The 3G NEC e808y is the slightly smaller non-clam-shell version of the NEC 808. It’s large screen is ideal for viewing pictures and video. The NEC e808y also boasts a ‘Qwerty’ keyboard for easy messaging.

With a funky bar design, the e808Y offers two integrated cameras for making video calls and making videos and still images. The large colour screen, QWERTY keyboard and 16 channel polyphonic ring tunes make it perfect for users to maximise their enjoyment when making video calls. Use it to find your nearest local services, such as cash-points and restaurants. The e808Y’s messaging services include SMS, MMS, video messaging and email.

The e808Y has a bizarre quirk. The speaker and microphone are located on the side of the device, and to get the best results from voice calls, you have to turn the phone sideways (though the volume still tends to be uniformly low). Alternatively, you can use the supplied corded stereo headphones (since there’s no Bluetooth or infrared, wireless isn’t really an option).

The e808Y retains the original model’s (e808) fairly hefty 64MB of dynamic memory.

Key features:

• Qwerty keyboard
• dual-mode 3G/GMS connection
• GPRS
• WAP 2.0
• 65,536-colour 2.4-inch LCD screen (132 x 162 pixels)
• dual front/back digital cameras, 2x digital zoom
• video calling and messaging
• 64MB dynamic memory
• USB connection
• 3 hours’ talk time, 70 hours’ standby
• dimensions: 75 x 143 x 20mm
• weight: 190g

Another flip style clam phone the NEC e808 looks like something out of space. In it’s stylish shell it offers advanced business and entertainment performance. Allowing for easy use of email, video, pictures or games it has a large colour display and keyboard. As you’d expect it has a video and audio recorder allwing you to share moments with a friend or colleague using MMS. If that’s not enough it’s intergrated videocameras make video calling a snip.

Get news and events as they happen by downloading video and audio files on the move. e808’s dual mode functionality allows flexible connectivity and download speed of up to 384 kbps.

Key features:

• Video Calling Multimedia messaging (video, photo & audio)
• Video download Media play (video & audio)
• Email Qwerty keyboard
• Games supported by Java technology
• 64Mb memory USB connectivity

Full specification

The e616 is NEC’s replacement for the e606 which was the first NEC’s 3G handset. Like the other NEC 3G phones, the e616 supports the full range of popular video mobile services - video calling, video messaging and downloading video clips. In addition, it also supports the GPS (Global Positioning System) enhanced features such as directions, maps and traffic reports.

It has the largest screen size of any of the current NEC 3G phones, and benefits from a Bluetooth wireless headset connection. Other nice features are the generous internal memory and the option to add additional memory sticks. The phone supports Bluetooth, but only for connecting to a wireless headset.

The e616 has 2 integrated video cameras - one mounted on the front, the other on the back panel. Strangely, the camera resolution is only CIF format (100,000 pixels) which is lower than most other camera phones, although the camera does have a built-in light for taking pictures or videos in low light.

The battery life of the e616 is particularly poor, although the standard battery can be swapped for an extended battery which does improve things somewhat. The phone also has some reliability problems, as you can see from reading the consumer reviews below. Overall this isn’t a phone that we recommend, and it certainly doesn’t rate as highly as NEC’s cheaper e228, even though it has the benefit of GPS and a Bluetooth headset option.

Summary of features:

• Supports all 3’s video mobile services, video calling, video messaging and download video clips
• Integrated front and back CIF cameras with 2 x digital zoom, built in light and torch
• Display: 65,000 colours, 240 x 176 pixels
• MP3 player
• Voice recorder / Call memo to record conversations
• Multimedia messaging (send photos, videos and text)
• Predictive (T9) text input
• Java games
• 40-voice polyphonic ringtones
• Assisted GPS (Global Positioning System) for enhanced location based services
• Bluetooth wireless connectivity (headset & dial-up networking profile only)
• Connectivity: USB
• Organiser features: Calculator, Currency Converter, Scheduler, Notepad, To Do List, Clock, Alarm
• Internal memory: 19 Mbytes
• Optional memory card up to 128 Mbytes (Sony MemoryStick Duo)
• Synchronisation of data with a PC
• WAP, GPRS class 8
• Fast 3G data transmission: 384 kbps download / 64 kbps upload
• Size: 103 x 53 x 26 mm
• Weight: 131g
• Talktime: 1.5 hours
• Battery standby: 2 days

Full specification

The NEC 338 is the smallest, lightest 3G handset currently available in Europe. Available in black and silver, this stylish new clamshell handset weighs just 113g and measures 93.8 x 47.1 x 23.3mm. The phone includes an MP3/AAC player with stereo headset support.

