Join the mobile computing revolution

Down to business
For those who are less fond of multimedia and want a phone for managing emails and schedules then a smartphone is best. These are powerful phones, usually slightly larger than the average mobile, but with enough computing power to run your address book, email and day-to-day calendar, and are a good choice for someone looking to use their phone as a work tool as well as for chatting.

Screen size and multimedia effects are very much secondary to communication and applications. Travellers should pick a tri-band model that can make calls worldwide, and get the fastest connection available: 3G is the fastest, but not all of the UK is covered by the signal yet, so ask your chosen operator where its phones work. GPRS is slower than 3G, but still enables handsets to receive and send data without too much of a wait.

Being on top of email is what drives many people to buy a smartphone. Almost all are capable of dialling into a web-based email account. Hotmail, for example, has a mobile service where you can sign up to get email and instant messages sent to the handset via ordinary text messages that are charged at the usual text rate.

But smartphones are designed to link into business email systems too. If you want to link to work, then your phone's operating system becomes important. The majority of smartphones use either Symbian or Microsoft Mobile and you'll need to check with your office to see which is most compatible with what they've got. Once connected emails can be sent from the phone and they will appear to be coming from your work.

The phone can also synchronise diary appointments automatically with a desktop PC. You won't be able to handle large file attachments, but you will be in contact with the office wherever you go - something that may be an advantage or disadvantage.

The first Microsoft Mobile smartphone was the SPV from Orange, now in its third generation with the C500. This is an ideal phone for someone with an office running Microsoft software who wants a sensible smartphone that isn't not too bulky, but allows all the expected functions.

There is a colour screen, but it's too small for easy video viewing, and although music can be played on it, that's not its primary purpose.

If a Symbian phone is the desired option then more serious users should consider the Nokia 6680. This comes with the usual suite of email and office tools, but is slightly bulkier to accommodate twin video cameras and a larger screen.

The increased screen size and opportunity for video calls comes at the expense of battery life, but for the extra functions and ease of viewing a variety of data, it's a good choice for busy bodies.