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A mobile phone that delivers crystal-clear digital radio and TV
The latest mobile phone from Virgin is designed so you can watch TV on the move. Vodafone already produces phones that let you tune in to Sky's broadcasts, but what's different here is that the handset is receiving the digital signal over the air, just like a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) radio, instead of downloading the images over the mobile phone network.
This means no data charges are racking up as you watch TV or listen to the radio. For a daily commute on a bus or train, this may be a great way to make the journey go quickly and it's ideal if you're going to be home too late to catch Corrie.
Let's start with the radio; the headphones supplied with the Virgin Lobster are mandatory, they act as the radio's DAB antenna, though if they're plugged in you can use the phone's loudspeakers to listen as well.
There are up to 50 DAB stations available and sound quality is crystal-clear, beating phones with FM radio tuners for signal quality and range of digital-only stations.
As for TV, the Lobster 700TV includes four stations - BBC1, ITV1, E4 and Channel 4. The first three are simulcasts, showing exactly what the respective TV transmissions receive. Channel 4, though, for now shows short made-for-mobile TV clips with the main channel expected to follow later.
Video quality was excellent when staying in one place, but occasionally the signal dropped or was out of sync, though the radio signal was more robust.
Of course, you'll also want to use the phone for other things such as, you know, making calls, and the Lobster 700TV is perfectly good at this, too. It's a smartphone, using Windows Mobile as its operating system, so it can also handle cut-down versions of Outlook among other programs. There's a camera on board, but this is unexceptional at 1.3 megapixels.
If you have a monthly contract, the phone and the TV service are both free, but if you choose Virgin's pay-as-you-go option then you'll have three months of free TV.
Also consider
T-Mobile MDA Vario II HSDPA
Overall: No TV or DAB radio but if you're fed up of waiting for downloads while
you're out and about, then HSDPA in your hand with the T-Mobile MDA Vario II is
a godsend.
Rating: 4
Price: Free (depending on contract)
Good points
Great DAB radio reception
Strong video quality for watching live TV
Easy to use
Bad points
Limited choice of TV channels
Average camera
Overall
The Virgin Lobster 700TV is a fun mobile phone with effective TV and DAB radio
functions
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Lobster 700TV
I recently purchaced the Lobster and to date have been quite happy with it. Darn hard to use and yes i agree the tv is a bit on the naff side. The radio is very good but as other readers have commented on the signal reception on tv and dab is not to hot,you do lose the signal quite often in buildings. The one thing I'd like to know is ....hopefully someone out there can help!! am i able to put some form of sat nav onto this phone?? one of my friends has the Tom Tom on his but he has a Nokia, is there another system i could use? If your kids love gadgets buy them one of these, guaranteed to keep them occupied for weeks or even months and this is just reading the instruction manual!! No really though do buy the phone and don't just go on what you read, go into virgin and have a play with one you'll find it fun, the phone that is!. Ellie.
Posted by Ellie, 13 May 2007