By taking a no-frills approach, NEC has created a 3G phone for the masses. At first glance, you’d have a hard time guessing that it was a 3G phone, which is itself an achievement. The only clue is the rotateable camera built into the hinge. The main body is split into two with a silver fascia with black plastic towards the top. The sections are separated by a small horizontal light set in a strip that flashes when there’s an incoming call, and glows when charging. There’s no external display, a feature that’s clearly a casualty of the cost-cutting approach. This means that you have to open the phone if you want to see who’s calling.

To create such a small phone, NEC has had to be ruthless with the feature set. There’s no Bluetooth, which means that you can’t enjoy the freedom of a wireless headset. There is a wired headset included in the box, however, which is rather retro. There’s no memory card expansion slots. Luckily, there’s a decent 17MB of memory built-in so you can get a fair amount of content on there. There’s also a USB cable so you can synchronise with Outlook, and transfer the clips that you’ve downloaded and paid for off the phone to keep. However, it’s only available as a £10 optional accessory.

The e338 improves on NEC’s previous 3G flip-phones in a number of ways: an integrated handsfree speaker makes video calling so much easier and battery life has been improved enormously. Yet at the same time, the e338 still has the same poor quality camera as the e616, there’s no Bluetooth™ support, and why no memory card?

The e338 may be the lightest 3G phone yet, but functionally it misses out in a number of ways.

Summary of features:

• Display: 65536 colours, 220 x 176 pixels
• Integrated rotating digital camera (CIF resolution) plus video camera
• Video calling, video and audio streaming, downloading and messaging
• MP3 / AAC music player
• 40-voice polyphonic ringtones
• Voice recorder
• Java games
• Speakerphone
• Predictive T9 text input
• 3G data & GPRS (supports data upload of 64kbps and download of 384 kbps)
• Memory: 18 Mbytes
• Connectivity: USB
• Stereo/Mono headset support
• Address book (500 contacts)
• Calculator, Currency converter, Scheduler, Notepad, To-Do, Clock and alarm
• Silent vibrate alert
• Size: 94 x 47 x 23 mm
• Weight: 113g
• Talktime: 200 minutes
• Battery standby: 116 hours

Full specification

The NEC e313 is a good value 3G phone that supports video calling and video messaging. Other good features of the phone are the exceptionally large colour screen, polyphonic ringtones, voice recorder and MP3 player.

Although marketed as a budget phone, it has a lot of features that you might not expect, such as an expansion slot for additional memory, and even the internal memory is generous at 19 Mbytes. The finish of the phone is nice, and as 3G phones go, this one is slim and relatively lightweight, although at 126g it’s heavier than nearly all 2G phones. Overall it’s good phone for those wanting to try out what 3G has to offer.

The main issue with this phone, as with all 3G phones is the battery life - expect to charge the phone every couple of days, or daily if you make much use of the video calling feature.

Summary of features:

• Supports all 3’s video mobile services: video calling, video messaging & download video clips
• Rotating video camera for video calling, recording short videos and taking photos (VGA resolution - 640 x 480 pixels, digital zoom)
• Display: 65,536 colours, 220 x 176 pixels
• MP3 player
• Voice recorder / Call memo to record conversations
• Multimedia messaging (send photos, videos and text)
• Predictive (T9) text input
• e-mail
• 40-voice polyphonic ringtones
• Java games
• Synchronisation of data with a PC
• Phonebook (500 entries)
• Organiser features: Calculator, Currency Converter, Scheduler, Notepad, To Do List, Clock, Alarm
• WAP, GPRS class 8
• Connectivity: USB
• Fast 3G data transmission: 384 kbps download / 64 kbps upload
• Internal memory: 19 Mbytes
• Optional memory card up to 128 Mbytes (Sony MemoryStick Duo)
• Size: 147 x 64 x 21 mm
• Weight: 126g
• Talktime: 2 hours
• Battery standby: 3.5 days

Full Specification

This is the basic 3G handset from NEC. The 3G NEC e228 is a great value slim and lightweight 3G video mobile phone with a built-in digital camera for easy Video Calling and Video/Photo messaging. Even though basic, apart from standard video calls it offers location features via GPS (as most of the other NEC 3G handsets do), an MP3 player, POP and IMAP email clients, voice and video recording. Here are the features:

MMS GPRS Calculator MP3 Player GPS enabled Dual mode 2G/3G 384 kbps data capable Video calling Video recorder Video playback Voice recorder Java games Currency converter POP3 and IMAP4 email Audio/video streaming Polyphonic ring tones

Full specification