Apple iPhone (8Gb/16Gb)

Now replaced by the iPhone 3G, you can only one of these second hand. There are plenty of faults- from the poor camera, difficult text input, to web surfing at GPRS speed. It’s stylish appearance will dazzle those around you, but is it a case of style over substance? For all its faults you’d struggle to find a better phone with music and video playback, wireless surfing and features like Google Maps.
You will still be the envy of your friends, but the newer 3G version not only gets more speed but GPS Nav as well. Only buy this model if at a really good price…..
3 Stars

Apple iPhone 3G (8Gb/16Gb)

The arrival of the 3G version adds a little something to the first class user interface of the 2G model. The GPS receiver gets a fix in seconds. The user interface is still amazing, but the biggest improvement is the App Store, allowing you to greatly expand the usefulness of the iPhone.
Battery life was still a concern, but firmware updates have gone some way to rectifying this. Stated battery life is 300 hrs standby?
Don’t expect great photos, and disappointingly no MMS.
5 Stars

Nokia N95

On paper the original N95 looked like the ultimate phone, but it did have some flaws this 8Gb update addresses. It retains the great 5 mega-pixel camera and a media player that plays music and video through stereo speakers or headphones. Can connect to your TV, and connects to wireless networks with high speed data transfer.
The GPS gets a satellite fix quicker than the original, and build quality has been improved. But the big deal is the improved battery life, making the N95 one of the best smart phones on the market at the moment.
5 Stars

Nokia N96

It’s a case of when you’re on a good thing…..
This little beauty has the same spec’s as the N95, keeping the same winning formula.
The main improvement is the large 16 Gb internal memory, and the option of adding more with a microSD. It also has a neat little kick-stand to prop up the phone when watching video. The DVB-H receiver means you’ll be watching digital television as well. All this with a more refined piano finish exterior!!!
5 Stars

BlackBerry 8300 Curve

Though not as small as the Pearl, the Curve still has a sleekness about it, and a 2 mega-pixel camera to boot. Don’t worry about the hassle of the SureType keyboard because the Curve has a QWERTY keyboard. The web browser is improved and now has a ‘desktop’ view – the trackball allowing you to move a mouse pointer to navigate around a website.
The only letdown is the lack of WI-FI or 3G to make browsing even more enjoyable. At 408hrs standby, battery life is sufficient for most BlackBerry users.
5 Stars

BlackBerry 8820

This is the upgrade to the BlackBerry 8800, with the welcome inclusion of WI-FI.
The buttons on the QWERTY keyboard are on the small side, though still tactile and easy to press. Though lacking 3G, wireless WI-FI browsing is satisfactory. Also lacking a camera, the 8820 is for business users who will be more than happy with a unit providing quick and easy instant email service. Battery life 529 hrs standby.
4 Stars

HTC Touch Diamond

Sure its got a touch screen and slick user interface, but is it an iPhone contender or pretender? Well considering you need to use a stylus to navigate it isn’t going to have Apple too worried. But, that doesn’t stop this being a damn good phone anyway especially if Windows Mobile is your preferred operating system. The TouchFlo 3D user interface is amazing, the latest Opera browser, and the 3.2 mega-pixel camera is sweet too. The slick black finish will have those around you taking second looks.
Stated battery life 285 hrs standby.
4 Stars

HTC Touch Cruise

The HTC Touch Cruise is the third handset in the series, and is a neat package. It features HTC’s TouchFlo interface (although not the 3D version) , and also gets GPS and HSDPA. The GPS receiver gets a fast fix using network data, and features TomTom Navigator software to get you from A to B. It features a 3.2 mega-pixel camera, and Windows Mobile applications. Not as slick as the Touch Diamond, but with 450 hrs battery standby, this phone is hard to pass up.
3 Stars

HTC Touch Dual

The Dual is the top option for those looking for a touch screen device with a keyboard that is user friendly. Although you still need a stylus for most functions, like browsing the menu, the slide out keyboard makes any kind of messaging a breeze. Seamless navigation with the TouchFlo interface, and Windows Mobile make this phone a suitable for business or pleasure. Featuring a 2 mega pixel camera and 250 hrs standby battery.
4 Stars

Google unveils G1; aimed straight at BlackBerry, iPhone

T-Mobile Tuesday unveiled its new Google-powered G1 mobile phone, the search giant’s long-awaited answer to Apple’s red-hot iPhone.

The G1, which has iPhone-like features – such as a touch-sensitive screen, Internet access and a music player – runs on Google’s new operating system, Android.

“This is the first real alternative to the iPhone in terms of a cool, touch-screen device,” said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Mobiledevicestoday.com. “It gives Google a chance to stake their claim in the mobile phone market.”

The new smartphone, made by Taiwan’s HTC Corp., goes on sale Oct. 22. It will cost $179 with a two-year T-Mobile contract – just below the iPhone’s starting price of $199. Users will have to pay $25 per month for data on top of their calling plans.

The phone has a dedicated button for Internet searches and will come packed with lots of Google applications like Google Maps with StreetView, Gmail and YouTube.

“This basically takes Google services and makes them mobile in a very big way,” Gartenberg said.

Unlike the iPhone, the G1 slides open to expose a full keyboard, which could attract heavy e-mail users. The phone also adds a trackball – something like the one on some of RIM’s Blackberry devices – for navigation.

It also comes pre-loaded with software that connects users to Amazon.com’s music store, giving them access to 6 million songs, and further pitting the device against Apple’s iPhone and its iTunes service.

But whether it’s got the right stuff to knock out the iPhone, iPod and Mac-maker, which sold a million of its latest version of the iPhone in the first weekend that it was out, remains to be seen, analysts said.

“It’s not necessarily all that different from what’s out in the marketplace right now,” said Lance Ulanoff, editor in chief of PC Magazine.

A large number of players in the mobile phone market may make it tough for Google to grab a big piece of the pie, Ulanoff said.

AT&T will launch the GSM version of the HTC Touch Pro

AT&T will launch the GSM version of the HTC Touch Pro on November 11th under the brand name Fuze.

The device will feature Windows Mobile 6.1, VGA resolution touch display, TouchFLO 3D with AT&T customizations, quadband GSM/EDGE, triband HSDPA with support for Japanese/Korean sub-bands, Wi-Fi radio, simultaneous voice/data, 512MB internal memory with microSDHC expansion slot, push to talk, 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and Video Share support, Bluetooth with stereo audio support, GPS transceiver with A-GPS support, and support for AT&T services (Mail, IM, Music, CV, Navigator)

Pricing is expected to be set at $499.99 with No Commitment, $424.99 with 1 year agreement, $374.99 with 1 year agreement and $50 mail-in rebate, $349.99 with 2 year agreement, and $299.99 with 2 year agreement and $50 mail-in rebate.