Camera-ready Nokia 7650 takes multimedia services to new level

I have a confession to make. Over the weekend, I became an MMS addict. Put a hot new Nokia mobile phone in my hand with a free high-speed connection to CSL's new MMS service and I am happily spamming everyone with snapshots of me.

I was a little sceptical about MMS.

I first saw a monochrome application of it at Cebit 2000, using a Spectronic phone. Spectronic is a small Swedish company that was the first in Europe to produce a mobile phone with an integrated camera, capable of sending e-mail attachments. However, the display was poor, and you are better off using a digital camera and then sending the images from a PC.

However, technology has advanced in the two years since and the cool functions on the Nokia 7650 would be persuasive enough for many in Hong Kong to sign up for MMS. If you are an avid messaging user you will fit right into the MMS profile.

The Nokia 7650 is the first of a new breed of mobile phones that is to come. Sony-Ericsson's T68i is MMS-capable, however, it only displays 256 colours. The Nokia 7650 has a large screen and an integrated digital camera takes pictures at a reasonable 4,000 colours.

The dual-band 7650 is slightly larger than a pack of cards, which might be too bulky for some. At 154 grams, it is surprisingly light. The keypad slides out from underneath, revealing the integrated camera. The sharp, backlit, colour screen scores big points over the T68i.