Bluetooth and GPRS connectivity; expandable microSD slot; speakerphone mode; keypad
Slow search in the contacts list; boring menu
Bluetooth headset
The Sagem my501c might not get you much attention when you take it out of your pocket, but as a basic phone it performs well. There's a good range of features and it is straightforward to use. This is a good choice if you don't want to spend too much money but you do want a few basic features
6.8 Good
Reviewed by Andrew Lim
The Sagem my501c is an entry- to mid-level clamshell handset similar to the Virgin Lobster 544 in terms of its design and features. If you want a cheap handset with some useful extras then this is worth a look.
It's currently available at Orange on pay as you go for £60.
Design
The my501c consists of a classic clamshell design with smooth edges and a simple colour scheme. It's divided into different shades of matte grey and reflective silver. As with most entry- to mid-level handsets, it's a little plasticky, but it does feel like it could take a few knocks and drops.
The front section of the my501c features a 1.3-megapixel camera at the top, surrounded by a reflective silver section. Further down there's a small OLED colour screen in the middle of the front section that displays battery life and signal strength, call and message alerts and the time and date.
On the left side of the my501c there's a volume rocker that lets you adjust call and music volume, and underneath it is a dedicated music button. The music button gives you direct access to the music player, which can be heard using the proprietary headset that plugs into the bottom right of the phone, or the loud speaker at the top of the reverse. Aside from listening to music, the loudspeaker can also be used during calls in amplified mode, increasing the volume of your caller's voice.
At the bottom of the my501c is a Mini-USB port that not only lets you connect the handset to your PC to transfer files and use it as a modem, but it will also charge the battery. This is particularly useful if you forget your charger -- USB cables are quite common these days -- however be warned: the my501c will not charge from a USB cable if the battery is very low.
The inside section of the my501c houses a colour screen and keypad. The bright colour screen measures 28mm by 35mm and sits in the top section of the open clamshell. On the bottom section is the navigation key, soft keys and alphanumeric keypad. The keypad area has a wave-like theme that, aside from adding a touch of style, makes using the keys feel good. The navigation key is a simple circle slightly smaller than a ten-pence piece, and while not a particularly original design, is easy to press.
As with most entry-level clamshell phones the hinge on the my501c is rather ugly and doesn't have the finesse of phones like the Motorola Razr V3. Indeed, this phone does lack something in terms of design -- it's functional but it won't get you noticed.
Features
While the my501c doesn't have high-spec features, it does have a wide range to choose from. There's a 1.3-megapixel camera that shoots basic snapshots and takes video; a music player that plays MP3 and AAC files; an expandable microSD slot so you can store all your pictures and music; Bluetooth connectivity so you can use a Bluetooth headset or send files to friends; and GPRS so you can browse the Web using the WAP browser.
It supports dual-band GSM so you can use it in most of Europe, but it won't work in every country in the world, so it's best to check with your operator before you take it abroad. The menu system, which features a basic grid layout, isn't particularly exciting, but it is easy to understand. Writing SMS text messages is also straightforward and the overall interface works well even if it's not the most stylish. One niggle with the my501c interface was that the contacts list can be slow to find a number when using the search by name function.
Another problem we had was the lack of a dedicated shutter button, which made taking pictures with the 1.3-megapixel camera quite tedious. You can set one of the soft keys to access the camera, but this means you have to sacrifice another feature on the soft key and that you can't access the camera when the phone is shut.
Other features include an alarm, a calendar, a timer, memo, notes, a speakerphone, Java games and polyphonic ringtones. You can also turn the my501c into a USB key and synchronise your contacts, organiser and to-do list with your PC via a USB cable.
Performance
The audio quality during calls sounded distorted at times, as if there was a whirring sound coming from the ear speaker. We have been assured by Sagem that this is not a common problem and that it may only be applicable to this test handset.
The 1.3-megapixel camera performed rather badly compared to other cameras of the same resolution. Pictures came out blurry and discoloured with most objects looking out of focus. While this isn't great if you plan on printing them out or viewing them on a large screen, these pictures were fine for sending over an MMS message.
Battery life is quoted at 3 hours of talk time and 240 hours of standby time.
Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Kate Macefield
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