Cricket A100 Review for Cricket

This has to be the best, inexpensive phone I've ever bought. Let's be clear, I am hardly fully satisfied in my fiend for more from my phone (still withdrawing from my Nokia 6275 that was lost in a move) and have every intention on replacing this phone with a Palm Pre by the Fall, but, I must say that this little phone has done exactly what I've needed it to do in the interim...

At the outset of my ownership of this phone, I thought that I was in a world of hurt, and that I must rapidly replace this phone (first candidate: Motorola Hint QA30). However, a recession in ones country will make him/her rethink alot. lol

Thus, as I normally do, but disregarded with this phone, I began to look and see what would make my experience more bearable.

I am an internet fiend, and on my Nokia I installed Opera Mini to access the web in its entirety...yes, on Cricket's WAP... Opera Mini is such a great program! Either way, I was unsuccessful in installing Opera Mini via my Open Wave browser, so back to the drawing board.

I finally took the time to see not what I didn't have, but what I did have. One of the things that I enjoy about the Open Wave browser (a browser that I fully disrespected when I had my Nokia) is that it comes with Google Search (the search function--number 3 in your options menu). After entering your initial search terms, if you scroll to the bottom, you can adjust which sites you're looking for. Choosing "mobile" will present sites that are rendered on your phone in full...

Now, I read the New York Times, CNN, various other interest sites, and even Myspace with my phone on a daily basis.

This truly improves the enjoyment had with a phone that I bought only to hold me over until a later date...

The speakerphone is loud, but it is a bit less quality that one needs driving down the street, but it changes with each call, so I'll blame it on my callers. lol...

The limitations on the Memo Pad inputs and the lack of an ability to repeat schedule inserts is a hassle for sure...but, it's small compared to the price and the functionality of everything else on the phone.

Lastly, I've dropped this phone a horrendous amount of times...not to mention the fact that I've stepped on and thrown the phone in the past. Let's be clear: I have the protective cover provided by Cricket on the phone, so I'm sure that that has a lot to do with its continued function. :-)

Get the cover!!

All right, well, I don't normally review products that I deem inferior or unworthy of serious review, but over these four months, I am actually impressed by this little device...

So, you...don't be afraid...

I've had this phone for about 6 weeks. It was free with a promotion they were running online in Vegas (and perhaps other zips).

It's relatively intuitive with its menus and has most features you could want.

Since I first got it, it will lock up when pressing buttons...Not lock like phone lock, but lock up like no buttons work anymore.This happens several times a day, and I have to turn it off and then back on. But to be fair I make a lot of calls and texts.

You have to set T9 at the beginning of every SMS.... It's not difficult but requires several extra button pushes to begin your text. The phone should remember what you used the last time.

I don't like how long you have to hold down the button to get a number in a Memo or SMS.

Lock button has to be held to lock the phone. There's no auto-lock.




Minor gripes...All in all I'm happy with it... It's one of the less irritating phones I've had.

Simple, multi-featured phone. The features play well even with kids. The no-fancy thing makes it a simple handy phone. It can perform your basic talk/text function, plus handle mobile Web, games, and apps. A low-cost phone that can be used by all types of people.

This is a good first phone for a child. Simple to use with no fancy features. Priced right as well to make it very affordable with one of Crickets unlimited plans.