The best smartphones of 2008

Since their launch onto the mobile phone market just a few years ago, smartphones have come on in leaps and bounds. Now offering more features than ever before, and to a higher specification than ever before, never have mobile consumers had it so good. 2008 offered up a bumper crop of brand new designs and we were there to pick out the best for you to choose from.

Nokia E71 In the smartphone world, we all know that smaller is better, and so the Nokia E71 has become an instant favourite. Its slim design is the thinnest available, which is impressive when you consider just how many features are packed in to this.

Not only is this smartphone good to look at, it also has an ease of use that puts others to shame. The operating system with the E71 is the Symbian S60, so you know you are getting a powerful piece of equipment too.

HTC Touch Pro The familiar HTC TouchFlo 3D interface makes this a joy to use, allowing for multitouch use too. Operating with Windows Mobile 6.1, it is easy to use, flexible and allows for a lot of customisation. Crammed with the usual features including everything you need for great internet access, both Wi-Fi and 3G.

For those who prefer a QWERTY keyboard, this model has a slide out keyboard for easier emailing, blogging and texting. The slide out facility does make this a little bulkier than some other smartphones on the market, but the difference is marginal. It more than makes up for it with its ease of use, allowing you to type away for hours without any discomfort. The screen itself is bright and clear, and the touch screen allows for multitouch functionality.

T-Mobile G1 This is the model all internet savvy users will flip for. The first smartphone to utilise Android technology, it really is not just geared up for the internet, but designed and built with the internet at its core.

Some may say it is a little too internet heavy, but we were blown away by its superfast speeds and efficiency. Not a crash in sight, even when operating multiple applications simultaneously, we cannot wait to see where the future of Android systems will take us.

Blackberry Bold The Blackberry Bold was launched after much anticipation, and it was well worth the wait. A thoughtfully-designed improvement on previous Blackberry models, this unit is weighted and sized just right to tick all of the ergonomic smartphone boxes.

As you would expect from the latest Blackberry device, the design oozes quality. The screen is the brightest on the market, ensuring that all videos and pictures look fantastic. Those who need to multitask will be impressed by the capabilities of the Bold. It can easily operate multiple programmes without even the hint of a delay. Just what you want from this reliable and quality-driven brand.

About the Author:
Vodafone offer a huge range of phones and price plans. If you like smart phones, you will love the Samsung Jet with its fast internet for express browsing and downloads.