Hi all,

I'm currently looking into getting a contract phone and need one with brilliant mobile internet capabilities.

I looked at Orange and they seem really good. Also, a friend of mine says he's got an iPhone with everything for about 50CHF a month with them. Really want to avoid the iPhone as I'm a little heavy handed when it comes to mobiles and I'll probably drop it/break it/smash it/eat it.

Really interested in perhaps a Blackberry but wondered if anyone had any suggestions as to what to get/ what price plan to go for with internet/ which phones are good for things like hotmail, facebook twitter etc.

Any help would be really appreciated! Thanks!

I've a Nokia N97. The built-in browser is based on Safari, but I also run Opera Mini for the very very few sites the built-in browser can't handle. It seems likely that the soon-to-be released Firefox Mobile will also run nicely on it.

I pay 32.50CHF a month, with Sunrise, and that gives me 200MB data traffic a month, which is fine for my needs - if I need something really intensive, I use wifi - and free calls to other Sunrise phones. Since using it, my bills have dropped from around 90CHF a month to around 40CHF.

I've also used it for VOIP when connect to Wifi. Apps are coming thick and fast, and most of what the Apple can offer (and a fair few things it can't) are available. It comes as standard with a Facebook app. I've a free twitter client app installed, but I've no idea what it is called!

I would suggest the Orange Xtreme Surf Unlimited contract, it's great value for money... unlimited texts and 1GB internet per month.

As far as phones go, if internet browsing is your thing then you are pretty limited outside of the iPhone... the Nokia N97 is based on the Symbian v5 platform, which is pretty damn horrible compared to Android and Apple as far as user interfaces go. I have been using it for 18 months and I really can't wait to get rid of it I hate it that much. The browser is tolerable with Opera 10 installed, but the screen technology is resistive and thus often unresponsive and cumbersome compared to the capacitive used in the iPhone.

Your best option if you want to get a phone from Orange with your contract is an iPhone, and then buy a special protective case for it to cushion it from drops and blows. Alternatively, buy a handset like the Motorola Milestone SIM-FREE and then get a contract without phone from Orange, saving 10 CHF a month.

I have a blackberry and, to be honest, when comparing Internet functionality to the iPhone, it is ****.

If you want a phone to be centre of your Internet world then iPhone is a clear leader and you want at least 250Mb of data in your package. If you have access to good Wi-Fi then you can go PAYG for the iPhone.

The iPhone breaks so many boundaries that it has no rival to date. Ask dogman if you don't believe me.

But it needs to be not dropped, squashed or anything else.

If you simply want email, blackberry bounces and emails most excellently.

My next phone will be a blackberry but I mostly just need email.

Point to note is that Firefox Mobile will potentially be out this year....

200 MB a MONTH ??

you have to be kidding me... with that you manage to get in Facebook and VoIP calls?

VoIP only works via Wi-Fi and Facebook is peanuts

It does have rivals... and many limitations to boot, so lets not get carried away. It's a lovely device, and I would personally buy one, but it's not the be all end all of phones.

oh don't get me wrong, it's not the best at everything. But it has brought about significant change.

Let's not forget that PDAs had a surge years ago and there was allegedly no future for smartphones, WAP was a complete failure, MMS is a failure still today (compared to SMS, Swisscom transmits 13 SMS messages to every MMS message).

The iPhone is groundbreaking. But it does not do what I need it to do.

I recently had to go on a contract for an iphone as I lost my old one
After having a look at what was around I chose the iphone again because it is just easier and has everything. At the moment Orange is giving customers 10CHF a month credit for their entire contract so I decided to use that to pay for insurance! At least I will get a new phone if I do something stupid again. So for 39CHF a month I get a new iphone, 1GB internet and insurance. I think it was a good deal and would recommend it

It's very yummy, especially with a cream-mushroom sauce and an accompanying glass of Chablis. Happy holiday, by the way

All of that can be done on almost any bog standard phone. Screen might be smaller but the phones will be more robust. I have a relatively basic SE and I surf the web, use facebook, check mail, read EF etc on it. If you are worried about damaging the phone its not a bad option.

i bought a nokia e71 which is great with the right apps: opera mini for web, profimail for email etc. i use it all the time.

the benefit of this phone over iphone/new fangled phones is that it's fairly small, has a decent keyboard and most importantly, lasts for 4 days without having to recharge so i can do weekend trips without having to bring a charger etc.

Great stuff, thanks everyone. I think I'm going to have to wait until the end of January, and from the quick search I just did the Firefox Mobile launch is imminent so will definitely watch closely.

Thanks!