| Admittedly, people didn't know what to make of the | | | | some prefer a real, raised keyboard for texting and |
| iPhone clones at first. We've always had cheaper, | | | | messaging. Clone manufacturers finally caught on and |
| widely available Chinese knock offs. Not all have been | | | | started to offer a few knock off models that are |
| embraced by consumers. The iPhone clones initially | | | | inspired by the iPhone's finger touch / |
| came out at a time when our economy was much | | | | many-features-in-one-phone design, but also include |
| stronger than it is now and consumers were not as | | | | full keyboards and scroll bars. The MTK228 is a great |
| focused on saving money as they are today. | | | | example of this. |
| Eventually though, folks began to realize that the | | | | The MTK228 has become a brisk seller because it |
| clones added innovative features that worked very | | | | combines what we love about the clones with full |
| well and were actually needed. For example, the | | | | messaging capabilities. This mobile phone has: a 2.6 |
| replicas are always unlocked, so that you aren't | | | | inch touch screen with finger touch; a sufficient 1.3 |
| chained to any one carrier or network. Most have a | | | | mega pixel camera with auto focus and webcam; |
| removable battery so that you aren't dependent on | | | | web browsing via WAP, GPRS; and SMS, and MMS |
| the dealer when the battery dies. Many have added | | | | messaging and voice mail; Bluetooth 2.0; a built in FM |
| extra speakers or sim slots. | | | | radio; up to 8GB of expandable memory; the Picbrige |
| Add these things to today's economy, and the | | | | interface for immediate printing; and NEC game |
| environment is extremely conducive to the clones | | | | software (including Nintendo). |
| really taking off and becoming desirable, which is | | | | This cell is sleek, attractive, and black, but with its full |
| exactly what has happened. It just doesn't always | | | | keyboard and stylus, it doesn't look much like many |
| make sense to chase expensive technology, as it is | | | | of the clones. |
| always changing. I know that I've saved hundreds if | | | | The keys on this one are nice and firm, but not so |
| not thousands of dollars on network fees by using an | | | | much as to slow you down. Perhaps the best thing |
| unlocked clone. | | | | about this model is the price. You can often snag one |
| One drawback that some noticed though was that | | | | for under $50, which is really amazing with a phone |
| most of the clones only offered the flat touch | | | | with all of these features and memory. |
| screens like the original. Many people love this, but | | | | |