Old phones and the new Nokia Ovi

Until now I could still imagine the disappointment of the man who stole my phone. This happened in 2006, the days when cell phones with colored screens were only starting to become the norm. My unit then was a battered Nokia model. I've forgotten what it was exactly; I've lost count after 8210.

There wasn't anything special with that phone, except probably the old, old messages I chose to not delete. It was worn out. The letters in the keypad were barely visible. The screen had scars. Dust had accumulated in the tiny crevices. Even the most desperate thief would think twice because it wouldn't even sell for 500 pesos.

But the man who stole my phone might have only seen it bulging from my pocket. He didn't know he was stealing something that would amount to, well, a decent jeepney fare perhaps. A shame, really. So when I alighted from the jeepney, my Nokia was gone. I felt an incision in my pocket—a good one—that now I think that man might've made a good surgeon if only he had the chance.

I've never been a die-hard fan of popular technology, but now, since we're on the subject of mobile phones, a friend recently told me about Nokia Ovi. It offers features like Ovi Mail, Ovi Share, and Ovi Store. Ovi Mail can easily be created on any Nokia mobile device and is accessible through the phone and PC. Ovi Share offers unlimited storage space for all photos, videos and audio clips for free. Ovi Store is a one-stop shop for mobile applications and content—from what I gather, there are a lot of freebies. You can read all about them here.

My current phone is a primitive Nokia model; it has worked well for me, and I have no plans of changing it. But if yours is capable of web surfing, emailing, or taking pictures, try Nokia Ovi out. Get a username, enjoy its features because, well, it's absolutely free.