Nokia 5125 Prepaid Phone (TracFone)

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The Nokia 5125 is a classic handset offered by TracFone, a leading national prepaid service provider. The 5125, matched with TracFone's simple and hassle-free service, is a convenient way to own a cell phone without contracts, credit checks, security deposits, monthly bills, or age restrictions.

The 5125 is a lightweight personal phone with impressive talk and standby time that's loaded with classic, simple-to-learn features. Its changeable faceplates, 30 different ringers (and room for 5 downloadable tones), and an expansive world of accessories, makes the 5125 a fun, general-purpose phone. And with predictive T9 text input, wireless business card and e-mail capabilities, Nokia has created a more competent business communications tool (although they have yet to introduce a Web-enabled phone).

Weighing in at 6.2 ounces (including battery), the 5125 measures 5.2 inches high, 1.85 inches wide, and 1.2 inches deep, not counting a stubby antenna that extends another 0.7 inches. As a moderate-weight, midsize phone, the 5125 is highly portable. It's also extremely rugged in typical mobile phone environments--including being thrown into bags and cases and occasionally dropped on the ground.

Four buttons handle most of the menu navigation: a hefty button in the middle that Nokia calls the Navi key, up and down arrow buttons that control volume during calls, and a key marked "C" for "clear." Menu navigation is very intuitive. If you tap the Navi key, the first of a series of graphical menu items pops up. Hit the Navi key again to drill down to options within the menu or tap the up or down arrow keys to choose a different menu. The top-level menu choices are phone book, messages (SMS and voice mail alerts), call log, settings (for calls, phone, and security), system, games (Memory, Snake, and Logic), clock, tones, and keypad lock. The brightly backlit display works well with the control keys to simplify finding and making choices. In text mode, five 16-character lines are displayed.

If you like distinctive ringing tones, you'll be satiated with the 5125, which lets you select from 30 preprogrammed tones. You can also download an additional five ringer tones from your service provider's website, if applicable. And while there's no internal vibration mode, an optional vibrating battery is available. You also can store electronic business cards in your phone book. Any friend or associate can forward their name, number and e-mail to your phone, and you can automatically store their information with some deft menu navigation.

One caveat worth mentioning: Not all faceplates work with the 5125 phone. Nokia-brand faceplates will work, but faceplates from other manufacturers will not fit the 5125. Although this is a 5100-series phone, the keypad is a unique size, and it does not accommodate other manufacturer's faceplates.

The Nokia 5125 has the usual array of standard call and messaging features. If supported by your carrier, you can use this phone with caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and voice mail alerts. A call history maintains the last 10 dialed numbers, 10 most recently received calls, and 10 missed calls. The phone supports two-way SMS text messaging, but is not WAP- or Internet-enabled.

The 5125 offers four basic security features: An initial security code, keypad lock, call-restriction modes, and a lock code that can activate or deactivate memory and menu options. One nice thing about the lock-code feature is you can store numbers in a secret unlocked location, which will allow you to make calls even if the phone is locked.

The 5125's NiMH battery is rated to last up to 180 minutes of digital talk time and 200 hours of digital standby time. In our testing, we achieved 180 minutes of digital talk time and over 225 hours of digital standby time.

Overall, Nokia's 5125 is a noteworthy addition to their 5100-series phones. Choose your favorite faceplate color and ringer tone and shock the world!

--Brown Consulting Associates

Pros: <ul>

Airtime balance display

Inexpensive prepaid option

Easy activation </ul>

Cons: <ul>

Lacks standard vibration mode </ul>

How We Tested Battery-Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.

To test digital-phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode. We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Since no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case standby time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.

Customer Reviews:

Great phone, absolutely no customer service, though.......2007-06-03

I have owned and enjoyed a TracFone Nokia 5125 for over 5 years and I just love the phone and the availability of analog and digital in one phone. The analog works great when I am in the Georgia and Florida outback areas, where no digital signals exist. The phone works great, but, on a scale of 0 to 10, the TracFone customer service rates about a negative five (-5). I just spent about an hour and a half on the "customer service" line with TracFone to try and transfer my minutes to a new TracFone Nokia 5125 (to replace an aging, tired 5125), was transferred to more than 5 "customer service managers" and still have not gotten any customer service. Great phone, great signal, but, you will get no help from TracFone customer service, at all. I am currently looking for a different provider of TDMA service in my area that can use the Nokia 5125 in TDMA mode.

info........2006-09-21

My tracfone has good reception. i like that it has free call waiting and free caller id. if you haven't activated your tracfone yet then the 'refer a friend program' will give each of us 120 free minutes. please send me an email and i will send you a fast referral( i check my email often). it's a win/win! thank you.

review........2006-06-22

My tracfone has worked out good so far. Customer service is fine and the free voicemail was easy to set up and use. If you decide to get a tracfone, please email me for a quick referral before activating it- we each will get 120 free minutes from the 'refer a friend' program. I'll also send you the simple instructions to follow. I've used Tracfone for quite a while, so i should be able to answer any questions you might have.
ps even if you have activated in the last few weeks i should be able to get us the free minutes.

Good "Old School" Wireless.......2005-01-27

I purchased a 5125 through Tracfone wireless in Dec '03, and here's my quick review:

Plus: sturdy unit, long battery life, recharges quickly, good "Old School" phone features.

Minus: "Old School" phone type might turn off most cell phone shoppers, not very compact (even in your pocket), no polyphonic ringtones.

A quick review of the Tracfone service:

Plus: no committments, pay for only the minutes you use, extremely quick setup, reasonable rates.

Minus: tech support via phone can be very trying, code-entering will annoy the younger set, you can't use certain tracfones for your calling area.

Very poor customer service.......2005-01-16

A phone is only as good as the customer service. The customer service for the tracfone is completely worthless. I have called a number of times only to speak to someone who is either completely illiterate, completely clueless or completely incompetent. I have been repeatedly put on hold, asked the same questions and have been cut off only to have to call back. When asked to speak to a supervisor I am told that they are busy.

The phone itself is adequate but a bit oversized for my taste.

I could not recommend this phone or service at this time.

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