It took sometime before I actually got around to purchasing a mobile phone, one reason I am still trying to assimilate WINDOWS XP. I started with a Motorola m3788. I soon found its size awkward and not suited to my needs. I needed a small phone mainly for emergency outgoing phone calls in and around town. After some discussion with my mum she surprised me with a Siemens A65 for Christmas, I had hoped to purchase my own phone for the new tax year. It's about a third of the size of the Motorola and fits comfortably into a shirt or jacket pocket.

Mine arrived in a large red box about 2"x 6"x 10". Rather larger than the phone, I wonder why. Mine was carrying the Virgin logo (my choice of network provider - you can choose several). The box said made in China.

General features.
4096 colour screen, downloadable polyphonic ringtones, multimedia messaging service (mms), triband (compatible with any other network in the world).

Inside the box, 3 booklets with information on how to operate & set up your mobile. Hands free earpiece and the phone. The booklets are:

2. I have started with a PAYG scheme the second booklet covers this. It suggests registering at Virgins website and generally goes into more detail concerning the operation and maintenance of the phone. This is also produced by Virgin. Registering at the Virgin website is useful, here you can gather information about your phone (usage & cost (itemised)), pay your bills, and ask questions.

Clicking the menu icon brings up the menu denoted with 9 icons; you navigate this using a control panel in the centre of the phone. With you can access the:
PHONE BOOK - this allows to you to enter telephone numbers, email addresses and assign each to a particular group (family, VIP. etc). Useful for sending texts and dialling numbers automatically, A CALLS RECORD section where a record all incoming and outgoing calls are kept, this also includes a feature displaying the duration of a call and the charges. CAMERA, SET-UP section for setting the clock, security and other operations with for the mobile. An EXTRAS section to set the alarm clock, calculator, stop watch etc. An envelope denoting the section for text messages both picture and text, these can be prepared off line and stored. It also uses T9 an intelligent text entry system, which deduces correct words from individual key entries. You can send MMS (pictures and sound) to a mobile or email address and SMS for ordinary text. There are facilities for voice mail and Virgin offer these free. At the bottom a plug for an earpiece (hands free) and a camera facility.

I got a good deal with my mobile from Virgin for £29.99 I got the phone and £10 worth of credit. Basically the mobile calls cost 15p a minute, text cost 10p (3p to others on the Virgin network). The phone is probably a little out of date but will suit me for use about town & emergencies (emergency phone calls free). It is also light weight and small. After a few days I started to feel more confident with its use. Any text messages I tend to prepare offline before hand. The ring tone is not to loud and the whole phone vibrates at the same time. I have not had time to try the games or check out the selection of ring tones yet. Connecting to the Virgin network when trying to dial takes sometime; this probably reflects the provider rather than the Siemens. The Siemens instruction manual is a little complicated to use so I have not got the enhanced WAP facilities up and running. All in all not a bad mobile for start up and use in the UK and probably the WU. Updates to follow.