[kempez]

Right I've a very simple question, I hope

I want a phone for business that hangs on to my phone calls as much as possible (on 3, but not much I can do about it, apparently). I'd also like it to have good Bluetooth support for a (decent) bluetooth headset.

As an aside (and secondary features), I'd like to be able to browse the net nicely and play music well. Calendar and email functionality would be good too.

I've got a personal iPhone and currently have a Lumia 800 for business which I don't feel does the biz for phone calls (welcome comments from Lumia owners though if they're not finding this).

Thanks in advance and for those who help

[RobM]

For phone calls, you still can't beat a BlackBerry. Most other smartphones are on par with each other, you wont notice much difference going from any of the current crop in terms of signal strength, stability and maintaining calls in weak areas. But it has always been BlackBerry's strong point.

The downside is they aren't as great for web browsing. That's probably the only concern from your list of requirements, as music playback is great and calendar and email are a given being a BlackBerry (it's what they do!).

Could you use your iPhone for web and multimedia and then your BlackBerry for phone calls and PIM (email, contacts, calendar etc)?

[kempez]

Yep that's an option for sure and it's the way I've been leaning. The only thing is that my iPhone has decent quality with phone calls so was wondering if any of the other phones do as good a job as Blackberry. Thanks for the feedback, will hit the thanks button when I'm on a normal browser!

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by kempez

I want a phone for business that hangs on to my phone calls as much as possible (on 3, but not much I can do about it, apparently).

[SNIP]

currently have a Lumia 800 for business which I don't feel does the biz for phone calls (welcome comments from Lumia owners though if they're not finding this).

I would doubt any smartphone is going to solve your dropped signal issues from what you've mentioned above.

Taken from an N9 review I was reading last night(about to buy one, of course same body as the Lumia).....

Polycarbonate is a material Nokia is very fond of, having great signal conduction properties.

I don't think the Lumia is the issue here, rather the 3 network(I know you have said there's nothing you can do about that, but they are notorious for their poor signal). Sadly to me it sounds as though you're a bit stuck TBH.

Of course if the Lumia simply isn't for you anyway then that's another matter, certanily avoid anything with a metal case as those are known for not being the best on the antenna(as an E7 owner I understand this).

[kempez]

It's fairly frustrating as I work in London Paddington several times a week and this is where I have the signal issues mainly. My O2 based iPhone is fine.

I've not had huge issues with the phone beside the fact it seems to try to default to HSDPA rather than simply using 3G and it doesn't seem to like switching to 3G easily. It seems to drop calls rather than switch to the slower connection.

[fillsmith]

There is no question when Nokia lumia 800 is said. It also have Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic which differs other phone.

[kempez]

Well the iPhone has a noise cancelling mic as well

Update on this though, the last phone update has improved the signal, so it's a lot better. It wasn't in the fix list, but it is deffo better!

[Tetlee]

Originally Posted by kempez

Well the iPhone has a noise cancelling mic as well

Update on this though, the last phone update has improved the signal, so it's a lot better. It wasn't in the fix list, but it is deffo better!

Good to hear it. I've since briefly owned an N9(which is of course the same body as the Lumia 800) and can confirm it definately held a better signal than my work mates Galaxy S2 on the same network, kept checking throughout the day, so the S2 is one to avoid with your problems. Will be buying another N9 when it comes back in stock(mine had a fault so had to go back).