Senior phone PhoneEasy 622 captures video, weather info (hands-on)
At Mobile World Congress today, Doro launched its PhoneEasy 622, a flip phone with a 2-megapixel camera and video-recording capabilities, for the European market.
BARCELONA, Spain--Doro, a Swedish phone company that manufactures handsets designed for seniors, launched its PhoneEasy 622 device in Europe today during Mobile World Congress here. The flip phone is Doro's first device to feature video recording and works alongside Doro's mobile ecosystem with which one can manage a loved one's mobile contacts and calendar.
Design
The PhoneEasy 622 comes in black and burgundy, and measures 4.01 inches tall, 2.05 inches wide, and 0.33 inch thick. It's lightweight and is sleeker than other Doro phones, like the PhoneEasy 618.
It has a smooth plastic construction, but the back has a soft-touch rubber feel to it for extra grip. Above the back plate is an emergency call button that will dial up to five programmed numbers when pressed.
To the left are a Micro-USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the front is a small display. Press and hold the down-volume button (which is located on the right edge) to bring up the current time. Above that are two notification lights for missed calls and unread text messages. Up top are a 2-megapixel camera and LED flash.
Opening the PhoneEasy 622, you'll see a 2.4-inch screen, with enlarged menu items and icons displayed for easy viewing. The keypad is generously spaced and keys are bulbous. During my brief time with it, I noticed that the keys were incredibly easy to see and press. There are also navigational keys, and shortcut keys for two programmed phone numbers, the camera, and text messaging.
Features
The tri-band (900/1800/1900) handset runs on a 800mAh battery, which has a reported talk time of up to 10 hours and a standby time of 380 hours. It also has a microSD card slot for memory.
Other features include room to save up to 500 contacts, Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, and hearing-aid compatibility.
As previously mentioned, the 622 is the first Doro handset to incorporate video recording. Its 2-megapixel camera can record video in 240x320p or 144x176p.
It is also the first to feature a small weather widget on the desktop that shows the current temperature. Users can access weather information from the menu as well, and get a forecast for the next few days.
In addition, Doro's mobile ecosystem, called Doro Experience, can be accessed from this handset. Doro Experience is a management tool and app portal through which users can access applications on the phone like its calendar and gallery.
Outlook
The Doro PhoneEasy 622 will come to the U.S. soon, though pricing is not yet known. If the 622 works like Doro's past handsets, I expect it to be extremely easy to use with great sound quality. Personally, I dig the slimmer look and bigger buttons. Doro has always been extremely conscious of the senior market and these design changes and the new recording capability will surely be welcomed by prospective buyers.
Editors' note: This review was edited on 17 July 2014 to remove a reference to a Facebook app