;D
Its usefulness, technologically, is wide-ranging and well suited to short-range needs; e.g. exchanging data between phones, or to a Bluetooth-equipped PC (such as sending camera-phone photos!), or -- most useful -- connecting with a Bluetooth headset/hands-free kit, to be able to take/make calls (legally!) whilst driving.

* CAMERA-PHONE *
As for the concept of bundling camera functions into phones, after my experience with the "camera light" of the D750i(/K750i), I decided I wanted better, and from the K800i on, insisted on a built-in Xenon flash element as a required feature.
For its time, 3.2Mp was fantastic on a camera phone, and even today (2011), it's still very fair, if considering a 2nd-hand / rebuilt mobile as a budget option.

* FM RADIO *
Another handy feature; most useful for fans of "pirate"/dance music/etc (non-commercial) radio stations, as an alternative to plugging into your MP3 player. Uses the earphones' wire as the radio antenna. (Can't/Won't work without it.) If you get a call, and answer it, the K800i will switch to the call audio, but keep your station available to resume when your call is over.

* BUILT-IN SPEAKER *
Handy for some, annoying for others, this model has a built-in speaker, making portable music audible without the need for earphones. (Except for Radio, of course.) On public transport, this feature is often found being used by unthinking individuals to annoy other passengers.

* INTERNET BROWSER *
The K800i also has a web browser, and was at the front of the new (at the time) trend of mobile phones to do so.

* M2 = SONY Memory Stick Micro *
Smaller still than the Memory Stick PRO Duo of the D750i(/K750i), and with greater capacity, the M2 slot allows for storage of more photos and video clips, plus backgrounds, ringtones, music, browser cache, etc

* IR (INFRA-RED) *
I *believe* the K800i is _one_ of the last of the Sony Ericsson models to incorporate IR which, before the widespread popularity & uptake of Bluetooth technology, was the defacto "wireless" mobile-to-mobile data transfer facility. IR is, of course, much slower than Bluetooth, and requires both phones to be _atationary_, usually/preferably with the IR ports pointing at each other -- having "line-of-sight" of each other.
(Similarly, unless your TV-remote signal reaches the TV, it won't work)

*** RECEPTION & STYLING ***
Reception with most major networks is good to excellent, in average serviced areas. T-Mobile & Orange customers now enjoy a service bonus: where one service is unavailable, you can opt to use the connections of the other service without extra charge. This has widened the coverage for customers of both services who've taken this option.

As a basic tool for everyday life, the contemporary/modern styling suited most - including Daniel Craig's James Bond in Casino Royale, apparently. A clean presentation, decent-sized buttons, and a clear display makes for an excellent phone, along with its multitude of features.