Top 10 mobiles for work and play

Samsung's first Windows Mobile device certainly takes its looks from the LG design school. Like the Renoir, there are minimal buttons, but it also plays home to a stunning touch screen.

Samsung has terrifically skinned the Windows Mobile interface to make it more bearable with the essential business applications still present and correct. A five megapixel camera, GPS and a top-class media player (with DivX and Xvid support) goes a fair way to top up the play features, but the Windows interface makes it a little slow at times in comparison to Samsung's other business-ready device, the i8510.

HTC Touch Pro

HTC leads its class in the business market and that's no mean feat. And the HTC Touch Pro is a handset that certainly mixes business with pleasure.

Document viewing and editing? Check. Push email? Check. Fast internet? HSDPA sir. To top it off, there's a slide out Qwerty keyboard. So, what's in it for those looking for a little something for the weekend and out of hours? A 3.2-megapixel camera is nothing revolutionary, but with TV-out support, you can view your photos on your widescreen plasma. Of course, there's also a stereo radio with RDS and GPS too.

HTC Touch Diamond

The Touch Pro may be impressive, but the original Touch does well too. There's no Qwerty keyboard, but this handset does have stunning looks. HSDPA and Wi-Fi make an appearance, as does Pocket Office and GPS. And, this handset also office the kind of out-of-office gaming fun the Renoir does with its motion gaming feature. You'll have to get used to not being able to view your photos from the 3.2-megapixel camera or videos on your TV mind, as sadly you'll find no TV out support here.

Something for everyone

The market has never been so bustling so we're confident you'll be spoilt for choice regardless of what you're looking for. Whether you're in the mood for something that focuses on business with push email, TV out for video presentations and document editing software, or are hunting for a mobile that is a combination of all of these features and brimming full of entertainment, you won't go home empty handed.

This is even more apparent now that open platforms such as Symbian and Windows Mobile (not to mention Apple and Android) mean you can download every application you could ever want or need on a phone.

At the rate things are moving, we doubt it'll be long before all mobiles are created equal in terms of features with the only differentiating element lying in the software interface and hardware design. Watch this space.

Clare Hopping
Freelance writer

Clare is the founder of Blue Cactus Digital, a digital marketing company that helps ethical and sustainability-focused businesses grow their customer base.

Prior to becoming a marketer, Clare was a journalist, working at a range of mobile device-focused outlets including Know Your Mobile before moving into freelance life.

As a freelance writer, she drew on her expertise in mobility to write features and guides for ITPro, as well as regularly writing news stories on a wide range of topics.