BenQ-Siemens EF51 - a different kind of music phone
February 14, 2006

The new music mobile phone from BenQ-Siemens is a mp3-player with built-in mobile phone, declared the executive chief of BenQ-Siemens Clemens Joos. The music´s really in focus in EF51. The format is real smooth and the phone feels like nothing else. We´ve tried it.

EF81 in white
EF81 in black

The music buttons are located under the screen. They are located beneath a flip that can be folded away to reach the usual buttons with numbers. It apears very simple and logical.

It reminds a lot of the music mobile phone N91 from Nokia. Nokias flagship feels rather clumsy and will cost around 7000 (SEK) or 740 euro.
BenQSiemens EF51 though, is much smaller and has a lower price: about 2500 (SEK) or 265 euro without subventions.

The screen is a TFT-display , it feels sharp, but just as the phone it has a rather small size. The menus doesn´t remind at all of old Siemens, but they feels very freshened up.

There´s a FM radio included in EF51. You are also able to record music from the radio when you´re listening and store the music in the phone.

BenQ-Siemens really put an effort in the phone´s capacity to function together with computer, headphones and stereo equipment. Headphone adapter is included, but also wireless music transmissions by Bluetooth. EF51 is supported by the so called stereo profile.

EF51 handles mp3 but also the format wma, aac and aac+. Moreover it supports music bought with copy protection for Windows Mediaplayer, even though non copy protected music of course work too.

The music is stored on a SD-memorycard. The internal memory of 20 Mb in the phone won´t probably be enough. The memorycard is not included in the purchase. Transmissions is easily handled with a memory card reader. For some reason the phone only supports usb 1.1, which is a slower version of the usb-standard. To obtain fast transmissions of music it´s necessary to have a memorycard reader.

A fun and different function is the voice control of the music player, by saying the name of the track you want to listen to, the phone will automatically play it. Just the same as when you say the name of a person, in your address book, and you get them dialed up. More fun stuff is the possibility to get the words of the track you are about to listen on your display. Unfortunately we haven´t been able to try these functions, that´s why we can´t say anything about them.

However we had the opportunity to observe when EF51 were connected to a stereo, and the sound feels great. We connected the mobile phone wireless - assisted by a Bluetooth-adapter. Bringing that solution to a party you can easily connect your mobile phone to the stereo and listen to your own mucic stored at the mobile unit. You could even shake loose at the dance floor with the phone in your pocket. Perhaps this would be the nightmare for the person in charge of the entertainments.

But still, wireless stereo is of course, above all, a good idea because headphones with bluetooth can be used with the mobile phone.

EF51 will reach Sweden during the second quarter this year. It will cost around 2500 (SEK) or 265 euro without subventions, in the stores, according to Benq Mobile.

By: Linus Brohult