Motorola MPx200

Another month another phone, right? Not in the case of the Motorola MPx200. While it may look like a standard clamshell mobile phone, flipping it open reveals a sparkly Microsoft Windows Mobile interface. The MPx200, you see, is the latest phone to use Microsoft's smartphone operating system. It cleverly combines the functions of a handheld computer with a standard mobile phone, so that you can synchronise all of your contacts, emails and appointments with your main PC, and carry only a single device around.

Where the MPx200 really wins brownie points is in its size - the clam-shell design means that it is similar in footprint to your average mobile but just a little thicker.

It has also been well designed for use with a PC, and comes with a USB port on the bottom. This means that you don't need any special data cables or a cradle to synchronise information. Even better, the MPx200 is charged by USB so you don't need a power cable. However, one is provided for when you're away from the PC.

Motorola has managed to up the ante on smartphone battery life and quotes five days of standby time and five hours of talk. This is in line with ordinary mobiles.

The phone comes with 32Mb of memory for storing data but you can expand this using the SD card slot. With 2Gb cards now available, you won't have to worry about running out of memory.

The screen is excellent and displays a really sharp image. Using the supplied copy of Internet Explorer, surfing the internet is a pleasure rather than a chore.

As it uses the Microsoft operating system you also get Pocket Outlook for email and MSN Messenger. There's plenty of software available too, including several amazing-looking games.

As a standard phone, there are no complaints either as there are plenty of features, such as GPRS for data and tri-band for use in the majority of other countries.

This is easily the best smartphone we've laid our hands on and it's only the lack of a camera that we can fault it on. Available from early October, the MPx200 carries a price tag that compares favourably with standard mobiles.

Contact: Orange 0800 801080
www.orange.co.uk