Gadgetrepublic.com - Gadget Review

First off, the INQ1 (which resembles a Nokia slider handset in appearance) is quite compact in size and finished off in an inoffensive brushed steel body with steel-grey plastic keypad that gives it a somewhat expensive air, but the reality is that this handset comes in at €99.

Buttons on the side give quick access to the 3.2 megapixel camera, as well as the scrolling dashboard of icons that resembles the Mac OS X's application menu.

This phone has stripped away all clutter from the homescreen but the most important and exciting thing about the scrolling list of icons is the presence of social networking applications, most notably Facebook.

You see, these are not shortcuts to the mobile version of Facebook on the phone's web browser, but rather access to a specially integrated Facebook app that has you sign in once and is always on.

When you receive a Facebook message or friend request it pops up on screen like an SMS alert and your Facebook contacts are integrated into your contacts list, as are your Skype friends - one big social contacts list.

In fact when you visit your inbox, below your recent text messages are your Facebook ones as well as live MSN Messenger chats and Skype chats.

Another nifty feature is worked into taking photos. After snapping your pics you can do the usual, such as saving or sending via email, but there is also an option to post directly to Facebook. I can see teenagers using this feature almost constantly - your pictures arrive on Facebook instantly so live updates from a concert, party or holidays are possible. We all know how great Facebook's reach is - over 15m.

As soon as I had imported all my mobile, Facebook, MSN and Skype contacts I got to work merging friends, and I have to say it is so satisfying to have your friends' various online presences all gathered together with their mobile number in one contact list - plus a single glance at the contact will tell you if they are online, idle or signed out.

This integration seems like a logical step for 3 considering the various incarnations of the Skype phone we have been seeing for the past few years.

In a sense this has been the mobile handset that kids and young adults have been waiting for - it's all about staying connected.

On the other hand it also has an SD card slot for up to 4GBs, so you can pack plenty of music on there too, and there is an installation CD for the PC, so transferring music over as well as downloading straight from 3 Music shouldn't be a problem.

The one drawback, however, was the screen size - a mere 2.2-inches. Not something I would be inclined to watch any videos on whatsoever but plenty big for chatting with friends and browsing Facebook.

Aside from the social networking integration there is also the ability to add widgets to the homescreen, and these widgets include live RSS feeds from whatever site you want to subscribe too.

Only three feeds are allowed on screen at a time but I recommend some staples such as Yahoo! Weather, the Google search bar and, of course, Gadgetrepublic.com's RSS feed!

Being older and somewhat wiser (or perhaps just busier and with a bit less time on my hands) I can safely say that as a college student I would have given my left pinkie for a phone like this.

However, a parting shot with a word of advice: if you are on a prepay phone and need to watch your spending, be aware that staying signed into these various networking sites and live feeds will eat into your data package (You can buy your internet bundles through the phone from three.ie)

Pros: Integrated Facebook and MSN chat, good price.

Cons: Small screen

Price: €99 on prepay

Network: Three.ie

By Marie Boran