Review: Nokia C7 Astound
Calls
Making and receiving phone calls on the Astound is about on par with other touch-based phones. The software Call button persists on the three home screens. You can also hit the physical Send key to get to the call log. If you are anywhere else in the phone's UI, however, you have to exit out and get back to the home screen before you can make a call. Incoming calls interrupt whatever it is you might be doing, and the software controls allow you to ignore it, answer it, etc.
Most people will initiate calls directly from their contact database, and if you start to type a name or number, and the Astound searches your contacts for matching letters/numbers. This search can actually be turned off, if you wish.
In-call options are all accessed via the software Options button. It offers a robust number of features, including three-way calling, access to other apps, and so on.
Contacts
The only way I was able to sync my vast contact database with the Astound was to set up an Ovi account and use Nokia's account sync tools. They are clumsy, and not as simple as those offered by others. T-Mobile subscribers who use its online back-up services will have it easier, as will those with PCs via Nokia's device management software.
As for the contact application itself, it's barren and boring, but offers plenty of fields for contact data. It doesn't offer any of the rich cross integration with social networks that Android does, for example. It is functional, though barely.
Nokia World 2010
Nokia Brings C7 To T-Mobile As Astound
Nokia Astound / C7-00
