Looking for a wi-fi enabled handset - Advice?

[jacks_guitar]

It's contract renewal time and I am looking for a handset which allows me to check my gmail from anywhere around the house by running a browser and connecting to my 802.11g network. Firstly, is this possible?

If so, then I want as much cashback as possible and no T-mobile as they have dreadful coverage at my house.

So any ideas welcome.

Cheers,
David.

[derren]

Orange SPV M3100 althrough its more of a PDA but you can use it as a phone. I like mine

[euro]

I like my Nokia E61, runs TomTom too of course. Good deals for it on Vodafone business

[DeadKenny]

I have a Nokia N80, though it has a few niggles and is a bit bulky I find. WiFi works pretty well though. There are various VoIP options for it too, though not out of the box.

Nokia has a mapping app of their own too, which is free except for GPS navigation features which needs a subscription (GPS requires a bluetooth GPS unit also).

As for cashback, that's up to the deals you can find. No idea what's best now, but these gadgets are likely going to require a high tariff at their current value so bear that in mind. I found when I got mine, for the amount of calls I make it would cost me more on the tariffs even with what cashback I could find than just buying the phone sim free. I mainly wanted a smartphone that can be used like a mini-PDA, do surfing/email at home on WiFi and at hotspots, plus be a phone to receive calls mostly.

Bonus is I have an unlocked phone that isn't burdened with operator specific firmware that potentially locks out apps (rumour goes some may block VoIP apps) and takes longer to get firmware updates (important on the Symbian Nokia phones which tend to need updates ;)). Though I will say that if you want 3G on Orange you need to buy a branded contract phone to get the 3G sim, or get a PAYG 3G sim. In my experience though 3G is pretty redundant to me with the WiFi on it.

One thing I would say about cashbacks is avoid OneStopPhoneShop at all costs. Chances of you getting the cash back from them is slim, at least without a lot of argument. Loads of stuff in these forums, Google and here (http://www.consumerdeals.co.uk/onestopphoneshop.html) about them.

[jacks_guitar]

Thanks to all for the advice. The M3100 looks good but expensive. The Nokia options look interesting. The E61 is certainly useful but doesn't look enough like a phone for me. I can see 9 month cashback deals (on 18m) from Mobileshop for the N80 which I'm tempted by. DeadKenny - does the browser handle javascript and secuirty enabled pages (such as gmail) OK? Also, are there Skype ports available for Symbian?

[GregB]

Nokia E65 looks like a great phone and has Wi Fi

[DeadKenny]

DeadKenny - does the browser handle javascript and secuirty enabled pages (such as gmail) OK? Also, are there Skype ports available for Symbian?
JavaScript and secure pages (https) are fine. Haven't tried gmail but I've used it for online check-in on BA's web site which uses both, though the rendering was a bit quirky on that one. Most render pretty well though.

There are a number of Skype solutions I think. Check out Fring (http://www.fring.com/) in particular which supports Skype, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, plus SIP standards !

And it's free... for now (I fully expect this to become a commercial product or be snapped up by an operator once it comes out of beta :().

[darftblerk]

Nokia 9300i ?

[Pazman2k]

Gmail works perfectly on my n80..

[jlcraig]

I've got the 02 orbit (HTC3300) and the wifi is good although you may need to fiddle with the registry to force it to pick Wifi in preference to GPRS (obviously the telcos like having GPRS as default!). Don't get the T mobile version (compact III I think) as this has been hobbled by T mobile and ships without the wifi harware in the phone.