Good for basics, go elsewhere for advanced

This is a review of the T237 (basically the T226 design with a few feature updates including speakerphone, no separate category on Epinions for T237). If you are looking for a cheap phone for basic low volume calling (as landlineless using it on Cingular’s $6-7/mo prepaid plan as a backup to my primary carrier cell phone), this phone has adequate reception from my experience hearing and speaking (tested it with my office voicemail recording myself to be sure). If you need to adjust features, ring tones, etc., the menu system is fairly easily to navigate (arrow keys to move between menu selections, YES key to select/accept, and NO key to back out/cancel). Though some have complained of the small numeric keypad, I as a guy with large fingers had no problems infrequently entering phone numbers to dial, though I could see this problematic for some who use the phone much for typing/sending text messages. Of many cell phones have had in the past, I do find the display grainy from its low resolution though certainly readable for reading text on it, but would recommend another phone if need better resolution for graphics, games, etc. Also the vibrate function is very weak or non existent, not sure by design or if I got one with a defect, but there was a good selection of ring tone selections that were not so loud i.e. door opening, and there was six levels of volume of choose including an increasing volume ring if you choose for when someone calls you.

As a side note, this GSM only phone does not have analog service so not phone for anyone going out into the backcountry frequently, but not sure if any of the GSM phones have analog.