iPhone Moshi Moshi 02: Handset + Base Review: Talking It Up on the iPhone
Talking Up The Moishi Moishi 02
Like most people, I have a land-line along with a cell phone–or perhaps it is more accurate to say that I never thought the day would come when I WOULDN’T have a landline. But looking through my bill from good old (redacted), I see that I am now paying more due to taxes than I did 3 months ago even with canceling call waiting. That is just not acceptable.
Continuing to reflect I put the need for a landline into perspective – will it affect my DSL internet connection? No, the service requires having an active phone line but not for voice, but for data. Everybody who counts knows my cell phone number and since it’s always with me who can’t reach me by calling it? Add to that that I’m already paying a fair amount for local and long distance calling with the cell phone plan - so why have a landline since I get great coverage at home anyway?
Check Out The Curves On The MMO2
Perhaps the only bugaboo is that when a call comes in and I’m at the desk – picking up a phone receiver and holding it to my ear is both natural and desirable compared to having to grab the cell or (worse yet) stick in an earplug. Which is where the Moshi Moshi 02 comes in.
The guys from Native Union know design - heck the MMO2’s nickname of “The Curve” kind of reminds me of the phone from Sweden I think it was that I used to see when passing the Museum of Modern Art’s (MOMA) store front shop. Let’s break it down for those who need details.
Handset plus Base Equals Good Sounds With the MMO2 (5 out of 5)
The MMO2 (also called the Moishi Moishi O2 and even “The Curve”) consists of two pieces: the first being a hard plastic (and heavy- rectangular base. White might have looked more appropriate for my Apple Mac-oriented home, but the base’s matte black finish won’t show dust as easily (one less thing to have to clean so blessed often). The second component is the headset – or phone receiver since it certainly does fit that retro description. Black also, it’s a lightweight version of the double-mouthed unit those of us who remember 300 baud modems used to enjoy bashing against walls just to see how much abuse the headsets could take (a lot).
The headset is deceptively lightweight and its curved design makes holding and using it both simple and painless. Not to say that hours of cupping it to your ears is a good thing, but nothing compared in weight or discomfort to the original it apes.
I also kinda like the circular grillwork of the mouthpiece and the more angular version of the earpiece - both aped by the base, I should add, so that you have a visually aid in placing it down correctly.
Not that you have to place it down on the base if you don’t want–the mini-plug connected to the coiled wire attached to the headset can plug directly into an iPhone (attachments being available for those other cells which need help). The real deal comes with the small button on the inside of the handset about midway between the two grills. Pressing it activates whatever functions the cell phone permits - we’ll get to this in a bit.
Connect the Dots-Make That Forget the Landline and Connect The Moshi Moshi 02 (5 out of 5)
Those who aren’t interested in directly connecting to the iPhone have another option (although I thoroughly enjoyed the scene when I went to Starbucks and while waiting for my order pulled the handset out of my coat pocket to the crowds bemusement). You can connect the handset to the base and use the included cable to attach to both the base and the cell phone. This makes the handset behave in the more traditional way.
Good Vibrations Turned Into Easy Listening Audio With the Moshi Moshi 02 (5 out of 5)
Using the Moshi Moshi 02 is exactly as expected and as it should be. As noted above, my iPhone is connected to the base, with the handset connected to the base as well. When a call comes in, I just pick up the handset and press that little button to start the gabbing. Of course I can also initiate a call in the same way using the VoiceControl feature of my 3GS.
Sound quality is probably the best part of all this. While there is no built-in volume control or other niceties, the main purpose of the handset is to let you hear what the caller is saying, and for the caller to hear what you are saying. I’d have to say that I had no trouble hearing anyone who called, nor they me. It says in the instructions (and on the nicely designed box) that there’s built-in noise reduction – no way to verify it other than since it sounds good, I guess it’s there doing its thing.
I should also add that initiating calls on the iPhone using the handset was not only fun, but let me get rid of the old dufus cordless which probably was causing interference to my wireless home network anyway.
And I just realized that there’s a USB adapter that will let me use it with Skype or other VOIP services as well. Cool. And maybe a reason to get it in white since that sorta makes it “i” capable I guess.
What Moishi Moishi Are You? More Moishi Moishi To Come
Perhaps the best part is that the money I save from not having a landline can go towards purchasing a Moshi Moshi 03i which uses Bluetooth to connect both to the iPhone as well as the computer at the same time–with a dedicated slot for holding the iPhone as well. Maybe I can do a review on that cool product in the future, but for now just “call” me happy to have the MMO2, or “The Curve” or the Moshi Moshi 02 if you prefer, to use.
