Review: Nokia 6210 Navigator satellite-navigation device

On first impressions Nokia's 6210 Navigator seems like just another phone. Its glossy black front and the slide mechanism for revealing the numeric keypad and answering calls are nothing out of the ordinary. Its other features - Bluetooth, audio and video playback capabilities, simple office applications and a 3.2-megapixel camera with flash - are also found on countless other phones.

Nestling in the Navigator's menu, however, lies the icon to access the new Nokia Maps 2.0 application. This uses the phone's built-in Assisted-GPS capability to provide both in-car and - usefully - pedestrian guidance.

The GPS signal was consistently strong and voice directions and maps were accurate and easy to follow, despite having to use the relatively small (2.4in) screen.

Voice directions aren't used in pedestrian mode. Instead you are guided by a large arrow and a trail of dots which plots progress to ensure you are heading in the right direction.

The Navigator allows you to locate local amenities and points of interest - very handy in unfamiliar surroundings. However, keeping an eye on the screen while walking was tricky in a bustling city centre.

In terms of call quality, the Navigator didn't lack volume but could have been crisper. Battery life was good for a couple of days of continuous use, though predictably, we found that using the GPS function drained it more quickly.

The phone's MicroSD memory card slot makes it possible to add European maps or to add storage memory up to a maximum of 8GB.

We were less than impressed by the quality of the phone's body, which had already picked up scratches during a week of careful use.

There were some usability issues too - when open, the phone is top-heavy, making text messaging on the large keypad tiring. The dedicated menu and cancel buttons are also annoyingly prominent and consequently too easily pressed in error.

If you can live with these flaws, though, this phone should ensure you are never lost again.