Please help me choose my next phone

[Guest mattscholey]

Hi,

For nearly a year now I have owned an SPV E100, which means that upgrade time is coming very soon (August 10th), and I've started to think about what phone/offer I'm going to upgrade to. Since this time last year, what I want from a phone has changed hugely, and although I have had a great time with my E100 over most of the year, it no longer suits my needs (or rather desires) as well as it might. I have looked at some of the phones available, and have a good knowledge of the phones coming out soon (I've been reading the MoDaCo front page all year), but I'm not sure which phone is really the one for me, and so am looking for your good advice!

You can suggest any phone you want. It doesn't have to be out on August 10th (I don't mind waiting a month or so but the sooner the better). As Orange now offer far better deals to new connections than I got last year, I'll probably be starting a new contract rather than upgrading, and this means (why don't Orange realise this) that I'm not tied to Orange, and so can get a phone no matter what network it's on. It can be on any smartphone OS or none at all if it has the features listed below. So all suggestions are welcome.

The features that I am looking for in my next phone are:

1. Reliable, easy to use telephone

The most important function of all is also the most basic. I want to be able to quickly and easily and reliably make phone calls and send SIMS.

2. Camera

The feature I really miss in my E100 is the lack of a built-in camera. I want the camera to have photos to keep, download to PC, and make prints, not for MMS, and so megapixel and flash is obviously a bonus, although VGA is still satisfactory.

The phone must also support video capture, and obviously the longer, clearer, and higher res the better!

3. Stylish and not too big

The phone must look good, and be a 'cool' phone to own. Size doesn't matter so much as looking good does, but I don't really want an obsessively huge brick.

4. Multimedia

I do not require MP3 playback as I have an iPod, which I am now bringing to school, etc, and so do not need a phone to do this. What I want from a phone is fun multimedia functions like video playback, streaming, etc. Basically, fun things with audio and video will be great to have in my pocket (not really sure exactly what I want from this other than video playback).

5. Games

Always fun, but not vital. Great for showing off the phone, and my friends like to play on them.

6. Data

Web, wap, instant messenging. After a year of having all this in my pocket thanks to MS, I no longer really want it, although I might miss it. I only use 1MB or less a month anyway, so it's not really that important. Wi-fi might be nice, although I wouldn't pay more than £50 for a card (how much are they)?

So what phone do you think is the one for me? I really want 1-4, but 5+6 are very nice extras.

Right now I'm thinking of either mpx220 or Nokia 7610, but I'm really undecided, and so suggestions for anything else would be great. BTW I much prefer the physical design of the 7610 to the mpx220 which looks a bit boring.

All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

[Guest blewer]

Matt,

I think the MPx will suit you to the ground, and me to that matter :D

built-in camera

Stylish

Multimedia

Games

Wi-fi

Has all you're looking for and is seriously sexy.

Could be a little on the large side but the power of a pocket PC and phone will make up for it.

Not sure when it's out, but start saving now, could be quite expensive, although no one knows yet