I bought this phone today from The Carphone Warehouse (quite lucky to actually get hold of one!!!) and thought it was the NEC 616V that I was buying as it said this on the box

However, when I got home I discovered that on the real box it said the NEC 616, as the other one was just a sleeve 3 had put on.

Also, it said NEC 616 on the actual phone. I was left feeling a bit confused at this. The NEC website says that the 616V is a more updated mode with a better camera.

I went back to the shop and explained that I wasn't happy, and they were certain that there was no difference between models. They said the software had only been updated and the phone I got had this new software, it just that they hadn't changed the actual phone to say 616V.

They were also out of stock and probaly weren't getting any more in before Christmas - so I just kept the phone.

Also today a firend of mines bought one of these from Phones 4 u and his also had 616V on the sleeve but was actually only the 616 as well.

We went back to that Phones 4 u and asked about this as well. They didn't have a clue what we were on about. We then went to another Phones 4 u, and they were more helpful and were just as curious as us, but didn't think there was a difference either.

They explained that was just what they were getting from 3. Thye were also sold out like many other places, and had a reserve list a mile long!

So something very strange is going on. Does anybody know whats happening?

One thing is for sure, this phone is on many people's Christmas list this year. No wonder it such a fantastic offer and the phone looks fab. In the box was also a USB cable, 2 batteries (whats the difference, one is slightly bigger thatn the other), and a 16mb Sony Memory card AND a hands free kit. That probaly over £30 already! Then there is the phone...the guy in Carphone Warehouse said it was probably about £200 worth.

3 must be running a total loss!!! But I'm not complaining.

I'm quite surprised nobody on here knows any more about this.

if i can find my nec 616v i will see what it says underneath the battery, i lost it its so big how can i lose it

yay found it, lol erm nothing behind the battery but on the screen it says e616v
if its a good xmas pressy, i want to sell mine need the money

by the way, i guess that was unlucky for you and your mate...
i have no idea but its something to do that they get phones cheap anyway such as when 7600 was £29.99...and actually rrp is £200???
lol probably shipped from other country? i have no idea sorry

Apparently NEC ran out of stock of the 616V models so updated the firmware on the E616 models you got and included the 616V batteries.

The phone is on everyones Xmas list because it's the old "Ooh look at that a colour flip phone for under £50!!!" and the £200 worth is made up as I paid £200 for my Samsung E700 when it first came out and I'm sure the insides are much better components than the ones that NEC uses!

I've just bought a c616v from 3 (superdrug), and its black, the camera is 5 times better now, the battery seems to last alot longer, charged it last night, used it about 10 times today, and still on full power.

Even when I bought it, I made the rep open the box to check all was well, and his eyes popped out his head.

He says that the c616v's dont come in black, just silver and this one must be a limited edition. He liked it so much, that he even tried the classic dodgy street traders trick of swopping boxes when he thought I wasnt looking, but sussed him and told him I want that one, which he reluctantly let me have.

I dont know, maybe he hadnt seen a black one before and they are all coming in black now.

Also my local superdrug has now sold over 100 of these in the last 3 days! Has anyone else got a black one?

Just noticed that the original poster probably should've got(the phone at least) what I did.....sorry!

The Bigger battery is supposed to be a heavy duty one, but the slim one lasts well, I got the usb cable and the disc, but no hands free or sony card.

But the sim did come loaded with 20 mins video calls, 20 video messages and 20 mini movie downloads or whatever they are, and 50 voice mins, & £5 credit. Not using the sim yet though, just stuck my old one in.......Yeh im happy