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There is another innovation in the shape of the FastScroll touchwheel. This relates to that two-thirds frame of the navigation button I mentioned earlier. Run a finger or thumb around this clockwise or anti-clockwise to scroll and keep touching the end of the area to keep scrolling. The faster you run your finger along the FastScroll area the faster you scroll. You can use it to move through lists such as contacts, images, music and so on. It works, but I found it a bit of a fiddle to get used to.

There is a side-mounted Hold button that locks out the keys, and, joy of joys, the headset connector is 3.5mm so you can replace Motorola's provided headgear with your own choice very easily.

It is irritating that a standard mini USB connector won't charge the phone, though. Motorola prefers the slightly smaller microUSB type, which tends to be less common, so if you leave your charger behind, your mates probably couldn't lend you theirs. This also doubles as the PC connector.

Photographers might want to give this phone a wide berth, too. Its 2-megapixel camera is way below par. There is no flash or autofocus and all my test shots were disappointing. Indoors, under standard lighting, the coloured dish has poor colour reproduction, while outdoors my standard photo of the chair fails to capture the white tone or detail well. The flowers really are beautifully striking, but the camera fails to bother with any kind of petal detail, turning them into indistinct daubs of pink. Other features of this handset include an HTML Web browser, FM radio, voice recorder, calendar, mobile email, alarm clock, world clock, calculator and a couple of games.

Verdict

This is a chunky phone that my pockets loathed. The haptic changing touchpad is a clever idea but not, in itself, enough to make me want to own this mobile. The camera also lets things down, as does the lack of 3G. This is a real pity. I believe Motorola can do innovation, but the company just seems to fall at the final hurdle.

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