A notable phone we had the chance to review is the UTStarcom CDM-120, a phone that was conceived to rival this year's market. The Audiovox CDM-120 is known by many as the no thrills phone. This statement itself should not put buyers off, it is just a phone for those that believe cell phones are to communicate and not perform the other wide range of functions. The default menu style consists of large graphical symbols denoting the menu options, or you can select a list-style display. We had no trouble viewing the screen indoors, but in direct sunlight, it appeared faded and washed out. From the inside out, the UTStarcom CDM-120 is the definition of simplicity. Its black and dark-gray plastic exterior bears no markings, save for a Sprint logo and a LED on the front cover that glows when the phone is charging. The sound quality on the CDM-120 is rated as excellent. The sounds are crisp and clear and the quality does not chance from speakerphone, to earphone or earpiece. The volume control also has a wide range so you can adjust the sound to suit you or the environment around you. It is also in a convenient location, close to your thumb allowing you to adjust the volume and speak using only a single hand. The CDM-120 allows you to hear the other party as if the are right next to you and can be adjusted to account for wind or other environmental aspects that can influence the sound.
The CDM-120 does have a few features to it. For those that must have games they do have a few. One also has the option to subscribe to various services and enhance the capabilities of the phone. However, these are not the most exciting of options. Below the display are the navigational controls, which consist of two soft keys, the contacts list, and the calendar. You'll also find a My Favorites folder that holds customized shortcuts to frequently accessed applications and a five-way navigational toggle that doubles as shortcuts to messaging. Below the toggle is the Back button, flanked by the Talk and End/power keys on either side. Much like the numerical keypad underneath, all the navigational controls and keys are slightly raised above the surface of the phone, making for a tactile navigation and dialing. The speakerphone has also been listed as one of the phones key features. The convenience and quality of the volume control do add to its usability and popularity.
