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Speed up with a 3G mobile phone

Third-generation handsets offer video calls, music downloads and streaming services. They're generally a bit bigger than their 2G cousins but offer a whole lot more multimedia functionality.

Staff Writers
2 min read

Third-generation handsets offer video calls, music downloads and streaming services. They're generally a bit bigger than their 2G cousins but offer a whole lot more multimedia functionality.

NEC N600i

NEC's N600i is a 3G clamshell with a 1.3-megapixel camera that supports a wireless Internet service called i-mode to access to sites such as eBay, Whereis and Citibank from your phone.

  • The good
  • High-speed i-Mode access with video content
  • Detailed menu options
  • Large screen
  • Nifty external display
  • 1.3-megapixel camera takes sharp photos
  • The bad
  • Too many navigational buttons (13)
  • User interface is complex
  • Waiting period for some functions and network access
  • Inexplicable i-Mode errors
  • Slightly bulky build

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Motorola V1050

Exclusive to Vodafone live! with 3G, the Motorola V1050 is a matte black handset with a 1.3-megapixel camera, a 262K-colour screen and an MP3 player. It also supports up to 256MB of removable memory.

  • The good
  • 1.3-megapixel camera
  • Stylish -- if you like black
  • External colour display
  • Nice loud speaker
  • The bad
  • Stubby antennae
  • Only available through Vodafone

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Motorola RAZR V3x

Based on the design of the Motorola RAZR V3, the slightly thicker V3x is a 3G-enabled handset with a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and an MP3 player.

  • The good
  • Two-way video calls and streaming
  • Large internal keypad with clear vivid images
  • Robust and stylish
  • Decent audio playback
  • The bad
  • Camera image quality very average unless in strong daylight
  • Disappointing battery life
  • Fiddly menu design

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Sharp 903

Australia's first 3-megapixel camera phone, the Sharp 903, is available exlusively on Vodafone's 3G network. It comes with Bluetooth, a 260K-colour LCD and 8MB of internal memory.

  • The good
  • Great camera
  • Superb screen
  • Easy to use
  • MiniSD cards are easy to swap, thanks to side-mounted slot
  • The bad
  • Large and heavy
  • Music quality is poor
  • Too little internal and bundled miniSD memory

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Samsung Z510

The days of the 3G brick are numbered, with Samsung's Z510 joining the Motorola v3x in the slim and sexy category.

  • The good
  • Slimmest 3G phone around
  • Dazzling 262K-colour display
  • Comprehensive, straightforward PC software package
  • The bad
  • Memory not expandable
  • Camera only 1.3MP
  • One port handles charging, PC synch and headphones

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