RSS is another web feature now becoming standard issue. This offers a useful way of getting updates from favourite websites and blogs without having to fire up the browser each time. You can also have it as a standby screen news ticker, with latest update frames running up the side of the screen.

The K660i ticks all the requisite boxes for organiser functionality, with PC synchronisation of contacts, appointments, bookmarks, tasks and notes possible using the PC Suite software provided. Naturally, messaging options include email with support for attachments and push email.

The candybar design is comfortable to hold and doesn't take up much pocket space

Battery life for the quad-band K660i is quoted by as up to nine hours of talktime connected to a GSM network or 4.5 hours chatting away on 3G. Standby is said to be up to 330 hours between charges. This is around the average you’d expect from a mid-range handset, and in real-life usage, our phone use gave us between two and three days' running time. You can expect lower than two days if you use the browser intensively, or keep your music playing.

Voice calling was generally very good quality, clear and reliable – just the sort of no-nonsense performance you want from your mobile, in fact.

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Verdict

The camera is one of the K660i's more average elements that could disappoint the web-savvy younger target audience. The music player could benefit from a better set of earphones - or an easier headphone upgrade option - while some users may find the numberpad buttons too small for their liking.

The K660i’s illuminated web browsing shortcut buttons do differentiate it from others in Sony Ericsson’s well-stocked mid-range - but its browser set-up doesn’t really offer anything unique enough to be a star attraction. And if you were a web-savvy mobile buyer, you might be looking elsewhere for something sporting a larger display, possibly with a smartphone OS, keyboard or Wi-Fi.

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