GIFT GUIDE : MOBILE PHONES - The Independent, 11 December 2004
Ding dong merrily on high, the mobile phones are ringing. Bring your nearest
and dearest closer still with the latest in mobile technology. By Mark Harris
Nokia 9500 Communicator
Squeezing a Qwerty keyboard into a phone is never going to make for easy
typing, but the latest Communicator is just large enough for use by fully grown
adults. Get under its skin and there are some amazing features here, such as Wi-Fi
connectivity for web browsing, Microsoft Office-compatible business applications,
a built-in VGA camera and high-speed EDGE data transfer. It comes with 80Mb of
memory for storing files or snaps, and you can expand that further with a Multimedia
Memory Card.
How much? From £200 with contract; £550 SIM-free
Where: Stockist details from www.nokia.co.uk ; 08700 555 777
Motorola E1000
If you thought ringtones were annoying, just wait until everyone is using the
Push-To-Talk (PTT) technology found on this 3G handset. PTT allows groups of friends
to turn their phones into walkie-talkies, pressing a single button to talk directly
from each other’s speakerphones, without anyone having to answer. The E1000’s
built-in speakers have been designed to play MP3 tunes, which can be stored on
tiny new Transflash memory cards. The entertainment-focused E1000 also has a 1.2
megapixel camera offering video capture and playback.
How much? From free with contract
Where: Stockist details from www.three.co.uk ; 08707 330 333
Motorola Razr V3
Experts may rave about its Bluetooth connection, quad-band technology and MPEG4
video clip playback but there’s really one reason to buy the clamshell V3
– and you’re looking at it. The super-chic, super-thin(14mm) handset
is finished in tough anodised aluminium and unfolds to reveal a large screen and
touch-sensitive metal keys. There isn’t another phone out there that looks
this good and still handles well, with thoughtful extras such as voice-operated
dialling and an external screen to show the number (or even an image) of who’s
calling.
How much? From £100 with contract; £450 SIM-free
Where: Stockist details from www.hellomoto.co.uk ; 08000 151151
NEC e616v
Now’s a great time to upgrade to a 3G phone. You get the flexibility of
being able to make videocalls and download multimedia clips, while the networks
are heavily subsidising handsets to build their market share. For sheer value,
nothing beats this chunky clamshell from 3. It has a camera with a built-in light,
Bluetooth for hands-free use and even AGPS navigation technology for location-based
services. If you’re lost, you can download local maps or find your nearest
bank or restaurant.
How much? From free with contract; £45 pay as you go
Where: Stockist details from www.three.co.uk ; 08707 330 333
Jabra BT800
You’ve got two choices when it comes to hands-free headsets for your mobile
phone. You can either look like a TV interviewer with a clip-on tie microphone
or like a character from Star Trek with a wireless Bluetooth model. Bluetooth
headsets don’t come much more futuristic than the BT800, with its digital
signal processing to improve audibility and a choice of ringtones or vibration
alert. It has a blue backlit LED display to let you know who’s calling and
weighs just 25 grams. Like most Bluetooth headsets, battery life isn’t great
– just 6 hours talk time - but at least it uses rechargeables.
How much? £90
Where: Stockist details from www.jabra.com ; 0800 032 7026
O2 XDA
IIs
There’s little point in buying a traditional PDA when smartphones like the
XDA IIs can match almost everything they can do and make calls besides. Based
on an Intel 400MHz chip and running Windows Mobile software, the XDA comes with
Pocket versions of Outlook, Word and Excel, plus fax software and a built-in camera.
You can control it either using the 3.5-inch colour touchscreen (via handwriting
recognition) or get to grips with its fiddly slide-out keyboard. Like the Nokia
Communicator, the XDA IIs has Wi-Fi functionality for wireless web surfing, Bluetooth
and will even play MP3 files.
How much? From £250 with contract; £600 SIM-free
Where: Stockist details from www.o2.co.uk ; 0870 225 7879
Siemens SL55
The original sliding phone might not be the newest handset around but at last
its price has dropped to match its dimensions. Measuring just 8cm and weighing
79 grams, the SL55 nevertheless packs in useful features such as a colour screen,
Java games and MMS messaging (although a camera is a £40 optional extra).
Its modest talk time of around three hours won’t suit everyone but if you
need a great value, pocket-friendly mobile, look no further.
How much? From free with contract; £125 SIM-free
Where: Stockist details from www.siemens-mobile.co.uk
Sony Ericsson V800
Vodafone has chosen the stylish V800 to launch its 3G service in the UK. With
more expensive tariffs and 20% less coverage than the established 3 network, Vodafone
is relying on sexy handsets to win new customers – and the V800 seems to
be doing the job. It has a rotating 1.3 megapixel camera complete with flash for
night-time shots, a slinky clamshell design and a 2.2-inch screen capable of showing
262,000 colours. Vodafone’s impressive Live! 3G services include the usual
football and movie trailer video clips, plus 3D games, ringtones, news and even
a music store (although tracks cost a hefty £1.50 each).
How much? From £50 with contract; £500 SIM-free
Where: Stockist details from www.sonyericsson.com
BlackBerry 7290
BlackBerry handsets have carved a niche audience among e-mail junkies, who love
the way that messages are instantly ‘pushed’ to the handset instead
of you having to log on and collect them. This newest upgrade has support for
Bluetooth headsets, quad-band technology for wider overseas use, a better keyboard
and more memory. If you’re a fan of the BlackBerry’s e-mail system
but aren’t so keen on its miniscule keyboard and awkward use as a phone,
you might be interested to know that it will soon be available on a number of
other products from O2, including the XDA IIs smartphone.
How much? From £50 with contract; £400 SIM-free
Where: Stockist details from www.o2.co.uk ; 0800 781 0202
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