Mobile phone manufacturers are constantly upping their game with the latest touchscreen technologies. Even basic handsets now feature large touch screens; and with increased technology comes an enhanced user experience.  Samsung has recently released two exciting touchscreen handsets into the market.

First up is the Samsung Galaxy Portal which is currently only available on T-Mobile and is one of the first affordable handsets to run on the Android operating system. Previously known as the Galaxy Lite or Spica, the device comes with a powerful 800MHz processor to access all the phones many features on offer without slowing down. Perfect for business users it supports HSDPA and WiFi for fast web browsing when you are out of the office and email client to keep you in touch wherever you are as well as GPS and Bluetooth connectivity.  With expandable memory up to 32GB via a microSD card this Galaxy Portal I5700 is full of superb features in a stylish phone.

The second device to come from the Samsung camp is the Samsung Wave (S8500) which is the first device to use the Bada open mobile platform. Part of a new series of handsets that aim to suit every lifestyle the Wave offers a fantastic 3.3inch ‘Super AM-OLED’ display which gives crystal clear results for movies, photos and web browsing. The Wave has a 1GHz processor so applications run quickly and smoothly and with 3D graphics it offers a fantastic user experience. Not only that the Samsung has a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and HD video recorder to capture those special moments wherever you are.

Mobilesplease compares all the latest Samsung handsets to get you the best deal.

Every month Mobilesplease gives a way a fantastic phone for one lucky winner!

This month, the super cool Nokia X3 is up for grabs! The X3 is a stylish music phone with attitude. Created purely for entertainment purposes the X3 has a great range of features for music lovers including stereo speakers a 3.5mm audio jack, built in FM radio and dedicated music keys for quick and easy access to your favourite tunes. Not only is it a great media player, the X3 has a 3.2 megapixel camera and photos can be uploaded to Flickr or Ovi to share with friends. The device comes with a 2GB microSD card and can be expanded up to 16GB.

You can enter as many times as you like… the more times you enter the more chances you have of winning.

For your chance to win this fantastic phone, simply fill in the form below for your free entry, then enter as many times as you want to increase your chances of winning by either texting MOBILE to 84010^† or calling 09066 33 00 59^*.

Remember the more times you enter the more chances you have of winning this fantastic phone. The competition ends on the 31st March so enter now. Good Luck!

Vodafone – the world’s leading mobile phone telecommunications group have announced the ‘lowest-cost mobile phone on Earth’; the Vodafone 150. Aimed at the developing world and set to be initially launched in India, Turkey and eight African countries the 150 will be priced at a tiny $15!

With a predicted 5bn mobile phone owners by the end of 2010 and most of the growth coming from the developing world The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has said that demand has been driven by people using their phones to access banking and mobile health services. ITU secretary general Dr Hamadoun Toure said, SMS can be used to “deliver instructions on when and how to take complex medication such as anti-retrovirals or vaccines”.”It’s such a simple thing to do, and yet it saves millions of dollars,” he said.

The handset is very basic with a 1inch monochrome display, polyphonic ringtones and a built in torch. It is very useful however, with the ability to make phone calls, send and receive text messages and with a battery life of 16 days standby time the 150 is a practical and affordable phone.

The 150’s slightly more advanced sibling is the Vodafone 250 which will cost around $20. The colour screen is a little bit bigger at 1.45inches making it an understated but attractive looking device and there is also an FM radio on board.

Unfortunately these devices are set for developing countries so are unlikely to enter the UK market but if you are after a cheap and fuss free handset then the Nokia 1208 is a great alternative with a SIM free price of just £25.

With all eyes on Barcelona for the 2010 Mobile World Congress; day one has given the mobile phone world a lot to talk about and there is set to be a lot more exciting news throughout the week.

The top story to hit the headlines has come from computer giant Microsoft with the announcement of their Windows Mobile 7 (WinMo 7) platform which emphasises social networking and supports the popular multitouch feature.

Chief Executive of Microsoft Steve Ballmer said: “In a crowded market, filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience.

“Windows Phone 7 marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people’s lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences.”

