- 2G
2G phones are digital phones
- 3.5 mm Audio jack
Standard sized audio jack for listening on headphones.
- 3G or UMTS
Works in UMTS frequency channels 800/850/1900/2100 or 850/1700/1900/2100 MHz
- Autofocus
This phone has an autofocus function allowing you to take pictures without the need to focus
- Bluetooth
Bluetooth allows users to pair with other Bluetooth devices. This allows a wireless connection to a Bluetooth headset or carkit so that you can carry out a conversation without the need to hold your handset. Particularly useful for conversing whilst driving.
- Built-in handsfree
You can use this phone's built-in speaker to listen to incoming or outgoing calls and music handsfree.
- Calendar
This phone has an organiser which includes a Calendar
- Camera
Almost all mobile phones now come with a built in camera and their quality is increasing to rival many stand alone point and shoot cameras. For example, the HTC Desire HD has an 8 megapixel camera, which enables you to take great photos, on the go.
Take a look through the mobile phone deals we have by camera quality or feature:
8 megapixel cameras
5 megapixel cameras
Image stabilizer
Flash
- Document viewer
Allows you to view Documents
- EDGE for high speed data access
High speed data access
- Email
This phone is capable of sending and receiving email
- Face detection
Software in a mobile phone that recognises faces and adjusts the photo accordingly
- Flash
This phone has a camera with an in-built flash
- FM Radio
Allows you to tune into FM Radio channels, the headset is used as the antenna.
- Full keyboard
A complete QWERTY "typewriter" keyboard as found on a regular PC keyboard.
- Game
This phone has games
- GPRS
Stands for General Packet Radio System. This basically allows you to browse internet websites using your phone. GPRS is mainly used for text based information - getting football results, checking train timetables, reading the news etc. GPRS is not bad at downloading pictures, however it is slower than 3G. You can use GPRS to received and send Multimedia messages such as a text with a picture.
It is advisable to choose a 3G handset for decent download speeds of videos and pictures rather than GPRS, however GPRS is pretty good for text based information and pictures with lower definition.
- GPS navigation
Sofware that interacts with the Global Positioning Satellite system for pin-point route-finding anywhere in over 100 countries.
- HSCSD
High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD) is an enhancement to Circuit Switched Data, the original data transmission mechanism of the GSM mobile phone system, which is four times faster than GSM, with data rates up to 38.4 Kbps.
- Instant messaging
Instant messaging (often abbreviated simply to IM) offers real-time communication.
- Internet
You can browse the Internet using your phone. The speed of browsing is dependent on the handset in question for example if the phone is 3G then your browsing speed will be significantly higher than a GPRS phone.
- Java compatible
This phone is Java compatible
- Memory expandable via MicroSD card
This allows you to expand the phone's memory using MicroSD cards. MicroSD cards are available in various sizes, the most popular being 1GB or 2GB which can hold thousands of songs and hundreds of pictures.
- Micro USB
Smaller USB, requires an adapter to convert to normal sized USB, this is normally provided with the phone
- Motion sensor
A feature enabling you to tip the screen to move a cursor (or game item) around the viewing/playing area.
- MP3 Player
The phone includes an MP3 player which allows you to play and store music. Works in a similar fashion to normal MP3 players in that you can upload Music onto the phone's memory or onto an external memory stick (size of memory slot dependent on phone). Once the music is loaded you can listen to it either on the phone's speakers or using a pair of headphones that is compatible with the handset.
- MP3 Ringtone
You can choose an MP3 song from your MP3 player on your phone and set this as your ring tone on this phone
- MP4
MPEG4 is most commonly used to store digital and digital video streams, including those defined by MPEG. It can also be used to store other data such as still images. MPEG-4 Part 14 allows streaming over the Internet and carries an officiall filename extension of .mp4, thus the container format is often referred to simply as MP4.
- Multimedia Service MMS
Allows you to send and receive picture messages
- Quadband
- 850 MHz (U.S./Canada/Latin America/Brazil (Only the carrier Vivo)
- 900 MHz (Europe/Brazil/Asia (ex Japan and S. Korea))
- 1800 MHz (Europe/Brazil)
- 1900 MHz (U.S./Canada/Latin America)
- Slide phone
This phone has a slide design
- SMS - text messages
Short message service - allows you to send and receive texts
- Social Network Integration
With the take-off of Social Network sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, this feature will bring you a variety of services that may include live updates and multiple accounts being merged into one page for ease of use. For exact details of what services are provided check the description for the phone you are considering.
- Solid Bar
This is a solid bar design phone
- Stereo speakers
Plays music in stereo
- Symbian OS
Symbian is an operating system (OS) designed specifically for smartphones. Mostly used by Nokia handsets, it is currently maintained by Accenture. With Nokia now tied into a deal with Microsoft, its phones are now migrating over to the Windows Mobile Operating System.
These mobile phone deals below all use the Symbian OS.
- T9 Predictive Text
You can select predictive text on this phone
- Touch sensitive
This phone has touch sensitive keys
- Vibra alert
This function causes the phone to vibrate to alert the user than someone is trying to get in touch. Users sometimes use this function when they are in meetings instead of their ringer.
- Video calling
This phone has a video calling function. When calling someone that also has a video phone, you will be able to see the person if you are in 3G coverage.
- Video player
Plays videos
- Video recorder
Records videos
- Visual radio
Visual Radio is a Nokia-specific service intended to enhance traditional FM radio by adding interactive content over the mobile phone network. Data can include images and text - supplying listeners with Visual Radio handsets with extra data including news, music, travel, sport and extras.
- Voice Command
You can set certain voice commands which are then recognised by your phone such as "call home", "call [girlfriend's name]" etc.
- Voice memo
You can save a voice memo on this phone. This is useful if something springs to mind and you son't want to forget it. You can also use the voice memo function to record a small conversation.
- WAP 2.0
Wireless Application Protocol, allows you to browse text based Internet sites
- Wi-Fi
Allows you to connect to wireless internet connections that are available in some public places such as airports and cafes
