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The Alcatel OT-S319 comes with four themes and as you switch between them, their pre-defined ringtone tootles away. None is very compelling, but they are all very different from each other.

A mini-USB slot on the bottom right edge of the phone caters for headset and mains power connection. Unfortunately, Alcatel does not provide a headset, so you'll need to fork out for a USB one if you want hands-free calling. And with no Bluetooth or speakerphone, that is your only option for hands-free calls. There's also no media player or radio, so a headset is for hands-free duty only.

In terms of network connectivity, this is a dual-band handset with GPRS. Given the connectivity support and the small screen it is obvious enough that the Internet is pretty much a no go area, though WAP is supported.

I've already mentioned the lack of Bluetooth. The other surprising omission is a camera. Most low-end mobiles have one these days, even if it's just for taking shots to keep on the phone. However with no way of sharing data with another device here, you would be stuck with on-phone images only, but nonetheless I think that leaving a camera out is perhaps a cost-saving too far.

There is a reasonable calendar for organising your appointments, as well as five alarms, a calculator, unit converter, and a voice recorder. A couple of basic games won't keep anyone older than five absorbed for very long. Perhaps not surprisingly, there is no mobile email support.

For storage, you get 2.4MB of integrated memory, but expanding upon this with removable flash memory (such as microSD) is not possible - understandable, considering that you won't be taking photos or listening to music on this handset.

There is one feature of this handset which is absolutely outstanding and that is battery life. Alcatel suggests a talk-time of up to seven hours and a standby of 400 hours, from the 750mAh battery. With no music player on-board, I wasn't able to do my standard rundown test, but I can say that I had the phone on my desk and in my pocket for an entire week before writing up this review, switched on all the time, including overnight. And after a few calls under its belt, the battery bar is still showing two of its three power bars.

Verdict

Clearly, this handset has limited appeal. But it has outstanding battery life and the physical design is rather nice. It would function well for anyone who just wants a mobile for calls and texts and is happy with PAYG.

The OT-S319 might also be worth considering if you're off on hols and want a simple, cheap phone that wouldn't be missed too much if it were lost or stolen. The lack of camera and Bluetooth are real annoyances though.

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