Features and content on WinMo 7 is organised into ‘hubs’ so users can access either online or offline apps with ease within each category. Categories include

• People (social networking)
• Pictures (including both your online and saved albums)
• Games (including full access to your Xbox live profile and rankings)
• Music+Video
• Marketplace (a revamped version of Microsoft’s app store)
• Office (documents, agendas, calendars etc)

Unfortunately the new platform doesn’t allow for customization and Adobe have confirmed that there will be no Flash support. Other than that the Windows Phone 7 is a great leap in the right direction and we can’t wait to see a collaboration with HTC very soon!

Super Bowl viewers got a glimpse of the Motorola Devour on Sunday night in the hands of one of the most frequently Googled hollywood stars – Megan Fox. The advert cost an estimated $2 to $3 Million Dollars but went out to around 100 million viewers and was pretty entertaining!

The Motorola Devour will be available in the next few months and with the MotoBlur OS on top of a number of high spec features it is set to be a phone a popular device. The Devour features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard under the 3.1 inch touchscreen.

The highly user friendly Motoblur changes the very look and feel of the device compared with other Motorola devices, adding live streams of information onto the home screen through a series of custom widgets. Social network status updates, e-mail, and other messaging tools are all integrated into the desktop with a unique graphical look not seen in the standard Android OS. This feature is featured in the ad (below) with Fox to entertain all those Super Bowl fans.

Save £55 when purchasing the Samsung Genio QWERTY! Normally priced at £139.95, you can now save £55 with e2save using voucher code QWERTY55 at the checkout. The voucher code expires this Friday so order your fun and funky Genio Qwerty from Samsung now!

The Genio QWERTY is a BlackBerry-style messaging device aimed at text addicts! The entry level phone is simple and lightweight and features a 2.2 inch landscape screen and a full Qwerty keyboard for writing quick messages. The Genio Qwerty has a 2 megapixel camera, multimedia player and FM radio as well as a 3.5mm audio jack. This fun phone has a cartoon style user interface and supports GPRS, HSCSD and EDGE which allows users to check emails and browse the web. The Genio Qwerty comes with two back covers, one brightly coloured and one plain black one.

To get this great deal today follow this link.

With a number of exciting new phones on the horizon, I take a look at a select few that are set to make a mark on the mobile world!

Coming Soon Podcast

Sony Ericsson are continuing to expand their environmentally friendly GreenHeart range with their third QWERTY, Windows Mobile device – the Aspen. Sony Ericsson has described the new phone as “the business mobile phone with green credentials at its core” and it is certainly that; with the same user interface as the Xperia X1 and X2 and recycled materials used throughout the package.

The 2.4 inch touchscreen phone has the full package of connectivity options including WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and a 3.5mm audio jack. The QWERTY keyboard allows for fast messaging and viewing and editing Microsoft Office files is a breeze with one touch operation. Great for a business user ‘with a conscience’; the Aspen has a power saving mode, E-manual and an Eco mate application. There is also a decent media player, 3.2 megapixel camera and access to social networking sites for some fun out of the office! The interesting looking phone comes in Iconic Black and White Silver

The GreenHeart Aspen is set to be an affordable business phone when it released in the second quarter of 2010.

SIM only deals are fantastic if you love your existing phone but want to cut your monthly deals down significantly. They are also a great option for those who are unsure about committing to a contract for as long as 2 years as they can be cancelled with just a months notice.

As you are not in a contract you can leave if you are dissatisfied with the service or if you spot a better deal elsewhere.

An important factor when looking at SIM only deals is to be realistic with how many minutes and texts you actually use to ensure you don’t go over your allowance  and end up with a hefty bill!

All the major mobile networks now offer SIM only deals which is great as competition for the best deal has increased giving you a great range of SIM only options.

If you love to text then the Virgin Media Liberty SIM is a superb option with unlimited texts and 200 minutes for just £10 a month! Orange also offer a fantastic option if you use your phone for business with 1200 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited mobile internet!

To compare all the best SIM only deals follow this link. To refine your search you can select the network you want to be on, your minutes or text usage or how much you want to pay each month.