Mobile phones just keep getting cleverer. Gone are the days when they were designed simply for making calls. Nowadays they can be diaries, gaming machines, data exchange devices and, of course, style accessories.

Siemens tries to cover all these bases with the M50 while adding a new twist for good measure.

The twist is that the M50 is Java-enabled. This means you'll be able to download games or applications to the phone once Carphone Warehouse, Siemens's partner, gets its Java website up and running. The site was unavailable when we reviewed the M50 but should be accessible soon. I>Flow-boarding, a surfing simulator, which is quite good fun.

There is more to the M50 than its ability to download games and applications, though. Its support for GPRS makes it suitable for data communications and pictures and sounds can be embedded into messages.

A nice tweak is the ability to attach a picture to the phonebook entry it displays when an incoming call is made. There is a WAP browser and the seven-line display makes it easier to read WAP pages than some phones.

As for design, the buttons have a good, positive feel and the two menu buttons are supplemented by a rocker for up and down movement through the menus. You can configure the numberpad keys as shortcut buttons so when you press and hold one, you jump to a preset place. This makes it really easy to start a text message or see your to-do list.

The phone comes in a blue-grey finish and can be personalised with clip-on fascias. It claims 260 hours of standby and six hours talktime per charge.

The memory can accommodate up to 500 contacts and there is an organiser complete with calendar, alarm list, task and notes.

The M50 is a small and light phone, and typical of what we'd expect from Siemens. With prices starting at £20 for contract phone and £120 for pre-pay users, it's good value to boot.

DETAILS

Price:
With contract - £20
Pre-pay - £120

Contact: Siemens 08705 334411
www.my-siemens.co.uk