Review: ZTE C88
The C88 makes calls just like any other phone. One thing we noted was that it took forever for the C88 to connect calls. This was consistent no matter what sort of signal strength we had. Once you got the number dialed, it typically took 23 seconds for the phone to figure out "Hey, I'm making a phone call, let's connect to the network." Once it connected, there was a wait of another 7 seconds or so. Bottom line? From the time you press the send key until the time you hear the phone ringing is easily half a minute. I don't know if that's because the C88 is roaming here, but if I was trying to dial 911 in an emergency, that 30 seconds could make a big difference.
When in a call, you can access the options menu with the left soft key, the change the volume with the D-pad, or mute it with the right soft key. There are only three in-call options: dial in a third party (conference call), or open the contacts database or calendar.
Contacts are found by tapping the left soft key from the home screen or through the main menu. Opening them up brings you into a list with a search bar at the bottom. Start typing in names, and the C88 starts auto-sorting your contacts. One thing I liked about the contact app is that if you scroll up or down and happen to select one of the numbers, the two soft key actions automatically change. The left one lets you dial the number, and the right one lets you start composing a message.
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ZTE C88
